Walking with the Way

Again, in our reading this week, God uses his word to be encouraging during these uncertain times! "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."  (1 Peter 5:7-9) Isn't that the truth! I was on a Zoom talk yesterday with missionary friends who live in Germany.  They described their lockdown being very similar to ours here in the USA.  Likewise, some missionary friends in Spain have been experiencing the same kind of "suffering".   Praise the Lord, these friends, have cast all their anxiety on God.  They stand firm in their faith! What I love about the above verse is that it not only gives encouragement, it gives an action step.  I don't like just sitting back, doing nothing in tim

With the lockdown of the country and the unknowns on how and when it will "open up", it's near impossible to "boast about tomorrow", wouldn't you agree?! This situation we are in sure made James 4 stand out to me! "Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why you don't even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?..... all such boasting is evil ." (James 4 13-17) Could God be using this virus to remind us not to boast about our plans? Well, I am a planner!  I love to think of the next adventure and do what I need to do to make it happen. God has definitely put a reality check on me! Reading James, I was asking myself, have I left God out of my plans? I like what Francis Chan says about this passage.  "There are two issues here (in this scripture). One is the sovereignty of God and secondly is our submission to God."

Happy Easter!! I can't believe the perfect timing of reading Hebrews as we celebrate our risen King this Easter Day!!  Did you see how the writer of Hebrews basically hit every point and reason, we celebrate today?! He described how we need a mediator before our Holy God.  Jesus is that mediator! "He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek." (5:9-10, 6:20 7:24) "He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself." (7:27) And our Friday reading!! Yes! "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many." (Hebrews 9: 27) And the spot-on verse that declares Jesus is ruling right now!! "But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his foot

Well, Titus 3 sure stood out to me this week! “Remind people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceful and considerate, and always to be gentle towards everyone.” (vs.1) I have been reminding my adult kids often about being subject to the authorities. Obeying the new rules of social distancing and staying home has been hard on them! Fortunately, for believers, the directives Paul gave to Titus, especially “to be self-controlled” (2:5, 2:6   & 2:12) is doable because we have the Holy Spirit to help us! I love Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age , while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and