Truth For The Heart
The Prodigal Son is probably the best known, and the best loved, of all of the parables told by Jesus. I think that’s because it tells the story of the kind of father we would all like to have. Some of us may have been blessed with a father similar to the one in the […]
Read MoreI wrote this post for New Year’s Day 2011. I’ve revisited it and revised it yet again for clarity because it continues to be read as people search for hope. I’ve left this one up so that if it turns up in a search, the link won’t lead to a page that says error, but […]
Read MoreThere are some songs with words and music so personally significant, I still remember the first time I heard them. Mary, Did You Know? is one of those songs. I first heard it sung by a small vocal ensemble at the water’s edge of a town harbor during an outdoor Christmas celebration ten years ago. […]
Read MoreIn Philippians 2:1 Paul lays the foundation of these next three verses by describing the reality of God’s grace in the Philippians’ lives. Because of this reality, he tells the Philippians to “make full (the measure of) my joy.” 2 make full (the measure of) my joy by being of the same mind, having the […]
Read More“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) The roots of the music of Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel! go back to the 15th century.1 The Messianic titles in the lyrics, called the O Antiphons, are […]
Read MoreIn the second chapter of his letter to the Philippians, Paul turns to writing to them about considering each other—serving each other—ministering to each other. He lays the groundwork—the foundation—the irrefutable bedrock of ministry as he makes this appeal to them. Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of […]
Read MoreI’m thankful for many things—my husband, my children and for various family and friends who are part of my life. I am grateful for strangers I have met who have encouraged me. Over the past three years my family has been through difficult times, as you may have guessed from some of my writings. We’ve […]
Read MoreI’ve told you about my friend, Lisa, who was such a strong encouragement to me. How can we learn to help each other continue to follow Christ in obedience? How do we help each other in areas in which there are struggles? How can we hold fast to Christ in our temptations to sin? In […]
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The heart that hears and understands With tenderness the pain, In caring, shares revealing scars To help me bear the strain. Compassion’s mark is found on those Who suffering have met; I trace their kindness in their words, As well as courage set. Those who have been through fire’s blaze Shine bright to those who […]
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Kindling for Candles 