Prayers That God Will Always Answer – And Some That He Will Not

As I read Jan Karon’s Mitford Bedside Companion this Sunday, I was reminded of prayers that God will always answer. Later that day, as my family and I listened to a recent sermon by Charles Stanley, I was reminded, in contrast, that there are also some prayers he will not answer. Karon’s protagonist, Episcopalian priest…

Grand-Prize Winners

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?....Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him…

Tired, Dirty, Beautiful Feet

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! – Isaiah 52:7 No one I know has legitimately pretty feet - except infants, about whom everything is cute.   I try to pretty up my…

For Unto You Is Born This Day

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. – Luke 2:11 Because…

Thankful for Our Blessed Hope

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. – Titus 2:13 On this Black Friday, a shopping frenzy has ensued in stores and online as people push to take advantage of great deals. Although I’m not a Black Friday enthusiast, I do recognize that there…

Mercy and Truth, Carrots and Peas

Last week in my children’s church class, a fellow teacher shared the concept of mercy and truth with the kids. Did you know that mercy and truth are paired more than fifteen times in Scripture, and that mercy is always first? Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. – Psalm 85:10 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee:…

The Devil We Know

In Mark 5, Jesus commanded a legion of demons to leave the body of a man they had been torturing, apparently for quite some time. And when [Jesus] was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs;…

Are You Secure in Your Salvation?

On Christian radio call-in programs, I’ve often heard people ask how to validate one’s salvation. People say that despite their sincere belief in the Gospel, they don’t “feel” saved. Others say that they have asked Christ to save them over and over again. It saddens me that people have these doubts and fears, because Scripture…

Breaking Alabaster Boxes

Until my children and I read and discussed various accounts of the Crucifixion and Resurrection last week, I never realized that Mary anointed Jesus with her precious perfume just a few days prior to the Crucifixion – quite intentionally, as it happened.   On what turned out to be the day before Palm Sunday, the…

Honey for Warriors

Because we work in children’s ministry on Sunday mornings, my family and I don’t often hear sermons during that time. On one hand, I enjoy the spiritual health I maintain by studying on my own. Seeing a familiar Bible passage in fresh light, as I often do with the children’s stories I teach, is an…