From Hopelessness to Thanksgiving - Psalm 13
We often find ourselves gripped by life and the feeling of hopelessness. We struggle with the fear of no answers....
Psalm 49
The certainty of death changes the meaning of life. Psalm 49, in its proverbial wisdom, tells us that the rich have a false sense of security and perception of invincibility, but this psalm says: not so fast. There is a time limit on their power and influence, and it will fade away. This psalm is a needed reminder that our power and life on this earth are temporary....
Fasting
We serve a God who desires the full attention of our soul, heart, and mind. Our souls long for the presence and refuge of our Creator. God has given us ways to experience His nearness through prayer and fasting....
Luke 22 - A Masterpiece of Love
Luke 22 contains moments of darkness, mystery, service, loneliness, violence, and compassion. However, the entire picture is a masterpiece of love....
Psalm 48
Our life-giving shelter is not outside of God. We will never find refuge and protection in this world, our idols, or ourselves that indeed cause us to offer holy praises in celebration. We are meant to dwell within the fortress of God, and there we will find all that we need....
Behold: The Self-Control of Jesus
In the raucous classroom of life, Jesus stayed on task. He kept His focus. He remembered His mission. And He did this so that He could teach us to do the same and help us as an advocate when we fail....
Behold: The Goodness of Jesus
Believers and unbelievers alike need to hear and see that our God not only provides good things, but He is goodness itself....
Behold: The Peace of Jesus
Biblical peace is more than just striving for the absence of conflict; it is taking action to restore true brokenness. The peace modeled by our Savior is more than a state of inner tranquility; it is a state of perfect wholeness and complete trust in God....
Living it Out! - Reimagined Generosity
How would it feel not to have to worry about food, or shelter, or finances because a kind host has given you all you need? Our God is such a host....
Living it Out! - Intentional Disciple-Making
Many believers move through the Christian life stagnant in their disciple-making as they have never been discipled themselves. We must uncover and address our hidden hearts, sins and struggles by opening ourselves to the Lord and the disciple-making process....
Living it out! - Compelling Love
Christian, if they do not see it being lived out in our lives, then where will they see it? How is the love of Christ compelling you? ...
Living It Out! – Desperate Dependence
When will we get desperate for Him? In vulnerability, we must come before the Lord and ask the hard questions...
Living It Out! - Life-Giving Hope
Although not all our hopes will be fulfilled as we believe they should, we can still choose an attitude of joy. ...
Living It Out! - Anchoring Truth
Nothing can be hidden from Him who sees all things. God's Word has the power to pierce through the darkness of our souls....
Pray, Vote & Trust: Christians and Politics
We are called to influence this world while we are here, but we must not hold on to this world or politics too tightly. ...
Perfect Peace - Refining Trials
How does a person speak of all that comes in battle with a life-threatening disease? How do you respond to a life altering trial? ...
Real Talk: Who Has my Heart?
Does Jesus have your heart today? Are you running the race of life alone or have you asked the Lord to carry you?...
Reconciliation: The Mark of a Believer
We cannot be at war with God and at peace with others, and we cannot be at war with others and be at peace with God....
Don't Be A Turkey: The Ungrateful Heart
Christians should be the most thankful people in the world, because we know what God has done for us....
Crying Out to God: Help Me to Trust You
During times of adversity, it is natural for us to complain. We are tempted to doubt God has our best in mind....
The Waiting Room: Growth in Stillness
To wait means to stay or to rest with expectation. While in the “waiting room,” we are to stay active in prayer....
Be Still and Know: Meditate on Psalm 46:10
Psalm 46 reminds us that God is Creator and sustainer of all that was created. We can “cease striving”....
Comfort in Our Affliction: The Blessing of Trials
Nobody likes personal affliction, nobody looks for life crisis, yet none of us can avoid it. Only God can get us through....
A Prayer for Grace: Hebrews 4:16
Just the simple act of prayer is a conduit for grace. As we begin our prayers, we enter the Father’s presence....
Love One Another: Compelling Love
Love and service: undoubtedly tied together in the mind of God as expectations for the saints....
Remember His Lovingkindness
When the weight of life seems too much and we feel desperate and hopeless, remind us Lord of your lovingkindness....
Remember Those Who Led You
Take time to meditate on the pursuit of God for you and the servant He used to speak His grace to you...
Servant Leadership: Following Jesus
Jesus models for us what a real humble servant does. His ministry on earth to show kindness to others....
The Beauty of Servanthood - John 13
No service is too humbling. This is truly our example of servanthood, a true display of what it looks like to be like Jesus....
Trusting God: Giving Him Everything
Do you totally trust God with your future and direction? When we can do that and let that submission permeate our lives, there is fullness of joy and there are pleasures beyond our understanding....
Be Anxious For Nothing: Trusting God
Anxiety is so debilitating. It seems that everything around us in our culture; the national dialogue, politics, social media, is angry and anxious....
Jesus Reveals Himself - Light Yoke
In Jesus' care, He carries with us the spiritual and emotional labor we can’t bear alone. He invites us into His humble care, where, in the gentleness of His yoke, He will be to us living water and the bread of life—sufficient even to the harsh extremes of life....
Trust in Despair - Born Again to a Living Hope
In hard times, stillness can be a blessing. Meditate on God’s goodness as you rest, though right now uncomfortably, in your secure sonship—He has caused you to be born again and His plan for you cannot be thwarted!...
Identity - Partakers of the Divine Nature
We can neglect to see, and are often blind to, the reality that in the gospel God has invited us into His own life....
His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
There are many voices crying out for our attention from the world in which we live. What voice should we listen to? ...
Suffering: He Has Us in His Hands
In the midst of all the uncertainties around us today, we can have confidence in this God. He hears, He remembers....
Transforming Power: The Sanctification Gap
There are many voices crying out for our attention from the world in which we live. How do you know which voices to listen to?...
Cancel Culture: Be Motivated by Love
With finger-pointing, we’ve lost our ability to discuss issues and settle differences with civility and respect....
Cheerfully Changing: Trusting God in Trials
If God uses challenging circumstances to mold you, do you embrace those challenges or find it difficult to find joy? ...
Control Freak: Navigating the Illusion of Control
Have you ever been around a control freak, that person who cannot allow anything to happen without their permission?...
Blessed are the Peacemakers - Seeing Conflict as a Way to Honor God
I have often thought of myself as a peaceable person, but recently I have been challenged to think more about peacemaking. I recognize a potential fundamental difference between being peaceable and being a peacemaker as active outward steps, leading to the promotion of peace between people, or between people and God. ...
I Sure Hope So...
Brothers and sisters, we all experience those times when circumstances seem to rob us of all hope, as if there is no way we can survive the pain, loss, loneliness, or fear. Thankfully, we serve THE GOD OF ALL HOPE. If we find our joy and peace in believing His promises, we can live with hope by His power. Here are just a few of the promises God has given to believers, so that we can abound in hope:...
Jesus is Better
Are there any plans that you have today, that are not God’s plans? Psalm 63 reminds us that His steadfast love is better than life. In order to experience His plan, we have to acknowledge Him and lift up our hands to Him in worship, submitting our hearts and plans to Him. ...
Can I Be Your Spiritual Guide?
Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Daily reading God’s Word, praying, and meditating should be our first line of ongoing pursuit of God and means of gaining wisdom....
Pray, Vote & Trust: Christians and Politics
We are called to influence this world while we are here, but we must not hold on to this world or politics too tightly. ...
Keep ReadingReconciliation: The Mark of a Believer
We cannot be at war with God and at peace with others, and we cannot be at war with others and be at peace with God....
Keep ReadingDon't Be A Turkey: The Ungrateful Heart
Christians should be the most thankful people in the world, because we know what God has done for us....
Keep ReadingCrying Out to God: Help Me to Trust You
During times of adversity, it is natural for us to complain. We are tempted to doubt God has our best in mind....
Keep ReadingThe Waiting Room: Growth in Stillness
To wait means to stay or to rest with expectation. While in the “waiting room,” we are to stay active in prayer....
Keep ReadingCancel Culture: Be Motivated by Love
With finger-pointing, we’ve lost our ability to discuss issues and settle differences with civility and respect....
Keep ReadingCheerfully Changing: Trusting God in Trials
If God uses challenging circumstances to mold you, do you embrace those challenges or find it difficult to find joy? ...
Keep ReadingControl Freak: Navigating the Illusion of Control
Have you ever been around a control freak, that person who cannot allow anything to happen without their permission?...
Keep Reading