For many of us, Martha has been given a bad rap. She is infamously known as the tattle-taling, busy-body of the two sisters. But, in the midst of grieving over the death of her brother Lazarus, Martha exemplifies the life of one who does not...
20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” 21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come...
32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon...
1 I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. 2 Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! 3 Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. 4...
One of the things I love most about my work with Mill Village Farms is the diversity of students that we serve. Most of our students come from the “inner city” neighborhoods in which we are located, but we intentionally recruit teenagers from outside those...
1 The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground...
The Apostle Peter is one of the most significant figures in the New Testament. He features heavily in the Gospels alongside Jesus as one of the members of His smaller, “core” group of Apostles; and, he is the foremost spokesman of the Apostles during the...
1 Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! 2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God. 3 You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals!” 4 For you, a thousand...
Peter was a man who experienced a life of continual failure; a life that many of us are all too familiar with. Facing his most crucial of many defeats, he turned not toward self-loathing or dismission. But, rather, he jumped in and waded through his...
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was...
If you were to venture into our backyard on any given day, most likely a kid or two would wiz past riding a bike. Trails are formed all over our yard. Our landscaping (if you can call it that) is made up of jumps of...
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life...
1 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So...
1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames...
1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. 2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. 3 For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. 4 They seem to live...
Achievement is the currency of the day. More than certifications, degrees, or tenure, our accomplishments weigh the heaviest in any valuation. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it does curb our mindset to avoid failure at all costs. Failure immediately translates into negativity,...
1 Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter...
12 So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13 First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had told...
As one of the twelve disciples, Judas was a chosen ambassador of hope. Yet, it was his own despair that led to his ultimate destruction. He had been given the authority to heal and cast out demons. He was trusted as the treasurer. He had...
47 But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. 48 But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When...
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said, “Lord,...
1 Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble. 2 The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. 3 The Lord nurses them when they are...
1 Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death. 2 Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. 3 When Judas, who had...
Have you been beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, gone hungry, or been attacked by bandits? Odds are that none of us have suffered like this for our faith. Yet, Paul endured these things and more for the Lord’s sake. While our sufferings may not look...
I have always found comfort in the absolutes. This is wrong and this is right. Bad guy. Good guy. Wide path. Narrow path. As a young believer growing up, I loved living in a black and white world. My little human brain could handle the...