“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” 1st Samuel 7:12 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Here I raise mine Ebenezer; Hither by Thy help I’m come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home. …
“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 As I shared yesterday to start my sermon, Martin Luther King Jr. was in London in 1964. He was preaching, and he …
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2 The holidays are over—time to do some reflecting. How did you do? Not with your diet or gift-giving or decorating. Instead, grade yourself on your interactions with others. Did you pass with flying colors? Fail? Crash and burn??? The holiday season, if you listen to …
“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” Matthew 6:27 My late father-in-law’s favorite song was Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” This music marvel of an a cappella song has 7 tracks mixed together, each made using only McFerrin’s voice. Its carefree vibe and musical artistry made it a global …
“And David danced before the Lord with all his might.” 2nd Samuel 6:14 It was a long day, and my team was tired. We had gotten to that point in the summer where the newness of things had long worn off, but we were not yet close enough to the end to lean into a “finish strong” mentality. Things had …
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 Play to your strengths. That’s the age-old wisdom of sports and coaching. The same is true in …
“But when Simon Peter saw it (the miraculous catch of fish), he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Luke 5:8 Yesterday I drove through part of the Great Smoky Mountains. Two of my girls have been with family for the last couple of weeks and it was time to …
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 The Eagle is the apex predator of the sky. This means it has no equal—no natural threats that hunt it and conquer it. It eats other …
“Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” Exodus 4:29 Moses had just spent 40 days on the top of Mount Sinai conversing and communing with the Lord. This was a true “Mountain Top” experience. In fact, this Old Testament story is echoed (and surpassed) with Jesus, Peter, James, and …
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.” 1st Chronicles 29:11 It was a homecoming. I was headed back to the place where …
