John 5:7 Alone in Time of Need The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” I love the Lord’s compassion here. (V8) Jesus *said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” (V9) Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. God is the one person who is always there for us in our time of need. I love the way Jesus always sought ou

Unexpected Hope I have been thinking about the ways that God comes and surprises us in the most unexpected ways to meet our needs. I think about how Jesus came along and unexpectedly healed the man in Bethesda who was waiting by the pool for someone to put him into the water. He had no idea that day it would be Jesus; God in the flesh Himself, who would reach out and touch him in person. (John 5:1-9). I am reminded of how Jesus came walking on the water in the storm to the d

“For I go to prepare a place for you” … “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” John 14: 2b-3 Heaven is comfort when our life has been devastated because of loss; a loss we cannot wrap our minds around. Heaven is hope when the world’s gone crazy, or our health is falling apart. Heaven is God’s promise to love us forever. It 's our light for the journey now, through our dark and hard times

“And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” (John 17:5) “With the glory which I had with You before the world was.” Wow! This is so incredibly profound to ponder. Imagine all that Jesus has experienced, leaving Heaven and coming to earth. Everything from the womb to the tomb, And everything in between. Can you imagine being the Creator of the Universe, and of all things, coming to live inside the one you cr

“The earth is the LORD’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.   For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers.” (Psalms 24:1-2)   What truly majestic power  And authority God has.    Is anything too hard for Him Or beyond His reach?   Oh, how it boggles the mind (and heart)  to grasp the depths of this.   The profound sovereignty of God, The total magnitude of all that rests  In His care; The full spectrum, scope  And range of H

“How blessed is the one whom You  choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the  goodness of Your house, Your holy temple. By awesome deeds  You answer us  in righteousness, O God of our salvation, You who are the trust of all the ends  of the earth and of the farthest sea; Who establishes the mountains  by His strength, Being girded with might; Who stills the roaring of the seas, The roaring of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples.

“The God of glory thunders.” (Psalm 29:3b) How beautiful this image is of our God and His power. How much we need this reminder when everything around us and within us is just too much. God is much bigger; God is greater than our greatest need. He is all-powerful and able, and He is merciful and just. He holds us in the palm of His hands, and loves us. “The voice of the Lord is powerful, The voice of the Lord is majestic.” (Psalm 29:4) Oh, to be held in His keeping and care i

“But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand.” (Psalms 31:14-15a) There is a sense of relief that comes when we release this burden into God’s hands. Our times are in His capable, caring hands. Whatever happens, we know that He’s in charge, and will help us through it. There are so many things in this life that can make us apprehensive, or flat out feel like we’re running scared. Fleeing from the unknown or uncertain, or simply ju

He is worth it!!

“The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night.” (Psalm 42:8)   It is interesting to think about all the things the Lord “Commands”.   He commands the physical attributes of the universe, and all their elements … the wind, the rain the waves and the sea; The Sun to rise and set.   He holds the world in His hands; The Earth spins without an axel, suspended upon nothing - or without a physically visible support.   He rules an

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalms 42:1-2) The note above this psalm says, “Thirsting for God in trouble and exile.” Theses verses have taken on a new meaning for me after having read that. I see and understand better what the psalmist was feeling and thinking. Sorrow and suffering leave such a deep hole in us, causing us to thirst for God’s pr

“The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night.” (Psalm 42:8).     The Lord walks beside us throughout our days, and is present with us throughout the night.   Sovereignly, directing our path in love. Carefully watching over us in gentleness, and strength. Patiently loving us through.   Working in ways we have yet to fully see, Or imagine. Faithfully never leaving our side.   Showering us with His kindness and goodness. Lea

Have you ever felt like your view of God was blocked? Like you couldn’t see Him? Maybe something happened that left you feeling like it was impossible to find your way back from. Something that shattered your trust and left you feeling far from God, not knowing how to come to Him. It can be hard to believe again. It takes a work of the Holy Spirit to bring the depth of comfort and healing we need to turn us around, and especially when things are so raw. God patiently begins h

“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.” (John 15:9).     “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.   I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” (Psalm 91:1-2)     God’s love is: our dwelling place and home forever. His love is our never ending refuge we live in every day.   Where we find shelter, protection, and love for every pain, trial, grief, and hardship

Have you ever wished you could sit down in person with Jesus and just talk? To listen to His reassuring words, and hear Him say it’s...

“Behold, I will not restrain my lips, O Lord, You know.   I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.” (Psalm 40:9b-10)   (How will they know unless someone tells them?)   I will not restrain… I have not hidden… I have not concealed…   “There’s a time to speak, and a time to be silent.” (Ecc 3:7)   “A time to guard our mouth lik

Have you ever felt like someone or something has dropped you into an endless pit of despair and hopelessness and you are clawing your way to get out of it? Yet, there seems to be no visible way to begin to make the climb.   Then I thought maybe it’s because the way out is through the invisible. The invisible hand of God that reaches down and pulls us out. Our help comes through the unseen working of God.   We despair when we cannot see it. We lose hope when we cannot reach ou

Friends When Your Faith is Being Tested.   The crazy wonderful things that friends will do when you are hurting. Friends will sit in...

Music is like a visit from an old familiar friend; Reminding me of who I am and of who God is. Especially when I feel like I am...

“The heavens are telling of the glory of God”; (Psalm 19:1). Imagine all those wonderful stars shining so brightly on a dark night. The vastness of the galaxies. The planets in their orbit light years away. “Heavens” plural. 2 Corinthians 12:2 speaks of Paul being caught up into the third heaven. Every time man makes a new discovery about the universe it is only a mere scratch on the surface compared to all that God has made in the heavens. Yet what we can see and do know