“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4 NLT) Pain comes in many “packages” and is useful for many reasons, not the least of which is to enable us to see Jesus more clearly.Continue reading “When Pain Isn’t Good”
Tag Archives: Purpose
Forsaking the Fake
“One day Saul said to David, ‘I am ready to give you my older daughter, Merab, as your wife. But first you must prove yourself to be a real warrior by fighting the Lord’s battles.’ For Saul thought, ‘I’ll send him out against the Philistines and let them kill him rather than doing it myself.’”Continue reading “Forsaking the Fake”
Are You Captivated with Purpose?
“The disciples were indignant when they saw this. ‘What a waste!’ they said. ‘It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.’” (Matthew 26:8-9 NLT) There is a sense in which everything we do as a Jesus follower is, or should be, done as an act of worship,Continue reading “Are You Captivated with Purpose?”
Happy or Holy?
“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8 NLT) Happiness is the proverbial carrot at the end of the stick which always seems just out of reach of its pursuer. Yet, happiness is not a word foreign to the Scriptures. The verse above is from a list of “Beatitudes”Continue reading “Happy or Holy?”
Loving Without an Agenda
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, isContinue reading “Loving Without an Agenda”
How God Works
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6 NLT) The term “work,” as used in this verse and as generally used in the Bible, means much the same as it means today.Continue reading “How God Works”
The Narrow Way to Life
“But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:14 NLT) Jesus IS the narrow way to life! Why? Because HE IS LIFE! In the writings of John in the New Testament, there are more than 75 references to the word “life,” mostContinue reading “The Narrow Way to Life”
Contentment
“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.” (1 Timothy 6:6 NLT) My first mission’s trip was to an area near Lima, Peru. Nothing would have prepared me for what I saw. I cried much of the first day. The average life expectancy there was about 40 years. Children were running the streets begging,Continue reading “Contentment”
What Is Fellowship?
“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42 NLT) The term “fellowship”is used frequently among believers in Jesus, but I’m afraid we have largely lost sight of its meaning. We say things like: “Let’s meet up atContinue reading “What Is Fellowship?”
What Am I Missing? (Part 2)
“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:4-5 NLT) Everyone is looking for something! Everyone has a desire deep within for more. We may not always understand what that “more” is, butContinue reading “What Am I Missing? (Part 2)”
Walking With Jesus 