Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. John 20:1, NIV The First to See Mary blinks away tears as they approach the garden. She cannot see anything besides the image of her…
What was holy week like for Jesus? I wonder. We celebrate Holy Week—decorations, party dresses, family reunions, plans for a special egg hunt or Easter play. We might observe the seriousness of Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, but overall, this is a week of joy culminating in Easter services. How Did He Feel? But how…
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 NIV “Do I belong?” We might not say it out loud, but we feel it. We feel it in…
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”Isaiah 43:1 (ESV) Have you ever felt like you’ve lost your footing? Fear and doubt whisper louder than faith, your confidence fades,…
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28–30 ESV I have said these…
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28, NIV Have you ever missed a moment with God because you were expecting Him to show up one way but He came in another? Maybe you were listening for a big,…
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction. 2 Cor. 1:3-4, ESV I made it, I thought as I woke up the morning after Valentine’s Day. I’d started February 14 with a careless scroll through Instagram…
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV The most treasured piece of decor in our home is a distressed wooden sign that hangs in our bedroom. I glance at it each morning when I turn on…
The topic of forgiveness kept my mind occupied a good bit last year. On the genealogical chart of my family of origin reside several names of people who refused to forgive. These people sat in church every week from childhood through adulthood with a breach unrepaired. Sadly, a few in succeeding generations have made similar…
When 2025 rang in the new year, we had no idea what it would hold. For our family, there were definite high points. My oldest daughter played her final volleyball game as a senior —and defeated their rivals as she hit a game-winning kill. My middle daughter received an offer to play at Nationals for…
Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. . . . The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. Exodus 14:13–14, NLT When anxiety tries to overcome us, it can feel much like it did for the Israelites as Pharaoh’s army chased them after they left Egypt. We look at…
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanual” (which means God with us).Matthew 1:23 Hope Deferred It was Christmas Eve thirty years ago, sixteen months after my wedding. Sixteen months of unanswered prayers for a babe in my womb. Sixteen months of hope deferred when only one…
What if my hope leads to disappointment? What if I embrace joy only to have it ripped from my hands? And what if I try and fail? These are the questions we often ask as we stare into the unknown and wrestle with uncertainty. These questions can feel particularly poignant during the Advent season as…
You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.” Lamentations 3:57 I have found fear to be like a shadow of something that appears larger than it is. Fear and anxiety have a way of distorting reality to make what is in front of us feel all-consuming. I remember the Holy Spirit…
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear… -Psalm 46:1-2 A lifetime of broken trust and abandonment tends to teach a person to rely on herself and close herself off. Even to God. I’d gotten to a place where, after walking through the fire, I was…
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