“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the Earth! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.”— Psalm 100:1–2 When I was in high school, I took this command to heart. I thought I had a gift for music. In reality, what sounded beautiful to me probably sounded to others more …
In Matthew 21, we see Jewish leaders come and challenge Jesus’ authority. He responds by telling the Parable of the Tenants to challenge them to examine their role in God’s plan (vv. 33-46). He uses imagery that they would instantly recognize as echoes of Isaiah 5:1–7, which calls Israel the vineyard of the Lord (v.7). …
We all do it when discussing a certain cold, milky, sweet substance. We might start with a description, when they learn that, then we spell it, but kids learn to spell pretty quickly. We had exhausted all the terminology that could be used for these sweet, milky substances and started referring to them in other …
“Is that a person? Running towards me? It’s just a speck in the distance. That can’t be a person. No one knows I’m coming home. And even if they did I’m expecting doors slammed in my face. Surely no one would be running to meet me. But it is a person! They are getting closer. …
And again He said, ‘To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour until it was all leavened.’ -Luke 13. Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of God in this parable. Ladies made bread for their families at this time in …
Read more “A Little Bit of Yeast Makes a Beautiful Loaf of Bread”
Matthew introduces us to a part of life that we feel and experience probably daily. What is the integrity of our words? Do they matter, or perhaps more importantly, do people take what we say with a grain of salt, or know we are good for our word? Matthew 21:28-32 “What do you think? There …
The Wheat and the Weeds: Trusting the Master Gardener Many of us are attending camps and youth rallies this summer. A few years ago, I went to a camp where each team was asked to create their own “country.” They came up with flags, languages, cultures—you name it. The entire week was devoted to developing …
Jesus told a parable about a vineyard owner, the gardener, and a fig tree with no fruit. What is the point of a fruit tree that doesn’t bear fruit? According to the Master, nothing, he wanted it cut down! Yet, the gardener spoke up and asked for 1 more year to care for the tree …
A child is sick, pray. You need a new job, pray. You want to praise God, pray. Thankful for a good meal, pray. As a Christian, prayer should be an enormous and constant part of our lives. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us to pray without ceasing. In other words, to pray persistently, without giving up. …
There was a little house and then the white house. At the little house was a small three room, really a two room house. With an enclosed lean-to on the side that grandma used for a kitchen. I’m not sure if it had a door or a window. I know we cam in the “living …
