2 Kings 6: 15 "And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! How shall we do?” I heard a story about a young lady who was at the vet with her pet, and in walks a man with a yellow Labrador Retriever...
Read MoreMary, Did You Know?
Luke 1:31 "And thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus."
If you’re anything like me, you want to know as much as you can about a new experience before moving forward. What's it going to be like at the new job. What the accommodations are like when you go away. Will I get along with the new neighbors? All the unknowns. Questions, questions, questions!
I Slept In and Saved Thousands
Proverbs 10: 22 (Amplified Bible) “The blessing of the Lord it makes {truly} rich, and He adds no sorrow with it {neither does toiling increase it}” We’re in the height of the Christmas shopping season! People are running all over town, or sitting for hours in front of their computer screen shopping for that got-to-have-it gift. Personally, I don’t have a problem with
Read MoreBright Future Ahead
Proverbs 4:18 - But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. I just heard someone say, "In God, your future is so bright, you have to squint to see it". Don’t you love it!? I instantly thought of today's verse, which has blessed me countless times. That’s why I never have issues with...
Read MoreDrive a Stake Into the Ground
Luke 19:13 "And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said occupy till I come". When I was real young, some of the greatest times I remember are when my dad and me would go camping...
Read MoreDon't Get Mess-Merized
Ephesians 4:17 "this I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their minds". Have you ever spoken to someone who was there physically, but you knew that they weren’t there mentally? Have you ever been someplace physically, but your thoughts were someplace else far away?...
Read MoreGrace Period
John 1 : 17 " For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ". Have you ever experienced a "Grace Period" in your life? A grace period is "a period of time after a deadline for an obligation, during which a late fee or other action that would have been taken as a result of failing to meet the deadline is waived. Grace periods can range from a number of minutes to a number of days and even longer". In the world's system...
Read MoreGrace Walking
Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message Bible) "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Let me ask you a question! When you are at the airport and you have a choice between the moving sidewalk or walking the pavement, which do you choose?
Read MoreMarinate Day and Night
Joshua 1: 8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but thou shalt meditate therin day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success". When I married my wife Natalie, I "obtained favor with the Lord" (Prov 18:22). I really got blessed with her love for God, her character, integrity, her sense of humor, and…
Read MoreWhere There's Smoke, There's Fire
Genesis 39: 2-3 "But the Lord was with Joseph, and He {though a slave} was a successful and prosperous man: and he was in the house of His master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all that he did to flourish and succeed in his hand" When my kids were younger, we had a fire pit in our back yard. It was such a great place to gather with friends and family, and roast marshmallows and relax around the fire. The best part...
Read MoreNot Guilty - All Charges Dropped
Romans 8: 33 "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?]". A few weeks ago I was driving in an area where the speed limit was 25 miles per hour. I had just pulled out of a 7-11 and headed down the road, going maybe 35 mph, I really wasn't paying attention. All of a sudden...
Read More"Whatsup"
Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to Him, and I will SUP with him, and he with ME" (Emphasis mine). "Whatsup" or "whasup", that's what my kids always would say to me years ago. "Hey dad, WHASUP?" It's a combination of two words, what's and up. Recently a beautiful family from a church that I had been privileged to preach at, invited me to their home for "supper"...
Read MoreOh Say Can You See
Psalm 91:2-3 - "I will say...SURELY He will". A lot can go wrong for those singing the National Anthem at a sporting event, but when it's out of your control, the audience may have your back. That was the case for Michelle Madeira, who performed both the American and the Canadian National Anthem prior to a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game a few years ago...
Read MoreWithout a Trace
Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am he who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for my own sake, and will not remember your sins". Trace: a surviving mark, sign, or evidence of the former existence, influence or action, a barely detectable indication or evidence of something left behind. That's exactly what...
Read MoreExhale
Genesis 12:2 (Amplified Bible) - “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you {with an abundant increase of favors} and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing {dispensing good to others}”. There's a really great song that says it all for me about grace, it's called Exhale by Plumb. Listen to these powerful lyrics...
Read MoreNo Sweat
Matthew 11:28-30 (Message Bible) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” I love that, the unforced rhythms of grace. When it comes to exercise, I know that I’ve done an exceptional workout when...
Read MoreWatch the Tram Car Please
Psalm 35:27 "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant." The five most frequently repeated words at the Jersey Shore every summer are not "license and registration please", or "we are all booked up". Instead, it's...
Read MoreAll in the Family
Genesis 12:3 (Amplified Bible) - "And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses {or} uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families {and} kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves]." If you are over 50 years old, you may remember the 1970's hit TV comedy, All in the Family, depicting a so-called typical blue collar family from New York City. Who can forget the head of the house, Archie Bunker, extremely...
Read MoreGood to Great
Genesis 12:2 - "And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous {and} distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others]." If you haven't already, you have got to hear this story about Nate Boyer. He describes himself in his earlier years as very average, non-descript, "rudderless", without direction. Then, as a young man just out of high school, while sitting on his couch in his living room, he saw a program on TV about...
Read MoreTeach Me Lord to Wait
Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. " I heard a very interesting fact recently that really changed my perspective about waiting. Ready for this?...on The Golf Channel! The presenter was talking about the recipe for success for winning a golf tournament. They gave many "ingredients", but the one that caught my attention was...
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