In one of the small towns in which we resided, the city ordinances still allow for the burning of leaves, as long as the forecast calls for low or light wind conditions. I was burning some leaves one fall day at about dusk when I had to go in the…
After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they hid from the presence of God. They also tried to hide their shame by covering their nakedness with leaves. God knew where they were in the garden, but He is a gentleman and desires for us to come to…
The book of Hosea describes a heartrending love story of a unilateral love affair. Hosea is instructed by God to marry Gomer, a harlot. The Bible is intentional with every word, story, and text; God is teaching us that He loves us, even at our worst, and even when we…
Romans 8:20-21 MSG “All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that’s the…
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14, NKJV) A friend recently called me with a serious question: how does one forgive the unforgiveable. Is it…
Matthew 23:1-3 NLT “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.’ “…
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:6 I saw this quote today and thought it would fit into this very well: “Let your hands be so busy catching blessings, that there is no room to hold on to a grudge.” All of us like to be…
Several years back, the Lord started really dealing with me to study the subject of being an encourager. Though I had spent most of my life in ministry trying to help others, I felt a special need to explore the topic even deeper than I had currently known. One day…
Proverbs 17:9 “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” We women tend to dwell on things, and I can honestly say that I am guilty as charged. My mind wanders and before long I have made up an entire, and quite ridiculous, scenario…