Perseverance isn’t always a good thing. Sometimes we persevere in bad habits or in behaviors that do not benefit us. Stubbornness, pride, anger, resentment, unforgiveness—all these bitter pills can poison our...

The last two days we have concentrated on Hannah in her agony. In today’s reading we see Hannah in her glory! She praises God for answering her prayers, recognizes God’s faithfulness,...

Unanswered prayer is one of the biggest challenges we can face as Christians. It can be intensely discouraging. Think of Hannah as you reread this portion of her story. Hannah’s torment...

With the sinking of the Endurance, Shackleton’s crew knew their expedition had failed. As long as the ship remained upright, they could probably muster some hope that they could at the...

Has it ever occurred to you that nothing new has ever occurred to God? We can take comfort in the knowledge that God has no new revelations, no sudden insights, no...

In today’s reading, Jesus and his disciples visit the Temple in Jerusalem. At the time it was 500 years old, but the Temple was still a marvel of ancient industry. One...

In 1914, the explorer Earnest Shackleton set out on his ship, the Endurance, with a crew of twenty-seven men, headed for the bottom of the earth. Their mission was to be...

In the New Revised Standard Version, Hebrews 9:28 says Christ is coming to save those who are “eagerly” waiting for him. The New International Version just says they are “waiting,” but...

The story of the widow and the two coins often makes its way into sermons during church fundraising campaigns, where the woman’s generosity is praised because of her complete devotion. I’ve...

Humans have a complicated relationship with the idea of control. Sayings such as, “He’s totally out of control” or admonitions to “Get control of yourself!” give the impression that we are...