Rubble is defined as "waste or rough fragments of stone, brick, concrete, etc., especially as the debris from the demolition of buildings." This is exactly what Nehemiah found when he returned to Jerusalem: rubble and ruin. Jerusalem was broken. God rescued the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt. In fulfillment of His promise to Abraham, He intended to make them into a nation and give them a bountiful land in which to dwell. To establish this new nation, God gave them comman

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. Psalm 23 Perhaps the most loved scripture, and certainly the most quoted, is found in the book of Psalms. Sometimes referred to as the Shepherd’s Psalm, chapter 23 takes us through the beauty, the perils, and the rewards of a life well-lived. Green pastures, still waters, protection even in the valley of death…but perhaps most importantly, w

Remorse - regret for the things we have done or what we should have done. The moment when the reality and the penalty for our actions hit home. If you have ever been lost in the abyss of remorse, you understand the importance of the word "restore" - restoration of balance, of clarity, and perhaps forgiveness. But the haunting reminder of "what I should have done" and the realization that there are no "go-backs" in the real world can often block the path of restoration. As chi

First and foremost, let me remember Whose I am and that everything I do reflects my heritage. In a world where compassion is absent and the pattern of life teems with pain and selfishness, let me be called a peacemaker—not by the standards of the world where peace is determined by power, but because God is love, and love speaks a different language than might. Give me the peace that passes all understanding. Open my eyes to opportunities to share the light of God in a world o

Leo Tolstoy wrote a story of an old shoemaker who dreamed that Jesus would visit him on Christmas Day. The next day, he rose from his bed and began to clean his house and prepare food in expectation of the Lord’s visit. But as the day passed, the only visitors he received were an old man, a mother and baby, and a hungry child. To each of these, he supplied their needs. But by the end of the day, his holy visitor had not come. “It was only a dream,” he told himself sadly. Sudd

Throughout the writings of the Old Testament prophets, we witness the story of God’s chosen people. Again and again, they turn from the God who loves them fiercely, trading Him for idols. Whether false gods or the sinful longings of their own hearts, they choose to walk away from the One who called them His own. In the book of Malachi, we see the final words of prophecy given. Then four hundred years of silence from God. No prophets speaking God’s Words to the people. No noti

"Glory to God in the highest! And on earth, Peace, goodwill to men.”  Luke 2:14 To the Magi, revelation came through the study of ancient manuscripts and prophecies. To Mary, a personal angelic visitation explained her role in the coming of the Messiah. But to the shepherds, the announcement of the birth of Jesus came with fanfare and amazement. Angel messengers, heavenly hosts, sang with  praise to God, giving an invitation to the shepherds to greet the Holy One in His mange

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 We don't know much about the Magi who sought Jesus. The story is only recorded in the book of Matthew. We know that they came from the "East" and followed a star to worship the "King of the Jews." They brought gold, frankincense,

“… and his truth endureth to all generations.” Psalm 100:5 Over the past few months, I’ve spent countless hours at doctor’s appointments with my daughter. She recently completed a comprehensive assessment, and we will receive the results in the coming weeks. According to the provider’s website, the assessment can provide us with “the answers we have been looking for.” While I believe the assessment will provide valuable insights that will help provide the support that she nee

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. There is something incredibly comforting about knowing that mercy is not something God gives out sparingly. According to Psalm 23, mercy does not just visit us occasionally. It follows us. All the days of our lives. Not just the good ones when we pray before breakfast and remember where we left our keys. Even the days when we are tired, distracted,

When I first received the topic of God’s goodness, I expected to write a simple, uplifting blog post. After all, the Psalms overflow with praises that celebrate His goodness and mercy, drawing our hearts to kneel in worship. In our church, we often echo the familiar call-and-response: “God is good all the time... all the time, God is good.” Immersing ourselves in Scripture leaves little doubt about His goodness. Yet as I lingered over the topic, I found myself wrestling with

It is the time of year when we turn our thoughts to the blessings we have received and the gratitude we should show. The Psalmist worded it so well: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him. Bl

Revelation 22:13-17,20 It is in the Revelation to John that Jesus clarifies His identity: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End"—the eternal nature of Christ. He had explained this during His ministry—“Before Abraham was, I Am” (John 8:48)—and He was met with curses and stones. But in the end of times, there will be triumph. No longer the examples of utility and custom—the Door, the Bread, the Shepherd, the Way. Instead, He speaks of

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 We spend so much time searching for a steady sense of peace and trying to feel secure. As women, we often define ourselves by our to-do lists, our roles, or how much we accomplish. This week in our "I Am" series, we hear a statement that cuts through all that striving and anxiety: I am the vine. In this verse, Jesus uses the image of

"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies." John 11:25 For the last two years, I slowly watched as ALS ravaged and stole away my mom’s life. ALS is a progressive disease that causes the brain and muscles to lose their ability to communicate. The progression looks different for each person, but for my mom, it began by taking away her ability to speak and then her ability to swallow. Over time, she began to

Jesus answered, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 Way - access into the...

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." John 10:11 Have you ever been asked the icebreaker...

“I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep…I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." John 10:7;9 How do you get to...

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV) Let’s...

I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry. John 6:35 Bread has always been a part of Jewish history and tradition....