Happy 2026

Good morning,

I hope everyone has had a wonderful start to 2026! I have been talking with several friends who are reading the Bible in a year, starting a Bible study or they are like me and start each day with reading the Bible. I love that reading the Bible as a christian is important to people.

The Bible has so many stories of interesting people and how they were used by God to tell the story of Jesus Christ and how he would save sinners. One thing to notice is everything in the Bible has many layers of meaning to it.

Barabbas, is one of those people God used with more meaning than what you read on the surface. Barabbas, was a criminal. He was a convicted murderer, liar, thief, etc. During passover the Romans would set free one Jewish criminal as an act of kindness to the Jews. So during Jesus trial Pilate brought out Barabbas and Jesus Christ and said,” Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” They wanted Barabbas the criminal set free instead of Jesus. They wanted Jesus Christ crucified. The picture here is we are all Barabbas with sin in our lives and Jesus took our place on the cross to set us free from any punishment, guilt ,sin if we will put our faith in him as our Lord and Savior we actually trade places and we get Jesus righteousness and He takes our sin. The name “Barabbas” is Aramaic in origin, meaning “son of the father”. The release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus highlight the concept of substitutionary atonement. Jesus offering Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. This event underscores the core Christian beliefs in redemption through Christ’s sacrifice.

The Bible is a love story from God, still as relevant as the day it was compiled of 66 books, 40 different authors over approximately 1500 years. Only God could do this! One thing I have learned from 18 years of reading it: I am never finished, If you apply and believe what is written in the book…it is true and it works and this is how you personally get to know Who God is by spending time in His Word, and you know what….He is awesome!! Praise God!

I learn, I am deeply loved, forgiven, headed, protected, never alone, and always learning. Gratitude is the key to anxiety, fear, etc….Wow, what a book!

Love you, Teri