Lori Boucher

"At that time, Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, 'Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.'" Matthew 12: 1-2 ESV. In old times, the heads of grain on the outer edge of the field were left for the needy poor and foreigners. Jesus and His disciples travelled from city to city, preaching the gospel, not knowing where their next meal would[...]

There is a story in the Bible where Moses asked Pharaoh to let God's people go, and Pharaoh was so angry he said, "You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle." Exodus. 5:7-8 ESV. I see a wrestle here in the spirit in a natural tension. The people have no idea that God is working a plan to set them free from capt[...]

"Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience."  Hebrews 4: 11 ESV. In the Old Testament, the law established a calendar that included a day of rest called the Sabbath, some festivals like Passover, had two days of rest on the first and the last day of the week, which translates into our Sunday and Saturday, something we call "the Weekend." When Jesus came, He fulfilled the need for these rituals and invited us into an even better covenant that includ[...]

"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks[d] to the Father, who has qualified you[e] to share in the inheritance of the[...]

"…the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified." Isaiah 61: 3b Do you ever feel like there is a spirit of heaviness on you? Sometimes it feels as though it's on your physical body: like your legs and arms feel like cement, and you feel tired and weary. Other times you sense it in your spirit or emotions: you feel discouraged, down, depressed, unmotivated and struggle to do things you normally do. So[...]

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day, God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation." Genesis 2: 1-3 ESV God created everything with a spoken word. He created it and called it very good, and then on the seventh day, He rested from all He had made. He didn't rest because[...]

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him… Matthew 14: 30 – 31a ESV How often are we in a storm in life, and all we can see is the winds and the waves, and we are terrified - the storm is taking up all the space, filling our gaze and blinding us to the very help that is already with us.  Jesus comes walking on the water - a reminder of the same God who parted the red sea, now stands on[...]

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus… let us draw near with a TRUE HEART IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us HOLD FAST THE CONFESSION OF OUR HOPE WITHOUT WAVERING, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:19, 22-23(ESV) I heard a story told by Timothy Keller of a man named Nick who wanted to give a special gift to a friend who happened to be a carpenter by[...]

I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. 2 Corinthians 7:4 ESV I once heard someone say, the key to avoiding getting hurt or offended was to keep your expectations low. As I reflected on my own life and choices in contrast to others, this statement confirmed why I was different than others in my life. Somewhere along the way, as a young child, I unknowingly adopted this way of thinking and way of life. T[...]

"Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? " Job 4:6 RSV Job 4 is a conversation between Job and his friends. Job is wrestling with the question: can mortal man be right before God? His friends are trying to convince him that there must be something wrong with him and he must repent. But Job is deeply convinced that what is happening is not as a result of some hidden sin in his life but has been allowed by God, who is above his circumstances. What amazes me about the[...]