…they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. (Isaiah 40.31 ESV, KJV, RSV) …those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. (Isaiah 40.31 NIV) Perhaps you have memorized Isaiah 40.30-31, but in which translation? Did you learn to HOPE in the Lord or WAIT for the Lord? What’s the difference? Is there a difference? At first glance, to “wait” seems rather passive. “Hope” can also seem passive, but it has a greater sense of anticipation to it. The New Living Translation uses the phrase “trust in the Lord”. That seems to be a bit more active than just waiting and hoping.  Read More

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10.27) Everybody wants to be heard. Everybody wants to have a voice. Unfortunately, in today’s culture, Christians find it hard to have a voice. And, with so many voices out there, the voice of God is even sometimes hard to hear, let alone recognize the voice of God.  Read More

From Palm Sunday to Good Friday Jesus’ mission on earth was drawing near. He was the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. On the cross Jesus proclaimed: “It is finished”. Jesus, the unblemished lamb of God, paid the price for our sins. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” I Peter 2.24  Read More

It’s not a rhetorical question. Who are you? Take some time right now to answer that question. In fact, take a piece of paper and make a list of all that comes to mind. Don’t read any further until you answer this question: Who are you?  Read More

Jesus was in a boat with the disciples when a great storm arose. The storm began to rage, and the boat was being flooded by the waves. The disciples were in a panic. They were afraid the boat would capsize. Where was Jesus? He was taking a nap. How was it possible that Jesus could be sleeping in the midst of a violent storm? I believe Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was at peace because of His intimate union with His Father. God was with Him.   Read More

Did you know that you don’t have to be an ordained pastor to be in ministry? Did you know that you don’t have to go to seminary in order for God to use you to transform lives? When you accepted Christ into your heart, it was a response to God’s invitation to join Him in ministry by joining Him in His mission.   Read More