When Christ died on the cross for us, he was buried in the tomb and the stone was sealed. Hope was nowhere to be found. It was history’s darkest day. But on the third day, the resurrection power of Christ was revealed. Jesus emerged from the grave, conquering sin and death — exactly as heContinue reading “Moving Stones”
Category Archives: hope
Kept Strong in the Darkest Places
I love music! Choral music, instrumental music, popular music, classical music . . . folk tunes, ballads, country western and bluegrass . . . the patriotic and romantic. For me, music is a must. Like you, I have my favorite hymns—the ones that hold some special meaning for me or evoke grand and vivid memories of significant events. Invariably,Continue reading “Kept Strong in the Darkest Places”
For All Mothers on Easter
What do you see when you picture Mary, the mother of Jesus, standing before him at his cross? If you’re like me, the images that come to mind originated in a movie or maybe a religious painting. The fact is that Scripture doesn’t tell us what Mary said or how she acted as she watchedContinue reading “For All Mothers on Easter”
When It All Changed
Death and mayhem and bad news are nearly all we hear these days, or so it seems. It’s easy to lose hope. An Eternal Hope An acquaintance emailed me recently: “I am completely broken by witnessing my beloved America commit suicide right before my eyes; it is painful to watch, as an old man whoContinue reading “When It All Changed”
Risky Love
“Mary brought in a pint of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She poured the perfume on Jesus’ feet, and then she wiped his feet with her hair.And the sweet smell from the perfume filled the whole house.” JOHN 12:3 Artful Eddie lacked nothing.He was the slickest of the slick lawyers. He was oneContinue reading “Risky Love”
The Past That Does Not Fade
Change is possible. Hope is power. At least, that’s what an ad for one of the UK’s leading newspapers says. I’m not sure everyone would agree. Take my friend Nadia for instance. She’s bright and kind and creative and fun. But her hopes regularly come to nothing. Stuck in a tedious minimum-wage job with anti-socialContinue reading “The Past That Does Not Fade”
April Haunts My Memory
Del Tarr grew up in parsonages in Minnesota and South Dakota, and most of his friends lived on farms. Crops were sown, cultivated, and harvested, but never once did he see farmers weeping over the seed. Later, as a Bible student, he was perplexed by Psalm 126. Why did the sower go forth with weeping?Continue reading “April Haunts My Memory”
Out of the Depths of Despair
Psalm 130 is one of the most well-known penitential psalms in the Bible, and it is believed to have been written by King David. The psalmist is enduring a time of deep distress and feels as though he is in the depths of despair. He cries out to the Lord for mercy and forgiveness andContinue reading “Out of the Depths of Despair”
Till You Marry
You’re single and you want to be married. There’s just one problem: Ms. or Mr. Right hasn’t come along. It’s a common story and one that I experienced personally throughout my 20s and into my early 30s. After graduating from Bible college and moving to a new city for my first job, I assumed I’dContinue reading “Till You Marry”
Where Death Cannot Go
When I was 5 years old, I was present in the home of a family friend when he died from lung cancer. My mother and I used to stop at his house after school to check in on the family and offer help while he was on hospice. I’d watch a movie and my momContinue reading “Where Death Cannot Go”
Intentional Faith 