What a MOM Stands For Luke 1:30-35 After dinner one Mother’s Day a mother was washing the dishes when her teenage daughter walked into the kitchen. Horrified to see her mother at the sink, she exclaimed, “Oh, mother, you shouldn’t have to do dishes on Mother’s Day.” The mother was touched by this seeming thoughtfulness and was about to take off her apron and give it to her daughter, when the daughter added, “They’ll keep till tomorrow.”1 As we celebrate... Read more
How to Be Wise Luke 2:41-52 Do you remember the last time you went on a family vacation? Do you remember all of the preparation and the excitement and the struggle to get everything in order? Family vacations are always a memorable experience That is what Luke is trying to express, something memorable and important. Can you imagine the whole family going down to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover? Imagine, they would not be going to just... Read more
7 Promises From the Cross for Me Today Billy Graham once recalled:1 I remember preaching in Dallas, Texas, early in our ministry. It was 1953. About forty thousand people attended each night, but one evening only a few people responded to the appeal to receive Jesus Christ. Discouraged, I left the platform. A German businessman was there, a devout man of God. He put his arm around me and said, ‘Billy, do you know what was wrong tonight? You didn’t... Read more
How to PREP for Revival and Spiritual Awakening Revelation 2:4-5 “But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:4–5, CSB) In cooking, you have four steps. The first step is to prep the food. The second step is to cook... Read more
How the Holy Spirit Develops My Character Galatians 5:16-26 Many airports have moving sidewalks. They allow travelers to get around the airports a little faster than they would walking around on their own power. The travelers can still walk but now are able to do so with ease because of the force underneath them propelling them forward. Walking in the Spirit implies that the Christian is still on the move. They are not sitting down or being passive. They... Read more
Praying For My Community Psalm 122:1-9 “I’ll pray for you.” We say it often, but how many times do we actually remember to do it? Our biggest downfall might not be a lack of compassion—it’s probably just not taking time to write down the request and not having a model of praying for others.1 George Whitfield once stated about praying for others: If we inquire, why there is so little love to be found amongst Christians, why the very characteristic,... Read more
The Final Gospel Presentation of Jesus Christ Mark 15:33-47 In the other Gospel accounts, Jesus speaks at various points while on the cross. There are actually seven statements that Jesus made on the cross. I find it curious that Mark focused on only one of those statements. Jesus quotes the first verse of Psalm 22. Was it a cry because God was absent in Jesus’ most desperate hour? Or perhaps it was the first point of a Gospel presentation. “That’s... Read more
Successful Money Management Proverbs 22:1-16 In a survey, ING Direct learned that many parents are uncomfortable talking to their children about money. In fact, 39 percent of parents are more prepared to talk about alcohol and drugs with their children than about money and finance; 29 percent would rather talk about dating and sex. Perhaps most surprising is that 95 percent believe financial education should be taught in school. If parents want a Christian worldview for their children where money... Read more
How to GIVE Matthew 6:19-24 Richard Foster, stated in his book Money, Sex and Power: When we give money, we are releasing a little more of our egocentric selves and a little more of our false security. Giving frees us to care. It produces an air of expectancy as we anticipate what God will lead us to give. It makes life with God an adventure of discovery. We are being used to help make a difference in the world, and... Read more
How to BUDGET Luke 14:28-33 I learned long ago about planning with the following phrase: Prior proper planning prevents pitiful poor performance. That rule is illustrated with this story about money. This is the story of a man who did not budget properly. In this mini-parable, Jesus teaches us about budgeting. In the immediate context, this is about how a man spends his money. In the larger context, this idea of budgeting affects how I live as a follower of... Read more
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