Jesus said, "I can do nothing on my own...I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me" (John 5:30, CSB). God's will prevails...ultimately and always. Whether it prevails in our lives is entirely up to us, but as for Him, He is Sovereign. Here is His grace demonstrated: He accomplishes His will so often through the surrendered heart. Take Jehoiada, the High Priest, for instance (2 Ki...  Read More

The second sign (John 4:46-54) of Jesus in John's Gospel reminds us that the Good News is for everyone...no exceptions. This gentile official would not have been welcome in the worship of Israel. He could not have sat at the table for a Jewish feast. Anything he touched that was ceremonially clean would instantly become unclean. He was welcome to come to the fringes, but not into the House of fait...  Read More

"For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14, CSB).What a blessing it is when the Holy Spirit 'syncs' our Scripture reading! Our Prayer Journal verse (above) takes me to Luke 10:27 in which Jesus answers the question of the greatest commandment and then proceeds to define 'neighbor' in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37 - bonus re...  Read More

The Spirit of God filled Elijah and Elisha, leading them and empowering them to live God's plan and purpose for their lives. That same Spirit lived in and worked through John the Baptist. As unique as these prophets all were in their calling and mission, they become marvelous examples of what God can do in and through us. At the end of John 3 we read these words: "For the one whom God sent [Jesus]...  Read More

The spirit of Ahab lives in a world that says, and I quote my Father-in-law, "Evil, be thou my good." That Ahab 'devoted himself to what was evil in the LORD's sight' (1 Kings 21:20) is evidenced in his hatred for the truth. He surrounded himself with lying prophets to tickle his ears. He knew the one man who could speak the truth to him because of Micaiah's close relationship with the LORD, but h...  Read More

Meeting God in unexpected places. Elijah makes a cave a hermitage (1 Kings 19:9-18). He is running away from everything and everyone...for his life. Elijah, prepare to meet God. No, He does not show up in the way you might expect: earth(quake), wind, and fire. No, it's in the sound of shear silence, that almost imperceptible whisper. Yet, it is unmistakably God...and Elijah embraces his mission an...  Read More