New life has sprung forth. Jesus is alive, and He brings the hope of new life to us. When Mary and the others headed toward the tomb where they laid the body of Jesus, they had no idea the great message they would bring to all who would hear, Jesus is alive! He has risen as He said. Jesus was not just a prophet although He prophesied. Jesus was not just a teacher although He taught many great lessons. Jesus was God who came in the flesh to redeem us from our sins. The grave could not keep him. He said, “I have the powerRead More →

As Mary stood at the foot of the cross watching her son beaten, battered, and dying, I wonder if she thought, This is a good day. In her wise way, I am sure she reflected on what was taking place and in her mother’s heart, tried to process how all of this could fit into the proclamation that the angel made over her when her son was conceived in her womb. “Blessed art thou among women! And blessed is the fruit of thy womb …For he shall save his people from their sin.” For Mary and all her son’s disciples, Good Friday could not haveRead More →

It is my joy to introduce you to Lori Hatcher. Lori is a Christian author and has just released a new book, Refresh Your Hope. I am pleased to have her as my guest this week. Be encouraged through her words “Renews Us Day by Day.” Everyone in our small church wanted to sit by Steve Bradley when they worshipped. Not because he had the finest singing voice around, although his midrange baritone was certainly acceptable. We liked sitting near him because he sang passionately, joyfully, and loudly. Those of us with less-than-perfect voices could sing as loudly as we wanted if we sat beside Steve.Read More →

My Expectation is from You

On the night Jesus was born, Israel had waited in expectation for their coming Messiah for centuries. Held under bondage to Rome and by the decree from a foreign ruler Mary and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem to register for tax purposes. Mary knew who resided in her womb; Joseph did too. What they didn’t know was how their life, His life, would play out in the years to come. On the night Jesus was born, His earthly parents had no place to stay. They were given permission to sleep in a barn, a stable. There, in that dirty, smelly place where animals wereRead More →

I am happy to introduce you to my friend and Christian writer, Evelyn Mason Wells. I trust you will enjoy her article on the God of Hope and we can live a “Life in the Overflow.” May you and yours have a Blessed and Merry Christmas! Evelyn, thank you for your encouraging words: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ~Romans 15:13 NIV The Apostle Paul, in the above Scripture, encourages believers – those who lived during his time, those whoRead More →