RG112818   Luke 1:14-25 Are you sure? Can you blame Zechariah for his doubt? He and his wife were older. They have never had children. The Lord had been silent for so long. Zechariah hesitated. He had doubt about the news this angel from the Lord brought. In the Church we often equate doubt with […]

RG112718   Luke 1:1-13 Zechariah and Elizabeth’s story sounds familiar to those who have heard or read Old Testament stories. Much like Abraham and Sarah before them, these two were faithful but they were also older and childless. In a culture that highly values large families, being childless would be hard to endure. Having large […]

RG112618   Isaiah 40:1-8 Israel suffered under the power and rule of Babylon. Destruction and exile reigned over the people of God. The Promised Land—that which God said would be theirs when they were freed from slavery in Egypt—was no longer their home. Then the prophet Isaiah shared a word from the Lord: “Comfort, comfort […]

RG112518   Hebrews 10:26-39 When difficulties come our way in life, we have two possible reactions. We can either say, “God, how are you going to get me out of this?” Or we can say, “God, what are you going to teach me through this?” Hebrews 10 encourages us to persevere. When times are hard […]

RG112418   Acts 14:19-28 How impatient we modern humans can be! We hate waiting. We want to see immediate results, we want immediate answers, and if we don’t see them, we consider our efforts to be in vain. Just look at Paul and Barnabas in their travels. They share the Good News of Jesus, but […]

RG112318   Luke 14:25-35 When Jesus talks to His followers about committing themselves to following Him, He makes an interesting comparison. He talks about those who begin major undertakings—the building of a tower or the start of a battle—and the foolishness of beginning such challenges without calculating the full impact of the decision. Commitment that […]

RG112218   Luke 9:51-62 Someone has said, “Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do long after the mood you said it in has left you.” There are some days that Mary doesn’t “feel” like being married. Her relationship with her husband certainly isn’t the dreamy, starry-eyed romance that it […]

RG112118   Joshua 24:23-33 Pilots know that getting an airplane off the ground involves precise calculations of weight, thrust, temperature, and speed. However, the actual takeoff revolves around a point in time when the plane reaches a determined speed and the pilot must commit to activating the controls that lift the plane off the ground. […]

RG112018   Joshua 24:11-22 The human heart is a complex system of unique muscles, valves, nerves, and blood vessels. It operates by a precise series of electrical impulses, which cause muscles to contract and valves to open and shut, sending life-giving blood throughout the body. Doctors know that when any part of the heart ceases […]

RG111918   Joshua 24:1-10 No one enjoys waiting. Whether at the doctor’s office, at the grocery store, or waiting for a bus, it isn’t usually a fun time. How impatient we become when we are forced to wait! We are a people used to quick answers and fast solutions. Can you imagine the Israelites waiting […]