About 15 years ago our heavenly Father began encouraging me in my role as His son and out of that in my role as a father, both biologically and spiritually. Through multiple encounters on my journey God has revealed His heart as my Father and affirmed my sonship in Him. Out of this has come His call to fully embrace who He has created me to be as a father and to share that with others.
Today we look at Joseph’s side of the Christmas story! Can you imagine the emotions he must have gone through? We know that Joseph was betrothed to Mary. At some point he finds out she is pregnant. We don’t know how, but one might hope that Mary told him. And if she did, can you…
Last week we looked at the story in the Gospel of Luke where the angel Gabriel appears to Zachariah when he is burning incense in the temple. Today, we find the same angel, Gabriel, showing up six months later in Nazareth, about 80 miles or more to the north. This time he appears to a…
Over the next five weeks we are going to look at a series of angelic encounters that people had around the time of Jesus’ birth. With each one we will share a passage from Matthew or Luke where you can read the full story. This week we are looking at Luke 1:5-25, 39-56. Have you…
Thanksgiving or gratefulness is a key measure of humility in our lives. What we enjoy and experience in this life are because God and others have done things for us. None of us would have survived the first few years of life if it wasn’t for others who took care of us! I Thessalonians 5:16-18…
Today we look at a discipleship lifestyle that centers around the acronym RIO. Rio is the Spanish word for river. Have you ever tried to go white water rafting upstream? We both know it is hard enough to stay in the boat and make it through the rapids of life while going downstream. We will…
This week we are wrapping up our series on the finished work of Jesus titled, “It is Finished.” We have taken time to realize that many of us who know we were saved by grace through faith are living in ways that show we still depend on the law to justify us in more ways…
This week we take a look at the concept of worthiness. Are we worthy? If so, how? We have been looking at Jesus’s statement, “It is finished.” He fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law. Right now, in our lives, what does that look like for you and me? We were saved by grace…
This week we continue to look at what was accomplished when Jesus said, “It is finished.” For me, learning to rest in the finished work of Jesus is an ongoing journey. My mind has to be renewed daily so I can walk in freedom from a works-based righteousness. Today we are going to look at…
This week we continue to look at what was accomplished when Jesus said, “It is finished.” And then died on the cross. Jesus fulfilled the Law! But He didn’t fulfill it until he gave His life on the cross. Therefore, when Jesus was teaching many times He was pointing out to us the requirements of…
We are in our 3rd week discussing all that was accomplished when Jesus said, “It is finished.” And then died on the cross. Part of what Jesus meant by that is that He fulfilled the law. When we come to Jesus our spirits are made new but our minds and emotions are stuck in a…
