protection

The Gift of Provision

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.“ – Luke 2:6,7 Today, as we draw closer to Christmas, I have a thought I want to share — God always provides sanctuary for us. Even our beautiful church building here at Shepherd’s Grove is a place of rest and divine provision when we come to worship. Like shelter on a rainy day, a sanctuary reminds us that we have a safe home in the Lord. Interestingly, as we ponder the arrival of Jesus, we see that part of the miracle was God providing protection and a safe place for His Son to be born. Though His birthplace was less than glamorous, the manger in which our Lord

December 23, 2022 1 Comment

Favor in the Unfamiliar

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.” – Luke 2:4 Not only did God call Mary and Joseph to a long journey on a rough road in order to get to Bethlehem, but the required travel meant that Jesus would be born in an unfamiliar place. I don’t know about you, but when I’m facing something new or scary, I’m always looking for things that I know to give me stability and a point of reference. I can’t imagine what it was like for a young couple getting ready to welcome their first child as they attempted to find their bearings in a foreign land that was crowded with people. There were no plans laid out nor was anything certain, so they had to cling to each

December 12, 2022 1 Comment

Enjoying God’s Presence

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ ” – Psalm 91:1,2 Did you know that you can live in the presence of God today? Heaven, while it is certainly a physical location, can also be defined as a place where the Lord dwells. Since He lives within you, it’s safe to say that many elements of that eternal place can be enjoyed here and now, especially with the undying love of Jesus. In His presence, there is complete fulfillment: total joy, total peace and total life. Psalm 91 is one of the most famous affirmations of God’s presence and protection (I encourage you to read the whole thing when you have a minute), and interestingly, it was not original to David

September 28, 2022 4 Comments

Never Follow a Stranger

“But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” – John 10:5 The Bible teaches us that we are the Good Shepherd’s sheep and we are to hear His voice. Americans in particular do not care for this biblical sheep metaphor. In this country, we are all about being independent, “picking yourself up by your bootstraps,” being strong, and a leader. We like to be compared to things like lions and eagles. None of this sheep stuff — it does not resemble our vision of greatness. However, contrary to popular opinion, sheep are actually amazing animals and they’re quite intelligent. Studies seem to indicate that sheep are a lot smarter than dogs, and because of their intelligence, they are highly communal. That means that they love to be together just like we do; they love hanging

May 21, 2022 1 Comment

Run to God and Wait

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1 When I am aware of thoughts that are causing me to lose sleep or I have feelings of discomfort in my body — I am learning to just run to God. It is easy to blame others, like your spouse, a political party, or the government for your frustrations. I am thankful that as I run to God, I can just say, “Lord, this is what is on my mind and my heart. God, what is your answer to my frustration? How can I align with you in this situation?” I can then wait for God’s answer. God has victory in store for your life, and half of that victory is just believing that it is so. Looking at the life

May 8, 2022 No Comments

Goodness and Love Follow You!

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” – Psalm 23:4-6 Today, we’re going to continue our verse-by-verse breakdown of Psalm 23, as we examine and meditate on the sufficiency we have in Jesus. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. No matter what you go through, like the King James version says, even if death hovers over you, you have nothing to be afraid of. There is absolutely no place you can go where

February 16, 2022 No Comments

Your Authority in Christ

“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” – Luke 10:19 We discussed yesterday how Satan exists, and that we, as Christians, have power and authority over the evil he seeks to bring into our lives. In this discussion, we affirmed that Jesus had triumphed in the battle! Today I want to discuss a little more about our adversary and the source of his fleeting sense of power. The existence of lack and evil in this world, I believe, is perpetrated by people; yet, their fundamental cause is found in the angelic realm, specifically through Satan and the fallen angels who chose to serve him rather than the Lord of all. When we talk about the devil and Satanic influences in modern culture, it’s natural for educated people to become defensive — because the

November 13, 2021 3 Comments

You Attract Goodness and Love!

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” – Psalm 23:4-6 Today, we continue our verse-by-verse exploration of Psalm 23, examining and reflecting on the sufficiency we have in Jesus. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. You have nothing to fear, no matter what you go through, even if death is hovering above you, as the King James Version explains. There is no place you can go where you will not be in contact

November 10, 2021 No Comments

Safe and Strong

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 It is our responsibility as leaders in whatever capacity to keep people safe while also assisting them in becoming stronger. This is particularly true when it comes to parenting and grandparenting. There is a built-in tension in today’s environment between protection and the suffering that leads to growth. It’s easy to keep our children from trying the things they need to in order to develop character strength in the name of protecting them. For example, perhaps your child wishes to participate in a sport or activity that involves some physical danger. As the person in charge of their physical safety as well as their general development, it’s critical that you assess the pros and cons

October 30, 2021 2 Comments

God’s Covenant Bearer

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” – Genesis 12:2-4 4,000 years ago in the Ancient East, the world was a dangerous place, full of sickness, plague, famine, and drought. Struggling humanity survived through the enactment of covenants, or permanent promises made between two tribes that combined their strengths, assets, and property. The idea was that when both groups came together, they were stronger, wealthier, and wiser than they were on their own. Such agreements were typically made during a ceremony wherein two tribes faced each other, sang songs, and performed sacrificial rites. The tribal chiefs would exchange coats as a sign of honor and then they would

July 28, 2021 No Comments

The Gift of Provision

Favor in the Unfamiliar

Enjoying God’s Presence

Never Follow a Stranger

Run to God and Wait

Goodness and Love Follow You!

Your Authority in Christ

You Attract Goodness and Love!

God’s Covenant Bearer

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