A few years ago a bald eagle moved into my neighborhood. I would see it once or twice a month flying along the coast of the lake nearby my home. One morning, driving along the shore, the eagle flew along the shoreline about 50 feet above the lake right along the path I was driving, for almost 5 minutes. I was amazed that it did not flap its wings for the entire time. It soared effortlessly, like it could continue for hours.

In a familiar verse, Isaiah uses this beautiful image of the eagles’ flight to describe what our lives can be like when we put our trust in God. He writes in Isaiah 40:31, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Dear Lord, your power is unmeasurable to us, but you provide it to those who trust in you. Help us remember to come to you for strength, endurance, and renewal. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Sometimes we see an amazing scientific discovery, like mapping the human genome, or an amazing invention like the microprocessor, or people living in the space station, and we think man has pretty much figured things out.

Then we think about all the things we haven’t figured out, curing the common cold, cancer, what causes gravity, how do animals migrate, why do we sleep, why do we age, why are there earthquakes, or hurricanes, why are we here? and we realize how limited our knowledge really is. We have barely scratched the surface in understanding what God has created.

Romans 11:33-36 says, “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”

Dear Lord, we cannot even begin to understand the vastness of your knowledge and power. You created everything, not just what we can sense, but the properties, powers, and interactions between it all. What a joy to know that we can come to you directly in prayer and praise, and that you care about each one of us individually. Why would we not live in awe and praise of you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Merry Christmas!

In John 3:16,17 Jesus tells Nicodemus, who was a Jewish Scholar, the now familiar text, “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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

And today we celebrate the birth of Jesus who came to earth to save us, like those in Luke’s account of the shepherds being told of Jesus’ birth. “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13,14

Thank you Lord for the gift of our Savior Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate today. What joy we can have knowing that he came to save us. In His name we pray. Amen.

It is so easy for us to get into a mindset feeling we have the “weight of the world” on our shoulders. We may have financial problems, or health problems, challenges with our relationships, or relatives that are “off course.”

When I start to feel this way, I like to think about the promises God makes to us in Psalm 37:4,5, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.”

It seems overly simple to say “don’t worry,” but when we put our trust and hope in God to help us, he will find a way, even when we cannot see one.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the assurance of your presence. Help us remember you are just a prayer away. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I think we all have heard the story of the Wise men that came to see Jesus after he was born.

Matthew 2:1-2 says, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

There is much speculation about who these wise men were. Some people say they were Persian Kings or astrologers, some say they came from Arabia or Yemen. The Bible does not provide many more details, but what it does tell us is they were “wise men” and the came to worship Jesus.

This is an important message, Wise me came to worship Jesus, we should also.

Dear Lord, What a clear but simple message you provide for us in this story. Help us remember as well to come and worship you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.