"As they left the council, they weren’t discouraged at all. In fact, they were filled with joy over being considered worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of His name. And constantly, whether in public, in the temple, or in their homes, they kept teaching and proclaiming Jesus as the Anointed One, the Liberating King" (Acts 5:41-42, The Voice).Last night we viewed season 3, episode 2 of The Chose...  Read More

How amazing is this? Even Peter's shadow falling on those he passed by was used to bring healing to the sick (Acts 5:15). There is something that emanates from those who have been in the presence of Jesus that impacts those around them. "What is it that is different about them?", people wonder. They can sense it, but they can't always put their finger on it. However, in need, they will find a way ...  Read More

Great power and great grace, what a beautiful combination (Acts 4:33). With great power the early Christians gave witness, and this was a direct result of their prayer for boldness (4:29). Yes, and that prayer for boldness came after there was opposition at the highest level. Out of opposition and struggle opportunity arises for God's glory to shine through His surrendered and willing children. Th...  Read More

"...they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13b).Carriers of the presence of Jesus, Sanctuaries of the Savior, filled with the Holy Spirit and boldness they ministered to the lame, taught the ignorant worshipers and confronted the guilty religious leaders. Peter and John were different, majorly so, after Pentecost, and no one could deny it. The Spirit IN them made al...  Read More

Happy Father's Day!There is a time for mourning and a time for joy. Nehemiah 8 reminds me that though my heart may be corrected by the Word, though I will always stand in God's presence with a sense of His holiness and glory and the keen knowledge of the distance between who I am and who I should be, there are times that must be given over to celebration, to joy. Indeed, the joy of the LORD is my ...  Read More

Both Nehemiah and Acts remind us of the priority, privilege, and power of prayer. Our reading in Nehemiah begins with prayer (4:4 - indeed, the first thing Nehemiah does in response to the news of Jerusalem's predicament, is pray - 1:4f) and ends with a powerful testimony of the completion of the wall under great opposition: "...these tasks had been accomplished by God" (6:16). We know that Acts 2...  Read More