Big mistake, good questions, sincere repentance, happy ending
Even when we have made the mistake of doing things our way, we can turn things around by returning to God and surrendering our will back to him.
Following Jesus: a risky decision then, a difficult choice now
Our confession of Jesus changes how we are to think, how we are to love, and how we are to interact with people and stuff. To follow Jesus means the systems of this world are not our priority. Jesus is our number one.
How you can avoid arrogance, foolishness, and embarrassing error
If we are seeking success in our kingdom living, both in daily life and with specific projects, I believe it would be a huge mistake not to seek wisdom and guidance from the people God brings into our life.
Prayers from the cave of fear, confusion, and difficulty
Maybe our best prayers are the ones we pray anxiously when we realize we have no control over some situations and only God can provide what we so desperately need.
A universal need, an everlasting offer, a basic to sustain all of us
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ’Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
How you can avoid the dangerous obsession that threatens death
Jealousy is a slow, silent, and wicked master. If left unchecked it can destroy you. Jealousy can trick you into thinking your actions are justified and your motives are honorable. This is what happened with King Saul.
The example we know best shows how God loves and uses the underdog
The story of David’s victory over Goliath gives a burst of confidence that God can equip the unlikely or the underdog to do what appears impossible.
Debating with God, proposing our plan, and seeing his provision
Time and time again we find that nothing we have done, are doing, or plan to do—either good or bad—surprises God. He has promised to direct our paths.
Here’s the place where we’ll remain not fetchable by the enemy
My great-great grandmother was ‘catchable but not fetchable.’ And we can find a place where the enemy won’t grab us, either.
For Jesus, it just came naturally. He was and is our Good Shepherd!
In the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus was already acting as a Shepherd who provides for the needs of his sheep.
‘For 17 years now . . . .” Thinking about my journey with prayer
As is true with so many others, I have prayed some prayers over and over again for many years. I pray because I believe God is listening and will answer.
What comes before redemption? The answer is surprising and true
The book of Ruth offers us a picture of the pattern God has used again and again to bring his people close to him.
‘Back in the day’ we see patterns still present here in our day
“Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” The problematic pattern of another age still is with us today.
A formula for finding wisdom—and maybe even sleeping better!
Nearly every night I step out onto my deck and look up at the stars, and I think I can feel the same things David declared in Psalm 8.
So much better than a rule book: Jesus, ‘Full of grace and truth’
Law upon law will never bring the solutions needed for our broken world. We need truth, yes, along with the same measure of grace.
Did you see Jesus there, when ‘two or three’ of you were together?
How many times has Jesus been standing there and we missed him? I suspect far more than we can count. But I realize I saw him today.
A woman prayed, an angel appeared, and God’s answer brought hope
God may sometimes seem distant, but he is always nearby and working even when we don’t see him until suddenly he steps in again.
How should we feel when know the Lord turns and looks at us?
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.”
How to overcome our fear by believing what God says about us
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Valor or fear or complaint? How will we respond when God calls?
Gideon had quite a few push-backs when he received God’s call through the angel. Maybe we can relate.