Archive for May, 2016
When You Need to Know There Is Hope
May 30, 2016
Isaiah 44:1-5 (ESV) “But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! 2 Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and… read more »
When You Need to Choose Love
May 26, 2016
Do you struggle between doing what you think might be “right” and showing love? Jesus came down squarely on one side of this quandary. Mark 3:1-6 (ESV) A Man with a Withered Hand Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he… read more »
Who Do You Say that I Am?
May 23, 2016
Matthew 8:28-34 (ESV) Jesus Heals Two Men with Demons 28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do… read more »
When You Need to Know Jesus Can Calm the Storm
May 19, 2016
Inside: We come to God fretting and anxious and wondering what in the world is He doing, because He sure seems to be sleeping on the job. Can He not tell that we need help? When you need to know Jesus can calm the storm. Why was Jesus sleeping through the storm? Why was He… read more »
How to Praise God in the Storm
May 19, 2016
Inside: It’s easy to praise God when things are going well. The true test—the harder one—is whether we can learn to praise God during very difficult times. How could praising God make a difference in your life? “Praise is a response to God’s gracious invitation to lift our eyes to Jesus our Savior despite our feelings or… read more »
But I Want to Take My Pillow!
May 16, 2016
When it comes right down to it, what takes priority in your heart? For me, my pillow sometimes takes precedence! Jesus challenges us to a higher call. Matthew 8:18-22 (ESV) The Cost of Following Jesus 18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a… read more »
When You Need a Healing Touch
May 12, 2016
Matthew 8:14-17 (ESV) Jesus Heals Many 14 And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the… read more »
When You Need to Know that Jesus Can Handle It
May 9, 2016
The photo is of the ruins of the synagogue in Capernaum. Matthew 8:5-13 (ESV) The Faith of a Centurion 5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But… read more »
Jesus, If You Are Willing: Lessons in Humility
May 5, 2016
Inside: The man knelt in humility. He acknowledged Jesus’ sovereignty. He boldly said back to Jesus what he knew Jesus could do. There are lessons for us in that! The hyssop plant. Today, we jump ahead to Matthew 8, where we will settle for a few devotions. In chapter 3, we saw the holy Trinity together… read more »
Words of Affirmation
May 1, 2016
Matthew 3:11-17 (ESV) [John the Baptist continued] 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his… read more »