Father God, even as we rejoice in our Savior’s resurrection, sometimes our suffering so overwhelms us that we can hardly pray or read Your Word. Yet, You know we desperately need Your Word’s truths as we suffer. Strengthen and encourage us, just as You did other disciples of Jesus in Read more…
Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? (“And Can It Be,” Wesley, C., 1738) Lord Jesus, we come to You in this holiest of weeks, with its emotional downs and ups. As we hear each story, help us to remember that things were Read more…
Precious Lord, Take my hand. I come to You weary. Help me to sing today. I need no other argument, I need no other plea, it is enough that Jesus died, and that he died for me. (“MY FAITH HAS FOUND A RESTING PLACE,” EDMUNDS, L. H., 1891) Who shall bring any charge against God’s Read more…
When bouts of electric shocks fired into my body, with violently convulsing pain, I couldn’t think but only endure. When they subsided, I always melted with gratitude to our Savior, who suffered with me. Can you imagine His raw and exposed nerves struck by scourges? Can you imagine the physical Read more…
Father, The deceiver tempts us to fear that You’re punishing us when we suffer. When the hits keep coming, and we read the words of the Old Covenant, we’re easily afraid it’s our fault. We must not be doing enough to “earn” Your favor. Our accuser tempts us to think Read more…
Father, I come today so weary. Feeling alone and discouraged. Feeling so unrighteous as I hunger and thirst for righteousness, amid my hardship right now. You compassionately understand our deep need for You and have given us so many promises in Your Word. Thank You. You even encouraged Your people Read more…
The beautiful familiar story seems unique when we’re suffering. Those shepherds must have been cold. Lonely. Maybe they were tired of caregiving. Sick of beating down wolves. Weary of trying to find greener pastures and water, keeping the wandering ones safe, the sick ones sheltered and alive. And who got Read more…
How silently, how silently,the wondrous gift is given!So God imparts to human heartsthe blessings of his heaven.No ear may hear his coming,but in this world of sin,where meek souls will receive him still,the dear Christ enters in. (“O little town of Bethlehem,” Brooks, P., 1868) Father, Because I have been Read more…
Lord Jesus, You came. You condescended to earthly flesh, incarnating as a human. You, the Word made flesh, the Creator and sustainer of all things, holy and majestic God the Son…came. We bow before You today, in awe of who You are. Lo, within a manger lieshe who built the Read more…
The composer of “Amazing Grace” has done it again. God has done it again! By God’s amazing grace in transforming John Newton into a new creation in Christ, He gave our brother John beautiful gifts to pen songs. This hymn, newly filling my heart, is God’s amazing grace to me Read more…