“Whatever He says to you, do it.”
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.“ Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.“ His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do…
The Treasure Stores of our Hearts
After Mary’s scary episode where she and Joseph “lost” the Son of God, when they found and heard Jesus in the temple give His reason why He did what He did, the Bible says, “they did not understand…but His mother kept all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51-52). We treasure things and people because of significance. Christians ought to cherish above all else: Young people who grow into faithful Christians. Paul picked Timothy to be a “true son in…
“Bird Fight in the Church Parking Lot at Dawn!”
Wednesday morning, as I drove in, I noticed dark feathers flopping around on the parking lot. It looked like a bird had a broken wing and was trying to right himself. The wings kept fluttering, but the bird silhouette that is normal for a bird never emerged. I immediately wondered what happened: was it a baby who had fallen out of the nest? Was it a bird who had a spinal injury by flying into a glass door? As I…
God’s Love for His Children
“Jesus loves me, this I KNOW.“ God loves all humanity and there is a sense in which all who are on the earth are His children as His creation (Ps. 8:3-8; Acts 17:28-29). Yet, the ones who call on Him as Father, through Jesus Christ, truly are His children (cf. Jn. 1:12; Acts 2:21, 38; Eph. 1:5; 5:1-8). How do I know Jesus loves me? Look at ways the Bible tells me so: God’s nature is evidence of His love…
Confessing Our Sin
When we’ve sinned, whether against God or man, asking forgiveness is one of the most difficult things we must do. Godly sorrow, which works repentance (2 Cor 7:10), is difficult to come by when our reputation and our pride are at stake. Admitting we’re wrong is just plain hard! Pride is a gigantic boulder on the road to reconciliation. When relationships need to be mended, whether with God or men, we need to take heed how we try to mend.…
Our Righteous God
Our righteous God is terrible; His strength none can endure. He makes the haughty low with time; And elevates the pure. Were not the Lord upon our side, The flood would overwhelm. Were not the righteous God with us, A pilot at the helm. Our righteous God is terrible; His strength none can endure. He chastens those he loves with care, To make their faith secure. Were not the Lord upon our side, The flood would overwhelm. Were not the…
Faith When We’re Hurting
Stress. Pain. Anguish. Grief. The Christian experiences all of these emotions from time to time. How should our faith respond? Psalm 119:73-80 deals with our attitude toward affliction in light of the richness of God’s word. Notice the following: God gives life meaning (v.73) “Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn Your commandments.” Not only has God created us, but His word enlightens us to our true purpose. Truly, that which honors…
A Reflection on God’s Shepherds
He arrives on Sunday before it is time, Bible in one hand, faithful wife beside. He walks in and smiles for he’s glad to be Among God’s people and their faces to see, For he cares deeply for them and does love them so In Jesus’s Own likeness he watches them grow. Yet think of all that we may never see, Head bowed in prayer and hard callused knees, Many the tears: some of pain, some of joy, They all…
The Gift of God’s Word
For the last 2 years, Graeber Road has had an active presence on the campus of George Jr. High School. Consider the following efforts the Graeber Road congregation has been involved in: pare lunch for all the teachers and staff at the building. 2. In October we attend their “Trunk or Treat” and pass out candy along with Bible bookmarks, information sheets, and evangelism material. 3. In December we give a little something to the teachers before the year ends.…
How Great a Forest a Little Fire Kindles
Fire is an amazing thing. As our kids sing, “it only takes a spark to get a fire going,” it doesn’t take much to turn that spark into a raging blaze. James 3 has much to say about the tongue in a very practical, down-to-earth way. In doing so, James 3:5-6 focuses on the destructive power of words in seeing the tongue in an out-of-control manner. Notice a few thoughts of the “tongues of fire”: Tinder for a fire is…
“ASLSP”
Let me start off by saying that 20th century classical music is, by and large, “weird.” John Cage, a late 20th century composer, wrote an 8-page organ piece called Organ2/ASLSP. The “ASLSP” means “play it as slow as possible.” Usually this organ piece takes more than an hour to complete (Are you asleep yet?). Yet, in 2009, an organist played the piece for 14 hours and 56 minutes. In 2022, the piece was played for over 16 hours. Not to…
Greetings
Some 21 times in Romans 16, Paul uses the word “greet” in sending kind regards to many brethren that he knows in Rome. Consider some of the people he greets: Those who risked their lives for Paul – Prisca & Aquila (Rom. 16:3). Various workers in the Lord – Mary (Rom. 16:6), Urbanus (Rom. 16:9), Tryphanaena and Tryphosa, and Persis (Rom. 16:12). Those who suffered with Paul – Andronicus, Junia (Rom. 16:7). Those who are well loved, but mostly unknown…