This week as I was working in our garden, I was thinking of all the spiritual lessons that can be learned from the seed sowing process. When we plant, all sorts of things can happen. Sometimes we have bad seed and end up with a virtually empty garden bed. Other times the seeds spill (or have help from some little …
Right around this time of year, or a little before, the Jews had a national time of rejoicing and giving thanks to God. This was the final festival in the Jewish calendar, the Feast of Tabernacles. Of this time we are told, “now the people came with their tributes of thanksgiving to God, who had thus richly blessed them.” Patriarchs …
John’s gospel begins with the familiar, sublime words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1, 3. John describes Jesus as “the Word.” John returns to this description of Jesus as he sees …
The Bible is filled with beautiful prayers of the heart’s burdened cry seeking help from above. These prayers are recorded so that we can unite our prayers with those of the Biblical authors of long ago. Like David we can plead, “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin…. Create in me a clean heart, O …
“Standing by a purpose true, Heeding God’s command, Honor them the faithful few! All hail to Daniel’s band! Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known.” How true and striking are the words of this familiar children’s song, but how often unheeded do they go. As another familiar …
As I write, it is the morning of July 4th. For those of us who have grown up in this country, many images come to mind: fireworks, parades, picnics, the Declaration of Independence and more. The lamblike principles of freedom contained in the Declaration of Independence declare immortal truths that “all men are created equal” and bestowed by God with …
We have just passed the time of year when our country recognizes, at least in some degree, our need to give thanks. For some reason, it is so much easier for us to complain rather than give thanks. We complain about how hot or cold it is, about how busy we are, about our aches or pains, etc. Repeatedly the …
Saving Grace Myanmar Twice Saved by Julia O’Carey Have you ever led someone to Christ? Church planter Khaing Hlone* from Myanmar shares about three young people with whom he has studied. You will see there is a battle for each soul. Every time Khaing Hlone gives Bible studies, Satan attacks him with fears. He wonders: will the devil snatch the …
Seeking the Lost Honduras Going Afar in Honduras by Christopher DeMary Our family went to Honduras for our first mission trip. Thank God, I now understand fully the significance of the lyrics of the beautiful hymn, “Seeking the Lost.” As I stood outside the small home of a family in the village of Cerro de Toro singing these words, …
Think Big for God Nepal I had been home for months before the directive came to me. My children were asleep; the house was quiet. I had been reading from the book of Isaiah. The words in chapter six, verse eight, kept going around in my head. “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, …
