“Eat your vegetables,” was a familiar command of my mother. She might as well have said, “take a bath,” or some other edict that no ten-year-old boy wanted to hear. Both instructions were for my benefit, but I had other things in mind. Fast forward to my years of parenting, and I found myself issuing similar decrees with the same response from my children as I once had. It’s not ...
Read MoreWhile some claim to hear audibly from God, the New Testament never says we’ll hear from Him in this way. Instead, it encourages us that we are in union with Christ and can walk by faith in Him (1 Corinthians 6:17; Galatians 2:20). God’s Spirit communicates with us through the new, obedient heart and new spirit He has given us (2 Peter 1:3-4; Hebrews 8:8-12; John 4:24).
Read MoreMy daughter, Kailey, just got a golden retriever puppy named Tilly. Tilly is a sweet, soft, fluffy ball of furr and energy. Kailey got Tilly in Calhoun, Ga, and earlier this week I drove Kailey and Tilly back down to Orlando where Kailey lives. Tilly came from a big litter, so she was used to being surrounded when she slept at night. At Kailey’s house, Tilly is sleeping in a ...
Read MoreWhat do your prayers sound like to other people? Are you expressing submission to the Lord and His will for your life? Or do you approach His throne with an exhaustive wish list?
Read MoreThe life of a new Christian is both exciting and daunting. As a former atheist, my early experiences as a Christian were filled with opportunities and challenges. What do I do now? I wondered. Should I attend church? Where should I go? Who should I tell? What if I have doubts? How often should I pray and read the Bible?
Read MoreAll too often many of us tend to stuff our hurtful or confusing feelings. We trade our grief or sorrow for anger. But in order to release the past into God’s hands, we must fully encounter our grief, and we must be willing to forgive ourselves and others for the pain that’s occurred.
Read MoreJesus said a strong thing to Peter when He spoke these words: “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me” (John 13:8). Our Lord’s rebuke introduces a convicting observation: being a servant is not a sign of inner weakness, but of incredible strength.
Read MoreWhen asked, people within the church have a hard time answering some basic questions about the Christian faith. Questions like: Who is Jesus? Who is Jesus to you? Why do you believe that?
Read MoreWith New Year’s resolutions in full swing, discipline often becomes the caveat to take those resolutions through the whole year. Discipline is an intentional commitment to yourself and your goal. It’s also a daily choice with lifelong rewards. Discipline is doing more than you think you can and more than you feel you can for the purpose of doing more than you dreamed possible. Scripture speaks to the qualities and ...
Read More“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” (Proverbs 10:9–11)
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