When Understanding is Hard

“Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Explain to us the parable that says people aren’t defiled by what they eat.’ ‘Don’t you understand yet?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.  But the words you speak come from the heart – that’s what defiles you. For from theContinue reading “When Understanding is Hard”

Compassionate Father…Fierce Warrior

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your FatherContinue reading “Compassionate Father…Fierce Warrior”

In Due Time

“Then she knelt behind Him at His feet, weeping. Her tears fell on His feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing His feet and putting perfume on them.” (Luke 7:38 NLT) We cry for a lot of reasons, don’t we? Sometimes we’re sad, angry, frustrated, confused, or troubled, butContinue reading “In Due Time”

Who Cares?

“How kind the Lord is! How good He is! So merciful, this God of ours! The Lord protects those of childlike faith, I was facing death, and He saved me.” (Psalm 116:5-6 NLT) There are times in each of our lives when we wonder if anyone “sees” us, recognizes us as a valuable person orContinue reading “Who Cares?”

Can You Ignore Them?

“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.” (Luke 10:33 NLT) In Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 we see a vivid picture of our woundedness by sin and our inability to care for (forgive) ourselves. We are the unnamed person along theContinue reading “Can You Ignore Them?”

Transmit or Translate?

“Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about His mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.” (Colossians 4:3-4 NLT) If you’ve ever traveled to a part of the world that didn’t speakContinue reading “Transmit or Translate?”

Healing Prayer For Hurting People

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” (Isaiah 26:3 NLT) In this difficult season so many of us, as well as our loved ones and friends, are hurting and in need of a touch from God. Please read these words of Sylvia Gunter prayerfully,Continue reading “Healing Prayer For Hurting People”

Why Are You Crying?

“A funeral procession was coming out as He approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. When the Lord saw her, His heart overflowed with compassion. ‘Don’t cry!’ He said. Then He walked over to the coffin andContinue reading “Why Are You Crying?”

The Sixth Man

“Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’” (Genesis 33:26 NLT) In a recent devotional Ron Hutchcraft recounted a tragic scene. He wrote: “When I fly into Washington D.C., I sort of flash back to an unforgettable scene.Continue reading “The Sixth Man”

Encouragement

“For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means ‘Son of Encouragement’).” (Acts 4:36 NLT) Barnabas is arguably the greatest encourager in the New Testament, save Jesus Himself. It’s interesting in the verse above the word translated “Encouragement,” used in reference to Barnabus, is the same word Jesus used in JohnContinue reading “Encouragement”