answers Archives » Reasons for Hope* Jesus

How Did the Wise Men (Magi) Know This Was the Messiah? How Did They Know to Follow His Star?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

How did the Wise Men know? The Wise Men/Magi were educated and notable men who studied the stars and apparently knew the prophecies well (see also Who Were the Three Wise Men? Why Did Herod Fear Them?). It is thought to have been Daniel the Prophet who first...

Does Satan Have a Stronger Influence on Halloween?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

Question: I live in an area that is steeped in tradition and religiosity, and people tend to think I’m a bit strange since I believe there is a spiritual element in everything around us, especially Halloween. It seems that a lot of bad things occur around...

7. A Stone of Deliverance and Memorial in Joshua

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

This is the seventh in a series of articles about stones in the Bible. It’s about a stone memorial on the shore of the Jordan. We know that stones were used as an instrument of capital punishment in Israel, but this series of articles considers stones in a...

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

(VIDEO BELOW) All too often we rush through life without stopping to remember and reflect on the really important things. The day Jesus was crucified is sometimes thought of as a dark and sad day, and it was such a day for those who witnessed it. But we can also...

Are you glad to see Jesus? – A Palm Sunday Devotion

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

[VIDEO BELOW] When our loved ones return home we are always glad to see them. However, the extent of our joy is usually in direct correlation to how long they have been away—a few hours, a day, many days, a year…or longer. The longer we wait for someone to...

What is Lent? Should I Give Up Something?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

(Watch Video Below) Will you be giving something up something for Lent? If so, will it be a challenge, something you really desire and going without it will be difficult? Or, are you are one of the many Christians who doesn’t observe Lent in that way? Maybe...

Why Do I Feel Unforgiven?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

Question I keep asking God to forgive me for something I did that was very bad, but I don’t feel like He has forgiven me. Why do I feel this way? Answer The fact that you recognize your sin, understand your need for forgiveness and seek God to forgive you, is an...

Why the Cradle, Cross & Crown? And what is a Chrismon?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

The cradle, cross, and crown are all Chrismons. Chrismons are symbols that represent something about Jesus Christ or the Christian faith. The term Chrismon comes from the Latin phrase “Christi monogramma,” which translates as “monogram of Christ.” There are many...

Eudoxia and John Chrysostom — Hope Prevails Over Persecution

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

Empress Eudoxia, a fifth-century Roman Empress, had quite a dilemma. What to do with John Chrysostom? Chrysostom was a faithful man of God and he feared no earthly rulers. There’s quite an amazing story to tell, but before I do so take a minute to consider...

Where is Your Shelter in the Storm?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

When days are difficult and times are tough, it can feel like the winds of November are beating down our doors. Where do we find shelter from the storms of life? Is there a refuge for the weary, a healing for the broken hearted, and a comfort for the troubled soul? ...