I think you would agree the Bible has some pretty big words, but if we’ll look deeper, they are BIG in context too. One of those words is justification. The dictionary gives three basic definitions. One is simply the act of justifying; meaning an explanation that defends you or a circumstance. A second definition is found in the world of ...
For all the mere moments we have before an audience, it is all the time alone with God that can add any substance to our message. Your audience might be your child, your spouse, a coworker, or a small group having coffee together. An audience is defined as gathered spectators or listeners. Who’s your audience?Better yet, what are they observing ...
Let’s talk about fruit. Can you imagine, if you were a fruit tree, what it must feel like to have your branches trimmed back or cut off altogether? Doesn’t sound like fun. But wait… the Bible says God’s children are designed to bear fruit, which means we can relate. But this also means when our branches aren’t producing as they should, the ...
Am I? I had to ask God, “Am I a hypocrite?” This isn’t a question we should be afraid of although Jesus was quite stern when He said: “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.Their worship of me is pointless, because their teachings are ...
I recently saw someone at church I hadn’t seen in a long time. As soon as we had a chance to greet one another, I made a bee line to him to say hi and give him a hug. He was obviously uncomfortable and a little shy of looking anyone in the eyes, but he hugged me back as others ...
After having some difficulties with my computer once, my husband suggested I get a software program to run systematic scans that would find and fix any problems or files that simply needed to be securely trashed. I found one that was in fact called Find & Fix. The first time I ran it, the scan found over 1,700 junk or ...
A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a word that made me take a second look. The word was mundane. I figured it meant ordinary, routine, blah, or ho-hum. And these are correct synonyms (words that mean the same). But actually, Webster’s defines mundane as “of or pertaining to this world or earth as contrasted with heaven.” Really? This is ...
The Apostle Paul might have answered this question best when he said: “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify” (1 Corinthians 10:23). The Amplified Bible says it this way: “All things are legitimate [permissible–and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things ...
Part 1 | Part 2 I recently posted a status on Facebook and Twitter that received a lot of attention: I can think some things… I can know some things… But I don’t have to “say” everything I think and know. #discretion This is an area I still want/need to grow in. It’s a crazy temptation to want to tell others ...
I recently read through the story of the man by the pool of Bethesda. It’s an account I have pondered before; an interesting story about a man who had suffered with an infirmity for 38 years when Jesus found him. We aren’t told what his infirmity was, but I can’t help but think about the condition I was in when Jesus ...
Have you ever wished you could go back and change something? I’m certain you have. Who hasn’t? Whether small or large, regrets can be discouraging. “If only I could go back and change [such and such], but I can’t…” This is what I recently told the Lord after seeing something more clearly– something I wish I’d handled differently in the ...
What a blasted word. Or a blessed one. Again. To repeat. To mimic a former behavior, instance, or circumstance. Paul said, “In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off]” (Galatians 5:1). We have a choice. ...
“Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). A young man recently visited our church. I was told that he had given his heart to Jesus in one of our small groups. The first day he attended church, this young man –who seemingly had no prior church experience– went to the altar during worship. ...
Here’s a confession you should make daily: “I have been enabled and endued with Christ’s strength to recover and increase in every area of my life!” When we read the encouragement Paul issued to believers in Ephesus, this is his admonition: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). Power and might ...
I wonder if we ever thought about the fact that Jesus didn’t interview the people before He fed them? Yet, as His followers today, we are prone to ask questions like, “Why are you in this condition?” “What did you do wrong?” “Where’s your faith?” The account of Jesus feeding the multitudes is one of the few stories that are ...
When I hear the word stray, I think of a lost dog– one who doesn’t have a home, a wanderer looking for its next meal. And then I think about people and the spiritual falling away that happens oh-so-slowly over time. I’ve been guilty of this myself. It’s not something we plan or even want to do. It just happens. ...
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 We’ve been talking about forgiveness. Concerning this, the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). They were as human as we are when it comes to needing help in the area of forgiving others. But Jesus spoke of forgiving quite often, indicating it was a key to walking in ...
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” –Author Unknown Sadly, our society is in an epidemic of disease. Everywhere you turn, someone is battling cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or something similar, either personally or in their family. The Bible says,“Look after each other so ...