by Janina Marie Rivera | Feb 21, 2018 | Blog
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. –John 11:38-39a Lazarus had already been dead for four days. By all accounts, he was not only dead but VERY DEAD. Therefore, it was...
by Janina Marie Rivera | Feb 21, 2018 | Blog
As Nehemiah and his fellow Israelites started to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, intimidation arose. Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite released words that were like arrows: “What are those feeble Jews doing?” “What they are building—if even a fox climbed...
by Janina Marie Rivera | Feb 5, 2018 | Blog
I can imagine how Heaven must have sung with joy the day Ezra read the Book of the Law to the Israelites. At last, here was a generation assembling as one man, hungry for the words of their God. Who was this God? This was the God who made the heavens and who breathed...
by Janina Marie Rivera | Jan 17, 2018 | Blog
“…In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever.” 2 Chronicles 33:7b “When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men who dreamed.” Psalm 126:1 I will establish my covenant as an...
by Janina Marie Rivera | Jan 9, 2018 | Blog
I remember a preacher saying this one time: “Do you read the newspaper? The newspaper is the Church’s report card for the nation.” Those words certainly make sense. The Church is called to make an impact on the world, and not leave her message hidden inside the four...
by Janina Marie Rivera | Jan 1, 2018 | Blog
When a new year begins, it’s always good to remember events we’ve had in the year that just passed and be thankful for them: the big things, the small things, the quiet things, the noisy things, the challenging things, etc. They are part of our recent history and a...
by Janina Marie Rivera | Dec 23, 2017 | Blog
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10 Traffic fills the streets. Tables heap with food. Carols play in the malls. December is packed with festivities, and for many of us, we can’t...
by Janina Marie Rivera | Dec 20, 2017 | Blog
Imagine waking up to the rumble of army chariots and the guttural yells of their commanders. You open the door a crack and crouch fearfully to peep outside. There they are—a whole host of them—burly soldiers complete in their gear of battle: blood-stained swords,...
by Janina Marie Rivera | Dec 12, 2017 | Blog
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14 Theologians place the writings of Isaiah around 600 years before Jesus Christ, Immanuel, was born. This period of time makes us...
by Janina Marie Rivera | Dec 5, 2017 | Blog
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of...
