Loving or Serving?

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let Me.” (Matthew 23:37 NLT) In the later verses of Luke 10 we find Jesus visiting in the home ofContinue reading “Loving or Serving?”

What Saves Us?

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” (Mark 8:35 NLT) Are you saved? There are only three definitive answers to this question: yes, no, or I don’tContinue reading “What Saves Us?”

A Time to Grieve

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven…A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 NLT) Rick Warren wrote: “There is this myth that Christians should be always smiling, always happy, always cheerful. But the Bible says,Continue reading “A Time to Grieve”

The Pain of the Empty Seat

“As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation – a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.” 2Continue reading “The Pain of the Empty Seat”

The Precious Link

“And the man of God had said, ‘You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!’ And so it was, for the people trampled him to death at the gate!” (2 Kings 7:19b-20 NLT) What is it that ties you to the people you love?Continue reading “The Precious Link”

When It Comes Time to Die

“Jesus continued, ‘You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.’” (John 8:23-24 NLT) It may not beContinue reading “When It Comes Time to Die”

Who’s Waiting for You?

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14 NLT) Learning to wait patiently is likely among the lessons human beings take the longest to learn. Why do you think that is? Could it have anything to do with our priorities? My tendency, as I suspect yours,Continue reading “Who’s Waiting for You?”

Are You a Grace Graduate?

“From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. (John 1:16 NLT) If you’ve been around people of God very long you’ve no doubt heard them use the word “grace” numerous times. Strong’s Concordance translates “grace” as: “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness.” A common definition among believers is:Continue reading “Are You a Grace Graduate?”

The Gospel

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2 NLT) One of the most beneficial aspects of the eternal Word of God becoming man is that He made the God of heaven visible. Paul wrote in 2 CorinthiansContinue reading “The Gospel”