God's Word for Wednesday, 2/13/19

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:16-18 KJV

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him."

John 3:16-18 MSG

God's Word for Wednesday, 2/14/18

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

John 13:34-35 MSG


This seems an appropriate verse for Valentine's Day, but it's not speaking of romantic love. This verse refers to the type of love which God expresses toward us, His children.

We are to do our best to give that same type of love to each other, insofar as we are able. We must remember that love isn't expressed in feelings; it's something we are to do. Love is a verb in God's language, not just a noun.

Jesus didn't just say, "I love you ... be blessed" and go back to Heaven. He literally gave up His life for us. He took our punishment, which we so richly deserve, so that we could inherit what God the Father has for us.

Jesus became like us, so that we could become like Him. Without the actions He took, we would still be lost forever.

But God ... and don't you just love that phrase, "but God"? ... God has other plans for us. All we have to do is accept it.

Thank you, Lord!

Pearl Harbor Day: December 7, 1941

Every year, we hear less and less about Pearl Harbor. About the sneak attack which killed so many American fighting men and women. Civilians, too, although even less is heard about them.

We dare not forget. Tell your friends, tell your children and grandchildren. Remind anyone who will listen.




We dare not forget what happened when Japan bombed our sailors at Pearl Harbor - nor how close they came to beating us on that day, if only our carriers had been present. Thank God (literally) they were elsewhere at the time.

On our recent trip to Honolulu, we shared a shuttle with a young mother (and her two kids) from Canada.

The shuttle had a video of local attractions playing, and she asked "What's that?" when the Arizona Memorial was displayed. I told her of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and what happened to the Arizona. She'd heard of Pearl Harbor, but not much else.

The driver told us, as we disembarked, "I'd have answered her, but you were doing such a good job that I didn't want to interrupt you. You must have been here before." It made me sad to think that people have to go see it, to learn about it. It used to be taught in schools.

But I admit I was proud to tell him, "I was in the Navy. And I've been to Pearl, too."

One of the moments which I'll never forget was our first visit to Pearl Harbor. We met survivors ... and they wanted to shake my hand. I've never met more humble men.

God's Word for Thursday, 7/13/17

Because of [Jesus'] obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11 MSG

God's Word for Good Friday, 4/14

Friends, let me go over the Message with you one final time— this Message that I proclaimed and that you made your own; this Message on which you took your stand and by which your life has been saved. (I’m assuming, now, that your belief was the real thing and not a passing fancy, that you’re in this for good and holding fast.) The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it; that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says; that he presented himself alive to Peter, then to his closest followers, and later to more than five hundred of his followers all at the same time, most of them still around (although a few have since died); that he then spent time with James and the rest of those he commissioned to represent him; and that he finally presented himself alive to me. It was fitting that I bring up the rear. I don’t deserve to be included in that inner circle, as you well know, having spent all those early years trying my best to stamp God’s church right out of existence.

1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 MSG

God's Word for Tuesday, 4/4

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

Ephesians 1:7 MSG

God's Word for Friday, 3/31

He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn’t say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence.

Justice miscarried, and he was led off — and did anyone really know what was happening?
He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people.

Isaiah 53:7-8 MSG

December 7, 1941

Every year, we hear less and less about Pearl Harbor. About the sneak attack which killed so many American fighting men and women. Civilians, too, although even less is heard about them.

We dare not forget. Tell your friends, tell your children and grandchildren. Remind anyone who will listen.