Some things were the same. Some things were different. God stepped into both situations and met the need.

Sometimes it takes a worship leader to win a war. Probably more often than we think. So when facing your next battle or challenge, you might need to listen to some worship music to get your heart and mind in the correct posture to hear God.

If we are honest about our preferences and biases, we would likely admit we don’t really agree with Jesus’ teachings in this sermon. We might argue that they are unrealistic, idealistic, and out of touch.

Maybe this holiday weekend will offer you the opportunity to pause, remember God’s blessings and claim on your life, and recommit to serving him in the second half of this year. Maybe posts from our website this week can help with that.

“God Bless America,” made famous by Kate Smith decades ago, really is a prayer, not a national anthem. More than ever, we can pray this prayer with passion this Independence Day.

It may be the most overlooked—and most valuable—directive our culture could heed today.

Their help, my help, everyone’s best help ultimately comes from the same Source.

We may remember waiting for messages and for replies to the messages we sent. Now the messages can come sooner. Who needs the message we can send?

They are not your worst or biggest enemy. Whatever your political party, social cause, or personal opponent, you might think you know the enemy’s name, but you may be battling against the wrong foe.

We might all wish someone would refer to us the way Paul described Timothy. We might all like to be a friend and partner like the ones that made Paul’s ministry possible.

“Following God is not safe,” Dean wrote this week. But following God IS the most fulfilling way to live. Posts this week encourage us to keep our eyes on God and learn to see how he’s working in and through us day by day. Choose one to read again, and to share with a friend.

Reflecting on my own experiences with—and questions about—how God may be answering the prayers I’m offering.

Just like that, Jesus changed everything for two seekers who desperately need his healing. Dare we hope for our own just-like-that-moments, too?

What if we looked at our trials and troubles in a new way? What if we saw how God could use them to help us spread his good news?

“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

We have all seen moments with chances best described as “slim to none.” Many of these result in the predicted outcome. In Scripture we see many situations where, from a human perspective, we would agree that the main characters were facing slim-to-none possibilities for survival or success.

As we walk with Jesus there will be many days of wonder. Our sense of wonder at this marvelous Savior will also bring conviction. And our conviction must lead to love for all people.

Focus, focus, focus! Focus on God’s goodness, God’s plan, God’s standards for the healthiest life possible. Readers of these daily posts get help with the challenge of seeing God amid all the distractions of this life. The following snippets from this week’s offerings will show you how this is true.

Have we become interstate people, insisting that the best path between two points is the shortest? I’m not convinced that’s true.

I have a friend who told his workers to devote regular time just to thinking. The psalmist understood the genius in this advice when he advocated simply pondering the depths of God’s Word.