By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.02/14/2021He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3b)When I was younger, I did a lot of deer hunting. May dad and I would take two or three trips each winter to deer leases throughout Texas. I have a lot of fond memories from those hunting trips. One of the things I enjoyed most was spending the afternoons walking around the ranch looking for c...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.02/11/2021He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul… (Psalm 23:2-3a)As is typical with large families, there is seldom a dull moment around our house. We also have two dogs that add to the excitement: Juneau and Gracie, whom we love dearly. They are very much a part of the family. Yet, as much as we love them, we are no...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D02/01/2021The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)The 23rd Psalm is one of the most famous passages of Scripture in the Bible. Even the casual Bible reader is familiar with the poetic words of this Psalm written by that shepherd-boy-turned-King, David. So famous is this Psalm that it is one of the most memorized passage in the entire Bible. It is not surprising t...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.01/17/2021LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me. (Psalm 131:1)I was in the eighth grade when that famous puzzle Rubik’s Cube came out. It caught on like wild fire. Everyone had a Rubik’s Cube, including me, and I was determined to figure it out. For weeks I worked on it to no avail ...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.01/18/2021Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Can you drink the cup that I...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.01/11/2021Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! (Psalm 31:19)I received one of those time-share solicitations in the mail recently. You know the type. It is typically a one-page flyer proclaiming that you are one of the “Grand Prize Winners!” To colle...  Read More

By Dr. J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.01/04/2021“Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” Indeed, we do come to You, for You are the LORD our God. (Jeremiah 3:22)The week after Christmas is the busiest time of year for stores when it comes to returns. Customer service counters are typically plagued with long lines filled with people returning unwanted gifts. Retailers anticipate an...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.05/24/2022“For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he.” (Jeremiah 31:11)Most people love a good Cinderella story. They love to root for the underdog. In fact, when you think about it, the plot of most books and movies involves some kind of come-from-behind, rags-to-riches story. It is heartwarming. It appeals to our inner desire for...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.06/14/2022Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20–21)It is known worldwide as the “Miracle on Ice.” The year was 1980, and the United States hosted the Winter Olympic games in Lake Placid,...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.09/21/2022 “This was the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:23)One of the many joys of parenthood is watching your children reach milestones such as learning to walk, learning to talk, or learning to ride a bicycle. We have raised six children, and the older I get the more these special memories tend to blur together in my mind’s eye. Was it Brooke or Faith...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.08/25/2022From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! ...  Read More

By: J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.10/11/2022“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)Some years ago, we had the unfortunate experience of being burglarized at our home. It was in the middle of the night, and my family and I were all sound asleep. No one heard a thing. I inadvertently left...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.10/03/2022Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are te...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.05/31/2022“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5)As Jeremiah the prophet surveyed the spiritual decay in the midst of the land of Judah, he became discouraged. When would God judg...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.11/26/2021Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:1-3)Everybody loves new things. A new car; a new house; new clothes; new friends; new beginnings—in general, new is usually more exciting t...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.01/03/2022“For God has not given us a spirit of fear...” (2 Tim 1:7)One of my all-time favorite children’s movies is the Disney/Pixar movie Monsters, Inc. Every time we watch it as a family I laugh all the way through it. Similar to the Toy Story movies, this movie takes you back to your childhood days and invokes warm memories of what it was like to be a kid.The premise of Mo...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D. 01/07/2020“Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.” (Isaiah 51:1)Someone has said, “When your past calls, don’t answer.  It has nothing new to say!”  There is a lot of truth in that adage.  Indeed, the maxim “never look back” is a frequent refrain of...  Read More

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.02/03/2020"For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)Several years ago, my wife Wendy was dispensing a dropper full of medicine to one of our daughters, who was an infant at the time and had a fever.  While mom was administering the medicine, our two-year-old son snatched the medicine bottle and tried to play pharmaci...  Read More