Ken Winter
They Raised A Generation Who Did Not Know Him

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In these days of my life i find myself reflecting on the fact that God has blessed me with a godly heritage.

The question before us is, what are we modeling for the generation that we are raising up? Is our relationship with our LORD one that we desire for our children and grandchildren to mirror? Are we passionately pursuing our LORD with all of our heart, soul, and mind, and actively walking with Him in His mission? Or are we merely going through the motions?

They Raised A Generation Who Did Not Know Him
Ken Winter
I Look To the Mountains

It has been several weeks since i posted. Many of you know that i have been walking through health challenges. By God’s grace, and in His strength, i am now able to share with you that He has carried me through these most recent developments. He has used this time to remind me just how faithful He is, and just how dependent i am upon Him.

I Look To the Mountains
Ken Winter
Advent – We Three Kings (Balthazar’s Story)

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Introduction to this post:

This is the fourth of this year’s weekly Advent posts. Those of you who have followed the blog for more than a year know that it is my annual practice to post a weekly story for the season of Advent about the incarnational birth of Jesus. My hope is that the stories have become a part of your Advent tradition as you remember and celebrate the Good News of the advent of our Lord and Savior.

This year’s posts are as follows:

Week #1 - November 27th: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Joseph’s Story)

Week #2 - December 4th: Away in a Manger (Achim’s Story)

Week #3 – December 11th: Silent Night (Moshe’s Story)

This week - December 18th: We Three Kings (Balthazar’s Story)

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My name is Balthazar and I am a lifelong student of the science of the stars….

Advent – We Three Kings (Balthazar’s Story)
Ken Winter
Advent – Silent Night (Moshe’s Story)

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

Introduction to this post:

This is the third of this year’s weekly Advent posts. Those of you who have followed the blog for more than a year know that it is my annual practice to post a weekly story for the season of Advent about the incarnational birth of Jesus. My hope is that the stories have become a part of your Advent tradition as you remember and celebrate the Good News of the advent of our Lord and Savior.

This year’s posts are as follows:

Week #1 - November 27th: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Joseph’s Story)

Week #2 - December 4th: Away in a Manger (Achim’s Story)

This week – December 11th: Silent Night (Moshe’s Story)

December 18th: We Three Kings (Balthazar’s Story)

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I am a shepherd named Moshe.

Advent – Silent Night (Moshe’s Story)
Ken Winter
Advent – Away in a Manger (Achim’s Story)

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

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Introduction to this post:

This is the second of this year’s weekly Advent posts. Those of you who have followed the blog for more than a year know that it is my annual practice to post a weekly story for the season of Advent about the incarnational birth of Jesus. My hope is that the stories have become a part of your Advent tradition as you remember and celebrate the Good News of the advent of our Lord and Savior.

This year’s posts are as follows:

Last week - November 27th: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Joseph’s Story)

This week - December 4th: Away in a Manger (Achim’s Story)

December 11th: Silent Night (Moshe’s Story)

December 18th: We Three Kings (Balthazar’s Story)

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My name is Achim. My family and I live here in Bethlehem, the town of our ancestor David, the shepherd king….

Advent – Away in a Manger (Achim’s Story)

A Disciple Whom Jesus Loves

A Disciple Whom Jesus Loves

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We live in a day and time when less and less people know about Jesus, and as a result, less and less have come to a place where they know Jesus. And even more, it bears pointing out that there is a huge difference between knowing about Jesus … and knowing Jesus. We can know about Him intellectually without ever knowing Him personally and relationally.

In the Gospel of John, the apostle John often referred to himself as the one whom Jesus loved. He didn’t write that distinction because he was the only one whom Jesus loved; rather, he does so because he didn’t only have knowledge of Jesus, and he didn’t even only simply follow Jesus; rather, he was walking in an intimate love relationship with Jesus. He loved Jesus with all of his heart, soul and strength, and he knew Jesus loved him perfectly. And he desired for the readers of his Gospel to know the same.….

Keep Your Promise

Keep Your Promise

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We live in a day when promises are all too often kept only when it is convenient. Promises have become more fleeting and only endure for the moment – until we are convinced a better option has come along. Sadly, that has become true in every context in which we make promises. It’s become true in the promises made to one another in marriage. And it’s true in the promises of commitment we make to our Lord.

Promises, covenants and contracts have existed since the beginning of time. God made promises to Adam and Eve, and they made promises to Him in return. His promises endured. But regrettably, Adam and Eve’s did not. And too often neither do ours. No matter how much we may endeavor to make our promises more binding.

Be Strong and Courageous

Be Strong and Courageous

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In this “post”-pandemic era, the researchers tell us that there is a marked increase in the number of people who are discouraged, anxious and fearful about their lives, the times in which we live, and what lies ahead on the horizon. The increase appears to cut across all of society, including those who indicate they are followers of Jesus. This isn’t the first time that discouragement, anxiety and fear have been on the rise – and it would do us well to learn from those who have gone before us.

A transition in leadership was about to occur among the Israelites.(1) A respected leader was about to step down, and a new leader was about to take his place. The incoming leader had seen enough to know that he was stepping into a daunting task – prompting increased anxiety and fear over what could occur. There was a need for assurance and admonition – the need for a word aptly spoken. Perhaps we, too, need to hear those same words ourselves.

A Walk Like Enoch's

A Walk Like Enoch's

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For full disclosure, i have now been writing a weekly post to my blog for over four years, and in that time i have never repeated a post … until today. i first posted this on February 14, 2019, but as i read through it, i realized it was a word i needed to be reminded of today. i hope you will feel the same.

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This week in my quiet time, i have been reading the short epistle of Jude. It’s only one chapter and only contains twenty-five verses. i think i have too frequently breezed through it in the past. But this time the Lord told me to slow down and walk with His servant Enoch. In Jude 14-15, we read “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness….”

That got me to thinking about Enoch….

Like a Tree Planted by Streams of Water

Like a Tree Planted by Streams of Water

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A few days ago, a friend reminded me of the first promise given to each one of us as recorded in the first Psalm:

Blessed is the man {or woman} who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his {or her} delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he {or she} meditates day and night. He {or she} is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he {or she} does, he {or she} prospers.(1)

Having grown up in South Florida, a picture of the majestic royal palms towering over me with their fronds waving in the breezes immediately comes to my mind. The word picture given by the psalmist can feel very serene. It’s a picture of strength and peace rooted in the assurance of God’s Law and His Word.

There is No Such Thing as a Small Act of Obedience

There is No Such Thing as a Small Act of Obedience

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When was the last time you felt God prompting you to step out of your comfort zone? It may have been a prompting to perform a small act of service for someone you didn’t know … or someone you knew … but didn’t like. It may have been a prompting to do something that you’ve never done before … and you were afraid you would fail … and embarrass yourself … or fall flat on your face. Or, it may have been a prompting to speak to someone who intimidates you … and the prospect was frightening to you.

And you may have been tempted to ignore the prompting by convincing yourself that your obedience didn’t really matter. Someone else could do it; someone else who was far more capable … or far more confident … or far more qualified.

Running by Faith

Running by Faith

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In a few weeks on September 23rd, my book about the life of Enoch will release. Scripture doesn’t tell us a lot about Enoch, other than he walked with God. The writer of Hebrews gives us added insight by including him in the all-star list of men and women who walked by faith. But the writer of Hebrews didn’t just include him randomly in that list. His life was listed in the verse just prior to the one that is used as the very definition of what it means to walk by faith:

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.

Impeculiar

Impeculiar

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Impeculiar! Spell-check just told me the word is incorrect. Google tells me the word does not exist. And yet … it seems to be the perfect word to describe an attitude or action that others consider to be peculiar when, in fact, it should be the norm. i wouldn’t say the action is “ordinary,” because nothing about it is ordinary. I wouldn’t say the action is “unusual,” because it should be our daily response. But conversely, i could not describe it as “usual” or “unremarkable.” So, it must be impeculiar! Please allow me to explain.

Several days before Jesus was crucified, He and His disciples were spending the evening in Bethany at the home of Simon….

Recklessly Abandoned

Recklessly Abandoned

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The wind was blustery, and the waves were towering, when Peter first stepped out of the boat.(1) But i would venture he was no longer seeing or hearing them – at least at first. The only One he was seeing and hearing was his Lord … and Jesus had bid him to come.

That is the picture in my mind when i hear the words “recklessly abandoned.” Dictionary.com defines reckless as “utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action,” or “without caution.” Recklessness in most instances is a bad thing. None of us want to come face-to-face with a reckless driver, or follow a reckless leader who has no regard for us or where he/she is leading us. Very few of us would ever want to be described as being reckless. But i am convinced there is one context in which i truly desire to be reckless.

Possessing His Promise

Possessing His Promise

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If i was to ask you, “Does God keep His promises?” – i will venture that you and i would both say, “Yes!” We would point to promises He has given us, and the way we have seen those promises fulfilled. We would point to the many promises He has made throughout His Word, and the many examples of His faithfulness evidenced in His Word. Most notably, we would point to Jesus – who came in fulfillment of His promise – and who has promised to come again!

But allow me to ask a different question: “Are you currently in a place that you are waiting on God to fulfill a specific promise He has given you? And, if so, have you been waiting for a long time … and is the end nowhere in sight?”

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