“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, ESV) There is our plan and there is God’s plan. Joseph learned that Mary his wife was pregnant. It was not his child. That was one thing he knew for certain. He had a plan. He was a good man. He was going to divorce her quietly. He did not want to put her to … [Read more...] about Making Great a Bad Situation
Verse of the Week
Love Patience
“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.” (James 5:7, ESV) We overestimate what we can accomplish in a day. We are hurried and rushed to get done everything we think we need to do. Then at the end of the day we wonder what … [Read more...] about Love Patience
Love Overflow
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17–19, ESV) Learning to love yourself starts with … [Read more...] about Love Overflow
Love Yourself
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:8–9, ESV) I am not a Justin Beiber fan (known as … [Read more...] about Love Yourself
Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:4–5, ESV) Our verse of the week tells us to enter God’s presence with an attitude of gratitude. This is a hard thing for me. I often lead with complaint and … [Read more...] about Developing an Attitude of Gratitude