How close are you with your pet(s)? If you’re like a lot of folks, you’re pretty close. Many pets instinctively know how you’re feeling, and you to a degree them. But shepherds and their sheep are on a whole different level. There’s a bond between them that most people and...
“It’s right out there!” “Where, I don’t see it?” You’ve probably had one of those back-and-forths about something interesting to see in the distance. You just have to be looking in the right place. That’s especially important when you’re looking off into the distance, into your future. Even to heaven. ...
Back to work and school. Family and friends are done visiting. Easter food and candy (lots of it) are about gone. Special services at church are over. Or are they? At St. Matthew we’re celebrating Easter Sunday 2 this weekend. That means more Easter hymns, more Easter good news, and...
It was “life shattering” news for Rob & Chara. Tests had revealed their unborn daughter had a high risk of spinal muscular atrophy. They soon found out how crippling, even how deadly, SMA could be for their unborn daughter. There were sleepless nights and anxious days. What would happen to their...
We might say “Hallelujah!” The Jews shouted “Hosanna.” It was from a familiar holiday song, “Save us now!” It also took on a second meaning, for when God had come through for them: “Praise the Lord!” We actually can say both at the same time. “Hosanna – Rescue us now!” ...
How comforting. Repentance in my heart doesn’t depend on me. God’s the Father, who with amazing grace, brings me back to him like the Prodigal Son. Some pain, great gain! The life of repentance that results is rich and full in the ways only God can bless.
It’s just not going to work any other way. I don’t like it, but I’m going to have to do it that way. We often fool ourselves, or are tempted into thinking that way. It’s when “the way” that we have our minds made up is a sinful way. One...
It’s not easy to be “vulnerable:” to be willing to admit your weaknesses and your faults. With certain people you can’t be vulnerable. They’ll use your weaknesses against you. Not Jesus. He has suffered in the same ways that you’ve suffered. With one big difference. He suffered without succumbing to...
This is one of those “da!” statements. Of course there’s glory coming from the face of Jesus (some day we’ll see it!) But what difference does that make now? His glory shines into the darkness of life, as we see him better from his life story in the Bible. Like...
OVERCOME EVIL ACTIONS WITH GOOD? Does that really work? The evil inside of us says “no,” and fuels the fire with “evil for evil.” And so hurt and harm mushroom. Jesus offers a powerful solution for evils done to us: God’s love, forgiveness, kindness. Apply God’s good to evil done...
