Merry Christmas!
John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” God incarnate became a man, and He died for our sins and rose the third day. Don’t let that ever cease to amaze you!…
Our Purpose Revealed
Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” What is our purpose?…
7 Key Reasons American Christians Should Support Israel
“I will bless those who bless you,And I will curse him who curses you;And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3 Even if you take these most important factors out of the equation, there are significant practical reasons for the US to support Israel. God has made it abundantly…
Humble Yourself
1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. A little booklet by John MacArthur, Found: God’s Peace, casts these famous verses in an entirely new light. As Christians, we’ve probably all heard…
Reflections
Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.” The events of the past few days have left me speechless. Many of us feel deep grief and pain at so much loss, from the terrorist attacks in Israel to the brutal murder of a dear young man who loved Jesus…
Prisoner’s Prayer
Recently, I read some writings by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of my personal heroes. If you do not know much about him, I hardly know where to begin in describing his life to you. Rather, I will have to refer you to one of my favorite books ever: Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas. Once you start digging…
Greatest Treasure
Please enjoy this wonderful, beautiful, and insightful post, beautifully written by my dear sister Elizabeth! If you would like to check out the rest of her blog–which I highly recommend-please go to songofmyheart.com! http://songofmyheart.com/2025/08/24/greatest-treasure-2/
Extravagant Love
Mark 14:3-9 3And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why…
Happy 4th of July!
Galatians 5:1 (NKJV)Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. “Not to speak is…
Storms
A comparison and a poem. Psalm 107:23-32 and Mark 4:35-41 Psalm 107:23-32 23Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, 24They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep. 25For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. 26They…
My Current Favorite Quotes
Proverbs 25:11 (NKJV)A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Here are a few of my current favorite quotes. Enjoy! Quotes from some of my favorite books: (If you pick up one of my books, you are sure to find some of these quotes underlined heavily! :)) “Only when we…
Exalting God through Scripture Memory
Recently, I was featured on the Scripture Memory Podcast, a ministry of Scripture Memory Fellowship. This episode includes testimony from my years competing in the National Bible Bee competition, as well as encouragement in memorizing Scripture for God’s glory. Check it out here!
The Contrast–A Poem
Mark 10:35-37 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the…
The Menial, Ordinary, and Mundane
2 Kings 5:13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” This verse struck me in my Bible reading the other…
Be Still
Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Here is something I wrote in my journal a few days ago–a reflection on several Scriptures that revolve around the same theme. Be still… You say, yet how can I be…
The True Meaning of Trust
Job 13:15 (NKJV) 15Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. “Trust” is such a common word in Christian lingo that it almost becomes a type of cliche. When we go through hardships, often we are told to “trust God.” When others experience difficulties, we advise them to do the same. Sometimes I wonder…
Why Christians MUST Vote!
As you know, this is a critical time for the United States in view of the election. No matter what happens, let us be reminded that OUR GOD IS IN CONTROL! He removes kings and raises up kings (Daniel 2:21). He has a plan, and He is still on the throne. We can rest assured…
Red Sea Road
Exodus 14:13-14 (NKJV) 13And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”…
He Satisfies Our Souls
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is…
No Good Thing
Psalm 84:11 (NKJV)For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84 is truly beautiful, through and through. But one phrase from it has really struck me in particular, from verse 11: “No good thing will…
On the Potter’s Wheel
Isaiah 45:9 (NKJV)“Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’? Recently, the image of the Potter and the clay has captured my mind.…
Unlikely Heroes: Hebrews 11:32
Hebrews 11:32 (NKJV) 32And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah… Hebrews 11 is the great “faith chapter” of the Bible. We begin reading it, and we see figures we’d expect: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and…
Over All
I Chronicles 29:11 (NKJV)Yours, O Lord , is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord , And You are exalted as head over all. Matthew 6:13 (NKJV)And do not lead us into temptation,…
The Joy of God’s Salvation
Psalms 51:12 (NKJV)Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. During a sickness a few months ago, I had some spare time, and I decided to read the almost 200-page chapter of John MacArthur’s book Biblical Doctrine about soteriology. It ended up blessing and edifying me immensely. There…
If You Had Struck Twice More
1 Kings 13:14-19 14Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!”15And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So…
Desert Bloom
Isaiah 35:1-2 1The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them,And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;2It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice,Even with joy and singing.The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,The excellence of Carmel and Sharon.They shall see the glory of the Lord,The excellency of our God. A…
Psalm 16 (part three: The Right Hand)
Psalm 16:8-11 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to…
Psalm 16 (part two: Pleasant Places)
Psalm 16:5-7 O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. In Psalm 16:5b,…
Life Out of Death
One crisp morning, as I was out for a walk, a barren tree caught my eye. Its branches looked dead, and it appeared lifeless, buried under winter’s gloom. As I examined it more closely, however, I spotted three distinct species of colorful birds playing in it, one of which was a rare kind I had…
Psalm 16 (part one: The Lord our Inheritance)
Psalm 16:1-5 Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” Their sorrows…
The Shadow of His Wings
Psalm 91:14-16 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I…
God’s Judgment: Isaiah 47
Isaiah 47 is a prophecy about God’s impending judgment on Babylon. His people had been taken captive by Babylon, according to His will, but Babylon had overstepped its boundaries and was unnecessarily cruel and evil. Babylon was known for its sorceries and enchantments. The modern Christian tends to picture God only as a God of…
Breath of Heaven: Mary’s Song
When I was younger, I thought that God’s plan for Mary was the very best calling for any woman who has ever lived and that nothing else could ever be as special as being Jesus’ mother. At the root of these thoughts lay the deep desire to do great things for God. Last year, as…
God’s sovereignty: Isaiah 45 & 46
God’s omniscient sovereignty is clearly on display in Isaiah 45 and 46. These chapters are mainly addressed to King Cyrus, whom God named and destined to free His people hundreds of years before his birth. Our God is sovereign. He knows the past, the present, and the future through and through, and He doesn’t just…
Isaiah 44: God’s Forgiveness and Power
Isaiah 44 is a beautiful chapter that displays numerous attributes of our God. In verses 1-4, we find the Lord promising to pour His Spirit on His children. In verses 6-20, God reminds us that He is God and that idolatry is useless. One of the key aspects of God’s character that is shown in…
God’s Promises: Isaiah 43
Isaiah 43 is such a beautiful chapter. It is packed with priceless promises to each of God’s children throughout all time. Fear not, God says! He has redeemed you, and He calls you by your name. If you are a true believer, your name is in His book of life, and you are His. No…
God’s righteousness: Isaiah 42
God is righteous! He is perfectly holy. No sin could ever come near Him. Because He is so holy, He must judge our sin. Isaiah 42 gives us a wonderful picture of God’s righteousness and our response. God in His holiness punished His people for their many transgressions. He gave them a righteous law, but…
God’s Uniqueness: Isaiah 41
Isaiah 41 is a chapter about God’s care for His people and His uniqueness. God is showing the Babylonian exiles that He has all power to save them from captivity, and that they should not fear because He is SO much greater than the idols and leaders of Babylon. The latter part of this chapter…
God’s Greatness: Isaiah 40
Isaiah 40, addressed to the Israelites returning from Babylonian captivity, is one of the most beautiful chapters in the Bible, one that helps us gain so much knowledge about our God. We have the tendency to diminish God’s greatness in our minds, but that is because He is so powerful that our minds cannot even…
Hope is an Anchor
Hebrews 6:19-20 (NKJV)This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. What hope is the author of Hebrews referring to in this…
Perseverance of the Saints
Can true Christians ever permanently fall away from the faith? John 10:28-29 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand…no one is able to snatch them out of My…
Prayer and Faith
John 14:12-14 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified…
Take Heart!
Our world seems to be falling apart. We contend with personal issues during day-to-day life with national and global problems stacked on top. Churches are struggling, families are breaking, and individuals are drowning amidst a flood of hardships. However, my message to you today is TAKE HEART! No matter what is going on, God is…
Praying for America
As we celebrate our nation this week, let us be sure to pray for America. (If you are a citizen of a different country, please pray also!) In a day when only 76% of Americans consider themselves patriotic, I believe that fervent prayer and firm patriotism are greatly needed in this precious nation today. I…
Fearless
Recently I read the book Fearless by Max Lucado. It is a very inspirational resource. It addresses numerous terrifying fears that grip us, a few being the fear of not mattering, of disappointing God, of worst-case scenarios, and much more. For each of the fears Lucado addresses, he tells us how to battle it with…
Secret Place of Thunder
One evening, I had the blessing of observing a mighty thunderstorm. It lasted for quite a while–pouring rain, continual flashes of lightning, and occasional booms of thunder. It persisted late into the night, and I fell asleep watching the storm rage. In the morning, the sun came out in a cloudy blue sky. It reminded…
Same God
Isaiah 50:2 (NKJV) …Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver?… Isaiah 59:1 (NKJV)Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. How often do we limit God’s power to our finite comprehension? How prone we…
Lower
Recently, while observing a small waterfall, I was struck by an astounding thought. Jesus went from the incredible glories of heaven to the great agony of the cross–the ultimate example of self-sacrifice and humility–poured out for me. How can I do the same for Him? Of course, my sacrifice for Him can never come close…
Priorities
Colossians 1:17-18 (emphasis added) And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Recently, while I was speaking with someone, the conversation turned to…
Sanctity of Life
As I look at current events and see that Roe vs. Wade may possibly be overturned soon, I thought an article on the subject of the sanctity of life would be especially poignant. According to statistics, as a result of Roe vs. Wade, more than 52 million unborn children were killed in the U.S. just…
God Is With Us
It is not Christmastime, but the astounding concept of IMMANUEL–God incarnate–is a major part of our every day lives as believers. Here are some of the lyrics to one of my favorite songs–“For God Is With Us”–that puts this concept in a beautiful perspective. “No room for a King/no celebration and no ceremony in that…
David’s Lows
David is often admired, and rightly so. He was an incredible man of God. When we think about David’s victories, though, we can easily believe that his successes were quickly reached and far outweighed his difficult times. But recently, when I reread David’s story, I was deeply touched by the trials he went through before…
Resurrection Sunday: Two Symbols of Hope and Joy
John 11:25-27 (NKJV)Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God,…
Life’s Road
One of the lessons God taught me recently is that of “the road”. While on a hike, I was deeply moved by this image. Several things gripped my heart as I compared the road to our journey in life. “The pathway is mostly rocky, but some stretches are smooth.” In life, the path we walk…
The Power of Quiet Reflection
Last weekend, I was blessed to have some extended quiet time with the Lord. He spoke to me beautifully about the power of quiet reflection. In the upcoming posts, I will be sharing some of the lessons He taught me during this special time spent in His presence. Our lives are so full of busyness…
Living Water
Just one sinful woman–rejected, despised, an outcast. She had been living an adulterous lifestyle and could not escape her past. She was in a habit of coming to the well in the afternoon, preferring the intense heat of the day rather than the whispers and scornful looks she knew she would receive otherwise. Yet one…
Walk by Faith
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” –2 Corinthians 5:7 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight…
