This is the time to take a breath and then seek some perspective
Most of the time I can ignore criticism, but the enemy knows when I’m tired, I’m vulnerable to the negativity. But I don’t have to give in to it!
What to do when you find yourself stuck in the land of between
When I find myself stuck between my problems and my weaknesses, I do well to imitate King Asa.
Young or old, you still need protection and sometimes rescue
We need God at every age, through every stage of our life. But our biggest challenge may be to help the next generation discover that, too.
Agreeing with each other may not be easy, but here’s why it’s vital
The more people involved, the greater the chance of forgetting the original mission. Maybe this is why Paul made such a big deal of the mission when he wrote the Corinthians.
How to react when the spreadsheet says you don’t have enough
“My grace is sufficient for you” threatens not to satisfy in our more-is-better world.
A list of their problems looks remarkably like ours as well
After reading all the ways the Corinthians needed to improve, think about how we can, too.
How to live here, since something so much better is ahead of us
Where would you rather be: here with your stuff and your friends, or in Heaven with Jesus? You know the “right” answer, but do you believe it?
Why the weakest, most common container is the best one of all
“We have this treasure in jars of clay.” And that’s exactly the best place for it to reside! Encouragement for anyone feeling fragile today . . .
One way each of us can choose triumph over discouragement today
Sometimes we Christians look more like a whipped team of losers than a triumphant procession following our victorious Savior. Here’s one way to change that.
Working together is better than working alone—even with the mess!
Add a worker and the work becomes more productive—and complicated. How do we deal with the imperfections all of us bring to the job?
Using Paul’s uncomplicated keys to success in sharing the gospel
Paul lived and served without pretense or profit. And his example can help us share the gospel today.
We have hope because we know there is purpose in our suffering
Paul reminds people of faith that we can have unshakable hope because of the faithfulness of God. He can and will provide strength and comfort. However, his comfort is not just sympathy and warm feelings. God’s comfort literally provides strength to our very souls.
How you can know whether what you do today really makes a difference
Does your life matter? According to Paul, the answer lies at the very heart of the gospel. Read, and be encouraged.
Rethinking, rewording 1 Corinthians 13: Love is what we need!
Here’s my attempt to describe the “love chapter“ with different words so that I don’t just skim Paul’s familiar and powerful message to us. Read this and then read 1 Corinthians 13 and ask God to help you love others as he loves you.
Simple, but easy to overlook, what’s most important for our faith
Never forget what’s most important. Whether we discuss business, family, government, our health, or other concern, there has to be a foundation. There are basics and fundamentals we build upon. As Paul nears the end of 1 Corinthians, he reminds the church about the foundation.
Wisdom: every generation’s need, every father’s and son’s challenge
Fathers and sons need each other, but even if you didn’t get the wisdom you need from your dad, look for it. Wisdom is out there for those who seek it.
Six basics that can clear up division about spiritual gifts
The Corinthian Christians were immature in many ways, but nowhere was this more serious than in what they misunderstood about spiritual gifts.
Someone wants to take you down, but God is waiting to help you
No matter the adversary, God will help you prevail. But to get his greatest help we may need to sacrifice our first instinct.
What if you stopped competing? This is Paul’s challenge for us today
Competition is an expected component of our life in this culture. But the apostle calls us to something different, even more challenging, and ultimately the way to peace.
Self-control, the path to athletic success and a believer’s witness
I always root for the old guy, especially one like Phil Mickelson whose self-discipline bought him to success. So . . . why do we exercise spiritual self-discipline? That’s what I’m thinking about today.