He is risen! He is risen, indeed! There are no words adequate to record fully what resurrection day meant to the first observers, indeed, to all of us. The joy of journeying with others as they encounter the risen Christ and all their doubts, fears, sorrows, disappointments disappear is exquisite joy. They are coming to know what we have learned as others journeyed with us. There are no words, yes...  Read More

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19, ESV).Ezra records the return of God's people to rebuild the Solomon's temple that was ultimately destroyed because of the horror of Israel's persistent sin. The end result, by Jesus' day (and Herod's intervention) was a wonder to behold. The temple was rebuilt, but the problem of sin was not resolved. In ...  Read More

Until there was no remedy...but wait!"But the LORD, the God of their ancestors sent word against them by the hand of his messengers, sending them time and time again, for he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept ridiculing God’s messengers, despising his words, and scoffing at his prophets, until the Lord’s wrath was so stirred up against his people that there was n...  Read More

Persistent prayer has been the theme of my devotional reading. In their persistent prayer, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah saw the hand of the LORD at work in delivering and blessing. When they trusted in their own devices, they got into serious trouble. Let's learn the lesson of persistent prayer's priority. As Hezekiah is about to face Assyria's annihilating power, the man who prayed made a sta...  Read More

And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours. (1 John 4:14-15, The Message).As I read the return to God-centered living under the leadership of King Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29-31), I found the joy in the renewed faith and practice, ...  Read More

What an incredible gift Jesus' prayer, recorded in John 17, is to the Church, to us. It covered His disciples under the shadow of the cross and has applied to every disciple since then. However long Jesus tarries, the 'High Priestly' prayer will bless everyone who enters the Kingdom by His grace. Praying God's glory in all things, celebrating the accomplishment of instruction, seeking the covering...  Read More