Faith and Christian Living
We’re celebrating Independence Day. Cookouts, fireworks, and family reunions will take place all across the country. We’ll remember how blessed we are to live in this country, where we have freedom to live as we see fit. This isn’t something to take for granted, since there are many places in the world where this isn’t true. Americans are […]
The God Who Sees Me Do you ever feel forgotten, ignored, or passed over? God sees us and cares for us. When Hagar had lost hope, God came to her; and she called Him El Roi (God who sees) (Genesis 16:13). When Elijah was running for his life, God spoke to Him in a still, small voice (I
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Worship music is an effective weapon to lift my spirits, but for the last several years my hearing loss has made listening to music a serious challenge. Many days I don’t even try because it’s so frustrating. But this morning I had the thought to just play the music while I walked at a low volume, even
When we lived in Alabama, there was an Osage orange tree at the back of our lot. It was a tangled, bushy mess with large thorns. One day my hubby was working in the back yard and our dog Elsa limped up to him, holding her front paw up. She had stepped on a thorn, and immediately came
We all like to fit in. No one wants to risk rejection or ridicule by others. But Christians are called to a different lifestyle than just “going with the flow.” In the Amplified Bible (Classic version) 1 Peter 2:9 reads like this: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased,
Being a Christian doesn’t mean your life will be smooth and easy. In fact, Jesus said we’d encounter trouble and sorrow. It’s not always easy to be positive when hard circumstances come your way. Personally, I’ve had times when I didn’t exactly have a smile on my face. The psalmists repeatedly encourage us to remember the things God
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Angels appeared to shepherds to tell them that Jesus had been born, and the shepherds were terrified. But an angel told them not to fear, that they brought good news; and they sang praises to God before they returned to heaven. Have you ever wondered what they do there? Years ago, our pastor presented a message
On this day, we light the third Advent candle called the Shepherd’s Candle. Immediately after Jesus’ birth, angels were sent to tell the shepherds in the fields around Bethlehem about His arrival. Why is this significant? There are many who believe that although shepherds provided a needed service, they were looked down upon. They lived in the rough,
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Bethlehem was a little farming village, and the name means “house of bread.” The hometown of King David, sheep used for sacrifices in the Temple were raised there. Otherwise, it was a small backwater town. But it was the birthplace of Jesus. Micah 5:2 foretells the coming of the Messiah in Bethlehem. Most translations refer to the town as
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