Today was a beautiful day in my city – not too hot, not too cold, with low humidity, etc. So, I decided to take my newly minted “teenager” to the local amusement park. Earlier this summer, she’d fallen in love with roller coasters and relishes each opportunity to enjoy them. The park was a buzz with hordes of people out…

I’ve been camped out in Luke 20:19-26 for the past few days, enjoying the portion of verse 25 – “Render, therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s and unto God the things which be God’s.” He deserves our praise, worship, and very lives. But tonight, my attention is drawn to the attempt to deceive Jesus. In the previous verses,…

I’m still lingering on the account of Martha and how she could have been seated at Jesus’ feet alongside her sister, Mary. Yes, it was a blessing for Him to be at her home. I’m sure she wanted to make it as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, which is why I can understand her focus on the preparations. She wanted…

I am still resting on Martha and her “discussion” with Jesus about Mary helping her in the kitchen. Clearly, Martha thought her request to Jesus was valid and He would respond in kind. Surprisingly, though, she walked away with much more than she dreamed. Martha’s statement to Jesus reflects her perception that Mary’s priorities were out of order, when in…

This evening, I was thinking about Martha and how she was blessed to have Jesus at her home. While there, He began teaching. Although in earshot, she was focused on getting the meal prepared. Her sister, Mary, however, was planted at Jesus’ feet, taking in His words. Martha was deeply involved in all things meal-related and the kitchen. She was…

John 21:3 has been on my heart for a few days. My attention was drawn to the last clause: and that night they caught nothing. Peter and a few of his fellow disciples had been out on the water fishing all night, yet they didn’t catch a thing. I’ve been marinating on the idea that it was never intended for…

The other day, I was pondering a situation when the following phrase came to mind: ‘That is none of your concern.’ I laughed because of the Lord’s quick correction. I was spending time questioning something that was none of my business! I was reminded of Peter’s conversation with Jesus. He’d just been commissioned by Jesus to follow Him. Peter turned…

I woke up with the story of Naaman’s young maid still on my mind. I am encouraged by her because her convictions weren’t hindered by what happened to her. She didn’t hold back on God because He hadn’t spared her from being imprisoned. Her physical placement had no impact on her spiritual posture. Her faith superseded her circumstances, and her…

My world has been hectic of late. But tonight, I was blessed with some downtime, so here I am. The Lord drew my attention to the account of Naaman, a captain from the Syrian army, who was miraculously healed from leprosy. I have been leaning on the young maid who spoke up about the power of God flowing through the…

I was preparing to wind down after today’s pendulum swing of events when Psalm 56:3 hit my heart. It reads as follows: What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. That scripture made me smile. My mind fell on my maternal grandmother, who, in her 70s, asked me to go with her to the ladies’ room at our…

Before God gave the Israelites the victory at Jericho, He instructed Joshua on how to conduct themselves in Jericho. God proclaimed Jericho an accursed city and all that was in it – except for Rahab and everyone that was in her home because she’d hid the two Israelite spies. He instructed Joshua to tell the Israelites that when the walls…

After three and one-half years, at God’s directive, Elijah let King Ahab know it would rain. Afterward, Elijah went to the top of Mt. Carmel, threw himself on the ground, and put his face between his knees. He told his servant to go up and look toward the sea. His servant obeyed. He returned and said, “There is nothing.” Unphased…

Yes, we’ve walked through the story of Jairus, but my heart is still resting on how Jairus faced a massive dilemma. He was told not to bother Jesus any longer because the situation was no conducive for improvement. So, forget about Jesus and accept the loss. Jairus had to make a choice as to whom to believe and respond to.…

Jairus was in a hurry to reach Jesus. I don’t believe he took the scenic route or that he stopped and engaged in small talk with folks. I’m sure when he reached Jesus, there was a sense of urgency in his voice when he asked Jesus to come to his house to heal his very ill daughter. The last thing…

Martha’s conversation with Jesus began when he finally made it into town. Lazarus had died and was buried. Jesus missed the funeral but was in town four days after the fact. They’d counted on Him to show up and heal Lazarus. But… Martha met Jesus before He could get to the house. She went straight to the point. “Lord, if…

Jairus asked Jesus to come to his home and heal his precious daughter. While on their way, they were met with an unexpected delay. A woman who’d been sick for 12 years with an “issue of blood” wound her way through the crowded streets, touched Jesus, and was instantly healed. Jesus took the time to ask the crowd, “Who touched Me?” She reluctantly responded by sharing her story…

The phrase “What will you do with what the Lord said” hit my heart while winding my way through a work project. Earlier in the week, I’d prayed about a situation when the Lord answered me through a portion of a song. It blessed my heart. I understood what the Lord was saying, and I’m choosing to wrap myself in…

God has plans for you. Yes, I know you know that. But what strikes me is His plans for you include every single day. We often consider the “big picture of life” when we quote Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to…

There are times when it’s frustrating to be forced to live through a process when you know God is able to change it. You did everything possible to prevent the current madness, including asking Him to change it. Yet, despite our best efforts to shift circumstances, we still find ourselves forced to live through a process in which we did…

I’ve been marinating in St. John 12:1-2 which reads: 1. Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.  The clause I’ve been meditating on…