Posts by Richard Parrish

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore, he shall give them up until the time when she who is in…

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near” (Philippians 4:4–5 NRSV). The third candle of Advent is a pink or rose-colored candle. Historically, it is also known as “The Shepherd’s Candle,” symbolizing joy. A shepherd’s presence provides comfort and assurance, transforming despairing…

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God”…

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In…

As Thanksgiving approaches, we are reminded of the timeless words of the Apostle Paul: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It’s easy to give thanks when life is smooth and blessings abound. But what about when we face hardships, uncertainty, or…

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. – Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.” – Psalm 120:1-2 (ESV) The New Oxford American Dictionary defines “distress” as: “distress | dəˈstres | noun 1 extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain: to his distress he saw that she was trembling. • the state of…

“I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade…

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”  – Romans 13:1 (ESV) November 7th will decide which Presidential candidate will take office.  If political polls are even somewhat reliable, we have a strong indication that nearly half of…

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…”…

“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you’.” – Isaiah 35:1 (ESV) Have you noticed? Assurance appears to be decreasing while anxiousness increases. …