Ironworks

          One of my hobbies is watching sports, both collegiate and professional. On occasion, I enjoy watching an event in person. One thing that I have always noticed is that at times there are empty seats. If a team is not playing well their fans do not fill the stadium or arena. If their team is winning by a large margin they may leave early to try and beat the traffic. Regardless, empty seats teach us one thing, the person who should be occupying it is missing. An Empty Seat At Home This time of year when families gather, there might be an empty seat because a family member has died. We are comforted, if our loved one was in Christ, that we can see them again (cf. 2 Sam 12:22-23). When a loved one passes away, we can remember the assurance that Christ is victorious over death. Paul recorded, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22).  An empty seat at home may persist throughout the year for good reas...

“A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.  The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain. “ Prov 31:10-11 A godly wife is an irreplaceable treasure. A godly wife is a blessing to her husband, their children, and the church of the Living God. When we consider the Bible, there are many accounts of the type of women we need in the Lord’s church.       We need women of great faith. Mark 5:25-34 tells of a woman who suffered from an issue of blood for a period of twelve years. She did not just suffer from the issue of bleeding and the uncleanliness (Lev 15) that would go along with it, she suffered at the hands of the very physicians that were supposed to be able to heal her. She had every reason to be bitter and angry. Her faith was still great. “For she said, If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole”  (Mark 5:28). When she reached out and touched the Lord, she received the healing she so desired....