Category Archives: The Gospel

It Has To Be Their’s

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2 Chronicles 21-24

Oh, Joash. Every time I read your story I secretly hope it turns out differently. Why, Joash? How? You did such great things for the Lord as long as Jehoiada was there to guide you. Was it just religion to you? How could you not see the connection between blessing and obedience? How could you be so easily led astray?

Hold on!

Parents, let this be a warning. Are you raising a Joash? Do your kids do the church thing, go to Awana’s, learn to pray at meals? Can they recite John 3:16 and tell you what happened the third day after Jesus died? I hope so.

But you do know raising good kids isn’t enough, right? They might be able to do and say the right things, but you aren’t raising robots. There will come a time when voices, sometimes subtle and sometime loud and strong will try to lure your children away from everything you know is true.

Talk to your kids about spiritual things. Read the Bible together and ask them what they believe. Guide them to internalize the truth. Answer their questions and show them where those answers are in the Bible.

Your precious children, those dear ones God has entrusted to you, can’t live on your faith. It has to be their’s.

The Most Beautiful

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2 Chronicles 6-8

I sat here this morning trying to picture the dedication of Solomon’s beautiful temple. All that gold, the fanfare, the crowds, the excitement and wonder, God’s Presence so powerful everyone stopped in awe of Him. I think of the emotion, the uplifted hands, the bowing low before a Holy God. I think of the sacrifices and the singing. I imagine hearts devoted to God, determined to obey Him, loving Him, and praising Him.

This went on for seven days! That amazing temple, built for God, was reason to celebrate. I wish I could have seen it first hand.

And yet, I am reminded that I am the temple of God in 2026. God Himself has built this temple named Connie for Him to live in. I might look in the mirror and think He didn’t build a very beautiful home for himself. But in reality, there is nothing more beautiful than a heart where Jesus is. There is nothing more worthy of celebration than a heart cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb.

People may have looked at Solomon’s temple and said, “That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” But when God looks at me through the precious blood of His Son, He says the same thing.

My Prayer for Parents

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1 Chronicles 22

Here is a father’s heart.

In David’s charge to Solomon we see a man devoted to the work of the Lord. Yes, he would not build the temple, would not realize his longing to do something amazing for God. So instead, he poured out his heart to his son and challenged him to carry on.

“I’ve provided what you need, son. Now go do something amazing for the Lord. You will succeed if you carefully follow God’s law. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.” (from 22:13)

Parents, do you recognize your own heart’s desire here? Are you devoted to the work of the Lord? Do your children see your passion for the Truth, for the Gospel to reach lost souls? Do they see you actively taking part in the Great Commission? And are you equipping your children to carry on when you are gone? Can you honestly say you are giving them a firm foundation on which to build their lives and ministry?

I think it’s a bit like teaching your child to ride a bike. Do you remember what that was like? You probably provided them with training wheels at first and let them get used to maneuvering the bike with the help of four wheels instead of two. Did you talk to them about balance and show them how to move the handle bars to control the direction of the wheel?

Then the time came for removing the training wheels. Did you grab the seat and run along side the wobbly bike for a distance until you felt your child was balancing the bike on their own? What was it like to finally let go and watch that precious one take off? “Don’t be afraid,” you might have said. “I’ve given you everything you need to be successful. Be strong and courageous.”

Parents, spend time with your children. Read the Bible with them. Talk about what you are reading. Answer their questions. Show them what serving God looks like. Go to church with them and teach them reverence for God’s house. Because one day that child will get on that bike and ride away. He or she will walk out your door and head toward a life you can’t control.

My prayer is on that day, you’ll be able to say, “I’ve given you what you need. Now go do something amazing for the Lord. You will succeed if you carefully obey God. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.”

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

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1 Chronicles 12-15

What is the difference between worship God accepts, and worship God rejects?

Obedience.

It has nothing to do with the music or whether or not hands are raised and people are singing with smiles on their faces. Read about these two examples of identical expressions of worship. (13:8; 15:28)

Worship leaders, stop emphasizing the outward expressions of worship. Stop going for the emotion. Stop worrying about “Bubba” and worry more about whether or not God is accepting our worship. So many of you seem to try so hard to get people engaged. The question you should be asking is, “Is God engaged?”

I’ll tell you right now, He isn’t engaged with expressions of worship coming from unrepentant hearts. That kind of worship makes him sick. That kind of worship makes him angry. That kind of worship ends in death.

Just this morning I heard Josh Howerton, a young paster I respect, defend popular Christian singer, Brandon Lake who is being criticized for saying that when our worship services begin with “Holy, Holy, Holy,” Bubba can’t worship because he doesn’t understand what the song is saying. I guess these men believe we should dumb down our worship so the regular people are satisfied.

My question is: are we worshiping people or God, because I’m pretty sure God understands “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

Worship leaders, please spend more time preparing hearts to worship God. Talk about the importance of presenting clean hearts to the Lord before we sing a note. Talk about the danger of offering worship God can’t accept. (Think about Nadab and Abihu who tried to offer unauthorized fire to the Lord).The people sitting there in that room need to understand that offering worship God can’t accept not only makes God sick, it angers Him, and ends in death. Yes, dear worship leaders, you might be leading someone in that direction.

Worry less about the outward expression of worship and more about the holiness of the people who are there to worship. Worry less about generating an emotion and more about the Holy God to whom we offer our worship. Because God doesn’t accept counterfeit worship, no matter how good it looks or makes us feel.

All that glitters is not gold.

When I Die

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2 Kings 12-14

Elisha, one of the greatest Old Testament prophets, died and was buried. That’s all Scripture says about it. No fanfare. No public display of mourning recorded. Just he died and was buried.

That’s actually what I’d like my own passing to be.

Sometimes people go to great lengths planning their own funeral or celebration of life. Some write their own obit. Some spell out every song, every testimony, every moment. Some make demands about what to do with their ashes. If that’s you, I hope your loved ones follow through.

Other times a person’s loved ones will plan elaborate ceremonies and wakes or proper send-offs to honor the dead. I’m not saying that’s wrong, if that’s what you need.

I tell my family that if they want to have a service, that’s fine. If they don’t, that’s fine, too. I won’t be there!

More than a funeral or a celebration of life, this is how I want my passing to go: she died, and she was buried.

After Elisha was dead and buried, an Israelite was being buried when a raiding party showed up. In a panic, his friends threw the dead man’s body on Elisha’s bones – and the guy came alive!

My prayer is that after I’m gone, people I love will continue to be influenced by the life I led, the words I said, the choices I made, and the evidence of Christ in me. I pray that even after I’m gone, someone dead in their sin will find life because my life touched their’s for Jesus’ sake.

I pray that God will be glorified with every breath I take in this lifetime so that after this body dies, God will continue to be glorified through the memory of me.

God Forgives

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1 Kings 8-9; Psalm 86:5

Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple spoke to me today. He must have looked out at the crowd of eager worshipers and realized their excitement at the moment wouldn’t last. When life happened, they would sin, and God would punish them for their sin.

Solomon prayed that when God allowed war, or famine, or captivity, or drought, or pestilence, mildew, and locusts, and when His people repented of their sin, God would hear and forgive. We will sin, Solomon admitted. But “when (we) return to you with all (our) hearts and all (our) soul…” please forgive us. (8:48)

Several weeks ago I was challenged to ask God to help me memorize a Bible verse a week. I’m old. So I will admit I was skeptical. But God is answering that prayer. I’m on week 9! Nine verses I have hidden in my heart, some of which I remembered from my youth, and some that I’ve never memorized before. I love how God continues to use these verses throughout the week. Like today.

Listen to the verse I started memorizing just yesterday, as it applies to Solomon’s prayer I read today.

For you, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, abounding in faithful love to all who call on you. Psalm 86:5

Solomon knew the people would sin. But he also had faith that when they sinned, they would eventually repent. And he had faith that God would hear their prayers, and forgive. I think he knew what the psalmist knew: God is kind and ready to forgive!

He is kind and ready to forgive you, too. If you know the Old Testament history of the relationship between God and the Jews, you know the cycle. You know that time after time they would sin, He would punish, they would repent, and He would forgive. Time after time.

Been there. Done that.

I am so thankful how God uses His Word to amplify His Word. What was true for Solomon, was true for the psalmist, and is true for you and me.

God forgives. He is ready and eager to forgive when we go to Him with all our heart and all our soul. And he is abounding in faithful love toward all of us who call on His Name!

Hallelujah!

The Cost

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2 Samuel 24:24

I want to serve God the way He deserves. I want to be the woman He can use for His glory. I want to be clay in the hands of the Potter, surrendered and pliable, obedient and eager to go into all the world and share the Gospel. I want all of that as long as I don’t have to step out of my comfort zone, as long as I can stay in my recliner in my cozy home on this beautiful island.

I probably should re-read Bonhoeffer’s “The Cost of Discipleship,” because I think I want to be a disciple of Jesus, but I’m ok sitting in the cheap seats.

King David told Araunah he would not accept his generous gift because, “…I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

That convicts me. I want my discipleship to cost me something today; my time, my finances, my pride, my family. I can’t let someone else pay for my sacrifice of service to the LORD my God. So I will pray and ask God what He wants of me today. May I be quick to listen, quick to obey no matter the cost.

My Savior deserves no less.

Consider It From God

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2 Samuel 16-18

When David was being cursed by Shimei, a relative of Saul, he did nothing to stop him. Shimei was even throwing stones at David, and David’s men wanted to kill him because of it. But David said, “Leave him alone. He speaks for God.”

The thing David knew was the fact that he was guilty of the thing he was being accused of. He had shed blood. Shimei was not wrong.

The thing is, we are told by God to hold each other accountable. We are to point out sin in a fellow believer so that guilty brother will repent. But when you are on the receiving end of that, it can hurt. It can feel like someone is throwing stones at us. Our first response might be to defend ourselves, fight back, maybe even enlist the help of our friends to fight with or for us.

But what if God is using that person to point out a sin in us that needs addressed? What if we end up fighting God? 

David was wise enough to stop that fight before it got started. He took the blows as from God, not Shimei. He considered it from God, even though it hurt to do so.

If only we were that wise.

Where Do You Go?

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1 Samuel 25-28

It always bothers me when I read about David who, without going to God first, thought it was a good idea to hide out in enemy territory to get away from Saul. David spent the next 16 months murdering and looting and lying about it.

Sure, Saul didn’t dare go into Philistine territory to get him, But where was David’s heart during that time? He thought he was safe from his enemy, but he willingly gave himself over to the enemy of his soul.

Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes remaining separate from the world seems like fighting a losing battle. We’ve all been there. The question is, what is in your heart during those times?

Fear? God tells His children to “Fear not.”
Turmoil? Jesus says, “Peace I give you.”
Feeling like no one cares? Jesus says, “Come to Me and I’ll give you rest.”
Wavering faith? Jesus says if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, that mountain will move.
Unloved? God shows His love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

So many times we run to the enemy of our souls. We pull out the self-help books, we go into secular therapy, we attach ourselves to social media influencers who tell us what we want to hear. We, like David, try to find shelter anywhere but with God.

Didn’t go well for David. It doesn’t go well for us, either.

So my question is, do you feel the enemy of your souls at your heels? Are you tired of the struggle, and done with feeling alone and afraid? Where will you go?

Don’t do a David. Go to God. Open the Scriptures and do some digging, asking God to reveal Himself and His desires for your life during this time.

Humble yourself. And He will lift you up.

It’s Not Enough

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1 Samuel 24

When I was in high school there was a girl in our youth group who, every time there was an altar call, would go, kneel, and weep. It was the same thing every time. I don’t claim to know what was in her heart. But I think her emotions were real.

I wonder, if her repentance were real, wouldn’t there be a change? Like I said, I don’t know her heart. I am not her judge.

But I think of her when I read about Saul’s response to the truth David spoke to him. Saul wept aloud and admitted his sin. He even promised to change. I think Saul’s emotions were real. But they weren’t enough.

That’s my concern with the emotion-driven “worship” produced in many churches today. We feel the feels but we side-step repentance. Our souls soar with the strategically placed crescendos and key changes, but our hearts remain dead in sin.

It wasn’t enough for Saul to feel sad. It wasn’t enough for him to say sorry.

It’s not enough for us, either.