“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…” Isaiah 43:2-3 Philip Gulley, one of my most enjoyable authors, once wrote about a…Keep Reading

“The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God that I am not like other people…” Luke 18:11 “I just want to make sure that we are all on the same page.” How many times have we heard or said those words? Reading in the Book of Romans we realize that we are indeed all on the same page, and that is both bad news and…Keep Reading

John Chapter 3:14-21 Whoever Lives by the Truth Comes into the Light Link to YouTube Video From Pastor Will Shewey Shades of Grace: A United Methodist Congregation has many media members and friends who facilitate good works and faithful stewardship. I received a call this week from a family who wants to donate a cemetery plot they will not use. They informed me two of their acquaintances had passed away…Keep Reading

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT Years ago a woman pulled her car into the parsonage driveway. There was always some kind of drama going on in her life….Keep Reading

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Hebrews 11:3 I have never heard anyone look at a tree and question the miracle of a seed, yet foolish people can look out at the universe and question the existence of God. He can’t be seen, how do we know that He is there?…Keep Reading

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment Heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from Heaven said, “THIS IS MY SON… The tempter came to him and said, “IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD…” The man had a history of taking advantage of churches. He was…Keep Reading

“They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed.” (Psalm 34:5) The Moffatt translation says, “Look to Him, and you shall beam with joy.” The old evangelist, Billy Sunday, said, “If you have no joy, then there is a leak somewhere in your Christianity.” Can we begin to imagine the power of being the church of jubilant joy in a world that specializes in artificial…Keep Reading

Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” Mark 10:28 It is an interesting fact that the word “surrender” is not found in the concordance. It leaves me wondering if good, or harm, comes from our use of it to seek someone’s commitment to Christ. I love the hymn, “I Surrender All.” It has led many to the feet of Jesus, yet I do…Keep Reading

“Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” Revelation 19:9 I knew a minister who was relaxing at home one Saturday when he heard a knock at the door. There stood a man in a tuxedo who had a question: “Pastor, everyone is waiting at the church; are you coming to the wedding?” There is a day…Keep Reading

John Chapter 2:13-22 The Lord Seeks His Children God Abides “in” Us; Not in Greed Link to YouTube Video From Pastor Will Shewey Shades of Grace: A United Methodist Congregation has many media members and friends who facilitate good works and faithful stewardship. I received a call this week from a family who wants to donate a cemetery plot they will not use. They informed me two of their acquaintances…Keep Reading

The hammer was silent, the mockers were gone; there were only the sparrows to sing a sad song. Hatred out of control had crucified the Son of God. It was the Sabbath, and the worshipers would recite, “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Were their words cold on that day? Did the temple halls ring…Keep Reading

It was her mountain refuge from where she could see “forever and a mile.” The trees swayed together as though they were dancing a mountain ballet. Did you ever have such a place where you and God met in sweet communion? She sat on her pondering rock at the top of the hill. The way to it was getting harder as the years passed, but she had found many answers…Keep Reading