Remembering Our Need For God When Times Are Easy

Remembering Our Need For God When Times Are Easy

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.—Deuteronomy 8:18a (NIV) Leaning back in my chair, I sighed with contentment. It always encourages me when I cross items off my to-do list. But for days I had avoided addressing these particular items. They involved untangling complicated…

A Longing Fulfilled: The Beautiful Upside To Deferred Hope

A Longing Fulfilled: The Beautiful Upside To Deferred Hope

But a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.—Proverbs 13:12b (NIV) Dumbfounded, I watched my friend burst into tears as she read the email. “Can you believe this?” she asked. “Yes,” I replied, trying to understand her confusion. “This is what I’ve been praying for. Haven’t you?” She hesitated a moment and then answered, “Yes,…

It's hard to wait, no matter the reason. But God promises us peace if we surrender our questions to Him and His timing. He is always near.

When Called To Wait, Surrender Actually Brings Powerful Peace

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:5-7 (NIV) My anxious…

Better To Know Others Well Than To Be Well Known

Better To Know Others Well Than To Be Well Known

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. Acts 9:36 (NIV) Caught off guard, I turned away so she couldn’t see my face. My friend didn’t mean to be malicious, but her careless words left me seething. What did she…

When Jesus lives in us, His character shines through us. By putting on godly virtues like clothing, we can reflect Jesus to the world.

How To Choose Clothing That Will Reflect Jesus

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.—Colossians 3:12 (NIV) A father once told his young daughter that being a Christian means Jesus lives inside of us. “But Daddy,” she exclaimed, “Jesus is bigger than me. If He lived inside of me, He would poke…

Our lives on earth are brief in comparison to eternity in Heaven. But we can still create beauty with them if we live with intentionality.

Learning How To Make Our Brief Lives Beautiful

Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” —James 4:15 (NIV) Snapping the leash onto my dog’s collar, we stepped into the fresh morning air. As we rounded the house, I stopped in my tracks. On the horizon, I could see mist rising from…

Jesus often chooses the most unlikely people to follow Him. These people are most aware of their need for Him and become loyal followers.

Why Jesus Invites The Most Unlikely People

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.—Matthew 9:9 (NIV) Incredulous, my friend shook her head. “I just can’t believe your family doesn’t go to church.”  “Oh, I don’t mind,” I replied, “This…