Posts from 2022 (Page 18)

Changing Your Paradigm “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 One of the most important truths we can in our journey of faith is that God is a lot smarter than we are! We spend much of each day figuring out difficult situations and solving…

In God’s Right Hand Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 At particular moments in our lives, all of us face bewildering circumstances. Counselors tell us that the most common problems in marriages are money, sex, in-laws, and children. To that list, we can add an array of work-related stresses and personal…

Being A North Star Those who are [spiritually] wise will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, [will shine] like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3 For centuries, mariners used the North Star to determine their course on the seas. Whenever they got lost,they could make course corrections based on that fixed point in the sky, and in clear weather conditions, it kept them on the right track night…

Listen Carefully Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21 Many students drive their parents crazy by listening to music while they study. “Oh, it doesn’t distract me at all,” the kids claim. “It’s background noise. I really don’t even hear it.” In the same way, we can tune out the Holy Spirit’s whispers and become oblivious to His communication with…

Your Neighbor This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31 Jesus had just identified the “greatest commandment” in the Scriptures, the most important directive God has given us: Love God with everything you’ve got. Now He adds an addendum to that directive. When we love God with all our hearts, it affects our human relationships too. The second command also focuses on the power of love:…

No Greater Command Jesus said, “The first of all the Commandments is: hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment. Mark 12:29–30. God doesn’t want much – just everything we have. He doesn’t expect much – just every ounce of passion, heart, and love we can muster.…

Finish The Work [Jesus said,] “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do John 17:4 At the end of life, Jesus could say to the Father, “I’ve finished what I came to do”. Does that mean that there weren’t more sick people to heal, more sermons to be preached, and more disciples to train? Does it mean that every person He cared for had heard His message and responded?…

Change Your World But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 Just before Jesus ascended into a cloud, He had some final words for His followers: a promise and a directive. In a few days, He told them, a monumental moment would occur. He…

True Religion Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:27 We live in an entertainment culture, but the Christian life isn’t a spectator sport. We live in an age of instant news coverage and blogs on all kinds of topics, but the Spirit of Christ in us isn’t content with analysis. When Christ’s grace and truth penetrate our hearts,…

The Paradox Of Life [Jesus said] “ whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Mark 8:35 Die To Live. It’s the ultimate paradox of life. All of us want the most out of life. We want our lives to count for something, we want to feel that we’re living life to the max each day at home and at work. Most of us grab…