Monthly Archives: December 2023

One of the most common comparative metaphors used in the Bible for God’s relarionship with us is shepherd. Perhaps it was simply so common because the illusion would be easy to follow since so many during Biblical times – both Old and New – were shepherds. The job of a shepherd was very well know.Continue reading “The Good Shepherd”

I love running. The starting line and finish line of every run is such a great feeling. You’ve started something amazing and then you’ve finished it. Jesus is our starting line. Without Jesus, our faith and hope would be meaningless. He is the source of our salvation. His life and death is the reason weContinue reading “Author & Finisher”

Today is the Lord’s day! Why do we worship Jesus? Because He is the true vine (John 15). There is no other vine that belongs in God’s vineyard. Jesus is the only true vine – all others will be cut off and burned. This is such an important part of serving and worshiping Jesus. HeContinue reading “The True Vine”

We all have fears, anxieties, disappointments, hopes, dreams, and struggles. And we look to a lot of different people and places to take those too. There are professions dedicated solely to this task. Whether it’s a friend, professional, parent, anon phone line, church member, elder, preacher, grandparent, teacher, and more, these people help us tremendouslyContinue reading “Wonderful Counselor”

Have you ever had a disagreement with someone (work or family) and needed a third person to serve as the mediator? The person standing in the middle of you both. They listen to both sides and to find an amicable solution to the disagreement. They are the go between. They help bridge the gap betweenContinue reading “The Mediator”

Carpentry is such an amazing skill – building some from nothing but pieces of wood. It requires hard work and can push the limits of your physical abilities. It takes precision, preparation, and patience. It requires vision – being able to see the end result before beginning. It requires adaptability for when something does goContinue reading “The Carpenter”

One of my favorite names given to Jesus is Advocate. The Apostle John calls Him our advocate to God when we sin. (1 John 2:1). The word advocate means one who defends or one who pleads the case of another. Let that sink in for a moment. Jesus Christ is our advocate to God. WhatContinue reading “Advocate”

What does it mean to be a servant? The concept of being a servant is fairly easy to define. According to the dictionary a servant is “one that performs duties about the person.” Yet, the practice is much more difficult. It means putting others first. It requires sacrifice and submission of your own will andContinue reading “Servant”

Before there was GPS and satellite and even fancy maps, sailors navigated using the stars. The morning star was using as a direction marker and guide. Technically it is an astronomical occurrence when a star (or planet) rises and becomes visible over the eastern horizon before sunrise hence the name morning star. The Apostle JohnContinue reading “Bright & Morning Star”

Today is the Lord’s day (and in conjunction with our study of the names of Jesus) so why do we worship the Lord? Because Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Chaos and tension and strike and anger surround us. Nations war. People rage. To make matters worse, anxiety, depression, and turmoil rip through us internally.Continue reading “Prince of Peace”