“I’ve noticed that everybody who is for abortion has already been born!”
President Ronald Reagan
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16 NIV
I never knew how much I could love someone until I had a baby.
If you want to know the Bible, you have to read the Bible, all of it, not just your favorite parts. If you don’t know the Bible well, you are vulnerable to deception. And that is exactly why so many Christians are deceived by false teaching.
The Bible consists of 66 books: The Old Testament (39 books) and the New Testament (27 books). If we are to understand the whole counsel of God’s Word, we must read and study all of it.
Every book of the Bible contributes to our knowledge of God. The Old Testament contains well over 400 verses and allusions that point to the coming Messiah.
You can read the whole Bible in one year by reading for about 15 minutes per day. This is not difficult to do! I highly recommend it! I have been doing this since 2019, when my pastor shared a one-year Bible reading plan. It changed my life!
It seems like most Christians would rather read a book by a well-known minister rather than read their Bible, but remember this: Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. You will be surprised by how much you will learn!
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV (emphasis mine)
In Psalm 119, King David wrote:
“I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” vv15-16 (emphasis mine)
“Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.” v 24
“Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations” vv89-90
“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” v92
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” v105
“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” v114
“Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” v165
This is the story of a man who lusted for what he should not have seen and the sin that spiraled out of control.
King David was a man after God’s own heart, a good man who trusted God in all situations. He was surrendered to God’s will. He was a musician and wrote songs praising the Lord. Yet he lusted after a woman he should not look upon – Bathsheba, a beautiful woman married to one of his elite military commanders, Uriah the Hittite. David saw her bathing, and he sent for her, committed adultery with her, and she became pregnant.
David tried to cover his tracks by summoning her husband Uriah, who was away at war. He assumed Uriah would sleep with Bathsheba, and it would look like he was the father of the child.
However, Uriah refused to go home while the soldiers under his command were at war, and he slept outside the palace instead. David was so desperate to cover up his sin that he sent Uriah to the front lines, where the battle was fiercest, so that he would be killed. And so he was. The sin of “lust of the eyes” spiraled out of control and ended in murder.
“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16
Yet God called David “a man after my own heart.” How could David, a man of God, fall to such depths of sin?
“I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.” Acts 13:22
“There is no limit to the depths of sin a person is capable of once he or she starts to walk away from God. Committing just one sin often makes people callous to bigger sins, until they find themselves doing things they never imagined they would do.”
Pastor David Jeremiah
Nathan the prophet visits King David
Nathan said to David,
“There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor.The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.”
Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.
David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”
Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!“ (2 Samuel 12:1-7a)
The consequences of David’s sin were severe. The child born to him by Bathsheba became sick and died; and calamity never left David’s household.
Broken-hearted over what he had done, David cried out to the Lord, repented of his sins, and was forgiven. In his sorrow, David wrote Psalm 51.
“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.” (vs. 7)
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” (vs. 10-11)
“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (vs. 17)
Once forgiven and the weight of his sin lifted, David wrote this Psalm:
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:8-12
David experienced the overwhelming power of God’s forgiveness and mercy – forgiveness for sins which were evil in the sight of the Lord. Forgiveness is an indescribable experience that leaves one changed forever. It brings with it a deep understanding of God’s mercy and love. It brings relief from shame, relief from guilt that is too heavy to carry. And it is available to us today.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
May we forever praise Him and bring glory to His Name.
“You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.”
Corrie ten Boom, Holocaust survivor and author of The Hiding Place
All Scriptures from NIV
Read the story of David and Bathsheba from 2 Samuel here.
“God desires that His children not only receive His grace but understand why it is precious. Through the Son, believers learn to value mercy because they see what it cost…In Christ’s submission to the Father’s will, the depth of divine mercy is revealed. The Father’s justice and compassion meet perfectly in the cross. In that sacred union, the believer learns both the seriousness of sin and the magnitude of grace.”
Once there was a very popular preacher. So many people crowded into his church services that the church had to be enlarged. He frequently preached at other churches, as popular preachers often do.
The preacher wrote beautiful Christian songs that were popular with churchgoers. Soon, he began a series of weekly prayer meetings in addition to regular services.
What made this preacher so special? I believe it was his life journey.
All the experiences in our past have shaped us into the person we are today. This preacher, at one time, was a vile sinner, cruel and having a hardened heart; a man without compassion or mercy.
Is it possible for such a person to have a complete turnaround? Can a hardened sinner become a saint? Can a depraved evildoer become a man (or woman) of God?
Ask the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair, anointing them with costly perfume. When an indignant Pharisee questioned Jesus about allowing this sinful woman (probably a prostitute) to touch him, Jesus said this:
“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”Luke 7:47 NIV
Have you guessed the preacher’s identity yet? You won’t find him on YouTube or TV. He was born in 1725.
Before he gave his life to Christ, he was the captain of slave ships. I can only imagine the horror of such ships. Still, it is well documented that slave ships provided such wretched accommodations that many men, women, and children died before arriving at their intended destination. In the words of a former slave, Olaudah Equiano, “The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying rendered the whole scene of horror almost inconceivable.”
Who was this forgiven reprobate turned preacher-songwriter?
His name is John Newton, and he wrote these famous words: Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.”
This celebrated hymn touches my soul because I know that what God’s grace and mercy did for John Newton, He did for me.
As you listen to Amazing Grace, thank God for his mercy and forgiveness. The more we have been forgiven, the more we love Him. That’s what Jesus said.
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18 KJV
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Titus 3:5 NIV
“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:3-4 NIV
This word picture of God’s protection is rich with meaning. It warms my heart and encourages my soul every time I read it. The “fowler’s snare” is a metaphor for hidden danger, unexpected spiritual traps, and the deceptive schemes of the enemy. Pestilence brings to mind a deadly disease that spreads over a wide area.
“A mother bird will spread her wings over her babies to protect them from storms and predators. She will allow herself to be wounded to protect them. She keeps them warm and sheltered, and the baby birds feel safe in her embrace. Such is God’s fierce love for humanity.” Jeremiah Study Bible Notes
Years ago, when I left the Word of Faith movement, I was looking for the real truth, so I read the New Testament three times in a row. Before this, I had based what I believed mostly on books recommended to me by church leaders, books available in our church bookstore.
On reflection, I would say that many Christians who follow false teaching do so because of books they read about the Bible, which are often based largely on the author’s experiences and less on Bible study. These teachers often take verses out of context.
In case you’re wondering, the first teaching that I questioned was what is often called the prosperity gospel. It teaches that God wants you to be rich, and if you give enough money, you’ll get back at least ten times as much money. These preachers are living extravagant lives. For more about this, read my post, What Does the Bible Say About the Prosperity Gospel?HERE
As I read and reread the New Testament, I learned that, more than anything else, the Bible emphasized loving others. These are some of the verses that stood out to me:
“The message you heard from the very beginning is this: we must love one another.” (1 John 3:11)
“And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
“Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
“Be under obligation to no one—the only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law.” (Romans 13:8)
“My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” (1 John 3:18)
“No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us. We are sure that we live in union with God and that he lives in union with us, because he has given us his Spirit.” (1 John 4:12-13)
“Do all your work in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)
“Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together.” (Ephesians 4:2-3)
“To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another. Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you.” (1 Peter 3:8-9)
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a
Henry and I walk by this 200-year-old tree every day. It inspires me to ponder life’s mysteries. If you look closely, you can see my granddaughter standing in front of the tree.
Oh Mighty Tree
Oh mighty tree! The stories you could tell. You've seen many mighty stotms. And yet you never fell.
I strive to be like you, Strong in every way With roots that grow deep down, I will firmly stand.
I keep my hurts within. But they can never win. For God is on my side. From Him I cannot hide.
He knows my every thought, And yet He loves me still. He holds my shaking hand. He knows what He has planned.
I put my trust in Jesus. He has never let me down. His Word forever leads me. And someday I’ll wear a crown!
I pray that you will trust Him. He is worthy of our praise. He will lead and guide you, forever and always!
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:20 NIV
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13 NIV
Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 NIV
Did you know that over 1.3 million Americans have lost their lives in war? (military.com)
“A study from the National Institutes of Health estimates that, as of 2017, half of the men who die every day are veterans. As we remember America’s fallen troops on Memorial Day, we might also stop by and visit those who fought past wars and listen to the memories of their fallen comrades in arms — they may not be around comeVeterans Day.” blake.stilwell@military.com.
Today, let us reflect on the sacrifice made by those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Also, let us honor all those brave men and women who are putting their lives on the line every day to protect us, the military, police officers, and firefighters.
THANK YOU!
For the story of how Memorial Day started and evolved, read Scott’s fascinating historical narrative, Three Graves, No Birthplace: The Forgotten Origins of Memorial DayHERE.
One morning, I walked into the Women’s Bible Study, and they were having a potluck that no one had told me about! Maybe I was being overly sensitive, but I was very offended.
The Bible study teacher recognized that I was upset, and the next time I saw her, she gave me an index card with some Scripture references. She probably had no idea that it would change my life. As I opened my heart to God’s Word, something wonderful happened! The Truth set me free! These are the Scriptures:
“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to OVERLOOK AN OFFENSE.” Proverbs 19:11 (emphasis mine)
“He who covers over an offense promotes love…” Proverbs 17:9a
“A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.” Proverbs 12:16 (emphasis mine)
This happened to me over 30 years ago. The devil has used the same tactics since the beginning of time. He has used it on me. He will use it on you.
Read about David in 1 Samuel 17:28-33 below. Notice that David had to overlook the offenses thrown at him before he could kill the giant. Satan tried to stop God’s plan for David, but he couldn’t do it because David overlooked the offense.
“When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
“Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?”He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before.What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.
David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”
Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
David didn’t get angry and sulk. Instead, he refused to be offended.
Over the years, God has continued to reveal to me how powerful it is to walk in love, and that means overlooking offenses.
“(Love) is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 1 Corinthians 13:5 AMP
The devil will send offenses our way, but when we choose God’s way and walk in love, Satan’s attack will not prevail.
Has anyone ever offended you? Insulted you? Put you down? If so, consider this: Love is strong spiritual warfare!
Consider this:
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:21-23
Following Jesus and walking in love is spiritual warfare. When we love others, we are defeating Satan and his dirty schemes. This is how we wield the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God!
Addendum: Recently, I ran into my former Bible Study teacher at Panera Bread. I went over to her and told her how what she did that day had changed my life. I hope it encouraged her. (She may not even remember it.) Sometimes, God doesn’t reveal the result of our obedience. For JoAnn, it came over three decades later.
Real Christian Women 