When You’re Stuck in a Storm, Don’t Lose Sight of the Other Side
Jesus and his disciples encountered a fierce, storm intended to capsize the boat and drown them, before reaching the region of the Gadarenes. This storm was so severe and the waves so violent that the disciples feared for their lives. In fact, these same disciples who saw amazing miracles at the hands of Jesus and witnessed..
Don’t Drop Your Spiritual Weapons
Gideon was a wheat farmer who lived during one of Israel’s most challenging eras. The book of Judges records several cycles of God’s judgment of Israel’s sin. God lifted His hand of protection, followed by enemy attack and oppression, then national repentance and the rise of a leader/deliverer to bring victory over the enemy...
How Can We Position Ourselves for a Life-Changing “God Experience”?
“Experience is the teacher of all things.” - Julius Caesar. It seems most people have things that they desire to change about themselves in order to produce a better life. We make our financial plans, buy gym memberships, and enroll in professional development classes...
How to Live with Eternity in Mind
If Jesus told it to us today, this parable might go something like this…
Recently there was a certain businessman, a real wheeler dealer. Everything he set his mind to do, he accomplished with great success. If he purchased stock, he bought low and within a short time, sold high. If he built a high-rise, there’d be a boom in new businesses needing office space. If he dug an oil well, there would be a revolution somewhere...
How to Drop the Weight of Past Pain
Wounds from the past have a way of showing up in our present lives, regardless of the passage of time. But we suppress and hide it, we try to ignore it, we develop tough exteriors to mask it from others’ sight, and often develop elaborate coping mechanisms to co-exist with it.
How Christians Become Better Together
“Together” is a special word in Scripture. It’s used hundreds of times, and whether we realize it or not, the basic principle is that God commands His blessing on our...
How Life’s Interruptions Can Be a Good Thing
Dissension and disagreement are everywhere these days, laced with vitriol of the worst kinds. It is almost impossible not to see it. Lines have been drawn, sides have been taken, and people have concluded that if you are not with them, you are against them.
Steps to Take to Get Our of Your Spiritual Drought
In 1 Kings 18, the prophet Elijah is famous for challenging the prophets of Baal to a supernatural “duel” of sorts. The winner would settle the question of who was the real, true God...
The Power of Choosing to Prioritize Your Health
The ability or freedom to choose is one of the greatest gifts God has given to us. His word makes it clear that our free-will choices have very real consequences that affect our lives positively or negatively. In fact, if we are to ever break free from ordinary and mundane lives...
Let God Work It All Out This Christmas
It’s just part of the human condition. We choose a direction to go in life, make our plans, and when the inevitable trouble detours us, we struggle with all our fleshly strength to get back on plan. We stay up late at night, trying to “fix” things that have gone off track...
Embrace an Outrageous, Contagious Joy This Christmas
Most of us are familiar with that old Christmas favorite, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. It’s a type of modern-day parable; it teaches us a valuable spiritual lesson in the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an angry rich man who was confronted by the reality of his wasted life accumulating and hoarding wealth.
Bring the Greatness of God to Others This Christmas
In one moment of time, young Mary’s life was forever changed. As the angel of the Lord spoke about her future, Mary went from an obscure Jewish teenager to the hand-selected mother of the long-awaited Messiah. Everything changed when she understood her destiny.
3 Incredible Things You Can Do to Reflect Christ in Dark Times
Many Christians believe we are currently living through the very last of the Last Days (aka The End of the World As We Know It). And those paying attention to the nightly news, ranting on social media, or the culture war raging around us would likely point
How Do We Deal with the Things That Cause Us to Stumble?
Jesus is the most important and influential person who has ever lived. No one has so affected art, literature, music and drama, as much as Jesus. No one else has attracted such a multitude of followers and worshipers, from every nation, tribe and tongue (as well as critics and enemies) as Jesus.
The Name of Jesus Holds Incredible Power
Sometimes it looks like we have lost the battle – a sudden financial downturn, a bad news report, the scale won’t budge except by moving upwards. But we know that even if it looks like we have lost a fight, God is the author of our lives, and He is not content with letting the devil have the last word.
How to Face Your Battle with Fear Courageously
Fear not. It’s an admonition repeated often in Scripture as God encouraged His people to take control of their emotions and overcome them.
Lean into God's Sovereignty When Life is Hard
Has life ever hit you so hard that it’s left you questioning God?
Your boss lays you off. The industry you prepared years in school to enter collapses. Your spouse of 25 years says they don’t love you anymore, and leaves. The doctor says it’s cancer. The teenager you raised in church gets arrested. The loved one you held up in prayer for healing, dies anyway
What Should We Look for When Making the Most Important Relationship Decision?
Relationships really matter, and recent scientific research supports this conclusion.
In a famous study on what lifestyle attributes make for human health and longevity, the Alameda County Study, researchers tracked the habits of nearly 8,000 residents of Alameda County, California, for decades.
In Seasons of Discouragement, Remember God Is Still with Us
If you’ve turned on the news lately, it is easy to be hit with discouragement. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the bad news that seems so commonplace. But we must keep in mind that even in the best of times, the enemy whispers lies, playing on our insecurities and fears, and casting discouragement in order to keep us down.
Can We Really Tame Our Tongues?
Doesn’t it seem at times, that modern life has become a circus?Sometimes we’re the juggler, trying to manage all the family, career and life responsibilities, or the tightrope walker, trying to walk that line between living for Christ and the constant pull of the world.
As You Make New Year’s Resolutions, Consider God’s Plan for Your Life This Year
Why do people make New Year’s resolutions?
It’s an interesting tradition, isn’t it? The holidays have passed and the overindulgence is painfully obvious. Many people are still on vacation or winter break and find time for personal reflection. The turn of the calendar year feels like a clean start, and a chance to do things differently: eat better, exercise more consistently..
How to Have a Promise Perspective
God, in His grace, has given us Scriptural promises for every barrier, obstacle or problem we may face, including things like sickness, worry and addiction. These “barriers,” whether big or small, simple or complicated, are actually just anything standing in the way of experiencing God’s best intention for our lives.
4 Steps to Maintaining Peace at Christmastime
Why does it seem that “peace on earth, good will toward men” is inapplicable in holiday traffic? Or at Black Friday sales. Or during Christmas dinner with disagreeable in-laws? The way most of us celebrate the holidays causes extraordinary mental stress, and difficulty in keeping our lives in balance...
What Does Sowing and Reaping Look Like in God’s Economy?
Are you a planner, a list maker, a box checker? Do you like to have every detail of the Christmas season planned weeks in advance, gifts bought and wrapped by Thanksgiving, dinner reservations made, and show tickets picked up early? These are all good and noble goals.
Understanding and Respecting the God-Given Differences between Men and Women
Contrary to popular belief, men and women are not created equal!
Now, if I left that truth there without explanation, many of you would get angry and stop reading. In today’s culture, we are all about equality, even affecting the words we use, like “humankind” instead of “mankind,” or stores offering “unisex” clothing.
How Can We Pursue God’s Life-Changing Vision for Our Lives?
According to the psalmist, vision is the key to living a happy and blessed life.
The reasons are many. When you and I have no vision for our lives, we will have no drive or discipline; we don’t know what to aim for, or direction to take. We don’t know how to focus our talents and energies and abilities to achieve a goal.
How to Keep Pushing through to Your Promised Land
Sometimes it’s a very long journey from “Egypt” to the “Promised Land” in our lives. After the excitement of deliverance from bondage to Pharoah, we set off into the wilderness, thinking it’s only an 11-day trip to a new life of freedom and prosperity.
Healthy, Biblical Tips for Dealing with Conflict
Conflict is an inevitable part of life, whether it’s conflict in marriage, on the job, with a friend or family member. It’s so inevitable that it happens at times when you’d least expect it to. For example, conflict arising with your spouse as you’re driving to church. Does this sound familiar?
Is God Challenging You to Become More Involved in Your Local Church?
His Church is the center of His focus; it was created to be salt and light in this dark world. As a whole, we are the Body of Christ, working together, each bringing our specific gifts, talents and finances to do the will of the Father.
How Should Christians Respond to Persecution?
These are some truly exciting times to be alive! We Christians have won some significant spiritual victories lately; hopelessness is turning back into faith and a confident expectation of God’s goodness. However, making progress for the Kingdom of God rarely comes without cost.
Be Alert to the Temptation of These Seducing Spirits
Just look around – you can’t help but notice that we are living in some truly bizarre times! This crisis, that crisis. Feuds and divisions. Immorality becoming normalized. Natural disasters hitting at record size and strength, and anything but natural!
What Facts Do We Have to Prove the Resurrection?
Contrary to many skeptics’ opinion, the Bible is not simply a collection of ancient religious documents, filled with mythology and fantastic stories. Over the last century, especially, archeology and historical studies have proven the facts of many of the people, places and things discussed in Scripture.
What Does It Mean That We Must Enter by the Narrow Gate?
During His ministry on earth, Jesus made some pretty shocking statements: Love your enemy | If someone slaps you on the face, turn the other cheek | In order to follow Me, you have to hate your mother and father | Give 10% of all your financial increase to My house….
What Is a Prayer Closet, and What Do We Accomplish There?
Several years ago, there was a highly acclaimed movie that came out called “War Room,” which centered on the importance of the personal prayer closet. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend renting it tonight and watching with your whole family!
3 Core Lessons for a Well-Rounded Spiritual Education
Getting a “good education” makes for a generally more fulfilling life, from finding better job prospects and higher wage earnings, to more interesting life experiences. It's a promise made by high school guidance counselors, parents, and recruiters everywhere, as a sort of secular “promised land” for ambitious, hard-working students.
The Holy Spirit Is Here to Help When You Need It
Have you ever struggled to flip a mattress or move an oversized sofa all by yourself, and thought help, I need somebody? Or ladies, have you ever struggled to reach the back zipper of a dress without success, and thought help, I need somebody! Or you stand in front of a closed door, with hands full of heavy groceries, thinking hello?! I need someone...help!
It’s Time to Recommit to Your Local Church
The past two years have truly been a time of testing and stretching for the church of God. Congregations which had not previously developed an online presence and a skilled production team found themselves at the beginning of lockdown scrambling to keep connected to their church members over the internet.
3 Powerful Lessons from the Story of the Bleeding Woman
Have you ever had an issue that has defined you? Something that has hindered you and sapped your life of its strength? Perhaps a habit or addiction has stolen your identity, damaged your relationships, wounded your family, drained your finances, crushed your hope, dreams and aspirations... or made you feel powerless and insignificant.
How Does God Bless Our Broken Road as He Blessed Paul’s?
Have you ever traveled down a “broken road”? That is, has your journey in life ever been detoured by the disappointment of unmet expectations, poor choices, abuse or addictions? I'm sure we all have, because the truth is, life is filled with broken roads.
How Hannah Found an Audacious, Extraordinary Hope in God
Are you a “glass half full” or a “glass half empty” kind of person? It seems to me that some of us are genetically wired to be “half full” people; we have this tendency to look on the bright side of things and be full of hope. And some of us aren’t. Some of us see hopelessness in every situation, no matter what.
6 Powerful Examples of Thanksgiving in the Bible
There is so much to be thankful for in this life. God blessed humanity with a beautiful world to live in, the opportunity to have meaningful relationships with others, and the offer of eternal salvation for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. People can be thankful when there is needed rain, or sunshine after lots of cloudy days.
How Can Christians Embrace the Fact of Their Mortality?
My grandfather was a real “man’s man.” I remember him as being big and strong, even with the prosthetic leg he had from the knee down. When he would put it on, he would say, “It’s time for me to become The Bionic Man,” and back then, I believed he really did have a super robot leg like Steve Majors on the TV show.
Rebuilding Your Family’s Firm Foundation in Christ
According to a recent article in Business Insider, the family unit continues to be under attack. It is likely that 39% of marriages today will end in divorce, and that divorce can be financially devastating.