Scripture: II Corinthians 5:21 -  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.Before the crucifixion of Christ, the high priest would do a yearly sacrifice to atone or cover the sins of the Israelites that were committed during the year (Leviticus 16:8-28). This yearly atonement is still honored by many. It is called Yom Kippur -- a holy d...  Read More

Scripture:  I Kings 3:14,16 - And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days... Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.They are both women, and in that they are similar.  They are of child-bearing years, again similar.  They are both mothers of infant sons, similar aga...  Read More

Scripture: Psalms 30:1-5 - I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.2 O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 3 O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. ...  Read More

Scriptures:  Job 16:6 - Though I speak, my grief is not relieved; and if I remain silent, how am I eased?    Proverbs 14:13 - Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, and the end of mirth may be grief.While it is true that people need air, food, water, clothing, and shelter, to survive, we must also add to that list relationships -- because it is a strong or weak person who is able to thrive in the ...  Read More

Scripture: Hebrews 4:2 -  For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. Are you conducting yourself as one who believes what God has said in His word?  Or have you again left the daily protection offered by the shield of faith on the living room table or nightstand-- next to your fav...  Read More

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6 -  The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: 2 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good...  Read More

Scripture:  Romans 8:38-39 -  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Relationships are important in life. Unfortunately, some people forgo the work necessary to build true ...  Read More

Scripture: Psalms 8: 3,4 (NKJ) - When I consider Your heavens, the work of  Your fingers, the moon, and the stars, You have ordained,  4What is man that You are mindful of him, …God and God alone created heaven and earth and all that dwells therein. The moon, sun, stars,  mountains, valleys, fertile plains, lowlands, and extreme drylands. Around the world, man finds pleasure in visiting the exciti...  Read More

Scripture:  I Peter 1:7 - That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:    Isaiah 43:2 - When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt n...  Read More

Scripture: James 1:19 - So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.One Saturday my husband was in the basement, doing some handiwork, when suddenly a big black hairy spider came crawling out of nowhere!  My husband had moved something, and the spider was apparently underneath that object...  Read More

Scripture:  I Chronicles 4:9-10 – Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”  And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!”  So, God granted him what he requ...  Read More

Scripture:  2 Chronicles 16:9  -  For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”I’m not fooling anyone, but myselfLiving as if I don’t need the Lord’s helpI claim His name at my conveniencePraying on my time, yet ignoring His alleg...  Read More

Scripture:  Romans 8:38-39 -  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Relationships are important in life. Unfortunately, some people forgo the work necessary to build true ...  Read More

Scripture:  Psalm 24:1-2 - The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it, for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.When I look at what God has made, yes even the cicadas, I’m amazed.  He has made lots of things we don’t like, but we have to live with them.  Who causes a bug to stay in the ground for 17 years and then reappears in groves? ...  Read More

Scripture:  Colossians 1:19-23 - 'For IN HIM ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD WAS PLEASED TO DWELL, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether in earth or in heaven, MAKING PEACE by the blood of His cross. And YOU who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, HE HAS now RECONCILED in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above repro...  Read More

Scripture: Philippians 1:12 (NKJ) - But I want you to know brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.Apostle Paul sees his imprisonment and the many hardships in his life as a good thing, for they have led to the spread of the gospel. Paul was often persecuted severely (2Cor. 11:23-27) and suffered many forms of hardship for the sake ...  Read More

Scripture: Jeremiah 9:23-24 - Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lo...  Read More

Scripture:   Philippians 3:14 (NKJV) - I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.Do you enjoy watching time traveler movies?  I do.  They always seem to have a singular theme running through them:  one revolving around correcting a source of regret.  While most of us can recall an event or comment (or perhaps even an attitude) that had a regretful outcome, I h...  Read More

Scripture:  John 5:24 (NASB)  -  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.                                                                          Do you remember a couple of years ago when there were several billboards scattered around the city with the giant letters ‘B...  Read More

Galatians 2:20 -  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.A banana tree is a very sturdy and resilient tree, and yet it looks very weak.  As unbelievable as it may be, no fire or typhoon can kill a banana tree.  Even if the banana tree wa...  Read More

Scripture:  “Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard [like the barren, dry soil or the impassable swamp].  Prov. 13:15 (AMP)A few months ago, I heard a judge tell a defendant, ‘….and you thought your idea was much better than mine?!?’  The defendant had removed himself from two treatment programs that the judge had specifically ordered him to complete.  Yet, for some...  Read More

Scripture:  Psalm 1:3 - He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.There is nothing like a saint that’s seasonedGracefully enduring life in divine sequence We’ve seen a little bit of this, and a little bit of thatBut, in all our days, Jesus always had our back Lord, you’ve b...  Read More

Scripture:  Psalms 1:1-3 - Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither...  Read More

Scripture: Proverbs 16:3 (AMP) - Roll your works upon the Lord, [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause Your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.Recently I had an opportunity to “ace” a spiritual test, and yet I became fretful, frustrated, and flustered with a work-related problem that I could not quickly or easily resolve.  (Cu...  Read More