When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” Luke 7:39-40 ESV In this story, we find that a Pharisee has invited Jesus to his home to share a meal. I’m unsure of the motive behind this, as Pharisees often attempted to trick and trip up Jesus; however, an invitation was extended, and Jesus accepted. While there, a local woman learned this gathering was…
Jeremiah 31:21 MSG “Set up signposts to mark your trip home. Get a good map. Study the road conditions. The road out is the road back.” I’m a big planner, and I like to be prepared for any scenario when we travel. We don’t go too far from home because the unexpected can be too daunting. But when we do take a trip, I have multiple to-do lists that I start weeks/months before we ever leave. When you take a trip, not many people plan for the journey home, assuming it’s the same as the way there. On your travels, you usually take notice of landmarks, signs, and rest stops as you follow the map. Perhaps you’re old-school and have a good old-fashioned paper map, or maybe you pull up the map app on your phone and listen to the voice telling you when to turn right. You pay attention to curves, hills, and potholes as you navigate new roads on your journey. You’re prepared, and you know the way to go. Doesn’t that sound just like the journey we are all taking called life? We are always faced with new paths to take, and the terrain is usually unfamiliar…
A few months ago, I decided to give pencil sketching a try. I wanted something relaxing to do occasionally that wouldn’t require much investment. At an art store, I purchased a Pentalic sketchbook, a set of tinted German-made Staedtler pencils, and a high-quality eraser. A few weeks later, I added colored pencils and another sketchbook to my collection of supplies. Lacking sketching experience, I looked at pictures I had and did my best to replicate them with pencil drawings. My husband gives me lavish praise for my little sketches. I appreciate his enthusiasm about my new hobby, but he and I both know that I am just beginning. At some point, I would like to take a class or two and get some pointers from an art instructor. One thing I learned right away was the value of an eraser. As I sketched olive branches, lavender sprigs, or a scene from the Holy Land, I found myself reaching for my eraser. When I sketched something that did not look quite right, my eraser got a workout! It dawned on me that God was giving me the most basic lesson on forgiveness. After all, what does baptism do? The Bible uses…
Have you ever shopped for a new car, leaning toward a certain make and model, and suddenly that’s all you seem to see on the road? It isn’t that more of them appeared overnight—it’s that you’re now aware of what was there all along. In much the same way, I’ve noticed that when God is speaking to me about a particular subject, it seems to show up everywhere—articles, conversations, and even podcasts. Recently, what has captured my attention is the uniqueness of different generations: Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. At the same time, my husband and I have…
“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18-19, KJV). “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV). As we look ahead, we should be filled with hope and expectation. The Lord Himself declares, “Behold, I will do a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19). Do you believe it? These verses remind us not to dwell on past failures or fears but to embrace the new things God is doing in our lives. We cannot change the past, but we can trust God’s promise of a future filled with hope. Declare in Jesus’ name: “God is doing something new in me!” The phrase “new beginning” means a point at which something starts anew. This could be moving to a new place, starting a different career, developing new habits, or—most importantly—experiencing renewal in our walk with God. Scripture is full of examples of new beginnings, and…
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14, KJV). “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15–16, KJV). What Does It Mean to Go Beyond? The word beyond means “on the further side of,” “a place not yet reached,” or “to a greater degree or excellence.” We often hear the phrase “above and beyond,” which describes going past what is expected. Students striving for scholarships, employees seeking promotions, and friends supporting loved ones in times of need all demonstrate what it means to go beyond—because they care, they’re invested, and they see purpose. Spiritually, we are called to go beyond ourselves for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel (euangelion in Greek) means “good news”—the message of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. This good news is not meant to be hidden; it must be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to every nation. Just as the apostles obeyed…