DON’T LOOK BACK: A NEW YEAR REFLECTION (2)           Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (v28) This 2022, let us choose to trust God, to receive His forgiveness, and most importantly, to not look back […]

DON’T LOOK BACK: A NEW YEAR REFLECTION (1)           Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it (v 14) With the New Year fast approaching, it’s important to reflect on God’s goodness and faithfulness this 2021. But, equally important to remembering is learning to “forget”—to overlook an offense, […]

FROM TRASH TO TREASURE                                      2 Corinthians 4:5–7 We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 The trash man’s house sits atop a steep street in a poor Bogota neighborhood. Not one thing about it looks special. Yet the unassuming […]

RUNNING TO WIN                                   Hebrews 12:1–2 THE MALCOLM BALDRIGE National Quality Award was awarded many years ago to the iconic Ritz-Carlton Hotels. When I congratulated the owner of that outstanding organization, he told me that they would need to work even harder to earn the respect that comes with the prestigious honor. He also mentioned that […]

A CHRISTMAS VISITOR                                      Luke 2:25–33 Sovereign Lord, . . . you may now dismiss your servant in peace. Luke 2:29 On Christmas Eve 1944, a man known as “Old Brinker” lay dying in a prison hospital, waiting for the makeshift Christmas service led by fellow prisoners. “When does the music start?” he asked William McDougall, […]

AFTER CHRISTMAS                                    Luke 2:22–24 EVER WONDERED WHAT happened shortly after Jesus was born? That’s an interesting question. We all feel that sense of uncertainty and even confusion after the crowds leave. When the house is still and quiet. The beautifully wrapped Christmas paper lies in piles, amid open boxes, stray ribbons, and bows. The once-hidden […]

OPERATIONAL ARRIVAL                                              Luke 2:16–17 MERRY CHRISTMAS! Lost in the wonder of it all, I believe a little child upon my knee would whisper simple words of advice up close to my ear. Let’s slow down. The special joy of Christmas is spending extra hours with folks you love. That takes time. Rather than talking […]

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS EVE                               Luke 2:6–7 IN 1818, a roving band of actors was performing in towns throughout the Austrian Alps. Their performance on a starry December night in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, impacted local pastor Joseph Mohr as the words of the Christ story remained in his heart. On his walk home, Mohr […]

THE GIFT THAT LIVES ON                                  MATTHEW 25:40 “WHAT IN THE WORLD can I give to ______ this Christmas?” Sound familiar? Sure, it’s probably the most frequently asked question every Yuletide season. In our pocket of society where pampered affluence is rampant, we are often at a loss to know which gift to buy. For some […]

THE REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON                        Isaiah 53:4–6 YOU’VE SEEN IT. SO HAVE I. The phrase is on bumper stickers, it appears on coffee mugs, it often finds its way onto greeting cards, billboards, and church signs. It has become almost synonymous with Christ. What is that expression? Jesus is the reason for the […]