Archive for January, 2009
« Previous EntriesIn the Footsteps of the Messiah
Saturday, January 31st, 2009Luke 5:26 “Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’”
Matthew wrote his Gospel from the Jewish perspective. It was important to him that Jesus, as the Messiah, was proven through Old Testament references. Through the Jewish lens, everything that Jesus did […]
Healing Death
Friday, January 30th, 2009Luke 6:5 “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
For the Jews healing on the Sabbath was a sin. The Sabbath, which was from Friday night at 5:00 to Saturday night at 5:00, was a time when no work was done and all focus was on God. This idea is far from where we […]
The Works of God
Thursday, January 29th, 2009John 9:2 “Rabbi, who sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in his life.”
It becomes very important for us if we are desperately ill or someone in our family is […]
The Life of a Servant
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009Mark 8:34 states, “If anyone would come after me they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.”
Galatians 5:24 states, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” I believe if we focus on being an obedient servant to our Lord, all personal feelings […]
Living Our Life For God
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009Matthew 6:1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before others, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus speaks to the culture of ancient Judaism about prayer, financial gifts, and fasting. The Jewish religious people in […]
Strength Beyond the Spinach
Monday, January 26th, 2009Philippians 4:13 ”I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Most of us live in a world of complexity that is from our own making. I remember well the pleasant and sweet life of Spanish Fort United Methodist Church 21 years ago. The church was very small and my life was terribly simple. I would […]
Storm Warning
Saturday, January 24th, 2009Joshua 1:7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”
In college I always studied five hours everyday so that when the test came I would be […]
Boring and Lonely
Friday, January 23rd, 20091 Kings 21:4 “He lay in the bed sulking and refused to eat.”
It is so easy in life for us to think it’s all about “me.” All about “me” can certainly mess up any relationship with a spouse, a child, or a friend. Sometimes we find ourselves absolutely surprised to realize that we have lived […]
The Bitterest of Hearts
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009Psalm 9:18 “But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.”
I remember Dr. Karl Stegall at First United Methodist Church in Montgomery once told this story. I heard it over twenty years ago yet it still remains in my heart. The story’s intent reminds me that for every […]
Father and Judge
Wednesday, January 21st, 20092 Timothy 4:1 “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead..”
Every parent faces a multi-faceted role when it comes to their children. I remember clearly the role of being a daddy, playing with my children, tenderly taking care when they were hurt, teaching life lessons, and […]
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