Scorch Marks
Though an active, committed Christian since her teens, Margie, a young woman whom we love as though she were our own daughter, had…
A Family Album
Hebrews 11 is often called the Hall of Faith. As Chuck and I unpacked the lives of these great men and women, we wondered if “The Waiting Room” was a more appropriate…
Living Boldly in View of God’s Promises
In 1999, Chuck and I co-authored Treasures of Faith, Living Boldly in View of God’s Promises. Chuck preached through Hebrews 11, and I condensed…
Running the Race
The “scorch marks” in each believer’s life forever marked him or her, as though with a branding iron, as men and women learning to depend…
Anticipating the Not Yet
For the moment, one of our children is missing from us. No matter how hard we try to recapture the joy of earlier years, there is always the shadow…
That Great and Glorious Day
We must remember, even in our pain, the greater vision. In our own grief for our son, it was difficult to see that greater vision. But God has taught us…
My Heart will Go On … Won’t It?
God has set eternity in every heart, a longing for the presence of God, and nothing else will truly satisfy (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Some people believe in…
The Eternal City
Unlike those who don’t believe in God, our road is not back to the Garden of Eden, but forward. One should never…
A Better Resurrection
The author here reminds us of the greatest suffering anyone has ever had to endure. In these verses, the pivotal event of human history—the shame and agony of…
A Better Resurrection
Some days, this truth is what gets me through the broken places, especially when I see no way God can redeem the pain. I draw great comfort…
Giving Up What is Most Precious
We can only imagine the wrenching emotion Abraham must have felt as he sadly approached the place chosen by God for this dramatic exhibition of his faith…
The Purging of an Old Woman’s Faith
While Abraham’s faith was strong that God would indeed provide an heir, God still had work to do in Sarah’s heart. God sent three…
Roller Coaster Faith
God had already kept many of His promises to Abraham: he was now wealthy, his name was at last respected, and his family had been…
Lies and More Lies
While in Egypt, Abraham continued his downward spiral. As is so often the case with us, Abraham compounded his problems, getting deeper and…
Descent into Egypt
In Canaan, God revealed more of His plan for the Patriarch’s family. Upon Abraham’s arrival in the city of Shechem, God told him, “To your…
Learning Through Disobedience
Abraham, the Bible tells us, spent much of his life traveling. After he was called by God to leave his native land, Abraham simply moved…
Abraham and Sarah
Because of a devastating fire that had swept through the area, our first visit to Yellowstone National Park was tarnished by the image…
When You Cannot see His Hand
The writer of Hebrews quotes the prophet of Habakkuk to remind us that faith is believing God even when we can neither see nor understand Him…
God Keeps His Promises
Believing God exists and is in control of all things is not enough. Believing God is in control sometimes results in deeper pain unless we also believe that…
What Faith is Not
Living in a broken world guarantees everyone will experience difficulty on some level. Some suffering may be due to faithlessness and disobedience, but much of it…