“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” (Mark 6:34) Sometimes our plans get changed no matter what we do. Other times we have choice: Will I stick to my plan or change course for this other person? It takes [...]
“So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.” (Mark 6:32-33) Ever feel like your best plans are doomed from the start because someone can't take a hint? Your sibling. Your parent. Your best [...]
Our life is a journey and we go through many seasons to test and mature us. The Bible give us hope and peace when our world comes crashing down. As we watch the horrors of war and violence on the news, we feel sadden and sometimes afraid of the future. In the days of Ezekiel the prophet, God was angry [...]
Luke 24:17-32 …two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the [...]
With rising food, energy, and gas prices, and the financial crisis throughout the world, it often leaves us feeling helpless and afraid of the future. In times like these we need to turn to God’s word, to find encouragement and answers to help us face our fears and exchange them for faith. The Bible is filled with stories about people [...]
“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ ” (Mark 6:30-31) How do you handle it when [...]
“He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” (1 Corinthians 1:9) Did you ever pick teams for a football or basketball game or something? If you're the one doing the [...]
What Is That Sound? (Part 1) Psalm 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. What is that sound that I hear? It is the sound of the people of God, coming up out of the muck and mire of their trials…coming out of the quicksand of [...]
Lower Your Voice And Shut Your Mouth! Proverbs 20:3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. “How do I keep away from strife? How do I shut my mouth? I feel my blood boiling and my temper rising, and I can’t control myself.” Well, if you have a Bible handy, [...]
Valentines 2012 Thank you Heavenly Father for another Valentines Day this 2012 year. Thank you Heavenly Father for sharing Your love and Grace to those near and dear. If it weren’t for You, Heavenly Father, there would be no year 2012 or any of us. You made us all for it pleased You, Heavenly Father, only in You do we [...]
Life is a journey, and along the way we make thousands of decisions that affect our life positively or negatively. Especially in our teens many think their parents are being overly possessive and we dream of having freedom to make our own choices. The Bible is a book of wisdom from our heavenly Father; to help us learn from the [...]
“He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:8) What an overwhelming and powerful promise this is — especially when you think about the letter that followed these words. Paul knew he was about to tell these Christians all kinds of things they were [...]
“Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.” (1 Corinthians 1:7) We make a big deal about God's grace in saving us from hell and giving us the gift of eternal life. And we should! None of us could ever earn either of those things. Jesus paid the [...]
“For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.” (1 Corinthians 1:5-6) How do you know if you are “in Christ” and have received the grace of God? How do you know for sure that you are forgiven and settled into a permanent [...]
“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 1:4) Paul is writing these words to Christians. God gives His grace to those who are in Christ Jesus — and that does NOT include everyone. God's grace is the free gift that includes becoming His family and living forever with Him — [...]
“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 1:4) Paul is writing these words to Christians. God gives His grace to those who are in Christ Jesus — and that does NOT include everyone. God's grace is the free gift that includes becoming His family and living forever with Him — [...]
“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 1:4) Paul is writing these words to Christians. God gives His grace to those who are in Christ Jesus — and that does NOT include everyone. God's grace is the free gift that includes becoming His family and living forever with Him — [...]
The Bible is an awesome book to show us how God can take ordinary men, women, and teens and transform them into world changers and leaders. God often uses the weak and foolish things of the world, to confound the wise. We don’t have to have the right background or degree to be used by God, only a willing and [...]
“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:2-3) We're calling this week's devotionals “Bigger Grace” [...]
Proverbs 11:29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind. Trouble refers to difficulties or worries, and causes distress or anxiety. A family is precious in God’s eyes and His Word teaches us all we need to know to treasure and maintain our own families. But if arguments, lack of trust, unpaid bills or unresolved issues are “running [...]
For some time now, I’ve been going through a season of tests and trials. I don’t know the reason for them all, but do know, God has a plan and it will all work our for good, because I love him. God assures us in his word, that the trying of our faith works patience…but sometimes it is frustrating and [...]
God has this wonderful way of joining others in prayers and faith when they’re hurting, if we only will submit our days and lives to him. He often lets us go through adversity, so then we can help others who are hurting, and give them the comfort and guidance they need to survive and thrive too. A while back God [...]
“Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes.” (1 Corinthians 1:1) We're trying to wrap our minds around the huge idea of grace this week and starting with Paul's pen man for his letter to the Christians in Corinth. Scholars guess this might be the same guy — with the [...]
“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name.’ ” (Luke 1:46-49) Mary was probably a teenager [...]
TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT. DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND, TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE. THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS, [...]
During our lifetime, we sometimes suffer with seasons of sickness, depression, or adversity for us or someone we love. We often get discouraged and wonder what in the world is going on. In the Bible, we see that God showed us miraculous healing at times, but some people went for months or years before their breakthroughs came. When God first [...]
“He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34) “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2) So why would anyone not be humble? After talking about all of the benefits of humility this week, we might start wondering why it's so unusual for us to choose a humble attitude. Here's one [...]
“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” (Psalm 25:9) I remember my four-year-old son teaching me how to play chess. He didn't really know anything about chess, of course, but he had learned something about people: Teachers get all the attention. Teachers are smart. The one who knows how to do something has more [...]
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their [...]
During our life, we will go through seasons where our faith is tested, and we doubt whether God is listening or hears our prayers. We pray and pray, but he seems distant and silent. Our world may be falling apart, and we are discouraged when no one understands how we feel. Daniel was given the privilege of writing about the [...]
“You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.” (2 Samuel 22:28) “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2) Two verses today to show that one of the things that God tunes into in human behavior is humility — or [...]
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” (Romans 12:3) The word humility means different things to different people. It's easy to think of it as a kind of performance, being careful never to do anything that “sounds” proud [...]
I Samuel 12:20-21 …ye have done all this wickedness; yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart: And turn ye not aside; for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver… Are you listening to God or the devil? If you’re considering going back to your former wickedness, [...]
In the U.S. and many parts of the world people are in the process of electing new leaders for their nations. One issue that is vitally important is abortion. It may be legal in many countries, but is not according to God’s will. God wants us to stand up for the rights of those who cannot speak for themselves, but [...]
“(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)” (Numbers 12:3) We're digging into the big idea of humility this week and starting with a verse so humble the whole thing is in parenthesis. It is an aside to let us know, apparently, why Moses wasn't defending himself when his siblings [...]
“Praise be to God, who has not rejected a my prayer or withheld his love from me!” (Psalm 66:20) What exactly does God owe us? Maybe it's too easy to say He doesn't owe us anything. He did create us, after all. And He is just to His creatures, giving good gifts to all. But He does not owe us [...]
“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.” (Psalm 66:18-19) What do you cherish in your heart? Or to take the greeting card flavor out of it, what do you really want most? The word for cherish in this verse means something that [...]
“Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.” (Psalm 66:16-17) This is going to make me sound a little vain, but it's true: I really like it when I overhear my wife telling someone else nice [...]
The Bible is a wonderful book, filled with inspiration and divine wisdom. By reading it, we can become wiser than our enemies, and avoid numerous pitfalls in life. Many people write books or preach about the Bible, but are they all really sent from God? In various parts of the world there are politicians running for office, who profess to [...]
“For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.” (Psalm 66:10-12) How do you deal with the undeniable reality of painful moments in your past [...]
Be Of A Good Courage Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. If you’re hoping in anyone and anything but the Lord, you’re setting yourself up for a disappointment, because people mean well, but only God is worthy of our hope. He never sets us up to let [...]
Each week we receive various challenges and tests, to help us grow in faith. What we believe about God; often determines how we look at adversity, pain, or just annoyances in our day. The Bible assures us that God wants us to prosper and be in health. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Man plans his [...]
“Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot — come, let us rejoice in him.” (Psalm 66:5-6) Does anyone ever read these verses that doesn't already know about God's parting of the Red Sea back in the time of Moses? [...]
In many parts of the world, people are in the process of choosing new leaders to rule and govern their nations. As Christians it is our job to vote for those who will govern and rule in fear of God and believe in Jesus as their Saviour. With many parts of our world at war with one another, we also [...]
Ecclesiastes 7:16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise; why shouldest thou destroy thyself? God gave King Solomon this wisdom nugget and we’re going to enjoy it together today. Degrees, fame, coveted positions in society, and such like can spoil and destroy us. We become proud and lifted up in spite of ourselves. Pride is a king. [...]
The Bible is an amazing book of instructions, to show us how to prosper, have better relationships, and be in health. Jesus often used stories to illustrate a particular point of interest. Like a diligent farmer, he plants a little seed of wisdom, to help us grow in faith, as we read his word each day. Unless we examine the [...]
“Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.’ Selah (Psalm 66:3-4) Here is worship boiled down to its essence: “Say to God, “How awesome are you deeds!” Of course! That kind [...]
Luke 4:4 …man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Friend, are you lounging all alone wallowing in self-pity? Alcohol, drugs, gambling or sex can’t satisfy that ache in your heart. Momentary fulfillment gets old after awhile because your soul really seeks something more permanent. You can’t live off of partying forever. You were created [...]
There is a lot of unrest and rioting in the world today, and many are suffering from unjust leaders in their government. In studying the Bible we learn many valuable tips on how to cope with the stress and challenges in life this may bring, and how God can use everything and help it to work out for good to [...]
“Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!” (Psalm 66:1-2) King David had a volume issue. He had this expectation that people praising the God of the universe should crank it up to 11 sometimes. He wanted to hear joyful shouting and loud singing — but not just noise. He [...]
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