“Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him […]

One of my favorite scenes from the hit movie, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” which debuted in the year 2000, is when the Grinch speaks with his echo. The scene opens with the Grinch speaking to his dog Max and reassuring himself that he is just fine being alone with his thoughts and doesn’t need anyone. He then proceeds to speak with his echo.   Grinch: How are you? Echo: How are you, are you, you, you? Grinch: I asked you first! Echo: I asked you first, you first, first, first! Grinch: [sarcastically] Oh right, that’s really mature, saying exactly […]

We’re well into the season of Lent – a reflective 40-day…

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6–7 NKJV).   At the end of each United States presidential term the president issues pardons to certain men and women who are incarcerated or who have been convicted of various crimes. Governors of the various states also have this power vested within their state offices. A pardon exempts someone […]

An instructive biblical example of how the Lord uses and governs providential events to accomplish His will in our lives is found in 1 Kings chapters 1 and 2. Providential Care in Action A repentant David believed that it was God’s will to make Solomon the next king of Israel, yet in these chapters we see a plotting Adonijah maneuvering to install himself as the next ruler. The aging and ill David had not yet made it clear to the nation which of his sons he endorsed to follow him as king. Perhaps he too feared Adonijah, his son, or […]