This month of February is what I associate with spring in the desert. I usually see some daisies blooming by late January and hitting their peak soon. The sunshine is warm and gearing up for the serious rays of the months that follow. Are you ready for spring? You may be a fan of another…
New Beginnings After the flood and resettlement on the dry ground, Noah had a new project to absorb his energy. He planted a vineyard (Genesis 9:20). And like most gardeners, he sampled the fruits of his labor. Unfortunately, he overindulged and made a fool of himself (v. 21). How would God react to this situation? Did He immediately distance Himself from Noah…
How many of us want to go back to school? For some, later July or early August is the month to launch another year of school. Teachers take time to prepare. Hopefully some students do a little preparing. Even parents may be in the preparation zone. People in Bible times went to school. Moses went to school to learn how to be…
Jesus said: The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest (Matthew 9:37-38 NKJV). Jesus is interested in the harvest, because Jesus is interested in people. He cares whether they are saved or lost. And His vision is for a plentiful harvest. His sacrifice was sufficient for…
When Rebekah left her village with Eleazer on the trip to meet and marry Isaac, Genesis 24 tells us she was sent off with these words ringing in her ears: May you be the mother of thousands of thousands (verse 60). So somehow I don’t picture Isaac and Rebekah sitting up late evenings around the fire debating how long to wait until…
It has been my privilege to attend camp meeting most summers for most of my life. Some years ago I would attend at Lamoni, IA and take my bicycle along for early morning exercise. It was a challenge to keep up with the Amish buggies on the rural roads if I was facing a headwind. One morning I was on a lonely…
By Pastor Steve Gibson We will be rapidly moving from spring to summer in the next month or two. Unfortunately it’s likely to be another deadly summer for some in the deserts of Arizona. A few summers ago, one lady’s death hit closer to home for me. She was hiking a trail I often hike. It’s not a particularly long hike for…
By Pastor Stephen Gibson February tips the scales as the littlest month. We might say it’s the least of the months, but its importance can be measured only in light of eternity. Luke 19 records the story of Jesus’ visit to Jericho and His interaction with Zacchaeus. The tax collector was a little man. This word is often translated least in the…
By Pastor Stephen Gibson Hopefully it would be difficult to find a believer who doesn’t agree prayer is important. Jesus directed His followers to watch and pray. He taught them to pray. He demonstrated what it was to live a life of prayer. His prayer in John 17 is the longest prayer recorded in the New Testament. We would agree on the…
Pastor Stephen GibsonDecember 2022 This year is swiftly passing into the history books. What of eternal value have you seen God accomplish? Have you grown in your relationship with your family? Have you grown closer to the Lord? Have you reached out to someone with the good news of salvation? Have you gained a fresh eagerness to welcome the return of Jesus…