The God Moment That Changes Everything

There comes a moment, no matter how hard we try to ignore it, when all our sins, our failures and our hungry and desperate acts are shown to be blatant rejection of the loving Father. We see how much we need God. This is a …

Love Does

I used to spend a lot of time focused on the immorality and sin of the homeless, attributing their behavior to drugs and a self-absorbed life style. God eventually made it clear to me that He had not yet given up on their salvation. I began to pray for …

Attitude of Gratitude

God’s grace is the greatest gift any of us will ever receive. No amount of gratitude could ever be enough. Be grateful, but also stay focused on God, the Word, and on Jesus. When we relate to others using biblical wisdom it is pretty easy …

Bold Prayers

Bold prayers call us higher. There is nothing wrong with safe prayers, prayers to cover family, friends, the hurting and the world. Bold prayers can be dangerous. Examples: “Lord, please change me!” and, “Here I am, Lord, send me!” It’s dangerous to …

God, Where are You?

Dry seasons can be frightening. Until we realize they are where the treasures are hidden. Such times force us to dig. To call out. God is close to new Believers. Once He begins to grow and teach us, we can become fearful He has moved on …

You’re Not Finished Yet

Our job is to trust and believe. When we know God, when we read the Word daily and know Him to be truthful, we will not despair. God said it. That settles it.

It is a rich blessing to accept who we are in Christ. We come to this life …

Redeeming Your TIME

The first mistake we make when struggling for time management, is to assume we’re in charge of it. Some days my ‘to do’ list is overwhelming. Bible reading, exercise, walking, praying, writing, family obligations and meals. But when I trust …

We call Jesus our friend. He escorts us straight to the Father. Always believe God is with you, loving, blessing and providing everything you need. No need to worry. In the end, anxiety is a giant waste of time. Faith and trust weave comfort around us. We revel …

When God makes a request, it feels like any success or failure falls 100% on our shoulders. That can be intimidating. The truth is, when God asks us to do something, He provides everything we need to accomplish the job. He doesn’t need us to do this. He wants us …

Divine Direction

One of my daily prayer tasks is putting on the Whole Armor of God. This world is a great place to wear armor. The reason our biblical armor is on the front is because God has our back.

I grew up hearing, “Confession is good for the soul.” …

The Unoffendable Heart

Fracas is one of my favorite words. According to the thesaurus, it has negative connotations: riot, squabble, spat, set-to, tiff, dispute, fight, altercation, melee, tussle. It makes me remember my roller coaster youth, that season when …

The storms of life come. And sometimes they seem to come back to back to back, a true storm of trouble. That is where faith, built carefully over the good times, comes out of you, to buoy you up and remind you God has prepared you and gifted you for such a time …

God’s Grace and the love of Jesus offer us forgiveness, redemption and everlasting life. No one will ever gift us with that much again. Ever. So let us remember to see each other through the eyes of love, to forgive all offenses and to live a life blessing others …

Jesus is the Light of the world. It is our call to reflect Him and to live as examples of the lessons He taught. There is always a temptation, when we are gifted to write or speak in the spirit, to begin to believe we are the light instead of the reflection.

When …

God made it easy for us to be in constant contact and relationship with Him by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Once we feel the power and presence of that indwelling Spirit, we come to understand God wants true relationship and conversation with each …

Abba Father! Such joy. Such comfort. No prayer, no plea, is too great or small to take to God. He loves us as we love our children. So if something matters to us, He cares. A strong prayer life brings us into God’s presence and His heart. He does not want us to …

Complaining can become a habit. It’s conversation. Commiserating with others. But truthfully, it brings the energy level in a room way down. Be intentional. Choose to be grateful, thankful and positive. We’re blessed when we can remain still and feel the love of …

Once we accept God is in control, life gets a bit more orderly. He brings us to places that prove to be rich with His plans for our lives. We have to let go of all attempts to control our own destiny if we want to eliminate chaos. Every connection we make is an …

The weapons we carry are holy. Certainly, they are beyond anything the world can understand. When we stay focused on God and trust His endless promises, we never go to war alone.

The challenges and difficulties in life are like the classes we advance through at …

A Christian life often means dying to self and learning to live for others. In most situations, we should strive to help others and not be on a mission to outplay, outwit and outlast. When we see our co-workers achieve recognition or even promotion, that is a …

We may never understand why growth comes through trials and setbacks, but it is our job to trust the Lord and to keep a good attitude when we find ourselves immersed in a rough patch. Every challenge is an opportunity to trust God more and to rely on our own …

Sometimes the things we don’t say are as condemning as the things we do say. I remember when my business partner and I went on the ABC Show, Shark Tank. Her last warning to me before we entered the tank was, “Please, turn off your face!” Apparently my face keeps …

Fear is a waste of time. God heals. God provides. God rescues. God loves. God spreads a net of safety wherever we go. Once we understand our position in His family, fear evaporates. Yes, we all face challenges at times. But that doesn’t mean God has abandoned us. …

We hear a lot about life/work balance these days. I like to pray at the beginning of each day, focusing on things God leads me to accomplish. I acknowledge an intentional life/work balance can produce stronger performances in all arenas. Work, like money, seems …

While it is great to cook for church dinners, teach Sunday School and help with the endless positions vying for volunteers in every church, these may not be the functions God views as most important. The most notable helpers are the folks who leave the church …

Our lives are orchestrated by the Master of all time, God Himself. When we take control and try to manage everything on our own, we fail more than we succeed. God works in orderly ways, never rushed and never surprised. He prepares us for what is coming. Trust …

God is everywhere. He sees the wars, diseases and natural disasters. When we read or view world news, we see people who are not enjoying the blessings we’ve been given. Make no mistake, many of them are Christians. We have favor because we hold an influential …

When we become accustomed to God’s voice and the sound of spirit, we occasionally see or hear alarms and warnings. It might come as a feeling we shouldn’t get into a contract, a sense something is awry in a relationship, or an absolute warning to stay away from …

In America, we have the privilege of questioning authority and even rejecting it. Children rebel against parental restraints, teens argue against most rules, and adults study government and tax regulations for loopholes. Humans do not like being told what to do.

T…

Every surrender to God looks different. Because we’re all individual, we come with histories, encounters and circumstances that meld into unique personalities. God sends us to the world equipped with a call and a purpose. Once we discover that talent, we are to …

Life can be a roller coaster. The ups, downs, twists and turns are dizzying at times. When we focus on God, no fear, depression, poverty, or threat of any kind can stop our amazing Protector’s Presence. We are not alone. We walk beside Him. He holds our hand. …

Compassion and empathy are in short supply these days. We have the progressives who tout themselves as the epitome of tolerance. While being completely intolerant of conservative views, Christian views, senior citizen traditions and any possible thought patterns …

We should be aware God is out of fashion. This computer I am writing on will not even spell God unless I force the issue. Which means, if we love God and we want to write concerning a Christian life, we must be aggressive. Also, please add God to your Microsoft …

The thoughts and opinions of others should never cause us to deny this Lord who loves us so. But sometimes we remain silent when groups or individuals blaspheme His name or they mock His followers. Sometimes it is a crude joke or a blanket statement disrespecting …

What a joy to know God is involved in every aspect of our lives. Even when an enemy comes against us, lying and accusing, God turns every lie around against the accuser. He is our protector, our rescuer and our advocate! Who should we ever fear when we are …

In Romans 11:29, we read, “for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” God chooses who He chooses. And when we see who is lifted up and who is brought down, we don’t always understand. God reminds us that is because we judge a book by its cover and He inspects …

While it isn’t easy, the Bible tells us we must learn to operate in love. No judgment. No jockeying and arguing to be right. No holding grudges or silent treatments. Love is love. It takes sacrifice and preferring others to achieve proper love levels. Luke 10:27, …

Every time I let my mind rest on what I do not have, on the things I want, an offense or a worry, my life feels hopeless and out of control. But when I smile, trust God and allow Him to be in control, I experience joy and anticipation.

Wisdom offers a positive …

Life can be a roller coaster. At times, we face distressing moments: health scares, audits, the loss of loved ones and more. Emotions can take over, causing fear to hijack faith and trust.

Stop. Take a dep breath and go to God. Thank Him for the thousands of …

We all say things we regret. The Bible warns us our tongues can get us in trouble. In Psalm 55:21, we read, “His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.” Perhaps it is not only time to …

God’s protection is a gift. We are His beloved. He watches over us, just as He promises in the Word. Psalm 91 speaks to the security of those who trust in the Lord. “One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty. I will …

I am guessing that in their Christian walk, most people come up against a biblical story that makes them stumble. For me, that story has always been the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5:1-11 “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of …

Many times in my life, I have been asked to wait upon the Lord. Whether it is the Salvation of a child, a safe outcome to a scary situation, or something as ordinary as a college acceptance or a job application, we tend to run to God with the many desires of our …

God’s Word is filled with innumerable promises, overwhelming us with confidence as we study it. He loves us. Dearly and deeply. Most of us recognize that sense of acceptance and unconditional love. We felt it first with our biological parents. We understand …

In the beginning, the walk with God seems easy. Almost euphoric. We hear the story of creation. We read about the prophets. The birth of Jesus. We study the Word and read about the many miracles. It’s a season of love and foundations. Eventually, because we need …

Several years ago, at Champion Faith Center in Tacoma, Washington, I saw a graphic Passion of the Christ performance. Nails were pounded into flesh so realistically, I felt Christ’s pain, the sacrifice so ‘in my face’ I wept. Somehow, because we know the story, …

When unchecked, negative thoughts can play havoc in our minds. We know we are supposed to take every thought captive but that can be difficult. Especially when we’re not consistent. “We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of …

Have you ever wondered why the world offers so many lovely distractions? From sports to blockbuster movies to political races. Wars, recessions and royal drama. These events, when we follow them, keep us from focusing on God, doing good works, and living the …

We celebrated Mother’s Day yesterday and it was special. Got to spend it with my son. He’s a pastor in a neighboring state and Sundays off are a rare treat. His own son graduated from college on Saturday, so it was a joyful weekend. Parenting is a privilege. We …

When I am going for groceries or running errands, I often ask God to help me stay alert to the needs and hearts of the people. For obvious things, like someone shoving a chicken off by the gum because they’re afraid they won’t have enough money. Or, less evident …

One of the most important things we can do is to keep a gratitude journal. God is good and He blesses us every day. Because He is generous, we can allow great moments and miracles to slip by without notice. Not because we're not grateful, but because we are …

Christians are taught to love others as they love themselves. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Luke 10:227

Love is a choice. When we love …

God asks us to trust Him. It seems like a simple command. But it is difficult to master! When we long to tune in to God, we need to tune out the world. It is imperative. No news! Try it for a few days. Television news is a form of torture. It is negative. …

I often struggle with time management. My first mistake is assuming I am in charge of such things. Some days, my to do list is overwhelming. I still work at Ice Chips. I write . I am reading through the Bible this year, doing a daily Bible Study with my …

Not every Salvation is the same. In some cases, there is instant change. The Word says, in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.” On the other …

Many people are unaware there is spiritual warfare going on in the heavenlies. In Ephesians 6:12, the Bible says, “This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and …

We all have seasons where God seems distant. We still pray. We read the Word. But the connection just feels a little off. I remember hearing long ago that when that happens, God is not the one who moved. The disconnect can be caused by many things. Delayed …

As we grow and learn, when we discover a deep interest or talent, we have a tendency to think it’s our purpose in life, the very reason we were born. It could be, of course. Sadly, most people then begin to think such thoughts are likely pride, ego or …

When I was 18 years old, I watched a Billy Graham Crusade on television and gave my heart to the Lord. It felt good. I felt good. Loved. Accepted. Unfortunately, I was in college, and I quickly forgot my commitment when I went back to school. God takes our vows …

Our families are a treasure. Generational relationships were huge to me when I was a child. I can remember watching my great grandfather walk down the street toward me one afternoon. He walked with a cane. I was five years old, but I knew his walk as well as …

Joy is assuredly a choice. No matter what is going on in our lives, we are to “count it all joy.” Success is not judged by single moments. Neither is joy. We know we have a loving Father God who longs to bless us. He longs to train us in His lessons. So even …

I have often heard that working for God, using your gifts and talent in the church, is simply reasonable service. I feel the struggle to do enough, be enough, perform enough. And all the while God is holding out His arms to me, telling me He loves me and I am …

There is something empowering and faith building once we understand God’s plan for the world, His timing. What feels like forever is a moment in His view. But His words, His promises, His plan will always come to fruition. We are blessed to have the Old Testament …

When life is going great, when we’re reading the Word and perhaps even studying it, it is easy to see ourselves through God’s eyes. He loves us. Just as He loved Adam and Eve, just as He once walked with them in the Garden every evening. He wants to be with us, …

Media new stories come to us with built-in expectations. The writer of the story adds a slant that stealthily becomes your slant, because judgment is woven throughout the telling. Reporters are trained to be objective, presenting listeners with the who, what, …

It is a joy to wake each morning with appreciation. Grateful for the adventures possible in a new day. Anticipating the blessings God has planned for you. So much of life is determined by our attitude instead of what actually happens. If the toast burns or the …

God’s love is convicting. We cannot earn it. We cannot be good enough or obedient enough to get it. He just gives it, pours it out on us and wraps us in a love so overwhelming we cannot resist Him. Everyone talks about unconditional love. Most people even think …

God’s love is patient. Even when we procrastinate, meandering a haphazard path through all the activities and plans we make for ourselves, He forgives and encourages us until at last we pick up His mantle and move in the direction of His call. He never regrets …

Things can happen today that remind us of past events in our lives. Those memories have the power to spark feelings of pain or regret. Even if God has long since forgiven old sins, we may feel the need to repent again. Guilt has a long memory. It is pointless to …

We are tempted to believe we can hold onto some of the things from the world after we surrender our lives to Jesus. But can we? Jokes. Parties. Criticism. In work situations, schools, and even family gatherings, people encourage Christians to lighten up, to still …

Have you been asking God for healing? For financial relief? A lost child? Do not give up on God. He sees time in a much different way than we do. Remember, He was standing on a newly cooled mountain range as He formed the oceans and the seas. He called Adam to …

Fear is a choice. The moment we feel fear clambering for control we need to turn to Jesus. Fear is not our gift. Peace, faith and joy, those are the gifts Jesus left to us. Never back slide into fear. Claim the peace and faith you have been given! When I get up …

No matter how long it takes in “God time,” God always moves. Seasons end one way or another, new lessons begin and God is still training and touching us. Why do we have to endure hard seasons? Because that is where the growth resides. Imagine if we never had to …

Gratitude is praise. Sincere thankfulness is worship. God longs for us to see His hand, His blessings in our lives. Today as we enjoy the evidence of springtime, the flowers, the vibrant green of new leaves, blue skies and a sunny promise of warm days ahead, …

Each month, I focus on one of the Fruits of the Spirit, looking up Scriptures and absorbing as much value as I can. This month I am concentrating on Joy and reminding myself to choose Joy every day. No matter what is going on in our lives, we are to “count it all …

I cannot measure the difference Salvation has made in my life. I remember my youth as lacking direction. I knew I wanted to be a writer. But I thought of that career as my skill, my talent, not as something I received or should pursue for God. Remembering my …

It is a challenge to stay focused on God, the Great Commission, and our personal call when we have an enemy attempting to get in the way.  Fear and insecurity are his  favorite weapons.  As long as he can keep us focused on ourselves, on our feelings, our values, …

We have so much power given to us by God. Jesus said, “These things and more will you do!” But because miracles, healings and mountain moving are outside the “science” we’ve been taught, we are encouraged to believe the world’s position and dismiss God’s power! …

People of faith should be more open about their lives. There’s a great need in the world for our God stories, our testimonies, our evidence of hope, love and peace. We see confusion, anger, division and chaos around us. We need to offer others the rest and peace …

In the bucolic 50s, America wanted peace. We’d been through two World Wars; we cherished home life. We believed in order and rule. The Korean Conflict threatened to keep us fighting but we assuredly wanted peace. Our country is different today. Many young adults …

To trust God in spite of circumstances requires absolute and blind faith. It’s when we have prayed, communicated, listened and heard His voice, when we know that we know He is with us, that at last His love and protection come to our minds first. Before fear. …

When I became truly saved and serving God, I couldn’t see how changed I was right away. But with the distance of 34 years, I have to search diligently to remember the person I was prior to 1992. Initially, and to make things clear for Christians, I was saved by …

God wants us to walk and talk and be relational with Him.  He is a true Father.  The more time we spend with God, the more we expand and grow in His light. Like all relationships, this requires consistency and devotion.  It’s not just when we pray.  God’s majesty …

Life is discipline. Preparation is the advantage we control. College prepares us for a career. Meditation and patience prepare us to give the best of ourselves to a job, a class and even parenthood. God is gracious and prepares us to understand discipline. He …

A Mother’s Heart at Easter

I am thinking this morning about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and how she must have hurried to the tomb that Sunday morning after the Crucifixion, grieving and simply operating in her sorrow.  Perhaps she went early.  And alone.

Jesus was …

One day after the Crucifixion. This quiet day. This time of loss, questions, doubt and grief. Peter had to deal with raw guilt. He’d truly believed he would stay close to Jesus, face whatever He faced. But the crowd. The officials. And Barabas. He was now free …

Crucify Him!

Every Easter, when I read the story of Jesus’ trial, I vow I would never have joined that roaring throng. But we don’t know, do we? There is a lot of anti-Christian and anti-God rhetoric these days. The first few times I heard it I felt like I was …

We believe God is the force for good, our Creator and Source; therefore, we must accept there is also a force for evil or bad. We are lured to sin, tempted to follow desires of the flesh and things designed to lead us away from God. Only the foolish ignore God …

The week of the Crucifixion had to be dreadful for the Disciples. Jesus was preoccupied, spending much time in prayer. He told them He was facing betrayal, humiliation and death. He promised He would rise from His tomb in three days. It was impossible to …

Earthly reasoning pulls at us. Often spoken from seats of great influence, that reasoning can sound rational. Until we hold it up against the light of the Word. If it isn’t biblical, if it cannot withstand biblical scrutiny, if you know you wouldn’t think it or …

When we are angry, contrary or judgmental, we expose our life wounds, and the pain they have inflicted, to Jesus. God sees our suffering, and He longs to touch us, quiet us and heal us in that moment. Listen to Him, submit to Him, and allow His healing balm to …

Our worth is in God’s eyes; He who created us filled us with talents and an ability to love and change the world. We undervalue ourselves when we accept other people’s judgement or opinion instead of God’s viewpoint. It makes our earthly journey more difficult. …

I am familiar with the fear of putting my thoughts, revelations, and my heart on paper! Sometimes it flies out of me. But other times, times with projects I feel convicted to do, I all but tremble in fear. My go-to escape is busy work. Writing something for …

Faith should be our banner. When troubles come, if we laugh in the face of tribulation and we cry out to God, others will witness our reaction. When God provides, they will be moved to follow us in our beliefs. People do not surrender because we show them we are …

Hard times and difficult seasons are a part of life’s journey. And in the midst of trouble, God asks us to pray for those who cause most struggles. Matthew 5:44 says, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, …

Friends enrich our lives. We rely on them for so much. If we get a flat tire in traffic and need to be rescued, we call a friend. If we are in a meeting that runs long and we have a child who needs to be picked up at school, we call a friend. I have found the …

I wish we could all understand the power Jesus gave us before He ascended. Not only did He say we could do all the things He did and more, He also left us with the Holy Spirit, the Helper He promised to give. I spend a lot of time trying to comprehend the power …

In today’s society, immorality is celebrated and morality is mocked. This presents an unconventional philosophy that is confusing at best. For all our “modern” technology and sophistication, human beings are literally no different than they were in ancient …

Matthew 12:25

God’s love changes lives in miraculous ways. I have seen people transform from chaos and struggle to peace, happiness and success because they dared to trust God. They have stopped orchestrating their own lives and surrendered to Him. I’ve seen …

We should carefully consider who we choose as friends. We also need to be certain we caution our children to do the same. A young woman, the daughter of a friend, went through a rebellious phase at 17 years old. She chose scary friends, people who loved risky …

There are temptations during our coming of age, desires to take what we want or to do those things we know with certainty are neither healthy nor kind. We serve our own needs and then excuse our own selves. Thank God, He is a loving Father. He not only forgives …

When we allow our emotions to drive our peace or our behavior, we will live a life of limited capacity. Learn to allow the fruits of the spirit to dominate your emotions. Trust God to handle our changed and challenging culture. Know He has your troubled loved one …

One of the toughest decisions Christians make is to truly follow Jesus. Making friends with those outside the faith, especially non-believers, is still suspect in many churches. Programs like Celebrate Recovery, which offers hope for people dealing with …

We learn, through faith and persistence, to know the voice and encouragement of the Holy Spirit. Once we recognize God’s Presence, we feel peace during moments of worry and fear. We can comprehend His meaning when we’re reading the Word. We hear His quiet …

Anxiety is a waste of our time. Trusting God, thanking Him for all He has done, convinces us of His good will, His many promises, and His desire to pour blessings out upon us. Faith in who He is is much greater than our fears.

It is tough to go through periods of …

If we huddle in our churches, doing the “We four and No More” thing, if we stay away from the unwashed, the tax collectors and their friends, we will see the tax collectors and prostitutes sitting where we thought we would sit. They will be the sick who hear the …

It isn’t our best work for the Lord when we try to keep our prayers and ministry inside the church. Get out into the madness. Go to Walmart. Go to the park. Ask God to show you who needs a touch. Maybe buy the thing they had to discard by the magazines, afraid …

A disciplined and intentional prayer life leads to more intimacy with the Father and makes our goal of following Jesus easier. We cannot be in a relationship with God if we only go to Him in a crisis. He is a daily Friend, a true Father and His closeness to us …

Lord, we pray we will abandon critical thinking and return to loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. We pray we will grant others the same grace and mercy You give. Outrage can take a physical toll on our bodies. It also encourages judgement and a critical …

I have been praying intentionally every day for quite some time now. Years. I use a list because it is easy to forget promised prayers or important issues. Some days I just pray the list. There are other days, special days, when I catch fire or maybe God catches …

I have always loved the story of David and Goliath. David knew he could defeat this sacrilegious enemy because he had killed a lion and a bear while shepherding flocks! We all have lions and bears in our past, moments where we’ve had to dig deep, found God-given …

There is something empowering and faith building when we understand God’s plan for the world, His timing. What feels like forever is a moment in His view. But His words, His promises, His plan will always come to fruition. When we watch the world rebel and mock …

Our true worth is often reflected from God’s eyes. He created us with our talents and an ability to love and change the world. Measuring our value against other’s gifts and talents is a sure way to cheapen ourselves and make our earthly journey even more …

Joy is a choice. No matter what is going on in our lives, we are to “count it all joy.” Success is not judged by the moment. Neither is joy. We know we have a loving Father God who longs to bless us. He also longs to train us in His wisdom. Even though we walk …

Fear sets a predictable series of events in motion. We begin to think we have to control everything. To be safe. To survive. We stop trusting God with our lives and put ourselves in charge of even the smallest details. We lose sleep. We overthink. Peace flees. …

We are repeatedly shown that faith, trust and a focus on God will keep us safe through life’s journey. We do not look left or right. Because left and right are where the world, the lure, the pull, and the attractive trouble lie. Straight ahead is wisdom. A God …

I am not a big fan of change. But when we love to serve God, we are often led to new ideas or directed onto a new path. The Christian life is a serving life. We don't usually choose our own direction since we’re required to serve where and how God leads us. Life …

Life is discipline. Preparation is the advantage we control. College prepares us for a career. Meditation and patience prepare us to give the best of ourselves to a job, a class and even parenthood. God is gracious and prepares us to understand discipline. He …

It is a sad truth that many people believe the miracles of God have ended. But Scripture tells us God is the same yesterday, today and forever! So Miracles are still available. And if ever the world needed a touch of God’s love and mercy, it would be right now!

In…

Winning a race isn’t a one-day thing. We have to train. It isn’t easy. Stretch. Run. Exercise. Build endurance and develop the muscles you will need. It takes weeks, months, even years to become a seasoned athlete, a tested worker in the Kingdom of God. When we …

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It is in our trials and testing we develop deeper faith and absolute confidence in God. It is easy to be a Christian when everything is going smoothly in life and blessings are abundant. It is when the storms come that we can run from God and turn to ourselves …

Today, in your quiet time, sit down and invite God to join you. Listen for Him. Feel Him. There is a warmth, a peace, that enters every room He is in. There is always time to ask what He wants, today it is enough to feel love and calm surround you.

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Sometimes when we are trying to be obedient to God’s leading, we mistakeably take on His role as our own. Our job is to reflect His love, not try to be the sun. When we submit to God’s plan, we choose His authority. Under His authority, we don’t need our “to do” …

God’s grace and forgiveness are remarkable gifts. If they were His only gifts, it would be amazing. But He also gave us eternal life, the love of Jesus and the Bible, which provides wisdom and guidelines. When we concentrate on God’s love, His approval and favor, …

When we face true emergencies, who do we want in our corner? Who do we share with? Who do we ask to pray? Recently, someone I know went through a scary health issue. Sudden. Unexpected. Frankly the kind of thing our daily prayers hold at bay. So much so, we might …

Have you ever been in a grocery store or any kind of business where employees have to deal with the public and you witness someone raging at a checker or another employee? It’s awkward. Uncomfortable. People pull back, appearing to grow smaller as they attempt to …

We all have regrets. We could have done more. We could have done better. We could have prayed more faithfully or used our God given gifts in more powerful ways. But in the end, Jesus forgives, the slate is wiped clean and blissful peace envelopes us.

I have to …

When people have been walking with God, reading the Word, carefully trying to follow Jesus’ footsteps, they might eventually experience a heavy feeling. That is the moment they realize they’ve picked up the habit of orchestrating their own pathway again. They’re …

Work when you don’t feel like working. Pray when you don’t feel like praying. Our feelings are emotions and they are easily manipulated by an enemy with no good wishes for our lives. Defy him with God’s power! Our feelings cannot be trusted. When we would rather …

There is a great lie in the world that we do not have enough time for a rich spiritual life, that we do not have enough money to tithe, that Christian friends are not as much fun, and godly principles drain life’s pleasures. That lie is meant to lure us far from …

Sometimes I think when the going gets rough we just slip into auto pilot. What a wasted opportunity. It is at these very moments that God draws close. He puts His hand on your back or grabs your hand in His. This is when He speaks. When nuggets of wisdom roll …

There is a patience we can develop that surpasses logic and what we perceive as “real.” If you have gone to bat ten times and you have struck out each time, your expectations on your 11th ‘at bat’ will likely be grim. But God. He moves at His own pace. He …

At times it feels like our government does not treat everyone equally. Still, the Bible says we should pray for government officials and those people tasked with the responsibilities of law, order, and civilized behavior. That means we pray for our leaders …

I long for a totally committed prayer life. Time spent talking with God is vital. The more often we talk, the longer I linger, the deeper the connection. Once, one time ONLY, I reached a level so immersed, I long to go there again. And yet, so far, I have not …

America is wrestling with its identity. Many people seem oblivious to this battle. We have watched schools lose the right to pray and cities lose the right for Christian Christmas displays. Our children can’t pray in school but Muslim prayer bells ring in …

I am reevaluating needs. As gas, food, utilities and every other expense skyrockets, I am aware I can comfortably get by with less. I rely on experience. Like David. He knew he could defeat Goliath because he’d already defeated lions and bears. He had a history. …

Human emotions can feel overwhelming. Fear. Worry. We are manipulated by a media that loves hyperbole, drama and fear. This is a system determined to keep us off balance, dependent, and anxious. Our victory comes when we are reignited daily by God’s love, His …

Is it a sin to love your country? It’s certainly a sin to love your country more than you love God. But we love our families without guilt. Our pets. Our Alma mater. We love movies and songs that awaken memories. All those things are dear to us and we tend …

Day by day, moment by moment, when we trust God, our lives are strengthened; our calling fulfilled and our destinies attained. In small things and large. In crisis and reward. In joy and in sorrow. If in the center of our being, we trust God, if we listen for His …

At my age, I long to honor my relationships with love. I understand judgement, criticism, and control are forms of manipulation. I wonder how my life would have changed if I had been more tolerant, more loving and supportive sooner. God offers us the fruits of …

Is there a difference between sympathy and empathy? As a Christian, I long to do the right thing. When I see a homeless person on the street, I feel sympathy. They have come upon hard times. When I see a drug addict tweaking and threatening others with a …

One of my life’s greatest joys has been discovering the things I fear the most almost never happen. Anxiety, panic and worry are tools the enemy uses to steal my joy. Additionally, my relationships thrive when I believe the best in people, when I refuse to …

I have on many occasions had someone reveal a situation or come to me emotionally wrecked about something in their life. On no occasion, ever, if I ask if they would like me to pray about it, has anyone ever said “no.” This tells me people innately trust God, …

I have spent years learning to forgive. And I have found, through the love of Jesus, forgiveness is more than possible. It is important to my own life. My own health. Forgiving a big thing gives great relief to the forgiver. Not forgiving makes us smaller and …

Life is richer when we live with positive expectation. When we walk through every challenge with pure awareness God wants great things for us and the indwelling Holy Spirit speaks warnings, sound advice and a true confidence in all outcomes. The conviction we …

Taking a risk willingly, trusting God to have your back, is faith working in your life. All the promises of God should bolster us without question. But we live in the world where gravity, natural disasters, and wickedness are things we know to be true. We love …

My mother used to say, “If everyone jumped off a Cliff, would you jump with them?” Her idea of obedience was that I follow her rules versus following trends and fads. I think God has the same philosophy. Just because everyone goes into debt, follows sketchy …

The Bible is clear we are called to love others as we love ourselves. Try to convince a young adult they should live that truth. Young adulthood is a time of competition, races, job search, grades, love triangles; it’s a bare-knuckled fight from sunup to sundown. …

Habitual prayer and devotion time can lead to great change in our lives. I remember a time when I offered to pray for the world. I had been to a City Reaching seminar in San Jose, California, and realized with a computer atlas I could reach out to the whole …

The greatest movement of God will be when He unifies all the denominations, all the people who comprise the Body of Christ, when He convinces His children to lay aside their differences and embrace their shared love for Jesus. When that day comes there will be NO …

Not everyone marches to the same beat. It is a blessing to be free to practice your beliefs and follow what you know to be best in your life. Like Daniel, we should have the strength to defend our truths and refuse to follow the masses and become a lemming. When …

It is a source of joy to know God strides ahead of us, moving obstacles, performing miracles, clearing the path so we can follow His plan for our lives. The problems arise when we jump off the path, either left or right, and follow our own desires. There we …

I lived many years only talking to God when I was in trouble or in need. I had no idea how selfish and pointless such prayers were. God wants prayers with depth, volume and power. He wants our prayers to be for others, for worlds beyond our own small world. …

For those who know God, believing in His Son Jesus is easy. For those who do not know and do not trust God, refusing to believe in Jesus is also easy. There is a goodness of life, a peace and a sheer joy that comes from accepting the Son of God and following Him …

It is a great comfort to know God never leaves me. No matter what I hear and no matter who tries to dissuade me. He is with me in joy and He is with me in sorrow. He is with me in prosperity and He is with me in want and need. I wasn’t always aware of this truth. …