“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT) The role of the local church is clearly defined in Scripture,Continue reading “Peace and Purity”
Monthly Archives: November 2023
Don’t Waste Your Grief
“I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears. My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.” (Psalm 6-7 NLT) The pain and trauma of grief is multidimensional in its crippling effects on us. Grief primarily isContinue reading “Don’t Waste Your Grief”
Our Past
“You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil – the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires andContinue reading “Our Past”
Partners of Competitors?
“This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13 NLT) Does it bother you that many who profess “maturity” in their faith hold such rigid standardsContinue reading “Partners of Competitors?”
Do You Like Jesus?
“If you want to be My disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison – your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot by My disciple.” (Luke 14:26 NLT) Some reading the above verse may be thinking: “Whoa! I don’t remember ever reading thatContinue reading “Do You Like Jesus?”
Is Your Profession of Faith Making a Difference?
“And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.” (Jude 22 NLT) In our enthusiasm to see lost people come to Christ and be saved,Continue reading “Is Your Profession of Faith Making a Difference?”
The Cross and the Porn Store
“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!” (Matthew 6:22-23 NLT)Continue reading “The Cross and the Porn Store”
Are You Settling for Crumbs?
“Then they scoffed, ‘He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers – James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?’ And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.” (Matthew 13:55-57a NLT) The Lord willContinue reading “Are You Settling for Crumbs?”
What Do You Expect?
“You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even whenContinue reading “What Do You Expect?”
Where God Is Not!
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 NLT) We typically think of God not being in hell, and we’re correct to believe that, but hell isn’t just for dead people. Randy Alcorn wrote: “WhereverContinue reading “Where God Is Not!”
Walking With Jesus 