risingwiththeson

It’s a Boy!

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given. (Isaiah 9:6 NIV) When my brother was born (after six girls!), it truly was good news for our family and friends. After all, in the culture I come from, having a son is a big deal (I still think girls are justContinueContinue reading “It’s a Boy!”

The Prince of Peace

He shall be called Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 ESV) We all long for peace – peace with God, others and ourselves. Lest we think we’re the only ones, let’s recap to 2,000 years ago when the Jews living under Roman rule prayed for the promised Deliverer Who would be called the Prince of Peace.ContinueContinue reading “The Prince of Peace”

A Dream of Christmas

I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (John 10:10 MSG) In Hallmark’s A Dream of Christmas (yes, I’m already watching Christmas movies and no, it’s never too early to start), Penny, a restless married woman, wishes that she was never married. Her wishContinueContinue reading “A Dream of Christmas”

A Miracle Baby

Is it possible that a tiny baby can touch and change lives? Babies have an amazing way of bringing people together. When Lucas and Santino were born, we started to hear from relatives who had not spoken to us in years. They said they wanted to come and visit. There was more warmth in theirContinueContinue reading “A Miracle Baby”

Unearned Rewards

Some time later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire. (Esther 3:1 NLT) Even though the previous chapter ends with Mordecai saving the king’s life and his deed being noted in the king’s records, the next chapter begins withContinueContinue reading “Unearned Rewards”

Traces of God

“If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NLT) It has often been noted that the book ofContinueContinue reading “Traces of God”

Don’t Hold It, Share It

Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” (Numbers 11:28-29 NIV) When Moses, who hadContinueContinue reading “Don’t Hold It, Share It”

Making Promises to God

“The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand— all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves withContinueContinue reading “Making Promises to God”

Jesus Saw

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27 NIV) Just because He was suffering it doesn’t meanContinueContinue reading “Jesus Saw”

Discerning His Voice Through Songs

“So write down the words of this song, and teach it to the people of Israel. Help them learn it, so it may serve as a witness for me against them.”… So that very day Moses wrote down the words of the song and taught it to the Israelites. (Deuteronomy 31:19, 22 NLT) God usedContinueContinue reading “Discerning His Voice Through Songs”