And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13 NLT) What is your greatest temptation? A lustful heart and mind were issues for me for years, but in this season of my life my greatest temptation is to dishonor the Lord by not recognizing His hand on everyContinue reading “The Evil We Face”
Tag Archives: Fear
When Fear Tries To Stop You
“Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.” (Psalm 2:11 NLT) Have you ever been really scared? When I was a boy, I had a clown about four feet tall that stood just inside my bedroom door. It had sand or something in the base so when I hit it, it would bounceContinue reading “When Fear Tries To Stop You”
Courage to Fail?
“But no one had the courage to speak favorably about Him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.” (John 7:13 NLT) Of what do you think when you ponder the term “courage?” As I considered the idea of courage the first “picture” that came to mind was ofContinue reading “Courage to Fail?”
Is God Safe?
“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT) In C. S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia,” there is a scene from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, when the children learn that Aslan is a lion, “the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thoughtContinue reading “Is God Safe?”
The Cramped World of Self
“The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment isContinue reading “The Cramped World of Self”
Kindness Is Contagious
“We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.” (2 Corinthians 6:6 NLT) One of the most contagious attributes of our Savior, the Lord Jesus, is kindness. One obvious illustration of His kindness that comes to mind is found in MarkContinue reading “Kindness Is Contagious”
You WILL Run Again!
“Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for His own sins!” (Isaiah 53:4 NLT) While in high school I played basketball in a summer league. While jumping for a rebound I came down wrong onContinue reading “You WILL Run Again!”
Harvest Is Urgent Business
“Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’” (John 4:31 NLT) While I have very little experience with farming and literal crops, other than flowers and a few plants we had in a small garden, I know enough to realize that harvesting in a timely manner is critical. To pick the ripening fruit orContinue reading “Harvest Is Urgent Business”
A Simple Presence
“Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15 NLT) Leaving church one Sunday morning shortly after my divorce, my pastor asked me how I was doing. He had known me and my wife for many years. Unable to hold it together, without saying a word, I fell intoContinue reading “A Simple Presence”
Warfare with Hell
“We are humans, but we don’t wage war as humans do. (2 Corinthians 10:3 NLT) The biggest difference that I can discern between human warfare and spiritual warfare is this: Rather than seeking to defeat and destroy another person, we’re focusing our weapons on the true enemy, Satan himself and his devilish emissaries. But makeContinue reading “Warfare with Hell”
Walking With Jesus 