It has been challenging to write as our lives have been filled with grandchildren for the past several weeks. We are enjoying having a house full of children, but they change our regular routines. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full…
Mystery – Colossians 1:24-29
Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God…
Behavior Matters – Colossians 1:21-23
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation–if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from…
Creation to Cross – Colossians 1:15-20
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in…
Every and all – Colossians 1:9-14
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in…
Faith, Hope, and Love – Colossians 1:1-8
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people–the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have…
Despair and Hope – Hosea 13 and 14
The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open.” (Hosea 13:16 NIV) As Hosea completes his case against Israel he makes a final plea for them to return to…
Time to Return – Hosea 12
The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God. He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He…
Birth or Conception?
Yesterday I started getting a verse for the day in email. I’m going to try to close my day with that verse. This was the verse for yesterday. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in…
God Has Feelings – Hosea 11
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But…