Steven Wales

WHAT DOES GOD FEEL LIKE? Acts 2:41-43.

Here’s a touchy-feely topic—but what does it feel like to encounter God? My first response is joy—so much JOY. Add to that PEACE, ACCEPTANCE, and a sense of RIGHTNESS. My experiences with God have never resulted in one Biblical emotion: FEAR. If I did not know better, I might argue fear is an Old TestamentContinue reading “WHAT DOES GOD FEEL LIKE? Acts 2:41-43.”

You Think Change is Hard? Consider the Biggest Change in History. Luke 24:45.

Change is hard. They say the most stressful times are times of change. Moving, graduating, beginning a new job, getting married, having children—no matter how wonderful, each of these changes is stressful. If they all happen within a short period of time, the stress may become anxiety. Losing a spouse is an even more difficultContinue reading “You Think Change is Hard? Consider the Biggest Change in History. Luke 24:45.”

MYSTERIES. John 21:25.

The Bible is massive, filled with answers to life’s questions—but NOT to every question. Many interesting things are left out. Here are three: The Transfiguration. Before His arrest, Elijah and Moses met with Jesus and talked to Him about his death. What did they say? Did they encourage Him? Remind Him of His purpose? RemindContinue reading “MYSTERIES. John 21:25.”

GRIEVING THOMAS: Perhaps Thomas was not Skeptical, but Sorrowful. John 20:27-28.

One vivid memory of playing Jesus on stage is the rush of activity inside the different tombs—lifting white robes from hangers and throwing them on, tying things, adjusting my hair or wig (depending on the year), and some years, pulling a black Sharpie out of my pocket. The Sharpie was for drawing nail holes inContinue reading “GRIEVING THOMAS: Perhaps Thomas was not Skeptical, but Sorrowful. John 20:27-28.”

YOU CAN WRITE. 1 John 2:12-14.

Most of those who wrote the Bible probably did not know they were writing scripture. They wrote histories or song lyrics or letters without knowing their words would be read for thousands of years in the greatest best-seller of all time. But why write? John, one of the more poetic, “writerly” writers, gives answers. HeContinue reading “YOU CAN WRITE. 1 John 2:12-14.”

GOD CARES ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS. Acts 12:7-8; Philippians 4:6.

Sometimes we don’t pray about the “small stuff” because we don’t want to bother God. But God has infinite time—and there is no “small stuff.” (Or rather, to an infinite, omnipotent God, there is no big stuff.) God made ALL of life—He knows you need clothing, food, water, shelter, medicine, that new toothbrush—and a hundredContinue reading “GOD CARES ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS. Acts 12:7-8; Philippians 4:6.”

CAN YOU READ? Luke 24:45.

Reading is easy, right? Children pick it up early and love books. Some even become “million-word readers.” Then parents give them phones and their reading level hits a plateau. (Okay, it’s not that simple: research says texting is actually good practice for low-level fundamentals, but too much “screen time” becomes a problem later, slowing orContinue reading “CAN YOU READ? Luke 24:45.”

ABLAZE. Luke 24:32.

After Jesus had what must have been an amazing conversation with two obscure disciples on the seven-mile walk to Emmaus, He entered their house as if to spend the night. At the meal, He took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread—and suddenly the men recognized him. Then He disappeared. And what did they say? ThisContinue reading “ABLAZE. Luke 24:32.”

ON THE ROAD. Luke 24:25-27.

One of my favorite unrecorded conversations happens on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24. After the death of Jesus, two followers were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were debating about all that had happened and Jesus began walking with them, but His identity was concealed. He asked what they were talking about andContinue reading “ON THE ROAD. Luke 24:25-27.”

The Incredible Story of the Emmaus Road. Luke 24:13-35.

There is an amazing scene in the book of Luke that reads like something out of a spy novel. After Jesus’s resurrection, He appeared to a pair of His followers as they were traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus (a 7-mile walk)—but they did not know who He was. He asked what they were talking aboutContinue reading “The Incredible Story of the Emmaus Road. Luke 24:13-35.”