As we embrace the reality of our debt being paid by Jesus, we need to also consider what Jesus told us about how we are to forgive others.

When Jesus takes longer than we think he should to solve our problems or help us, does that trip us up?

As Paul said in Philippians, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” We are not to simply be strong on our own.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb…I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

It is a specific kind of bread that we are to avoid consuming. No, it’s not white bread, or wheat bread, or sourdough that we are to avoid. Psalm 127 is clear that there is no benefit to eating “the bread of anxious toil.”

As we continue reading from 2 Corinthians 9, we discover that as we are generous with our resources, then God makes sure that our needs will be met as well. We will have more than enough!

Nehemiah took all those steps, and it wasn't easy. He had opposition. Not everyone got into his plan. But he never lost faith.

There is nothing we can buy that will last forever.

If we read God’s word but fail to exercise our faith and do the kingdom work we are assigned, then we will be just like the guy James wrote about. 

Not every prayer needs to be said out loud, and not every scripture needs to be quoted to yourself out loud.

I learned that when you stay until God indicates it is time to move on, then he always provides the strength and courage to sustain you all the way through the assignment.

Hosea calls God's children then and through the Holy Spirit even now, " So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God."

Happy Independence Day!

Our daily struggles are rooted in the brokenness that the fall brought about in Genesis.

You have a purpose that has been ordained by God.

The beginning of Jeremiah 17 makes clear that the sin of Judah was visible, since it had been engraved on their hearts.

Elihu was angry and apparently really angry, and it had been building through all of the speeches from Job’s three friends.

Remember when Jesus taught his disciples to pray? What was that line we have all recited many times? “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Even though Jesus answered the question, we often act as if we have a better answer than his, or at least we would prefer that Jesus consider our approach to setting up a good kingdom.

The entire eleventh chapter of Luke is a response to one of the disciples making this request of Jesus: “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”