Month: January 2009

People quickly learn about Jesus’ healing power and they flocked to him. He teaches them and so many crowd around that when a man’s friends bring him in, they can’t get near. The man’s situation is desperate; he is paralyzed. Then as now, the prospect of recovery was slim.  But his friends were not to…

Do you ever see advertisements that seem too good to be true? What if you heard, “I’ve got good news for the poor. There’s comfort for the brokenhearted. Captives are released and prisoners freed. If you mourn, now is the time of the LORD’s favor. God will shatter your enemies, giving you a crown of…

Times were good. Throngs of Israelites went out to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist. Expectations were high that the Messiah was coming. Then Jesus himself was baptized and his ministry began. The first three chapters of Luke contain many prophecies about Him – a child is born who will save…

John the Baptist was a real person who lived at a particular time in a particular place. He was Elizabeth and Zechariah’s son. He grew up and became a preacher, just as the Old Testament prophet Isaiah predicted. His message from God was, “Repent! Be baptized! Receive forgiveness for sins. Flee the coming wrath.” What…

Happy New Year! My husband and I received an unexpected but very treasured visit from old friends during the holidays. The house was not in order but we threw open the door anyway; they were good enough friends that it didn’t really matter. Expected or not, the visit blessed us. We smile now thinking about…