Do you have a lot of questions about life and faith? Are they keeping you away from God or are they bringing you closer to him? Don’t fight your questions, give them to God. He will answer them when you’re ready. Meanwhile, embrace your questions, live them and praise God in advance for answering you when the time is right. Instead of worrying about the answers, use your time more usefully: spend time in God’s presence. That’s from where all…
Here are some observations on the Apostle Paul’s spiritual growth. It was not something flashy or quick; it took a lifetime. And the end result was not something the world thinks was necessarily that great. Paul started to talk less about him and more of Christ. He became more aware of his short comings and his perpetual need of grace. His spiritual growth was not up but down. Deeper into God’s grace. This is spiritual growth, folks I’ve got three different…
Inspiration is a wonderful thing. Without it, any creative work would be nearly impossible. My ultimate inspiration comes from the Lord. Like James Stalker has said, “How poor a guide enthusiasm is when it is not informed with the mind and spirit of God.” We need the Holy Spirit to guide us and inspire us. Hence, my agent of inspiration is the Holy Spirit who breathes life into me and through me. Without him, any spiritual life would be impossible….
How are you doing? And how about the well-being of your soul? We hear the first question quite often even if they are not really wanting to know how we are. The second question is something we rarely get asked which is kind of sad. But maybe it is a question we should ask ourselves. You know, the well-being of your soul is the most important thing. Without the well-being of your soul, you are not only unhappy but also…
I’ve always loved The Parable of the Sower. The Holy Spirit seems to be speaking through it so powerfully. At least, that’s my experience. It opens our eyes to see what hinders our spiritual growth and what helps us to grow into maturity. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow…
‘You are worth it’, says a commercial to get you to buy a product. The number one way to get into debt is to think you deserve to have certain things. Don’t try to buy your worth. You are worthy just because you are made by God Almighty. You worthiness comes from the Lord. There’s nothing you can buy or do that would make you worthy of God but his grace. But his grace is all you ever need to…
Today, I want to encourage you deeper into God’s grace. You see, we are all invited to live and move around in God’s grace. We don’t have to tiptoe around or stay around the entrance in God’s kingdom. Because of Jesus, we are all welcome right into the center of God’s sweet presence. God loves to save sinners but, folks, that’s not the end. He has beautiful things in store for all his children. You see, grace activates you to…
Gratitude is the most underused spiritual weapon. Often we don’t even realize gratitude or thanksgiving is a spiritual weapon. But it is. A powerful one. Let’s find out why we should use it. And then use it for the rest of our days. Not just for the benefits but because it’s fun and easy and it will bless us more than we can ever know. And the alternative is awful: For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as…
Has God flooded your heart with his love and grace? Do you love Jesus in a new and fresh way? Why don’t you sing to the Lord? And, please, sing a new song. If Christ has rescued you from the land of death, do not sing those old songs from there anymore. You see, it’s time for a new song. I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy…
What does define you? What are you made of? Not things that we’d think that often yet they matter. Who we are matters. Whose we are matters even more. Today I read a Bible verse that made me wonder of what qualities actually define me. These are the qualities I want to define me: mercy, kindness and truth. Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; Bind them [securely] around your neck,…
