Month: June 2025

In John 6:16-21, we see the disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee by night to reach Capernaum. The wind picks up and the water becomes rough, when suddenly Jesus appears walking on the angry waves. But as soon as they allow Him into the boat, the sea becomes calm and they directly reach the shore where they were headed. Now it would be wonderful if we could pick and choose the storms that will come into our life…but we can’t. But we can choose Who will be in the boat with us.

A delegation of Jews had come from Bethel inquiring whether it was still necessary to fast in mourning for the destruction of the Temple since it was now being rebuilt…only showing they were entirely missing the point. Yes, it had been 70 years, contends Zechariah, but their fasting had now become just for show and self-interest rather than to please God. In other words, the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple was just a distant memory and had taught them nothing. So Zechariah again called them back to obedience to God…for their formal worship had become mere lip-service. By the way, Zechariah did answer their question in Chapter 8:18-19, whether they needed to continue to fast or not with an empathic Yes!

Waiting…it’s remaining at rest in readiness or expectation of something. In the delivery room, you wait for that newborn to take its first breath…and at the other end of life’s spectrum, you wait for your loved one to breathe their final one. But waiting patiently is hard and painful and we’re not good at it. But Psalm 37:7 is very clear, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” And until we can realize that our waiting or resting in the Lord isn’t dependent on our external circumstances but on our relationship with Him, our waiting will be fraught with fear, anxiety, and apprehension. For rolled up in this word “wait” is the hope and confidence that God’s Divine Will will be done at exactly the right moment, in exactly the right way, and with all the kindness and mercy He has to bestow.

I found it yesterday on the kitchen floor, though I had no idea how it got there. It was a safety pin lying on the tile floor…but I knew immediately what it meant. It was God’s way of reminding me once again that He was present and would hold me together no matter what. And boy, did I need that not so subtle reminder! This Scripture is also an excellent reminder of the all-sufficiency and supremacy of our Lord… Creator, Redeemer, and moment-by-moment Sustainer of the universe…Whose power holds not only the vast Cosmos together, but us.

Ecclesiastes 8:7 tells us that no man knows the future, and that can be very scary at times. We want to know what lies ahead, but the road is shrouded in darkness and confusion. But there is one thing we do know and that is God’s promises. In I Timothy 6:18-19, Paul calls it the future hope of Believers… and its that hope in God and His promises that can anchor us in the middle of the unknown today. For Proverbs 23:18 comforts us with this, “There is surely a future hope for you and your hope will not be cut off.”… When our faith and trust is in the Lord.

Yesterday we had a different Hospice Nurse come to see my dad. Her name was Sarah and in talking to her I knew right away that she was a Christian. Since she didn’t know anything about dad, we spent time talking about his journey on Hospice and where he physically was that day. As we walked back to his bedroom so she could do her Nursing Assessment, she said one of the most kindest things to me…”As soon as I walked into this house I could feel great peace like a bubble within this place. Your father is very lucky to be in such a loving & peaceful environment.” I praise God for His kindness & mercy that people can sense the peace that passes all understanding…but I also thank all of you that have prayed, for your prayers are being answered. God is good, all the time.

Another translation puts it this way, “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him…” The sign of a true friend isn’t found in them confiding their secret sorrows, but in telling you their secret joys. So what makes God so very dear to us isn’t all the big blessings He bestows lavishly on us, but rather the tiny little blessings that bring joy to our hearts. For it’s those little blessings that show God’s amazing intimacy as a friend sharing His joy of knowing every detail of our life… and desiring to bless us.

The path ahead may be hidden, and it may be obscured by all the chaos around you right now. But that doesn’t mean you have to fall into deception and the emptiness of idolatry. Look to the Word of God to rule and guide you through those confusing times. Or as Romans 6:16-18 tells us, commit your way to God and His grace will bring you through as you are obedient. So ask the Lord to guide you through life, continually seeking His revealed Word, and He will supply the grace to do so.

Jesus did not come to earth to hobnob with the rich and famous, or hangout with the Biblical Scholars of the time. Jesus’s mission was to seek out the lost and rejoice when one was found. Thus, this verse was the beginning of the Parable of the Lost Sheep, where Jesus taught about reaching out to those living far from God’s Law. Probably the most well know tax collector being Levi, despised by the Jews for his exploitive dishonesty and flagrant collaboration with Rome. But Jesus saw past this all, calling Levi to be one of the twelve disciples and changing his name to Matthew.(Gift of Yahweh)