Today I was traveling most of the day. Started by getting into Dallas about 1:00am then off to Minneapolis in the afternoon and ended up in Toronto, Canada (Don't-cha know) tonight. Besides being vividly reminded why I don't travel for a living I was also struck by the countless faces I saw. Empty, stressed, bewildered, disillusioned, tearful, sorrowful. There were a few ...

A few weeks ago, our pastor's sermon title was, "Who do you say I am?" from Matthew 16:15. In that passage, Peter is quick to answer, in verse 16, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Jesus calls him blessed, immediately saying ". . . .because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." Having known Peter as Jesus did, he con...

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on hearth has been given to me." As I was reading this extremely familiar verse the other day I was struck again that we go out into the world in the name of Jesus because of who he is. I am able to face whatever problem I come across because Christ has "all authority" over that problem. And in th...

Matthew 27:20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. I just finished reading through the book of Matthew recently and was struck by the above verse. Only days before this particular verse took place the crowd had celebrated the arrival of Jesus on Palm Sunday, even in defiance of what the chief priests and elders wa...

So here it is, Christmas day; full of wondrous times with family. Gifts, meals, laughter, and, for some, tears. A fun little devotional was published this year, titled It's a Wonderful Life. Sub-titled A 31-Day Devotional Based on Favorite Christmas Classics and by written David McLaughlin. He has complied some wonderful, memorable stories, each chapter concluding with a ...

Walking in a shallow stream yesterday, I first thought myself to be most impressed by the large rocks that forced the water to flow over or around them. How steadfast they seemed! And, as the water rushed past, it caused deep holes and soft, movable sand around the rocks. The rock's steadfastness allowed the water to run deep, where it could be absorbed and retained to nou...

Matthew 22:34-40The Great Commandment34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 3...

Exodus 19-20, Matthew 18:21-35 We have been reading about God's continue providing for the Nation of Israel as He continues to lead them to the promise land. We have seen several times were God has said He is testing them. We have also seen several times how they are so rebellious in complaining about their circumstances but yet God is so faithful to continue to provide a...

Exodus 7-8, Matthew 15:1-20 I have been praying and asking the Lord what he wants me to learn these past few days. I prayed the same prayer last night before I went to sleep. Then this morning in our reading it became a little clearer. We are given a new heart once we surrender our lives to Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17. But I still fight the flesh. We have covered the parabl...

Genesis 23, 24 Matthew 7 I was finishing my quite time this morning moving a head in the daily reading so when you read the blog it would be where the daily reading is that we are going through as a church body and not a day behind. I received a message to call my dad which at that time of day is unusual unless something is wrong. My dad informed me that Becky my sister ...

Genesis 20, 21, 22 Matthew 6:19-34 Can you imagine being promised to be the father of a great nation through your wife in an old age. Then to see this promised fulfilled by the birth of a son but then be asked to sacrifice your only son. Why? Was this son now an idol and more important than the Lord? Was this incredible faith knowing God had bigger plans than what we huma...

Genesis 18, 19 Matthew 6:1-18 Is anything if possible for God? I know the answer to that question. Do I live life consistent to that answer when faced with difficult situations. I would like to say yes but being honest I struggle with it just as Abraham and Sarah did with the promise they have been hearing for years. God is faithful and is going to bring us to that realit...

Genesis 16, 17 Matthew 5:27-48 It is so easy to read and wonder what were people thinking. God had just promised Abram a child and that he would be blessed and be the father of many. Then we see how Abram an Sarai take matters into their own hands. Then I reflect back and see how I take matters into my own hands without even praying. I forget the promise just as quick as ...

Genesis 13, 14, 15 Matthew 5:1-26 Abram understood where his blessing came from. Abram's righteousness came from believing in God's promises. His worship of God was evident as he built altars and sacrificed to the Lord. People knew God was with Abram. In Matthew 5 we see Jesus giving the sermons or beatitudes. Can people see that I am a true follower of Christ? Do I get p...

Genesis 10, 11, 12 Matthew 4 Genesis we are now introduced to Abram. Here we see his obedience to the Lord when called to leave his home and family. Then in Matthew we see Jesus being led by the Spirit to the wilderness where He will fast for forty days and nights then be tempted by Satan. Later in the chapter we see the calling of the Disciples. The Disciples immediately...

Genesis 7, 8, 9 Matthew 3 We just read about the flood. I often wonder when I am in this part of Scripture why God did not just start all over. Why did He save Noah? We see that Noah was considered to be righteous before the Lord. His faith is remarkable in the fact God told him to build a ark and he does. There is only one way into the ark and God shuts Noah and his fami...

Genesis 4, 5, 6, Matthew 2 Cain an Able present offerings to the Lord. I have not seen any instructions on what the offering is suppose to be but we see that the Lord was pleased with Abel's offering and not Cain's. Then we we see Cain's countenance change. The Lord then visits with Cain about the sin that is crouching at his door. God has just given Cain away out of thi...

Genesis 1,2,3 Matthew 1 As we start a new year I will be joining the rest of wvBc in the reading plan announced on Sunday of reading the Bible through in the year. I like the fact we start in Genesis for a new start to the year. We start a new year with the book known as the origin or beginning. Chapter 1 has the creation account. As I was sitting eating breakfast with C...

Jesus said, "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. "(Matthew 5:42 NASB) Does this verse give you heartburn? It does me. I mean, really, that guy standing on the corner with his cardboard sign that says, "Viet Nam Veteran. Homeless. Need money for gas." I'm supposed to give him some of my hard earned money? Is this an iso...

"What wings are to a bird, and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul. " Corrie Ten Boom "...when we love God, we naturally run to Him-frequently and zealously. Jesus didn't command that we have a regular time with Him each day. Rather, He tells us to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' He called this the 'first a...

The enemy attacked without warningwe knew that the enemy was there but the attack was a surprise. General Howe landed in Maryland and was headed to Philadelphiabut General Washington knew it almost as soon as he landed. Immediately General Washington moved his army towards the Brandywine River.but when Washington arrived he was welcomed by British artillery fire. During t...

Some in America would say that President Jefferson is a complete deist, others may say that he is more of a spiritualist, and yet again some may even suggest that he was a follower of Christ. Ultimately, I am not sure that I am prepared to say that any of the above is, in totality TRUE. Few can argue the fact that President Jefferson did produce what is today known as th...

19"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, 20by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord s...

19"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, 20by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord s...

The questions have already started and confusion has already been admittedhow can I choose life if God chose me for salvation before the foundation of the world? While I believe the Bible clearly teaches God chose us for salvation (John 15:16; Ephesians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:13) I also believe that God holds us responsible for choosing to follow and obey Him every day as ...

Matthew 6:19-21New American Standard Bible (NASB)19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. For mos...

Reading: Matthew 10:29-31 'God Determines our Value' "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. " Lies, lies, all lies. The world speaks nothing but deceptive words and the philosophy of men. Noth...

Reading: Matthew 20:20-28 'So You Want to be First' "Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left." There is just something about all human nature. It ...

Reading: Matthew 25:31-46 'The Words of the King' "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left....