“He replied, ‘You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: “When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turnContinue reading “Are You Living Forgiven?”
Tag Archives: Hope
Why Does Christianity Work?
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 NLT) Christianity, as I understand it, isn’t a religion, as much as it’s a relationship. So, the question above could also be asked, as with any relationship, “Why does a relationship with the God of theContinue reading “Why Does Christianity Work?”
When God Says “NO!”
“So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.” (2 Corinthians 12:7b NLT) Jim Mitchell wrote in a Family Life devotional: “I’d been waiting anxiously. This was not just any job—it was my dream job. OneContinue reading “When God Says “NO!””
That Day!
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son Himself. Only the Father knows.” (Matthew 24:36 NLT) In 2023, on average, more than 330,000 people die every day. Of those nearly 70% are by accidents. What does that tell us? It tellsContinue reading “That Day!”
Why Is Love the “Greatest?”
“Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT) When I think of faith, hope, and love I think of concentric circles, almost like a target, with faith and hope being in the outer circles that point to the middle target ofContinue reading “Why Is Love the “Greatest?””
A Deep Sadness
“I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within.” (Psalm 31:10 NLT) Grief can be a debilitating disease of the soul. While grief can be healthy and helpful, it can also drive us to a destructive self-analysis that can be crippling. IfContinue reading “A Deep Sadness”
Hope and Optimism
“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.” (1 Peter 3:15-16a NLT) As a Jesus follower hope is a multi-faceted confidence that centers in and focuses upon Jesus, our SaviorContinue reading “Hope and Optimism”
Where Is Your Hope?
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” (Jeremiah 17:7 NLT) In what do you have confidence? Confidence is a rare commodity in the world in which we live. To have confidence in something or someone is to place our trust in it/them. Though weContinue reading “Where Is Your Hope?”
Accomplishing the Impossible
“It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27 NLT) Have you ever marveled at the accomplishments of someone who is really good at something? At Christmas time I haveContinue reading “Accomplishing the Impossible”
Belief and Hope
“I have the same hope in God that these men have, that He will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Acts 24:15 NLT) As we continue our look into the “couples” of the Bible, today we’ll consider the relationship between hope and belief. While similar in some ways, they stand alone in the emphasisContinue reading “Belief and Hope”
Walking With Jesus 