Submitting to Weakness
Read: Luke 1:26-38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (v. 38) Mary was already “weak” in the eyes of the world before the angel brought his request from God that she become the mother of God-in-flesh. […]
Unhindered
Read: Mark 10:13-16 Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. (v. 14) The words of Jesus loom large for those who would complicate theology in any way: Don’t hinder those with wide-eyed trust, be they children or adults. Hebrews 11:6 teaches that without faith it’s […]
Accepting versus Boasting
Read: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (v. 9) When I read this passage, I think I might be hearing the Loony Tunes cartoon character Yosemite Sam in my head hollering, “Whaaat in tarnation . . . ?!” So, I can’t […]
Lost and Found
Read: Luke 15 We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours . . . was lost and is found. (v. 32 NIV) There’s nothing like being lost to make you feel vulnerable. Jesus tells three stories back-to-back to help the religious snobs of his day reexamine their contempt for “lostness.” We encounter lost sheep, lost […]
Waiting for the Harvest
Read: Genesis 39:20-23 We will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. (Gal. 6:9 MSG) The exhortation Paul gave us in Galatians 6 to persevere is illustrated perhaps more dramatically in the life of Joseph than in any other Biblical account. Perhaps we’ve passed by the story like a washed-out billboard […]
Persians Love to Sing
People have a lot of ideas about individuals from Iran. But after attending a recent Persian Training Conference, Adam Navis, Words of Hope’s Persian Ministry Coordinator, can say that one thing is true without a doubt: Persians love to sing! “Every day when we would get together we began by singing a few songs,” Adam […]
Fragile Clay Jars
Read: 2 Corinthians 4:6-18 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. (v. 7 NLT) As a Christian with a firm Judeo-Christian worldview, it’s hard for me to understand why the world races to achieve immortality when God has already promised it. And […]
May 2022 Prayer Guide
UGANDA — Give thanks that more programmers have joined the team that produces Runyankole programs in Uganda. The team gives thanks that the number of listeners tuning into the programs continues to grow, despite the lifting of COVID lockdowns and the reopening of physical churches. This means that people are now attending in-person church and […]
A Handsome Heart
Read: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 The LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. (v. 7) Have you observed people who will do almost anything to appear strong to others? For some, the thought of being embarrassed strangles their ability to ask for help or encouragement. […]