As we start this series on fasting, we must state what fasting is. For our purposes, fasting is denying or abstaining from something or some things to be closer to God and His purpose for our lives and His purpose in certain situations. Fasting is between you and God. We must desire Him more than the world and the things of the world. It is a hungering for the nearness of God, the Holy Spirit, and...  Read More

There is nothing on earth like the bonds of a mother that loves her child and that child. The bonds between them are very special and unique. A true mother will do anything for her children to protect them or save them from harm. She will be greatly burdened by her children when they are hurting or have gone astray. She never gives up on them! She hurts with them in a heartfelt way. Scientists and...  Read More

COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 2As Paul was writing to the church in Colossae, he was encouraged by their discipline and their stability of faith in Jesus. But he warned them about man's empty philosophies. He said do not be deceived, beware of persuasive words, vain philosophies, legality, and asceticism. These are all about man's wisdom, man's traditions, and they are temporary and elementary. Paul struggle...  Read More

I have been gardening for many years, and yet, I experienced something the other morning in my garden that I have never seen. It was a very cold morning in the low twenties. When it is that cold, some plants with fresh new growth respond by wilting their leaves. The sun was just up and shining into the garden where I was standing. It was a real contrast to the cold air and it felt good. I was look...  Read More

                                             MATTHEW 28 As Mary and Mary were going to the tomb early in the morning, their hearts were certainly weighed down with the recent events. Jesus was dead. He had just suffered a terrible death. Their dreams of the Kingdom vanished. What happened? How could this be? What would all His followers do now? And now they were going to anoint His terribly abused...  Read More

 MATTHEW 16:18,19Jesus and His disciples came into the district of Caesarea Philippi at the base of Mount Hermon. This is in the territory of Bashan. Bashan was the land of the giants and was referred to as the place of the serpent and Hell. Og and Sihon were from Bashan. Caesarea Philippi was also known as Panias after the god Pan who was half man and half goat. Goats were sacrificed there in lar...  Read More

                                             LUKE 5:17-26Jesus was teaching and there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law there from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. They were checking this Jesus out to see if what He was teaching was scriptural. There was a crowd all around the house. Some men were carrying a paralyzed man to bring him to Jesus. But because of the crowd t...  Read More

MATTHEW 4:1-11Here is another wilderness experience in the Bible. It is quite different with it being Jesus as He can be described as the wilderness experience. He was called out of Egypt, He is the Passover Lamb, He is the sacrifice for sins, He is the Light in the darkness, The Rock, Living Water, Manna from Heaven, the snake on the pole, High priest, Prophet like Moses, the Word of God. The Hol...  Read More

1st KINGS CHAPTER 19For three and a half years Elijah experienced amazing miracles of God in his life. He had been very zealous for the Lord. Calling down fire from heaven and destroying 450 prophets of baal was the pinnacle of his faith and obedience to the Lord. This should have produced a spiritual awakening in Israel, but it didn't. This must have been very hard to take and very discouraging. ...  Read More

  1st KINGS 18:17-46Amazingly Ahab blames Elijah for the problems that Israel is facing during his reign. There has been a drought for three and a half years. Yet this is what the Lord told Moses would happen if His people turned from God to worship false gods. Deuteronomy 28:23. The blame game is still alive and well today too. Elijah sets him straight and puts the blame squarely on him. At great...  Read More

1st Kings Chapter 17Yes, Elijah was a prophet of the Lord God, but the Lord still tested his obedience and faith in the midst of a drought and famine. Luke 4:23-30. The Lord sent him to Ahab, the brook Cherith, and to the widow in Zarephath. Each step required faith and obedience to the word of the Lord. The Lord God was true to His word and supplied the prophet's needs.When we are obedient to wha...  Read More

  JUDGES CHAPTER 2 Chapter 2 is a picture of the whole book of Judges. One commentator described Judges as "Defeat and Deliverance."A very apt name for it! The Lord God was angry and hurt by His people as they forgot what He had done for them and then turned to other gods. But He never gave up on them. He delivered them time and time again. His grace is amazing and His love for His people endures ...  Read More