“We must not conceive of prayer as though it were an overcoming of God’s reluctance; when in fact it is a laying hold of His highest willingness.”—Richard Trench, 1807-1886 All believers have probably...  Read More

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. John 16:22 Jesus continues to love and shepherd His followers right up to t...  Read More

I don’t know who coined that phrase, but we have all felt it from time to time.And it is a terrible feeling.If anyone in history should have felt impending doom, it was Jesus, during John 16 and his f...  Read More

The steadfast love of the Lord is better than life, but is it better than money? In the abundance of our worldly goods, sometimes it can seem that we value our money more than our lives: when the mark...  Read More

Our study last Sunday in John 15:12–17 introduced an old theme of “loving one another” along with a newer theme that Jesus calls us His friends. We saw that this word friend He uses means “an affectio...  Read More

You sit across from your spouse, looking at and listening to them. Eyes are focused. Ears are engaged. Yet, in your mind, you are not engaged. Silently, perhaps you are planning your day, or fixing so...  Read More

"[E]very branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." John 15:2 (ESV) I find it fascinating and counterintuitive that Jesus teaches us here that, if we’re growing spiritually, ...  Read More

"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it."John 14:13–14 (ESV) Jesus made these remarkable statements j...  Read More

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:8 I have so enjoyed think...  Read More

"Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.... Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul." Psalm 66:5, 16 (ESV) I lo...  Read More

In our study Sunday, we saw how God reveals Himself first with simply the name God and, from here on, mostly with the name Father.In the context of having troubled hearts, understanding that our God i...  Read More

Last Sunday’s study was on John 14:1–9 and is in the setting of the now eleven disciples and Jesus.He exhorted them to continue believing and trusting in God but to also trust in Him. But He also tell...  Read More