Author Archives: debponders

She came to the well because she had a physical need for water; she would leave with a deeper, spiritual need satisfied. It’s the physical needs, the ones we know, where Jesus first meets with many of us. They are obvious in third world countries. There we can see the cries for clean water, shoes,Continue reading “She shared Him”

She wasn’t quite sure about what He was telling her. She didn’t totally get it but it sounded good. It definitely sounded better than what she had. So she requested what He offered…water that provided eternal life. So many people think they must have all their questions answered before they say “yes” to Jesus. TheyContinue reading “He Knew”

Racial walls, gender walls, cultural walls, socio-economic walls, political walls, religious walls. These man-made boundaries harden our hearts. They prevent us from caring for one another. They make it impossible to listen to one another. They breed hostility. And they don’t look at all like Jesus. Continuing with our story from John 4: He wasContinue reading “Walls came tumbling down”

I like her. I like her a lot. She has a bad reputation. She’s been rejected and hurt a lot in her lifetime. She’s lonely. She’s feisty. She’s bold and breaks boundaries. She’s honest. She is curious and ask questions, but will quickly change the subject when confronted. She’s a broken woman yet she isContinue reading “You’re going to like her, too!”

  Over the last 20 years, I have had the joy of serving alongside pastors and teachers who are committed to Christ and His Word. I’ve entertained many in my home. I’ve vacationed with several. I’ve shared the extremely close quarters of mission trips with some. I have witnessed their words and actions behind closedContinue reading “Telling it like it is”

This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about the relationship between: Easter…and when Jesus said “It is finished” as He breathed his last breath and John 3:16-21… why it began. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternalContinue reading “Good News and Bad News”

Pondering John 3:1-8. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. A man with many credentials. Jewish. Religious. A member of the Sanhedrin, the highest legal, legislative and judicial branch of the Jews. And a highly respected, educated teacher of the Scriptures. But Jesus reveals thatContinue reading “Tornado warning!”

Notes I’ve made in my Bible, from John 2:13-25: When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. A little background: Passover was an annual pilgrimage to celebrate the ancient storyContinue reading “Lion and Lamb”

Highlights recorded in my Bible from John 2:1-11 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” This party was about to turn intoContinue reading “Creating Special out of Ordinary”

What happens after a day spent with Jesus? For Andrew, after spending such a day, the very first thing he did was find his brother, tell him about Jesus and take Simon Peter to meet the long awaited Christ. (John 1:40-42) Why does a follower of Christ feel so compelled to share Jesus? I’ve askedContinue reading “And again I say…Come and see.”