Lost and Restored

God, your God, will restore everything you lost. (Deuteronomy 30:3 MSG) God is a restorer. From restoring people who have wondered far away from Him to restoring our peace, hope and joy and right down to trivial matters, nothing is a lost cause for Him. Restoration is what He specializes in. He is a giverContinue reading “Lost and Restored”

For Your Benefit

 “Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.” (John 12:28-30 NIV) Jesus didn’t need to hearContinue reading “For Your Benefit”

He Makes Wrong Things Right

Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25 NIV) I’ve been thinking a lot more about justice lately. Abraham’s words come to mind,Continue reading “He Makes Wrong Things Right”

Be a Victor, Not a Victim

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37 NIV) Victim mentality may get us pity, but it won’t give us power. After listing all of the terrible things that could possibly happen but can’t separate us from God’s love, such as trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger orContinue reading “Be a Victor, Not a Victim”

Seeing is Believing

 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted. (Acts 20:12 NIV) There’s an interesting resurrection miracle recorded in Acts 20:7-12. After listening to the apostle Paul talk for hours – because he was leaving Troas the next day – a young man by the name of Eutychus falls from the thirdContinue reading “Seeing is Believing”

Women Who Rise

 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. (John 20:1 NIV) A careful reading of the resurrection account reveals why women, in particular Mary Magdalene, were the first to discover the empty tomb andContinue reading “Women Who Rise”

Saturday Was Silent

But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. (Luke 23:56 NIV) Saturday was silent. Not much is recorded in Scripture about what happened after Jesus died on Friday, except that it was a traditional day of rest. In this instance, it was rest for those who were grieving the death of theirContinue reading “Saturday Was Silent”