Nehemiah 1:4“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” I love seeing Nehemiah’s response to his brother’s news. He had gotten the report that Jerusalem was in great trouble and shame because the walls were broken and the gates destroyed by fire. This meant that the city was vulnerable, defenseless, and spiritually disco...  Read More

Nehemiah 1:1-3 & Genesis 18:16-33Genesis 18 with the story of Abraham and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are always a tough one to read. The people of the cities were truly wicked, and yet Abraham begged for them not to be destroyed because they are people and he believes surely, they are good and righteous people that live there, so God could not really mean to destroy everyone! We are all sinn...  Read More

Sometimes God has to expose our struggles and issues to get our attention. Sometimes, as was the case with Nehemiah, the struggles and issues are negatively impacting the people who we love the most. For Nehemiah, living in a plush environment as the cupbearer to the king, his eyes were widely opened when he heard the current state of his “hometown.” Recognizing the embarrassment and danger that b...  Read More

James 4:2-3I love the book of James.  It takes me about 15-20 minutes to read all the way through, and it’s filled with practical instructions on how to live out a genuine, active faith. Friends, I desire and need that wisdom.  As the page is turned to chapter 4, James has some harsh and important words for his audience.  “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what ...  Read More

Romans 12:1-2  “Not my will, but yours, God.” We say that often in our prayers, but when really pressed, do we really mean it? Now, I’m not trying to sound cynical, just real. We (well, I do anyway) often ask God for His will to be done when really, I’m asking God to affirm my will. A couple of problems with that approach. The first is obvious. We don’t set terms for God. Secondly, God in His perf...  Read More

John 14:1-14As Paisley is getting older and her personality is coming to the forefront in our lives, we are seeing that she is much like Sarah and me. She does not have any reservations about asking for something. Throughout our house, at some point or another, you will hear the sweet cries of WaWa, Pass-e, or Blank-ee. The calls will go on until whatever she is asking for is A. Given to her or B....  Read More