“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Peter 1:18-19) When people hear the word gospel, many immediately think about the New Testament — the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While that is true, the message…
Recent Devotions
Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17-18, ESV) Luke 17 tells the story of ten lepers and the encounter that changed their lives. To understand their plight, we need to understand the cruel effects of the disease. Leprosy was an infectious skin disease (or possibly a group of skin diseases). It was painful, disfiguring, and isolating. Those affected became outcasts of society because of their contagion. INTERRUPTED LIVES As Jesus traveled toward Jerusalem, He entered a certain village. The ten…
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” (Psalm 143:10, ESV). I was babysitting a friend’s child when the usually charming toddler’s attitude suddenly changed. The bright smiling face assumed a lockjaw position. The head whipped to one…
“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalm 127:1, NKJV) When I began a search to purchase my first home, it was a new but exciting venture for me. I had several items that I…
Readers Loved
Proverbs 13:12. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Every single person reading this has felt disappointment in their lives. Disappointment is no respecter of persons, age, or personality. Children, teens, and adults fall victim to this unique facet of heartache. Maybe you feel disappointed right now. Disappointment means unfulfilled expectation. I can think of so many times in my life when my goals, opportunities, or my future did not happen the way I expected. Disappointment floods a persons heart with grief and many times evokes tears. In The Message, the…
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” Psalm 51:10-11 Chapter 12 of II Samuel records the story of Nathan’s visit to David, revealing the grievous sins he had committed. He reminded David that there would be severe consequences because of what he had done. David was convicted. Psalm 51 is his prayer of repentance. The child that was born to Bathsheba became sick. Even though Nathan had warned him that the child would die, David still asked…
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 Amazing grace shall always be my song of praise, For it was grace that bought my liberty. I do not know just why He came to love me so. He looked beyond my fault and saw my need. I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary To view the cross where Jesus died for me. How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul. He looked beyond my fault and saw my need. For the past two weeks,…
Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” (Genesis 16:13, NLT) Hagar really didn’t have much going for her in life. An Egyptian slave in the household of Abraham and Sarah, she was far from her homeland. But her life became even more confusing and difficult when her master’s wife suggested she become a surrogate mother to provide them with an heir. God had promised them a child, but Sarah remained barren. This…
