She had no idea it would be her. As a young Jewish girl, Mary had likely heard Isaiah’s prophecy, “the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14b). However, she did not know when and how that prophecy would be fulfilled until Gabriel appeared. Most of us have read this story so many times that the shock and awe of that moment does not move us

Focal Passage: Exodus 12:21-32  From early childhood I remember singing the old hymn, “When I See the Blood.” Taken directly from Exodus 12:23, the hymn reminds us that the Passover points directly to Jesus. As wonderful as the annual Passover celebration was, it would be fulfilled by the Lamb who shed His own blood not to celebrate a past physical deliverance but to provide spiritual deliverance for every generation of

Focal Passage: Luke 2:4-14  “Merry CHRISTmas!” Not “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays,” but Merry CHRISTmas! Our current series of Bible in Life lessons is entitled Looking Forward to CHRISTmas, and today’s topic is Looking Forward to JOY. The focal passage, Luke 2:4-14, includes one of most read and quoted sentences in the Bible: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks

Focal Passage: Exodus 5:1-4; 6:2-9  People crave freedom. Unfortunately, many desire an auto- cracy where they answer to no one but themselves. In the poem, “Invictus,” William Ernest Henley declared, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” Ironically, I have most often heard this poem read over dead men’s caskets. Pharaoh proved to be such a man.  Pharaoh quickly admitted (Exodus 5:2) that

Focal Passage: Exodus 2:23-25; 3:7-15  “But you promised! Remember?” Have you ever been reminded of a promise made in a moment of desperation that you had quickly forgotten? Whether is was part of negotiating with your child for better behavior or better grades, it clearly meant more to them than it did to you!  Did you notice in Exodus 2 that it was God who remembered His promise? After 430

Focal Passage: Acts 26:19-29  There are many things in life that demand a response. We are faced with these things each and every day of our lives. Some of them are small things that alter our lives very little. Then there are the big things that completely change the direction and outcome of our very existence. And of course, there is everything in the middle, each having varying effects on

Focal Passage: Acts 22:7-21  I can remember growing up and how I loved getting together as a family for the holidays and other occasions. It was a special time and the evenings were my favorite.  That’s when everyone would share stories. Some were funny, some were sad, but all of them were interesting. You can learn so much from just listening. You can also discover things about your heritage and

Focal Passage: Acts 20:18-32  One of the hardest things a parent has to do is to release a child into the world to face life on their own. No longer are we be able to shield them from the harsh realities, heartaches and heartbreaks of the fallen world in which we live.  No longer can we stand guard at the door of their lives and fight off those who would

Focal Passage: Acts 19:11-20  Many people have this idea that the outcome of a situation is all that matters. In other words, the end justifies the means. But God doesn’t see it that way.  He looks at it from all views — the beginning, the end and everything in between. It is important to Him in how we begin. It is important to Him as to how we go about

Focal Passage: Acts 18:1-11, 18-21  Over the years serving in ministry, I wish I had a dime for every time I heard the excuse, “I don’t have to be in church on Sunday to worship God. I can worship God anywhere.” While this is true because we can worship God anywhere, there is something that we miss in practice.  There is something special in being with other believers and worshiping