January 30, 2020 [1]
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord… Isaiah 6:1
For my birthday one year, my mother sent me a package wrapped in plain brown paper. When I opened it, there was a gaudy, multicolored straw basket inside, stuffed with tissue paper. I actually thought my mother had totally lost her good senses! I tossed out the tissue paper, wondered what in the world I was going to do with the basket, then called to thank her for her “gift.” Mother laughed when I thanked her for the basket then asked what I thought about what was inside it. I told her that nothing was inside except tissue paper and I had thrown that out. She responded urgently, “Oh, no, Anne! Inside that tissue paper is your real birthday gift!”
December 31, 2019
…With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying… Ephesians 6:18
As I look ahead into 2020 and beyond, I wonder…is this the decade of His return? In the next ten years, will the world experience the rapture of the church? The seven years of tribulation? The glorious return of Jesus? And the beginning of His millennial kingdom on earth? Everything seems to point to the reality of this possibility.
While we may not know what the new decade holds, we are confident of Who holds it. So on this New Year’s Eve, it seems very fitting to be pre-prayered for the future.
Join me as we pray together…
December 21, 2019
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
On December 20, Mark Galli, the editor-in-chief of Christianity Today magazine who is scheduled to retire on January 3, 2020, dropped a bombshell into the evangelical community. He published an editorial entitled: Trump Should Be Removed From Office. His reasoning was that in his judgment, while the president has apparently committed no crimes, he is morally unfit to lead. Subsequently, I have received inquiries from a wide variety of people interested in my comments on the editorial. God seems to have put a burden on my heart to respond.
November 25, 2019
Genesis 16:13 …You are the God who sees me…
Thanksgiving is one of my all-time favorite days on the calendar. This time of year seems to help sharpen my focus on things for which I am truly thankful. Looking back to last Thanksgiving when I could not walk, stand, pick up anything–when there were days I could not get out of bed or even speak without difficulty–I can hardly believe this year I am walking two miles a day and assuming a ministry schedule that includes traveling and speaking. Praise God! While He didn’t deliver me from my difficulties, He has brought me through them!
November 14, 2019
For nothing will be impossible with God – Luke 1:37
At this time last year I was undergoing chemotherapy. Because I was confined for days to my bed or a chair due to severe side-effects, I found myself watching television Christmas movies. So many of them referenced either what they called the “magic of Christmas”, or the “Christmas miracle”. But none of them accurately explained the real miracle of Christmas, which is so much more than even reconciliation in a family, or falling in love, or finding your heart’s desire under the Christmas tree.
The real Christmas miracle is this: Anyone and everyone can come into a right relationship with God. Anyone and everyone can be restored to fellowship with God. Anyone and everyone can be born again. We can start over. And best of all, anyone and everyone can enjoy the presence of Jesus living within. Even you. Even me.
