A Thank You and a Suggestion from Sharon

Hello dear fellow Bible study-ers! We are just home from a wonderful week with our Florida family. This is Emma, our little adopted miracle girl. We are so thankful for her story. I am so thankful that God has grafted us in to His family and adopted us as well. Our Advent Study has finished, but I surely hope your daily times with Jesus have not. What are you studying next? Have you decided? If not ... you could always try my new book, Loved. A Bible Study of the Gospel of John. It uses the same 4R format and you can study alone and "chat" with me via the written page, or you can invite friends to join you and meet once a week for […] Read more »

In It for the Long Haul

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. —Galatians 6:9 NKJV Like many, my marriage did not run smoothly at first. I honestly had higher expectations. After all, Ray and I had met in high school and had known each other for over six years before we tied the knot. Surely we had worked out all the little wrinkles during those years, right? Wrong. We are both firstborns with strong personalities and a willingness to share our opinions at length. This did not create instant harmony between us. Because you see, we differed over many issues. After that initial honeymoon phase, came some really hard times for us both, as we […] Read more »

December 25. Day Twenty-Nine

CHRISTMAS DAY – John 1:1-14  Good morning (or afternoon or evening!) and Merry Christmas, dear one. Some people light a fifth candle on Christmas morning. Ours is always white and put in the middle of our wreath, symbolizing the light and purity of Christ. It’s actually called “Christ’s candle.” Our Crosswalk.com guide tells us: “This candle is white to represent pure light and victory.” As you reflected on the Word made flesh today in your reading, I hope the awe in John’s account inspired you. “We beheld His glory” proclaims John, eyewitness to the Messiah. “He walked among us” says John with confidence. This God we serve put on flesh. And before Jesus was born … He was. In fact, He was there at the […] Read more »

December 24. Day Twenty-Eight

December 24 – Luke 2:21-40 Peace. Oh, what a joy it is to meet Simeon and Anna, today. These two faithful ones were waiting for Messiah with a special fervor. Their HOPE had not waned. Their FAITH that God would send help was strong. Their JOY that day must have been immense as they realized they were looking at and literally holding God’s long-awaited Messiah! And even though they would die long before Jesus was old enough to rescue anyone, hear Simeon’s words: “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.” He was at peace. He trusted that the tiny baby he held in his arms would fulfill every promise and […] Read more »

December 23. Day Twenty-Seven

December 23 – Matthew 2:1-15 Peace. While Joseph and Mary were making their journey to Bethlehem, the magi were as well. They’d seen a star. God’s great sign in the sky, announcing the birth of His Son! Jesus’ birthplace on earth might have been humble, but the skies proclaimed His glory with that bright star! We’ve already visited with the shepherds and seen their amazement at the angels’ words and the birth of a baby lying wrapped in swaddling clothes. Now we see wealthy men who invested perhaps a year or more of their lives, to find a king predicted through that star in the sky. It’s a stunning story, isn’t it? God wanted people from another land to also discover the Prince of Peace. […] Read more »

December 22. Day Twenty-Six

December 22 – Luke 2:1-7 Peace. Our next three readings, as we near Christmas, are from the most familiar Christmas passages. We start with just the beginning of Luke 2. In it, we see Joseph’s obedience to the authorities over him, despite the terrible timing of their mandate. No one in Rome consulted Joseph as to whether or not it was a good time for him and Mary to take a long and arduous journey. Ever had that experience in your own life? An unexpected tax bill? A broken furnace in winter? Unexpected disruptions happen, often due to no fault of our own. Joseph and Mary were unexpectedly called to travel at a time it was not wise to do so. And, of course, we […] Read more »

December 21. Day Twenty-Five

December 21 – Matthew 1:18-24 Peace. Doesn’t Joseph sound like a peaceful man in this passage? He didn’t want to disgrace Mary. He would quietly deal with this frightening situation of his fiancée being pregnant – and certainly not because of him. And then the angel comes. And Joseph believes and takes on the incredible role of earthly father to Messiah and husband to Mary, who carried Christ in her womb. God gently dealt with this dear couple, of whom He asked much! My verse: Matthew 1:21 “And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” My response: Joseph heard Jesus’ true mission before He was even born. Not “he will rescue […] Read more »