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Mary Had to Make a Choice; But, Really, Doesn't Everybody?

There’s a new “blockbuster” religious film out on Netflix about the mother of Jesus. I haven’t seen it yet, and I hope it is a wonderful portrayal, but I can guarantee that it departs from the Biblical account of who Mary was. In fact, I bet a lot of you reading this have not considered the question I am going to ask about her today. Mary was called by God to perform a unique mission. On the…

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The Woman Who Believed an Unbelievable Message

Almost every Christmas pageant contains the Angel’s appearance to Mary. Luke’s narrative about Mary’s conversation with Gabriel described her reaction to some pretty unbelievable news. If you think about it, there is much to learn from Mary’s response to God’s messenger. (And BTW, the Greek word for angel is anggelos, or messenger—simply put, a courier who brings a message, or a word from someone…

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History Connected by Coincidence? Or Coincidence Disguised as History?

Most casual observers might assess a seemingly random series of events and say, “Wow, That’s a Really Amazing Coincidence!” In fact, anyone looking at the birth of Jesus would have to admit there were some surprising coincidences that took place. After further review, however, I would submit that there is something more to it than that… You Can Look It Up… “In those days Caesar Augustus issued…

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Shepherds Were Considered Unclean and Lower-Class. So, Why Did the Angels Choose THEM?!

Surprisingly, the Christmas Nativity story starts with shepherds. It’s surprising because it doesn’t seem logical that the King of Kings would announce his arrival to such a humble, backwater group. Surely, an announcement in Rome or at the Temple in Jerusalem would have made a bigger splash. Yet here we are, twenty-three centuries later, talking about the humble beginning of the Messiah’s…

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The World Changes Fast. But Consider This: Grace Never Does

Stop and think for a moment about all the changes you’ve seen just in the last couple of years… From a post pandemic environment, we have moved on to natural disasters, wars, and terrorist attacks. Twitter changed to X, and bitcoin was in, then out, and now in again. Trump was in, then out, and now in again. AI is just coming on board, but we know it does things faster (and phonier). Today’s…

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What If Someone Told You Everything You've Ever Done?

(Well, What Have You Done?) It could be a very intimidating thing, thinking about “Everything You Ever Did”. I mean, stop and think about how you’d feel if someone knew everything you’ve ever done– not just the good, sweet things, and the highs and lows, but every single lie, every bit of secret pride, all your bad choices, the times you cheated or gossiped, or the hateful thoughts… How would…

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Words Have Power: Do Your Words Tear Down, or Build Up?

Some Words About, Well, Words Words matter, don’t they? They can hurt and they can heal. Have you ever stopped to consider the power of words and how much they influence what we think and what we do? Words are vehicles that carry truth or lies, and they can sow peace or destruction. Remember that poem from Carl Sandburg: “Look out how you use proud words. When you let proud words go it is not…

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You Are Holy, and Being Holy Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means

We are all pretty acquainted with the idea of being holy. But, who among us is HOLY? We have all characterized some do-gooder as “holier than thou”, or a “holy roller”. Who among you has NOT said, “holy cow!” or “holy Toledo!” (or holy something else!)? But the Bible says that being holy may not be what you think it is. Consider this: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on…

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Delight is Officially Your ONLY Job Today: You Better Get Started Now!

It’s fun to be delighted. However, we don’t often use it in a sentence like this: “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.” (Psalms 119:92-93 NKJV) Shining De Light on Delight What is David talking about here? He is saying that God’s law gives him delight! Delight is defined as “a…

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You Want the TRUTH? Well, Maybe You Can't Handle THIS

Above the doorway to the old Library at the University of Texas, there was a quote: You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” It’s a reference to John 8:31, which is a pretty familiar verse. But do you remember what Jesus said just BEFORE he uttered those famous words? “Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, ‘If ye abide in my word, then are you truly my…

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Radical Hate is Common in Our World. Why Not Try Some Radical Love?

We live in a time of radical conflict. There are currently wars in about 36 countries world-wide, according to Wikipedia. ( Category:Conflicts in 2023 – Wikipedia ) There are civil wars and revolutions. According to an article in The Atlantic, “The Uppsala Conflict Data Program, which has been tracking wars globally since 1945, identified 2022 and 2023 as the most conflictual years in the world…

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Knowing God's Testimony is a Great Way to Start Your OWN

It used to be that when people gave a testimony in court, they would swear on the Bible because it was a symbol of truth. And the power of that testimony could help enforce justice. It seems like more and more people doubt the Bible these days, but what if– I mean, really, what if it IS true? What if it contains God’s actual testimony, “the whole truth and nothing but the truth”? Would you read…

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Why Is It Called "Romantic" Love? Who Is It There For?

Solomon, the King with many wives, apparently knew something about being romantic: “All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves–I looked for him but did not find him. I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves.” (Song of Solomon 3:1-2, NIV) The Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs) is a beautiful picture of…

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Creation Or Creator? Think About Who God is, and Who YOU Are...

We recently bought a car, and it came with a manual from the folks who made it. There are a bunch of electronics and features we wouldn’t even know about if we hadn’t been given the owner’s manual (in both book and digital format, btw). This book from the people who made the car contains almost everything you need to know about your vehicle. Doesn’t it make sense to get information from the…

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What If You Are an Amazing Image? How Would That Reflect on You?

In today’s devotional reflection (see what I did there?) we are thinking not only about the fact that God created us (which we did, yesterday), but about the fact that He created us in HIS image. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them”. (Genesis 1:27 NIV) The Creative Distinctive You (as in all of you, as in mankind) are…

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Good is the Enemy of Great: The Man Who Liked His Stuff

A Hard Choice “As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not…

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Don't Just Be Thankful. Be "Thanks Full" As Well!

Really, EVERY Day is Thanksgiving There’s a difference between “Thankful” and “Thank-full-ness”… Today is a great day to reflect on what you are thankful for, but it is even more than that.“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1 NIV) You’ll notice that this verse from the Psalms is exactly like the verse from Chronicles in yesterday’s devotion. It’s a…