Welcome to 2018. Having completed our annual journey around the sun, we begin again. There is something refreshing about new beginnings; the laying down of the old and embracing the new. January is such a beginning; the year ahead a blank slate waiting to be painted and a new chapter waiting to be written. At home, the Christmas decorations …
Immanuel, God with us
There have been days of darkness and difficulty throughout history. The days preceding the coming of the Messiah were such days. The Roman Empire dominated the world, and similar to the time of Samuel, “in those days, the word of the Lord was rare.” (1 Samuel 3:1). Yet into this darkness and difficulty, Jesus came. He didn’t come unannounced. …
If you have faith…
Jesus replied, “Truly, I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to this fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” New International Version, …
Direction, Part 3
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16, New International Version (NIV) God moves in mysterious ways, ways beyond our understanding and beyond our control. …
Direction, Part 2
Direction, Part 2 We live in a chaotic age. History is filled with times like these, when things change rapidly. It seems that everything is in flux. We are questioning everything, including the very foundations upon which our forefathers built. We have judged them harshly and condemned them for their failures, refusing to acknowledge whatever contributions to the good they …
Direction, Part 1
The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NASB) Life is a journey. Along the way, there are many choices to make and roads to choose. There are doors that should be opened and doors that should remain closed. How do we navigate our journey and determine the path we should take? Though …
Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, We could really use some good news about now. It has been a rough go of it recently. Our world has experienced tragedy after tragedy in recent days. The list is growing way too quickly; the horrific massacre in Las Vegas, one hurricane after another wreaking devastation in the Caribbean, Houston and Puerto Rico, and the horrific loss …
Somewhere past the middle
It’s easy to get lost in life. Seasons come and go. Some linger longer than others, like a winter that doesn’t want to let go, or like Indian summers days here in Oklahoma that hesitate to yield to the coming fall. When I was younger, seasons seemed endless and time was on my side. Now that I am older, time …
Happy Birthday Luke!
Today is my oldest child’s 23rd birthday. Luke graduated earlier this spring from the University of Oklahoma and I am still in a daze at how quickly his college years passed. He is now living in Oklahoma City and working nearby while he determines the course of his future, or at least his next few steps. Walking into the future, …
Small things
We have a tendency to overemphasize big, a fact which seems completely unnecessary and somewhat ironic because big is big and doesn’t need our emphasis and focus. Because of it’s size, big demands attention. Small on the other hand could use our help and support. Due to its diminutive stature, small is often times overlooked and if we are not …