Have you ever felt that the challenges before you are too great for your limited abilities? In our journey of faith, we often feel unqualified, inadequate, and overwhelmed by the magnitude of what lies ahead. Our tendency is to focus on our weaknesses and limitations, wondering if we are truly …
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You saw me first [Psalm 139:15–16; 1 John 4:19] You let me in when I was at my worst [Titus 3:3–7; Ephesians 2:3–5] The moment when I heard You say my name [John 10:2–4] It’s the first time in so long I’m not afraid [Isaiah 41:10] I’m not afraid [Psalm 23:4–5] You are the voice that calms the …
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There is a war that’s inside [1 Peter 2:11–12] A battle for my heart and mind [Proverbs 4:20–23; Romans 12:1–2] Some days I feel I just can’t fight [Psalm 69:1–3] I’m not strong enough on my own [Isaiah 41:10–13] Thank God I’m not standing alone [2 Chronicles 20:17] You’re with me wherever I go …
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In our busy lives, we often overlook the potential for spiritual growth and connection with God in everyday activities, including exercise. While walking or running, we have the opportunity to not only improve our physical well-being but also to draw closer to God, hear His voice, and receive …
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a hot topic for sure! With the usual “man vs technology” fears aside, there are also concerns from a Christian perspective about appropriate use or even discerning between godly and demonic influence on the results. Titus 1:15 (NLT) Everything is pure to those …
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When upgrading this website, it was quite frustrating to repeatedly start over. I was praying for direction, got guidance from God, developed for a while, and maybe made it a bit further than past attempts. Then I’d undoubtedly hit a hard roadblock and had to start over … again and again. On a bad …
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“The way we talk in our time and culture about being BLESSED by God, you’re blessed when you’re RICH. You’re blessed when you’re FAMOUS. You’re blessed when you’re SUCCESSFUL. You’re blessed when everything is going GREAT. You’re blessed when you’re COMFORTABLE, and SECURE, and SAFE. That’s the …
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“Moses is doing his JOB as a shepherd and he NOTICES this bush burning. The Bible says Moses noted … it was ON FIRE, but wasn’t being CONSUMED. … We have to understand that Moses did not turn because God SAID, ‘Moses, Moses.’ That’s EASY. How many know that when God SAYS your name, it’s like, …
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You are all [Psalm 40:17] Big and small [Ephesians 4:6] Beautiful [Psalm 27:4] And wonderful [Psalm 40:5] To trust in grace through faith [Romans 5:1–2] But I’m asking to taste [Psalm 34:8] For dark is light to You [Psalm 139:11–12] Depths are height to You [Psalm 139:7–8] Far is near [Psalm …
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“Many of the problems that exist in our lives were given places of influence, and power, and strength because of improper conversation. For many people, their goal in life is to vent when they have something going wrong. And all they do is add to the strength of that particular problem. … I’m only …
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“Jesus didn’t come to GIVE you a key, He IS the key. And lot of us, we want a key to God’s hidden treasures, but Jesus didn’t come to GIVE us hidden treasures, He came to BE for us the hidden treasure. … A lot of us really want what God HAS for us, but we don’t want GOD. We want whatever Jesus …
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“You’re actually the sum total of the memories you CHOOSE to carry with you. … There are NEW battles to fight right NOW and you’re LOSING them because you keep facing BACKWARDS rather than FORWARD. … You’re STILL fighting those ancient enemies that have long been GONE. … You keep wanting God to do …
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“PROMISES are the invitation of God into a RELATIONAL journey where TOGETHER we labor to see things happen in the earth that reveal His NATURE. … His DESIRE is to work through sons and daughters. Why? Because … it takes a CHILD to reveal the nature of a FATHER. … He’s revealed for WHO HE IS …
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Matthew 10:37 (NASB) “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” “That word for ‘love’ there is not ‘agape,’ the word there is ‘phileo.’ It’s this AFFECTION. It’s this PASSION. … That word is translated ‘KISS’ …
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“DISAPPOINTMENT is the mother of DEPRESSION. … Not dealing with it in early stages DEEPLY affects our EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, and SPIRITUAL health. … Disappointment actually makes us VULNERABLE to SPIRITUAL DISEASE. … Disappointment is a THIEF, … because it ROBS us of a sense of VISION and PURPOSE. …
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Proverbs 16:3 literally says, “Roll your actions toward Yahweh and your devices will be setup.” While that can seem a bit cryptic at first, there is a lot of beautiful imagery here. “Rolling your actions toward God” shows that there has to be an intentionality behind what you do. The idea is that …
READ MORE![“LORD, … give me a greater desire and give me a greater ability to work this out. … I want it because You made me want it, but everything within me knows I want this [too]. And I’m working because You are enabling and empowering me to work. But every fiber in my being is working with all of its heart.” —Francis Chan, “The Book of Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians”](/images/blog/2018-12-30-enabled-and-empowered-to-work.jpg)
“[Paul] says, ‘WORK OUT your own salvation with FEAR and TREMBLING.’ But he just spent Galatians AND Ephesians talking about how it’s NOT by works. So, what is THIS about? … It’s NOT, ‘work FOR your own salvation.’ Now THAT would be a contradiction. But he says, ‘no, work OUT your salvation’. …
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“You have to adopt a posture of BELIEVING and then, where appropriate, you have to ACT in accordance to what you believe. Because Scripture says, ‘FAITH without WORKS’—without appropriate ACTS—‘is DEAD.’ … It is not enough JUST to have faith; you have to have FAITH and PATIENCE. When you’ve …
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“Both JEALOUSY and BITTERNESS are REASONABLE. There are REASONS. … My REASONING says, ‘This is a LEGITIMATE response to what WAS DONE to me.’ … It is UNRENEWED MIND reasoning; it is not BIBLICAL reasoning. Biblical reasoning works FROM the cross TOWARDS a situation. … The way you walk in …
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2 Peter 1:2–3 (TPT) [2] May grace and perfect peace cascade over you as you live in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. [3] Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by His divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich …
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“[Jesus does] not demand OBEDIENCE from people to whom [He has] given no GRACE. … At the last judgment, it will be plain to all the world that ALL disobedience is IN SPITE of much TRUTH and much GRACE. Paul gives the principle in 2 Corinthians 8:12. … ‘If the READINESS is there … it is acceptable …
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I was born to be royal [1 Peter 2:9–10] I was made to be free [Galatians 5:1] But I was torn from the garden [Genesis 3:23–24] When that devil lied to me [John 8:44] I was formed from the soil [Genesis 2:7] I got dirt inside of me [Proverbs 30:12–14; Ezekiel 24:12–14] But I was born to be royal …
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“We usually look for the purposes of suffering for the effect that it has on the sufferer. … But what we don’t usually look for is God’s purposes for OUR weaknesses in the lives of OTHERS. In other words, could OUR weaknesses … or suffering be intended by God to draw out of OTHERS something they …
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“He said, ‘You’ve lost your FIRST LOVE.’ And what fascinates me … He didn’t say, ‘Memorize these SCRIPTURES until your love returns for me.’ He didn’t say, ‘Go into multiple worship services and WORSHIP until your love is restored.’ He didn’t say, ‘FAST seven days and then your love will be …
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“I used to read and pray the Lord’s Prayer with THIS conception: the first three statements, I felt, … were ACCLAMATIONS or PRAISES, not REQUESTS, and then it was FOLLOWED by four requests. … ‘I PRAISE You Father that Your Name IS hallowed. I PRAISE You that Your Kingdom IS coming. I PRAISE You …
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“Our ACCEPTANCE by the Father was determined at the CROSS and is therefore not based on how well WE are doing on any particular day. Our ability to come BOLDLY before the throne of grace must NEVER be measured by how GOOD or BAD we have been but by the blood of JESUS. Coming on ANY other basis is …
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“What does ‘HALLOWED’ mean? The word is literally ‘SANCTIFY’ … or ‘REGARD as holy’. We don’t ‘MAKE’ God holy, we REGARD Him as holy, SEE Him as holy, SENSE Him as holy, stand in AWE of Him as holy. … And not just SEE it, the DEVIL sees it. Remember, the DEMONS said to Jesus, ‘We know who YOU are. …
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“Most of us just want to be TOLD what to do. ‘What do I DO? Just TELL ME what to do.’ … Jesus’s response is, ‘THIS is the work of God: BELIEVE.’ … It’s not RADICALLY believe. It’s not with your WHOLE HEART believe, … DEEPLY believe, INTENSELY believe, SINCERELY believe. … Why? Because to BELIEVE …
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“BITTERNESS is immature MURDER. … In other words, it’s just UNDEVELOPED. … ‘LIFE and DEATH is in the power of the TONGUE.’ Even people who don’t murder still speak UNKINDLY and release DEATH into a given situation. … SELF-CONDEMNATION and SELF-HATRED is immature SUICIDE. … It’s the reason we have …
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“Really, NO ONE is searching for God. … They know their life is MISSING something. They know they’re just EXISTING. They know that something’s WRONG, that something’s BROKEN. There’s a HOLE, a HOLLOWNESS inside of their soul. And they’re trying to find the LIFE that is eluding them. And MAYBE …
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“One of the most powerful things that you can actually do is just BE PRESENT. I’m talking about with some of our broken people. Just BE PRESENT. … We do JOY really well. We do FUN really well. … The side effect of our culture is that we don’t do PAIN very well. … Sometimes, in the midst of our …
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“We ALL must run, whether OLD or YOUNG, whether SICK or HEALTHY, whether BLIND or SEEING. And this is possible for the sick and senile because the race is a race against UNBELIEF, not a race against sickness or senility. … Sickness may come, senility may come, and WE STILL WIN. It is possible for …
READ MORE![“[Nathaniel] wasn’t under that fig tree to impress anyone else. He wasn’t trying to be religious. He wasn’t trying to establish a reputation. He was on a desperate search for God. You can’t afford to have a faith that is simply displaced in someone else’s experience. You have to find your own ‘fig tree’ and search for God, and find Him for yourself.” —Erwin McManus, Mosaic](/images/blog/2018-08-26-finding-god-under-the-fig-tree.jpg)
“Jesus saw Nathaniel when NO ONE ELSE saw Nathaniel. … Here’s a man, under a fig tree, trying to CONNECT to God. But if you were trying to connect to God, they would expect you to be in the TEMPLE. … It was the temple that God INSTRUCTED them to build, and in the middle of that temple was SUPPOSED …
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Jeremiah 31:2–4 (ESV) [2] Thus says the LORD: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, [3] the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued My faithfulness to you. [4] Again I will …
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“Jesus says to Paul, ‘Paul, this THORN, this messenger of SATAN is going to make you WEAK, in such a way that if you have ANY power, it will be MINE.’ … What’s going on here isn’t that He grants UNSPEAKABLE revelations, not merely that He’s preventing PRIDE, not merely that He’s shaming SATAN, but …
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People often confuse where God’s responsibilities end and ours begin. Perhaps that’s because those two concepts are more intertwined than we realize. Some people believe that Christ did all the work for everything at the cross and we just need to believe Him enough and obey some list enough for …
READ MORE![“One of the more frustrating parts of my relationship with [God] is the fact that He won’t always tell me what to do. I want Him to give me detailed instruction, kind of like a slave wants, and He’s wanting me to act as a son who He trained to think like He does.” — Bill Johnson, Bethel Church](/images/blog/2018-07-29-thinking-like-a-son.jpg)
“One of the more FRUSTRATING parts of my relationship with [God] is the fact that He won’t always TELL ME what to do. All I want is HIS WILL. ‘Just TELL ME what to do. I’ve got Door A, B, C. Just tell me WHICH ONE, and I’m happy. I LOVE Your will. It’s ALWAYS been good.’ There are sometimes I want …
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“Nowhere in the Bible does Paul provide a complete list of the gifts that are available to the children of God. In fact, what we see throughout the Bible is that he provides us a variety of partial lists. … And then even Peter hops in … with yet another list. And these lists do not correspond with …
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It’s really hard when family and friends hurt you. Lost people act lost and believers aren’t perfect either, but knowing that doesn’t lessen the pain. When going through those situations, I have to remind myself not to wall up and shut others out, because there’s a spiritual battle going on behind …
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“I have placed My hand upon you. The same hand that brings anointing also applies pressure. So do not resist My work in you. It is a good work to refine and strengthen, change and renew. A new thing I will do in you, a new flame I will kindle. I am preparing a vessel for this flame. A lamp for …
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“The reason we become so FRAGILE is because we don’t know the POWER of FORGIVENESS. Forgiveness doesn’t make you WEAKER, forgiveness makes you STRONGER. … Instead of always getting HURT by what ‘everyone else’ did, why don’t you just ELEVATE and show them what YOU do? … You should be GIVING more …
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I just want to meet with God. I just want to be alone with His Word every morning. I want to meet with you God, like Moses met with you. I want it to just be You and me in that room, because there’s nothing like this. … We want you to have these Moses-type of encounters. And even in a greater way, …
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“Each miracle of Jesus had prophetic significance. When He turned the water into wine, His first miracle, He was demonstrating one of the most important, initial lessons we should learn as we start to follow Him. The vessels were set aside and filled with water. Water is often symbolic of the Word …
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I can walk through the storm I can walk by faith when my sight is gone Just as long as You are here with me And I can gain everything But what do I have if I don’t have the King Oh, I need to know You’re here with me Even though I believe You’ve taken up a home inside me And You’ll never leave I …
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Why? The question that is never far away The healing doesn’t come from the explained Jesus please don’t let this go in vain You’re all I have All that remains So here I am What’s left of me Where glory meets my suffering I’m alive Even though a part of me has died You take my heart and breathe it …
READ MORE![“I wonder how many times you’ve hit the wall, you’ve lost your faith, you just felt exhausted and tired from life. Maybe that’s why we keep missing our second wind, because we think [it] is about us. The second wind is really about God revealing Himself in us and through us.” —Erwin McManus, Mosaic](/images/blog/2018-05-27-spiritual-second-wind.jpg)
“I do think we should notice something though. It says, ‘when he saw the WIND.’ [Matthew 14:30] … We would probably all agree that it’s not really POSSIBLE to ‘see the wind.’ … You see the EFFECT of wind, but you don’t see the WIND, right? … Most of the time we LOSE OUR FAITH because we LOSE SIGHT …
READ MORE![“Some of the circumstances that seem to be the most impossible, they are no match for a song [of praise]. There’s that decree. There’s that shout. And the LORD says He stirs Himself up and brings about victory.” —Bill Johnson, Bethel Church](/images/blog/2018-05-20-the-power-of-rejoicing-and-praise.jpg)
“Sometimes God allows us to be moved to a place of great internal CONTENTION and TURMOIL to bring about answers. It’s not that He CAN’T answer the easy prayer, it’s that He’s trying to DEVELOP something in us. STRENGTH is formed in us when there is a great PASSION, great ZEAL, great BOLDNESS. …
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2 Corinthians 12:7–9 (NASB) [7] Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! [8] Concerning this I implored the Lord three times …
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“A POVERTY mindset looks at abundance as a means to DO LESS. That is not how KINGDOM ABUNDANCE works. Kingdom abundance actually means you’re about to work A LOT harder than you’ve EVER worked. So, just keep in mind, when you cry out for abundance, what that means is that you’re going to be REALLY …
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“The Bible says that God can use the pain that we’re SUFFERING right now for His Glory. He can turn it into a GOOD thing. … James 1:2–4 (ESV) [2] Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, [3] for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. [4] And …
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“Learning how to maintain PRIORITY and FOCUS in a season of blessing is one of the rarest things in church history. … What has happened—through the early church especially—is they learned how to navigate OPPOSITION so that they got INCREASE. … For many years following that, every wave of …
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“A few days after Lazarus was raised [from the dead by Jesus], Jesus and the disciples went back to Bethany and had dinner with him. … And in that dinner, Mary takes a little canister of VERY expensive ointment, and she opens it and she pours it on Jesus’s feet. ALL OF IT. And she takes her hair, …
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“Even though the LORD wants us to seek Him and find Him, He would be doing us a great disservice if His blessings were too easily attained. This would only feed our slothfulness. He often makes Himself difficult to find so we will have to search for Him more diligently. In a way, the LORD is like …
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“At the cross, EVERYTHING changed. We could be FORGIVEN. But it’s not just about this ONE TIME decision where we decide, ‘Okay, we BELIEVE that.’ It’s about a change of a LIFESTYLE. … Now I literally have ACCESS to God. I can PRAY to Him and He HEARS me. … Life becomes COMPLETELY different when …
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Thanksgiving is our response to His works. Praise is our response to His nature. Worship is our response to His presence. It’s not like you, ‘do these three steps and He’ll reward you.’ It’s not that, it’s just He can trust you with more, the deeper you go in. Because the farther you go with Him, …
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It can easily feel like the “Books of the Law” (specifically, Exodus–Deuteronomy) are simply chock full of antiquated and inapplicable laws and commandments. However, God doesn’t change. [Malachi 3:6] And yet, Christ fulfilled the law for us and freed us from it. [Galatians 3:10–13] So, as we read …
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“God has ordained that it would take faith and patience to inherit His promises. Time will remove that which is not true and strengthen that which is true. The LORD compared faith to a mustard seed. … But lest we misunderstand, the seed is not the fruit. The seed must be planted, watered, and …
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Deuteronomy 4:9, 31 (ESV) [9] “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children [31] For the LORD your God is a merciful …
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“There’s an unusual, seamless connection between three subjects in scripture: FEAR, WORSHIP, and TRUST. … What you FEAR will influence what you WORSHIP and what you WORSHIP will be proven by what you TRUST. Worship isn’t MERELY an act, a song, kneeling, raising hands, or whatever. It is kind of …
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In several of his recent sermons, John Piper has been sharing a mnemonic that he has lived by in his Christian walk. This device can be used as a guideline before, during, and after any situation. While this may not be an exact quote, as his expansion of the five keywords changes, here’s a summary …
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Growing up, Moses didn’t seem to have much of a father figure. The only mention of his real father was that he was a Levite, that he “took as his wife a Levite woman” (which may or may not imply he simply slept with her), and he’s never mentioned again. [Exodus 2:1] His mother nursed him, but …
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“I was sitting in my chair in our living room … I had made myself a cup of hot tea, and settled in to enjoy a time of fellowship with Jesus, which I do every morning over His word. I remember pausing before I began to read … and thinking ‘I LOVE this quietness. I LOVE this room. … I LOVE the …
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“I think many believers know how to enjoy pizza, … football, … friends, … sex. And you put that word ‘enjoy’ or ‘delight’ or ‘be satisfied’ onto God and they just shrug. … ‘I don’t relate to God that way. I DO stuff because He says to DO stuff.’ … God is to be TREASURED, God is to be ENJOYED, more …
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“This is what threw me over the edge: I realized I USED TO love Jesus more than I do RIGHT NOW. What the heck am I DOING then? How did I get THERE? I didn’t EVER want to make a statement like THAT! But all the PRESSURE, the INSECURITIES, the LIES of trying to match up to THIS person, to THAT …
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“A Christian is not a person who experiences NO bad desires. A Christian is a person who is at WAR with those desires by the POWER of the Spirit. CONFLICT in your soul is not all bad. Even though we long for the day when our flesh will be utterly defunct and only PURE and LOVING desires will fill …
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There are some of you that see your life as HIDEOUS. You cannot see the BEAUTY in your life. You cannot see the WONDER of your life. Because all YOU see is DARKNESS. All you see is your BROKENNESS. All you see is your INADEQUACY. All you see are your FAILURES. … How is it that when Jesus says …
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Come close to Me, and rest in My Presence. I AM all around you, closer than the very air you breathe. Trust Me with each breath you take. Your need for Me is as constant as your need for oxygen. So don’t neglect the discipline of practicing My Presence. Because your mind is easily distracted, you …
READ MOREHere is a wonderful worship song that represents a conversation between God and us about savoring Him: Put down your paper plate Come to the table made Deep blue china Found on the table by the wine, so fine Well, it brings out flavor Like You bring out color in life Oh! I miss You so! The feel of …
READ MOREEcclesiastes 5:17–20 (NLT) [17] Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud-frustrated, discouraged, and angry. [18] Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, and enjoy their work-whatever they do under the sun-for …
READ MOREJames 3:2–6 (NASB) [2] For we all stumble in many *ways.* If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. [3] Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. [4] Look at the ships …
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Isaiah 35:1–4 (NLT) [1] Even the wilderness will rejoice in those days. The desert will blossom with flowers. [2] Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel’s pastures and the plain of …
READ MORELuke 6:30 (NASB) “Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. It’s easy to get jaded in today’s society to the point that our first thoughts when someone asks for money are: “they’re probably just going to buy drugs/alcohol/cigarettes with it,” …
READ MOREIsaiah 58:6–11 (NASB) [6] “Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? [7] “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the …
READ MOREI will deal with all the things in the world in a way that draws me NEARER to Christ through them or I won’t deal. How are you doing with videos? Spending? I regard everything as LOSS in comparison with Christ…in the sense that as I wear my coat, drive my car, watch a video, I will deal with this …
READ MOREThere is an expression amongst those who’ve eaten one too many cold meals thanks to long-winded pre-meal prayers. “There’s a time to pray and a time to eat.” While it is a funny expression, I do tend to agree with it. The problem is, many people only pray in fearful situations and before meals. …
READ MOREStarting your day off with prayer can prepare your mind and spirit for the day. [Psalm 92:1-5] But it can be tough getting things going when you “get up while it’s still dark to pray” [Mark 1:35] or just praying while getting ready in the morning. So, I like to start my day off with a prayer using …
READ MOREPsalm 56:9–13 (NLT) [9] On the very day I call to you for help, my enemies will retreat. This I know: God is on my side. [10] O God, I praise your word. Yes, LORD, I praise your word. [11] I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? [12] I will fulfill my vows to …
READ MOREPraise the LORD for HIS work, not His VESSELS’. Now, you can THANK them, you can ENCOURAGE them, you can HONOR them. Don’t EXALT them too high…they’ll run out of AIR. GOD doesn’t run out of air, MEN do, WOMEN do. Be careful you don’t put them in an altitude where they can’t SURVIVE. They’re just …
READ MOREGod of wrath, God of love [Colossians 3:4–7, 2 Corinthians 13:11] God of Earth and God above [Deuteronomy 10:12–14] God of hope, God of peace [Romans 15:13] God of you and God of me [Isaiah 37:16] God of day, God of night [Psalm 42:8] God the Just and God the Light [2 Thessalonians 1:5–10, Isaiah …
READ MORESome people say that if you live your life as a Christian and it ends up being false, then at least you spent you’re life as a good person. But Paul offers a different perspective. 1 Corinthians 15:16–28 (NASB) [16] For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; [17] and if …
READ MOREDeuteronomy 29:29 (NLT) “There are secret things that belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our descendants forever, so that we may obey these words of the law. It’s so easy to get caught up in theological debates about things that have little to no direct Biblical …
READ MORELet me say this to you, and I want you to have your CONFIDENCE built in this. For the BELIEVER in Christ—so, NOT humanity [as a whole]—for the believer in JESUS CHRIST, bad days, regardless of how HORRIFIC, regardless of how SOUL-CRUSHING, HEART-FAILING, OVERWHELMING those days are, bad days for …
READ MOREI don’t want my life to be explainable without the Holy Spirit. I want people to look at my life and know that I couldn’t be doing this by my own power. I want to live in such a way that I am desperate for Him to come through. … I don’t believe God wants me (or any of His children) to live in a …
READ MOREPrayer doesn’t have to be structured or even always in words, but it should be genuine. It doesn’t have to be out loud or only internal, but it should be often. It doesn’t have to be with your head down, eyes closed, and on your knees with hands together or with arms wide, head up, and eyes open; …
READ MORERevelation 3:7–8 (NASB) [7] “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: [8] ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can …
READ MOREIn a series of public rebukes directly against the Pharisees, Jesus said the following: Matthew 23:27–28 (NASB) [27] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all …
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You call me out upon the waters [Philippians 3:13-14] The great unknown where feet may fail [Isaiah 40:30-31] And there I find You in the mystery [Colossians 2:2-3] In oceans deep, my faith will stand [1 Corinthians 16:13-14] And I will call upon Your Name [Psalm 116:17] And keep my eyes above the …
READ MOREOften times, we tend to “idolize” the believers in the Bible as having some sort of “special faith.” We like to think that they have some level to their spirituality that is unattainable to us “mere humans.” Granted, some were fortunate enough to have an unexpected burning bush experience and/or …
READ MOREMaybe you are reading this and are thinking, “Well, I just don’t experience that kind of intimacy with God … the Spirit in me never cries, ‘Abba, Father!’” If this is you, I don’t have a four-step guide to connecting with the Holy Spirit. I would, however, like to suggest two potential obstacles …
READ MOREI don’t know how many of you watched it, but there was a 2.5 hour debate between Ken Ham (president of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum) and Bill Nye (“The Science Guy” and CEO of the Planetary Society) this past week on Young Earth Creationism vs. Evolution. Both sides made good points …
READ MORE2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (NASB) [7] Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! [8] Concerning this I implored the Lord three …
READ MOREThere are baseline levels of things that we should all do as Christians (Matthew 22:37-40), but God specifically calls us to a mission. For some people that is in the “mission field” witnessing to people across the world, for others it is a call to preach or another church position, but others …
READ MORELike anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place, but I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain, and I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know …
READ MOREBack in Genesis 2:7-25, we read that God created the first marriage with the purpose of the wife being the helper of the husband. Often today, these verses are misconstrued and abused by ungodly and abusive men to mean that the man “works his 40 hours at his job and (occasionally) mows the lawn” …
READ MOREMost people just want to know what God can do for them rather than desiring to know Him. When we present the gospel, we try to answer one question: How do I keep from going to hell? After that question is answered, we stop asking questions about God. With the American church being so concerned …
READ MOREMatthew 21:18–22 (NASB) [18] Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. [19] Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said* to it, “No longer shall there ever be *any* fruit from you.” And at once the fig …
READ MOREThanks be to God for loving us enough to send His Son down to teach us and die in our places, giving us the choice between eternal life and death, so that in choosing Him, His Word is very near to us…in our mouth and in our hearts! Deuteronomy 30:11–20 (NASB) [11] “For this commandment which I …
READ MOREThroughout Scripture we find that things about our “natural” bodies correlate to things about our “spiritual” bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-49, Romans 2:26-29). So, in this ever-lovely cold and flu season, my wife and I were talking the other day about what would be the “immune system” of our …
READ MOREPsalm 63:8 (ASV) “My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me.” O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to …
READ MOREPsalm 50:16–23 (NLT) [16] But God says to the wicked: “Recite my laws no longer, and don’t pretend that you obey me. [17] For you refuse my discipline and treat my laws like trash. [18] When you see a thief, you help him, and you spend your time with adulterers. [19] Your mouths are filled with …
READ MOREJeremiah 33:10–11 (NASB) [10] “Thus says the Lord, ‘Yet again there will be heard in this place, of which you say, “It is a waste, without man and without beast,” *that is,* in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without …
READ MORERomans 8:10-13 unfolds to us the condition of our body, how the Holy Spirit helps it, and what ought to be our right attitude towards it. If we appropriate these verses we will not misunderstand the place of a believer’s body in God’s plan of redemption. “If Christ is in you, although your bodies …
READ MOREWhen someone is going through a trying time, people will often say to them, “God will not give you more than you can bear.” While this may sound like spiritual comfort and is often regarded as Scripture, it isn’t either. This saying is loosely based off 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has …
READ MOREWhile I don’t know the full context of the original sermon referenced in the video by Matt Chandler, may we never turn the Victorious News (Gospel) into moralistic dont’s and do’s. Jesus always wants the broken, downtrodden, and those deceived by sin…otherwise He wouldn’t want anybody, because we …
READ MOREThis past week I had someone ask me about my church affiliation and my theological tenets. To be honest, I’ve never posted anything about that on the site because I’ve felt that sometimes those doctrinal “lines in the sand” can be divisive and can turn people off from what you have to say …
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I am found, I am Yours! I am loved, I’m made pure! I have life, I can breathe! I am healed, I am free! You are strong, You are sure You are Life, You endure You are good, always true You are Light breaking through You are more than enough You are here, You are Love You are hope, You are Grace …
READ MOREIn order to fulfill Scripture, Jesus was to enter Jerusalem on a colt (Zechariah 9:9). When it was time for this “Triumphal Entry”, Jesus told His disciples to go get one. Mark 11:2–6 (NASB) [2] and said* to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a …
READ MOREOpen our eyes To see the things that make Your heart cry To be the church that You would desire Your Light to be seen Break down our pride And all the walls we’ve built up inside Our earthly crowns and all our desires We lay at Your feet So let hope rise and darkness tremble In Your Holy Light …
READ MOREDo you wonder why you have to Feel the things that hurt you [Psalm 119:49–50] If there’s a God who loves you [Romans 8:38–39] Where is He now? [Psalm 42:9–11] Maybe, there are things you can’t see [2 Corinthians 4:18] And all those things are happening To bring a better ending [Jeremiah 29:11–13] …
READ MORE2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NASB) “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an …
READ MOREDuring Israel’s wilderness journey, God had grown so tired of them being defiantly set in their ways that didn’t honor Him, that He said if He “went with them” to the Promised Land, He would destroy them on the way. In fact, they’d reached the point where God said He would give the land to their …
READ MOREFor those wondering about the lack of posts here lately, I’ve been working on a complete overhaul of the website. Apparently rehashing over 10 years of work takes a bit of time, lol. I’m hoping that this make-over will make things work more efficiently for those that use the website and possibly …
READ MOREWe’re not earning anything by fasting, we’re saying to God, He’s EVERYTHING to us, and He became that because of Jesus Christ and what He did for us. So, I invite you into a life of prayer and fasting that will deliver us, in some measure, from the creeping idolatries of our life and that will …
READ MOREThe LORD is the Spirit Where the Spirit of The LORD is, now There is liberty And the Spirit lives inside of me Where the Spirit of The LORD is, now There is liberty, there is liberty, There is liberty For freedom You set me free And yes, I am free indeed You rewrote my name And shackled my shame …
READ MOREThis is a beautifully shot video about making it a point to take time out of the day God has given you to pull away from everything and spend time talking with and worshiping Him. To some that is in your room, others it is on a walk, others it’s at a mountain or beach…find yours…and go …
READ MOREThis is from one of our supporters, Bryan Fields. It’s always awesome to guide the thirsty to the Living Water! Thanks for sharing your story, Bryan. This year I got the opportunity to go to Church Camp as a (sponsor, mentor, councillor, chaperone) however you would like to put it. I had the time …
READ MOREUnderneath the cold November sky I wait for You As the pages of my life roll by I wait for You I’m so desperate just to see Your face Meet me in this broken place… Hold me now! I need to feel You Show me how…to make it new again There’s nowhere I can run to And nothing I could ever do I’m nowhere …
READ MOREMany people’s thirst mechanism is so weak that they misinterpret thirst for hunger. This is not unlike us trying to satisfy the inherit thirst for the Living Water of God by gorging on things of this world. Feasting on God is as foreign to most Americans as an empty stomach. Why can’t we fix our …
READ MOREAll these recent tragedies prove that people under Satan’s controlling power will use whatever they can to do his bidding… John 10:10 (NASB) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have *it* abundantly. John 10:10 Or *have abundance* John 8:44 …
READ MOREThe tendency is to think of demonic influences as, “This is something that happens in a weird, dark part of Africa, Bangladesh, or some place where they worship idol gods.” But, demons have a notorious way of acclimating themselves to the area where they are, so for people, it becomes easy to …
READ MOREOften in church we talk about Christ’s death. The beauty of Easter is that it reminds us of the resurrection. Anyone can die for what they believe in or stand for, but only Christ had the power to lay down His life and pick it back up again! (John 10:18) Happy Resurrection Sunday, my brothers and …
READ MOREOur culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate. …
READ MOREI have the tendency to overthink things, overdo things, burnout, neglect, rinse, and repeat… I imagine that part of this is from the inherent desire to be like God that Satan has tempted us with from the beginning. I’m thankful to serve a God who has the capacity to oversee all of His creation, …
READ MOREWhile rap and hip-hop might not be many people’s forte, Lecrae is one of my favorite Christian artists. He always has solid theology and a gift for getting that out in a smooth (and sometimes funny) flow. The following is an interview that aired on PBS where he gave his testimony and how he …
READ MOREPeople want a God of love (1 John 4:16), but then want to define what “love” means on their own terms. They also want to forget that He’s Holy and Righteous (Isaiah 5:16). Others will follow them because saying, “I can do whatever I want and will be okay in the end,” sounds great (2 Timothy …
READ MOREIf you read Ecclesiastes, you’ll see that everyone is chasing after the wind with some portion of their life…some ways are just more noticeable and some are more socially acceptable. As Christians, we must be very careful that we don’t become self-righteous in the areas that we’ve (at least …
READ MOREExodus 5:1–2 (NASB) [1] And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ “ [2] But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know …
READ MORENothing teaches us about the preciousness of the Creator as much as when we learn the emptiness of everything else. —C.H. Spurgeon
READ MOREDeuteronomy 30:11–20 (NLT) [11] “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand or perform. [12] It is not up in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go to heaven and bring it down so we can hear and obey it?’ [13] It is not beyond the sea, so far away …
READ MOREGod asked the Israelites to be willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their redemption (mesirat HaShem). When God asked the people to obtain a lamb, lead it through the streets, bring it to their homes, and to keep it for four days before finally slaughtering it and dabbing its blood on …
READ MOREHebrews 2:14–15 (NASB) [14] Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, [15] and might free those who through fear of death were subject to …
READ MOREThe lights go out all around me One last candle to keep out the night And then the darkness surrounds me I know I’m alive but I feel like I’ve died And all that’s left is to accept that it’s over My dreams ran like sand through the fists that I made I try to keep warm but I just grow colder I feel …
READ MOREPhilippians 3:12–16 (NASB) [12] Not that I have already obtained *it* or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. [13] Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of *it* yet; but one thing *I do:* …
READ MOREYou stood before creation Eternity in Your hand You spoke the Earth into motion My soul now to stand You stood before my failure And carried the cross for my shame My sin weighed upon Your shoulders My soul now to stand So what could I say? And what could I do? But offer this heart, Oh God …
READ MOREIsaiah 59:1–2 (NASB) [1] Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. [2] But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden *His* face from you so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:2 So …
READ MORE2 Corinthians 5:6–9 (NASB) [6] Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— [7] for we walk by faith, not by sight— [8] we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the …
READ MORECreating a running commentary for the Bible in a year ended up being more work than I’m able to handle at this time. Even though the reading of it takes only about 15 minutes, re-reading it, summarizing, finding cross-references, New Testament parallels, and imagery ended up taking about 4–6 hours …
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Just as I am, without one plea [Ephesians 2:8–9] But that Thy blood was shed for me [Ephesians 1:7] And that Thou bidst me come to Thee [Matthew 11:28–30] O Lamb of God, I come, I come [John 1:29] Just as I am, and waiting not [2 Peter 3:9] To rid my soul of one dark blot [Psalm 51:1–2] To Thee …
READ MOREGenesis 18 starts out by saying that the LORD (“YHWH” or “Jehovah” [H3068]) appeared to Abraham with two other men (which we find are angels in Genesis 19:1). Abraham runs to them, calls Him “Lord” (“Adonay” [H136] pronounced *ad-o-noy’*). This term is used exclusively for God, even by Abraham up …
READ MOREIn Genesis 14, we find that several kings revolt against a more powerful king (four kings against five) and they plundered Sodom, Gomorrah, Lot’s possessions, and even kidnapped Lot. When Abram found out, he sent 318 of his trained men and got back Lot, all his possessions, and all the other …
READ MOREIn Genesis 10, we get Noah’s lineage. The point of this genealogy is to show the lineage of the nations being formed from Noah’s sons and where they settled. However, in Genesis 11:4 we read, “They said, ‘Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and …
READ MOREMany people, think that there were only two of each kind of animal aboard, but there were 14 (seven pairs) of the clean animals. At this time the Levitical law hadn’t been given, so perhaps God revealed it to Noah here (and the details were omitted for brevity), or perhaps it could have been …
READ MOREThe problem wasn’t that Cain brought a non-animal offering, but that he just brought “an offering” of what he had, while Abel brought from the first and best of what he had. God told Cain that if he would just bring God his first and best, his offering would be accepted, but if he chose to leave …
READ MORE“In the beginning God…” Right off the bat, there is God…without origin, without explaining why we should believe He exists, just “here He Is, before anything else.” While it may seem at first that there could be some undefined amount of time between the first verse’s, “God created the heavens and …
READ MOREIt only takes 15 minutes per day (1% of the day) to read through the Bible in a year. I realize that it’s not about volume but about what you get out of it, but I encourage you, as we celebrate the coming of a new year, to use this opportunity to immerse yourself in God’s Word. If God leads you to …
READ MOREThis song has always hit home for me. Most people don’t just make a 90 turn from going the right direction, it’s the little choices you make daily that veer you off the path. You don’t always get to choose what you see or hear, but you choose what you look at, listen to, and absorb. Be careful …
READ MORELuke 8:11–15 (NASB) [11] “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. [12] “Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. [13] “Those on the rocky *soil are* those who, when they …
READ MOREThere are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, “Thy will be done.” —C.S. Lewis Zechariah 7:11 (NASB) “But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing. Zechariah 7:11a Lit …
READ MORERomans 8:19–22 (NASB) [19] For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. [20] For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery …
READ MOREUsually when people do communion (the Lord’s Supper), they either have a wafer, a small square of cracker bread, or people tear off a piece of normal bread. In Jewish culture, they use matzo (or matzah) bread (which is pretty much an over-sized cracker that’s about 4”–6” on either side). They …
READ MOREMary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new? This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you… Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will give …
READ MOREMatthew 2:11 (NASB) “After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Melchior: “Gold for the King of Kings.” Balthasar: “Frankincense …
READ MOREJob 1:6–12 (NASB) [6] Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. [7] The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” [8] …
READ MOREJeremiah 29:11–14 (NASB) [11] ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. [12] ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. [13] ‘You will seek Me and find *Me* when you …
READ MOREMatthew 24:35–39 (NASB) [35] “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. [36] “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. [37] “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. [38] “For as in …
READ MOREEvery desire you have started out as a God-given desire, but many have been twisted and mangled as we’ve turned them from being fulfilled in God or fulfilled in God’s way to being band-aided with our own, sinful means and empty promises from Satan. Life has no meaning without purpose. Just as …
READ MORE1 John 2:19–20 (NASB) [19] They went out from us, but they were not *really* of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but *they went out,* so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. [20] But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 1 John …
READ MORE1 John 2:1–2 (NASB) [1] My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; [2] and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for *those of* the whole …
READ MORELuke 6:46–49 (NASB) [46] “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? [47] “Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: [48] he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood …
READ MORESometimes all we have to hold on to Is what we know is true of who You are So when the heartache hits like a hurricane That could never change who You are And we trust in who You are Even if the healing doesn’t come And life falls apart And dreams are still undone You are God You are good Forever …
READ MOREIt pains me to see people commit senseless crimes, especially ones involving children. While we can say that “they’re in a better place this Christmas”, my heart goes out the families of these children. To be so close to Christmas…to go home and see their presents under the tree…a time of …
READ MOREEphesians 3:14–21 (NLT) [14] When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, [15] the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. [16] I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. …
READ MOREJohn 21:15–17 (NASB) [15] So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said* to Simon Peter, “Simon, *son* of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said* to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said* to him, “Tend My lambs.” [16] He said* to him again a second time, “Simon, *son* of …
READ MORESome time ago, I’d started writing a song. At the time, my grandmother was in the hospital on her death bed and my wife was at one of her lowest points from chronic Lyme disease. In that part of my life, God was teaching me a hard lesson: that we pray to and praise the All-Knowing, All-Powerful, …
READ MOREIntellectually, we can know that people “broke” the world by choosing what we want instead of God (sin), but Christ will renew it again. Those who put our trust in His saving power will be brought back to life (resurrected), never to die again, He’ll wipe away all our tears, and live with God for …
READ MOREYou’re in a better place, I’ve heard a thousand times And at least a thousand times I’ve rejoiced for you But the reason why I’m broken, the reason why I cry Is how long must I wait to be with you I close my eyes and I see your face If home’s where my heart is then I’m out of place Lord, won’t You …
READ MOREI’m thoroughly convinced that Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good, He came to make dead people alive. —Tim Hawkins
READ MOREJericho March is taking it to the stage with this completely original Christian rock song entitled “Where’s Your Faith?” They unashamedly bring the Gospel to the world and challenge believers to check what they’re truly placing their faith in. You say, “We need survival!” Always asking for revival …
READ MOREFrom Creator to helpless Baby to Sacrifice and High Priest, so that we can spend eternity with God! Colossians 1:16 (NASB) For by Him all things were created, *both* in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been …
READ MORELee Strobel was an atheist journalist married to agnostic wife who recently converted to Christianity. So he wanted to use his journalistic powers to “get to the bottom of this Jesus” spoken of in the Bible (with all intention of disproving Him). After much research and consulting with experts …
READ MOREArnold Schwarzenegger (“actor”, Terminator, Governator) recently started a campaign for fitness called the 1% workout. Basically, 1% of your day is 15 minutes, so he’s saying that it’s better to give a single percentage of your time to your physical fitness than it is to not do anything about it. …
READ MOREIf you’re like me and wonder how the symbols of Christmas came to be Christmas tradition and what they actually have to do with Christ, you should check out *Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas* by Ace Collins. You might even pick up some traditions you didn’t know about. Here’s a …
READ MOREEver since I saw this verse, I’ve thought of it as one of the main reasons we have the Bible. Psalm 102:18 (NASB) This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. Psalm 102:18a Or *Let this be written*Psalm 102:18b Or *And*Psalm 102:18c Or …
READ MOREAnyone who thinks that Christians are dumb obviously have never read works from John Piper, Hank Hanegraaff (Bible Answer Man), Charles Stanley, Wayne Grudem, C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer, Martin Luther, Irenaeus, John Foxe, Eusebius Pamphili, or The Bible (Hebrews and Romans come to mind …
READ MOREProverbs 18:20–21 (NLT) [20] Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach; the right words on a person’s lips bring satisfaction. [21] Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life. Proverbs 15:4 (NLT) Gentle words bring life and health; a …
READ MOREMany people feel that they can’t come (back) to Christ because they’ve “committed the unforgivable sin.” People think that this sin is undefined or is one of the many sins they have done. This is a lie from Satan. So where does the concept of “unforgivable sin” come from? Jesus said in Mark …
READ MOREMany people like to use the term “fallen from grace” to refer to those who have “fallen away from God” by becoming “willfully disobedient” or “committing the unforgivable sin.” So what does “fallen from grace” really mean? Galatians 5:4–5 (NASB) [4] You have been severed from Christ, you who are …
READ MOREJob 15:14–16 (NASB) [14] “What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? [15] “Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones, And the heavens are not pure in His sight; [16] How much less one who is detestable and corrupt, Man, who drinks iniquity like …
READ MOREIsaiah 44:6 (NASB) Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I AM the First and I AM the Last, and there is no God besides Me.” Revelation 22:12–13 (NASB) [12] “Behold, I AM coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has …
READ MORE2 Peter 3:10–13 (NASB) [10] But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. [11] Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of …
READ MOREActs 17:24–28 (NLT) [24] “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, [25] and human hands can’t serve his needs-for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need …
READ MOREPsalm 108:1–6 (NLT) [1] My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises! Wake up, my soul! [2] Wake up, O harp and lyre! I will waken the dawn with my song. [3] I will thank you, LORD, in front of all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. [4] For your …
READ MOREAs we dive face-first into the busiest time of year, don’t forget to step away from the busyness and into your prayer closet for some quiet time with God.Mark 1:35 (NASB) In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left *the house,* and went away to a secluded place, and was …
READ MORELuke 6:27–28 (ESV) “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” The holidays are a great time for bringing people together that don’t get to see each other often enough. They are also a time of bringing …
READ MOREWhile this book does tackle what scripture says about Hell, it doesn’t leave it without addressing the practical concerns. Years ago, I came across an article entitled “Two Minutes to Eternity” by Marshall Shelley, one of the editors of Christianity Today at the time. In the article, Marshall …
READ MOREHebrews 10:19–22 (NASB) [19] Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, [20] by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, [21] and since *we have* a great priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw …
READ MOREIn reading Exodus 34:28–35, we find that Moses went atop Mount Sinai to write down the Ten Commandments of the old covenant. Having spent 40 days face-to-face talking with God, “the skin of his face shone”, scaring everyone. After coaxing them to come closer, he told them “everything that the LORD …
READ MOREMy foes are many, they rise against me [Psalm 3:1–4] But I will hold my ground [Ephesians 6:10–11] I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm [Psalm 27:1–3] My help is on the way, my help is on the way [2 Kings 6:15–17] Oh, my God, He will not delay [Deuteronomy 4:7] My refuge and strength …
READ MOREEcclesiastes 8:11 (NLT) When a crime is not punished, people feel it is safe to do wrong. How true is this statement today?!? People walk around doing things without respect for others, or even themselves. No punishment…not even accountability… Hebrews 3:13 (NKJV) but exhort one another daily, …
READ MOREWhen you feel oppressed by Satan, or when you sense a spirit of heaviness that inspires you to despair, then offer focused praise to the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, who is enthroned on the praises of His people. Your praise will serve both to glorify the LORD and to vex and oppress the …
READ MORETwo seemingly unrelated verses that are very much related… Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NLT) I have observed something else in this world of ours. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise are often poor, and the skillful are not …
READ MOREI wanna be close, close to Your side [Psalm 16:8–9] So Heaven is real and death is a lie [2 Corinthians 5:1–4] I want to hear voices of angels above, singing as one [Revelation 19:1–3] Hallelujah, holy, holy; God Almighty, the Great I AM [Isaiah 6:2–3] Who is worthy, none beside Thee [Revelation …
READ MOREColossians 3:23 (NLT) Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Interestingly, it literally says, “work from the soul.” I’d always taken this verse as, “Don’t let the focus of your work be to make your boss happy, but work …
READ MORESeveral times, while praying about what to write for this daily devotional, I’m told, “you must serve your wife, before you can serve Mine.” So many times in today’s world, church leaders and laypeople neglect their families and household responsibilities. If you’re married, serve your spouse …
READ MORERomans 14:5–6 (NASB) [5] One person regards one day above another, another regards every day *alike.* Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. [6] He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, …
READ MOREPhilippians 2:12–13 (NASB) [12] So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; [13] for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for *His* good pleasure. Every …
READ MOREYou are not a god created by human hands [2 Kings 19:17–19] You are not a god dependent on any mortal man [Acts 7:48–50] You are not a god in need of anything we can give [Acts 17:24–25] By Your plan, that’s just the way it is [Psalm 115:3–8] You are God alone, from before time began [Genesis …
READ MOREBlessed be Your Name in the land that is plentiful Where Your streams of abundance flow, blessed be Your Name Blessed be Your Name, when I’m found in the desert place Though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be Your Name Every blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise When the darkness …
READ MORERomans 7:15–20 (NASB) [15] For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I *would* like to *do,* but I am doing the very thing I hate. [16] But if I do the very thing I do not want *to do,* I agree with the Law, *confessing* that the Law is good. [17] So now, no longer am …
READ MOREGod keeps reminding me of His holiness. His sovereignty says, “I can do whatever I want,” but His holiness says, “whatever I do is the right thing, regardless of whether or not you agree.” 1 Peter 1:13–16 (NASB) [13] Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober *in spirit,* fix your hope …
READ MOREBless the LORD oh my soul, oh my soul [Psalm 103:1] Worship His holy Name [Psalm 86:9] Sing like never before, oh my soul [Psalm 66:4] I’ll worship Your holy Name [Psalm 138:2] The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning [Lamentations 3:22–23] It’s time to sing your song again [Psalm 59:16] What ever …
READ MOREPsalm 18:29–31 (NLT) [29] In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. [30] As for God, his way is perfect. All the LORD’S promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. [31] For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock?
READ MOREJude 1:21–23 (NASB) [21] keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. [22] And have mercy on some, who are doubting; [23] save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted …
READ MOREWhile seeking God’s direction, it can be difficult to distinguish between what God and His angels are telling us and what Satan and his demons are telling us, especially since “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” John gave us a quick way to test whether or not the spirit talking to us …
READ MORE1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (NASB) [9] Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, [10] nor thieves, nor *the* covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, …
READ MOREPeople in general like to think of themselves as “evolved”. We think that we are better than animals and each other. We think that we know what’s best for ourselves (and each other). Ecclesiastes 3:17–18 (NLT) [17] I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for …
READ MOREAs I venture out over the next day or two on a work trip, I thought it might be nice to share “The Travelers’ Psalm” Psalm 121 (NLT) [1] I look up to the mountains-does my help come from there? [2] My help comes from the LORD, who made the heavens and the earth! [3] He will not let you stumble and …
READ MOREWell, everybody’s got a story to tell [2 Corinthians 3:3] And everybody’s got a wound to be healed [Matthew 5:44–45] I want to believe there’s beauty here [Psalm 27:4] So, I guess you’re tired of holding on [Psalm 73:23–24] I can’t let go, I can’t move on [Psalm 55:4–6] I want to believe there’s …
READ MOREThe iris of our eyes automatically adjust when going from lighter and darker areas. In cameras you have to set several settings to get a proper exposure and adjust them anytime something changes. Cameras do have an automatic mode, but it’s not always accurate…making pictures over or under exposed. …
READ MORESome thoughts from Solomon on “The American Dream”… Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 (NLT) [1] I said to myself, “Come now, let’s give pleasure a try. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. [2] “It is silly to be laughing all the time,” I said. “What good does …
READ MORE1 Corinthians 2:7–12 (NLT) [7] No, the wisdom we speak of is the secret wisdom of God, which was hidden in former times, though he made it for our benefit before the world began. [8] But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would never have crucified our glorious …
READ MOREJames 1:5 (NASB) But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 Lit *does not reproach* Proverbs 2:2–9 (NASB) [2] Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; [3] For if you cry …
READ MORELuke 22:41–44 (NASB) [41] And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and *began* to pray, [42] saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” [43] Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. [44] And being …
READ MOREThis is part five of the series on distractions: use the world but not fully. This is the final part in the series, so be sure to check out the other parts. 1 Corinthians 7:29–31 (NASB) [29] But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be …
READ MOREThis is part four of the series on distractions: buy but do not possess. 1 Corinthians 7:29–31 (NASB) [29] But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; [30] and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and …
READ MOREThis is part three of the series on distractions: rejoicing. Be sure to check out yesterday’s post on weeping if you haven’t already. 1 Corinthians 7:29–31 (NASB) [29] But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; …
READ MOREThis is part two of the series on distractions: weeping. Be sure to check out yesterday’s post on marriage if you haven’t already. 1 Corinthians 7:29–31 (NASB) [29] But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; …
READ MORE1 Corinthians 7:29–31 (NASB) [29] But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; [30] and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as …
READ MOREPretty much every time I ask God what He wants me to do, His answer is, “Be faithful where I currently have you, with what I’ve already given to you, and in what I’ve already asked of you.” Luke 16:10–12 (NASB) [10] “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is …
READ MORELooked down from a broken sky, traced out by the city lights My world from a mile high, best seat in the house tonight [Psalm 119:37] Touched down on the cold black top, hold on for the sudden stop Breathe in the familiar shock, of confusion and chaos [James 3:16] All those people going somewhere, …
READ MOREColossians 3:2–5 (NASB) [2] Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. [3] For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. [5] Therefore consider the members …
READ MOREMany only preach or witness about the blood and the death of Christ. As important as this is, there is more to the Good News than Christ dying in our place. 1 Corinthians 15:16–19 (NASB) [16] For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; [17] and if Christ has not been raised, …
READ MOREMatthew 5:42 (NASB) “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. This may seem like it’s saying, “give whatever is asked of you to whomever asks it”, but it’s not. If you really think about it, this isn’t even how God works. He is not a vending machine …
READ MOREPsalm 56:8–11 (NLT) [8] You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. [9] On the very day I call to you for help, my enemies will retreat. This I know: God is on my side. [10] O God, I praise your word. Yes, LORD, I …
READ MOREPsalm 18:25–26 (NLT) [25] To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. [26] To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile. At first glance, this may seem like God is putting on different faces for different people. In …
READ MORERomans 8:28 (NASB) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to *His* purpose. Romans 8:28 One early ms reads *all things work together for good* In the trenches of life, this verse often comes up. Sometimes it offers …
READ MOREJudges 21:25 (NASB) In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. In this age of relative truth (i.e., “what’s true for you isn’t necessarily true for me”), people are doing whatever they think is right by their own standards. While we do have rulers, many …
READ MOREOften, amazing verses get overshadowed by more popular ones. Isaiah 40:25–31 (NLT) [25] “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. [26] Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And he counts them to …
READ MORESometimes God asks us to do the impossible, because through Him, all things are possible. Meanwhile it is to be noted that the whole Scripture of God is divided into two parts: precepts and promises. The precepts certainly teach us what is good, but what they teach is not forthwith done. For they …
READ MOREThe Greek word translated “[strongs id="g5463"]hail[/strongs]” is the same word that’s translated as “[strongs id="g5463"]rejoice[/strongs].” While it wasn’t uncommon to use it as a greeting, it does make some verses very sobering. For example, Judas led a mob to Jesus, then said, “Rejoice, …
READ MOREBeing one of the most quoted verses in the Bible, you’ve probably heard (and maybe said) this verse many times over the years. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NASB) [16] Rejoice always; [17] pray without ceasing; [18] in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I don’t know …
READ MOREMany people don’t like their current ruler, and those who are fortunate enough to have the ability to vote often feel like they are “picking the lesser of two evils”. Romans 13:1 (NASB) Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and …
READ MOREMark 1:35 (NASB) In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left *the house,* and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. I’m not a morning person at all, so it’s been an interesting challenge getting up and working out these devotionals before work. I’ve tried …
READ MORE**Johann von Staupitz:** What is it you seek, Aleander? **Girolamo Aleander:** To serve God. To serve Him with all my heart. **Johann von Staupitz:** And that is how you will be tempted. —Luther (a movie that I highly recommend) When choosing to pursue God, we have visions of the heavens opening, …
READ MOREIf you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, you’ve undoubtedly come across unbelievers that have all the questions to test your faith. While it’s easy to write them off as “un-ready soil”, remember that it’s our responsibility to throw the seed in hopes that they “may come to their senses …
READ MOREMany people reading through the Bible have often wondered why it doesn’t speak out against slavery. In fact, it almost seems okay with it, even in the New Testament! As with many confusing Bible passages, cultural differences (and verses out of context) are the cause of confusion. Slavery in our …
READ MOREThe sky is gray and the light is far [Job 3:9] The sea is a rage within my heart [Psalm 143:4] I turn my sight to the crashing waves [2 Samuel 22:5–6] I cry in the night just to be saved [Psalm 88:1–2] I need Eyes to be my guide [John 16:13] I need a Voice that’s louder than mine [Psalm 29] I need …
READ MOREMany will remember from the Great Commission that Jesus said, “I AM with you always, even to the end of the age.” And in Hebrews, we’re reminded that God said “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” Check out this verse from Isaiah: Isaiah 43:2 (NLT) When you go through deep waters …
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Luke 1:78–79 (NASB) [78] Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, [79] To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
READ MORESince I work on computers all day, I work with my office light off (it’s easier on my eyes). When I step out of my office into the well lit areas, I almost always notice how dirty my glasses are. I often wonder how I could function with them being so dirty and how I didn’t notice beforehand. John …
READ MOREPhilippians 4:13 (NKJV) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 NU-Text reads *Him who.* Many people who read this think, “I can do whatever I want since I have Jesus.” The word translated “strengthen” (G1743, endunadmoo, en-doo-am-o’-o) literally means “empower”. …
READ MOREGenesis 1:17–18 (NASB) [17] God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, [18] and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:17 Or *firmament*Genesis 1:18 Lit *for the dominion of* We have a …
READ MOREThis whole video is great, be sure to check it out! Learning how to become a magician, I’ve developed a skepticism. … If I was going to believe in this God, if I was going to believe in the Bible, if I was going to acknowledge who ultimately the Bible points to, which is Jesus, if I was going to …
READ MOREJohn 14:15 (NASB) “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. At first glance, this will seem like a very controlling statement, like youthful peer pressure or a controlling spouse. It is not saying, “If you REALLY loved me, you would do this for ME.” Instead, it’s saying, “When you truly …
READ MOREJohn 13:34–35 (NASB) [34] “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. [35] “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” At first reading you might think, “New commandment? How is …
READ MOREWhenever a lawyer (an expert in the Old Testament Law) asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, he was essentially asking Him, “What’s the one thing I can do for God so I can forget about the rest?” Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, …
READ MOREI’m turning the world off, embracing the silence [Psalm 62:1] Walking away from all the voices that are screaming in my ear [Psalm 46:10] I’ve been too caught up, I’ve been so stressed out [Matthew 6:31–34] All of the noise replaced the whisper that used to be so clear [1 Kings 19:11–12] So I …
READ MORELuke 20:22–25 (NKJV) [22] Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” [23] But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, ”Why do you test Me? [24] Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They answered and said, “Caesar’s.” [25] And He said to them, “Render …
READ MOREThe biggest reasons married couples go to counseling, end up in adulterous relationships, and/or end up getting divorced is that the woman doesn’t feel loved or understood and the man doesn’t feel respected. Ephesians 5:25–26 (NASB) [25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the …
READ MORE1 Corinthians 2:14–15 (NASB) [14] But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. [15] But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 1 …
READ MOREOne of my favorite books outside of the Bible is “There Were Two Trees in the Garden” by Rick Joyner. In midst of the garden of Eden there were two trees: the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the Tree of Life. The premise of the book is “first in the natural, then the spiritual”, so …
READ MOREIf you’re anything like me, you’ve probably argued with yourself about prayer…especially during a difficult situation. “I want to pray, but I don’t know God’s will in this situation. I’ll just pray for God’s will to be done then. But He knows what I’m thinking and He’ll do what He wants anyway, so …
READ MORERomans 1:20 (NLT) From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. If you want to believe that 14 billion years ago …
READ MOREPsalm 46:10 (NASB) “Cease *striving* and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10a Or *Let go, relax*Psalm 46:10b Or *Gentiles* I always hear this passage as, “be still, and know that I Am God” (KJV/NIV) and the New Living Translation …
READ MOREThe only way for a hardened heart to be made soft again is for it to be shattered. I see the King of Glory Coming on the clouds with fire The whole earth shakes I see His love and mercy Washing over all our sin The people sing Hosanna Hosanna in the Highest I see a generation Rising up to take …
READ MOREThis ministry exists to “equip God’s people.” Not to fill our heads with knowledge, “but the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” Because “knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.” My hope and prayer is that these devotionals will churn …
READ MOREI can never get enough of this passage… Psalm 73:21–26 (NLT) [21] Then I realized how bitter I had become, how pained I had been by all I had seen. [22] I was so foolish and ignorant-I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. [23] Yet I still belong to you; you are holding my right hand. …
READ MORE1 Corinthians 2:1–5 (NASB) [1] And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. [2] For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. [3] I was with you in weakness and in fear and in …
READ MOREMaybe it’s just semantics, but it’s a pet peeve of mine when people say, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” While it’s true that God won’t allow us to be “tempted beyond what we’re able…to endure” and that Christ’s “yoke is easy and His burden is light,” but God allows us to be …
READ MOREGenesis 1:1 (NASB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. It’s so easy to get lost in the scale of things. Okay, God created the heavens and the earth, awesome! But what that means is that He created every star and galaxy in the universe. Current scientific estimates say that …
READ MOREEphesians 2:8–10 (NASB) [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, *it is* the gift of God; [9] not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we …
READ MORE2 Corinthians 5:20 (NASB) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. An ambassador is a diplomatic representative of a foreign government or country often appointed for a temporary assignment. “Our …
READ MOREThe word “lord” means “one possessing great power; to exercise authority over, restrain, regulate, and direct.” Therefore, whatever rules over (i.e. controls) is lord. Money, career, possessions, loved ones, time, fitness, and religion are just a few examples of what can be lord of one’s life. It …
READ MORE“But, Lord …” is an oxymoron isn’t it? It’s a contradiction in terms, because if Jesus is Lord, then we say, “Yes, Sir,” not, “But, Lord.” —Anne Graham Lotz, Why? Trusting God When You Don’t Understand
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The Father of Lies, coming to steal, kill, and destroy All my hopes of being good enough I hear him saying, “Cursed are the ones who can’t abide” He’s right… Alleluia! He’s right! [John 8:44; John 10:10; Galatians 3:10] The Devil is preaching the song of the redeemed That I am cursed and gone …
READ MOREMatthew 7:4–5 (NASB) [4] “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? [5] “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:4 Lit …
READ MORELuke 7:34, 36, 39 (NASB) [34] “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ [36] Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined *at the …
READ MOREThe tendency in this world is to be frustrated with how things are going, seek God, see Him move, and then to repeat exact same actions we did when He moved that one time. John 3:8 (NASB) “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it …
READ MORECome just as you are Hear the Spirit call Come just as you are Come and see Come receive Come and live forever Life everlasting Strength for today Taste the living water And never thirst again Come and see Come receive Come and live forever Come just as you are Don’t you hear the Spirit call? Come …
READ MORESatan and his minions pull us in every direction, the lost and broken world pulls us in every direction, our heart and mind (the flesh) pull us in every direction…but God is the “still, small voice” that beckons us to Him because He “isn’t a God of disorder, but peace!” Psalm 119:133 (KJV) Order …
READ MORESome people think that when you become a Christian, that you “have it all together,” but here’s what really happens… Our spiritual (inner) man was dead in sin, but upon conversion, was quickened (made alive) with Christ by the Spirit. Now, “though our outer man [i.e., our body] is decaying, yet …
READ MOREJesus is the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. The New Testament often states that He fulfilled one of those prophesies, but doesn’t always say that or where it was prophesied. Check out a list of many of those Old Testament Messianic prophecies and their New Testament fulfillment: Prophecy …
READ MOREHearts turn to and fro, following fleshly desires, your treasure, and fickle emotions. Don’t FOLLOW your heart, be LED by the Spirit!
READ MORELamentations 3:18–32 (NLT) [18] I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the LORD is lost!” [19] The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. [20] I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. [21] Yet I still dare to hope when I …
READ MOREI listen to The Word of Promise NKJV Audio Bible (which I highly recommend BTW) on my way to work and a verse came on that made me bust out laughing. Mark 10:35 (NKJV) Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” Perhaps it …
READ MOREThe love of her life is drifting away They’re losing the fight for another day The life that she’s known is falling apart A fatherless home, a child’s broken heart You’re holding her hand, you’re straining for words You trying to make sense of it all She’s desperate for hope, darkness clouding her …
READ MOREIt is as true in 2012 as it was 1520… The ears of our generation have been made so delicate by the senseless multitude of flatterers that, as soon as we perceive that anything of ours is not approved of, we cry out that we are being bitterly assailed; and then we can repel the truth by no other …
READ MORELuke 12:22–34 (NLT) [22] Then turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. [23] For life consists of far more than food and clothing. [24] Look at the ravens. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put …
READ MOREThis is part four of the series on “The Renewal of a New Creation.” If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the last post in the series: “Living the New Life.” I. It is by our love that we are known John 13:34–35 (NLT) [34] So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I …
READ MOREThis is part three of the series on “The Renewal of a New Creation.” If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the last post in the series: “Go, Sin No More.” I. Out with the old, in with the new Ephesians 4:17–32 (NLT) [17] With the Lord’s authority let me say this: Live no longer as the …
READ MOREThis is part two of the series on “The Renewal of a New Creation.” If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the last post in the series: “Forgiven.” Introduction Have you ever felt powerless to sin? Have you wondered why you keep on sinning? I. We are not to sin John 5 records Jesus healing a …
READ MOREThis is part one of the series on “The Renewal of a New Creation.” Be sure to check out the upcoming posts in the series. I. We are forgiven by God through Christ A pitiful, sickly, and self-centered kind of prayer and a determined effort and selfish desire to be right with God are never found in …
READ MOREIt REALLY hurts to see a close friend or relative die. It spurs something deep inside you that says, “It’s not supposed to be like this… One minute my world was ‘normal’ and the next…unbearable…” Things like this make everything else seem…small…and…insignificant… You may get angry with …
READ MORERomans 5:3–5 (NLT) [3] We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us-they help us learn to endure. [4] And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. [5] And this expectation …
READ MOREThink of some things that cause stress in your life. When you come up with several, write them as if around a circle. When done, write “Jesus” in bold in the center of the circle. Focus your vision on the word “Jesus” and notice what happens to all the other words. Luke 22:41–44 (NLT) [41] He …
READ MORE1 Timothy 1:5–20 (NLT) [5] The purpose of my instruction is that all the Christians there would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and sincere faith. [6] But some teachers have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time …
READ MOREEphesians 5:1–20 (NLT) [1] Follow God’s example in everything you do, because you are his dear children. [2] Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, because that sacrifice …
READ MOREJames 1:19–27 (NLT) [19] Dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. [20] Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight. [21] So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is …
READ MOREJohn 3:26–30 (NLT) [26] John’s disciples came to him and said, “Teacher, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you said was the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going over there instead of coming here to us.” [27] John replied, “God in heaven appoints …
READ MOREI. Unbelievers are under the unbearable yoke of the Law Acts 15:4–11 (NASB) [4] When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. [5] But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, …
READ MORELuke 6:46–49 (NASB) [46] “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? [47] “Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: [48] he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood …
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Where does this concept come from? In the book of Revelation, the term “seven spirits of God” or “sevenfold Spirit of God” is mentioned several times. Revelation 1:4–5 (NLT) [4] This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace from the one who is, who always …
READ MORECommanded, forbidden, or free to choose The choices that we make from day to day involve only four kinds of things: Those concerning which God has said an emphatic “no.” Those about which He has said an equally emphatic “yes.” Those concerning which He wants us to consult our own sanctified …
READ MOREFinite but united The definition of God is something sought after by generations past and generations to come. The most used excuse for our lack of knowledge of God is limitations of humans. “There is only so much that the human mind can hold or handle.” Due to the boundaries of our cerebra, we …
READ MOREMarriage is a covenant The Bible refers to marriage as a “covenant before God.” (Malachi 2:14) The word translated as “covenant” (H1285) in the Old Testament comes from the word meaning “to cut.” This is a reference to how covenants were made during that time. Clean animals were cut in two parts, …
READ MORESuitable helper Genesis 2:18–24 (NASB) [18] Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” [19] Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought *them* to the man to see what he would …
READ MOREEphesians 5:22–33 (NKJV) [22] Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. [24] Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in …
READ MOREGod’s Original Intent Genesis 1:26–27 (NASB) [26] Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” …
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