Solomon wasn’t wrong. He just didn’t know Christ. I woke up thinking about Ecclesiastes (a little nudge in the spirit to go read it). And in just the first few chapters, it’s obvious Solomon’s observations of the world and his own life are truthfully said– there is no hope without Christ. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, ...
Have you seen the movie, The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise? It’s been on TV a couple of times recently and as I watched it again, I was reminded why I like it so much. Honestly, I’m a true story buff and this one is no exception. I’m not going to spoil the movie and tell you everything that happened, ...
The only thing worse than your past is a future that’s bound by the past. In three short words, Jesus gave us a visual of this when He said, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). Another translation says, “Don’t forget the example of Lot’s wife and what happened to her when she turned back” (TPT). If you don’t know the story, ...
Sometimes you have to go back to the beginning. Why am I here? How did I get here? What am I doing? Am I making a difference? These are natural human questions pointed directly toward the only One who can answer them. For some, it leads to salvation. I know it did for me. Or at least the first three ...
I was recently listening to a podcast with Dan Mohler, who came highly recommended because of his teachings on our identity in Christ. Many of you know this is one of my favorite topics, so I was pretty excited as I listened to Dan explain this thought: Jesus didn’t die because you have sin. He died because you have destiny. ...
I woke up this morning with this rolling around in my spirit: The anointing of God precedes you, prepares you, and propels you. As I laid in bed considering this thought, each word reminded me of seasons in my life. The Bible describes the anointing as a priestly portion in the Old Testament and a communication and reception of the ...
A new season is upon us! But what to do? Will we repeat what we’ve always done? Or will we see new growth in the areas that matter most to us? I’d like to say, if we follow God’s way of doing things, there will be growth. And here’s why: Blessed is the man [or woman] who walks not in ...
What is it about January that makes us want to start fresh (or for some, start over)? I know the obvious answer, but honestly, we could start anew anytime we want— there isn’t any magical fairy dust that transforms us at midnight as one year rolls out and a new year rolls in. It’s a mindset. God tells us, “Do ...
This article first appeared on The Christian Broadcasting Network My family says I have nine lives. I say, God has rescued me more times than I can count. Even before I knew God, He was in the business of watching over me. In the second grade, I was hit by a car. In high school, my head went through a ...
The last prayer of Jesus before His crucifixion tells us a lot. It’s recorded in John 17 and mentions our world nineteen times. It’s obvious Jesus knew the world we live in is the seat of Satan’s power and that every man, woman, and child rescued from the kingdom of darkness would have to remain here in this world controlled ...
I think I love teaching because I love to understand. 1 John 5:20 says, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” This scripture ...
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 One of the things I find stunning in the scriptures is the confidence of Jesus regarding His purpose. I have never chalked it up as, “Oh, He’s the Son of God, so of course He should know…”–although I know this is true. But instead it has intrigued me because we are made ...
Bah Humbug. I’m not sure if the phrase originated with Mr. Scrooge or not, but it’s become the go-to statement when someone isn’t in the Christmas spirit. And one year, that was almost me. My husband had been teasing me about how much time and energy it took to get all my Christmas containers down from the attic. But after moving ...
Have you ever been so thankful that you’ve asked yourself, “What can I give back to God for the blessings He’s poured out on me?” The writer of Psalms 116 asks this very question: “What shall I render [give] to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” Like many of us at times, he recognized GOD IS GOOD and His benefits ...
This article first appeared on The Christian Broadcasting Network | “Now, friends, read these next words carefully. Slow down and don’t go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, MSG). These words could’ve been written in 2020, but they are actually from about AD ...
When I was younger, my stepdad was an avid fisherman and hunter. I didn’t care much for either at the time, but nonetheless, I learned about lures, bait, and deer blinds. So when I discovered the biblical meaning of the word pursue, I immediately understood the value of this instruction. To pursue means to follow after like a hunter. So ...
While I was praying recently, this phrase came up in my spirit: “Learn from the Sunflower.” I thought hmmm, so I looked up more information and was surprised to discover a couple of interesting facts. For starters, the sunflower doesn’t actually follow the sun from morning till night like I had always thought. Instead, it sets it’s leaves to receive the sun in the East ...
Every word in scripture expresses the thoughts of God, while at the same time, paints a vivid picture to help us see things from His perspective. And for this reason, we should pay attention to God’s choice of words and the sequence in which they are laid out. For example, I’m intrigued by Peter’s inspired writings in his second letter. ...