Father Forgive Them
We are entering Holy Week, where we look at the events leading up to the cross. Often, I like to write on the last sayings of Jesus on the cross. The next five days will be five of the seven last sayings Jesus uttered before His death. Today we look the first thing he...
Living with Power-Packed Faith
With no sports on TV for the foreseeable future, channels like ESPN are scrambling for programming. I was hoping that they would harken back to the early days of the channel and show the World's Strongest Man competitions. There is nothing like seeing men pulling...
Power to Pardon
The leaders of most countries have the power to pardon criminals from their crimes, free them from their prison sentences. With one small declaration and a signature, that person who was incarcerated is now free. In an instant, their lives change. While those crimes...
We Need More than Bread
Have you tried to buy flour lately? Every grocery store that I go to is completely sold out. Sure, you can purchase almond flour and coconut flour, but those are cheap imitations of the real thing. When a crisis hits, people fall back on those things that are...
Where the Power of Christ Dwells
The Apostle Paul was a man who moved in the power of Christ. The New Testament is lined with how God worked through him. The Holy Spirit's anointing was upon him on his missionary travels, but he discovered where the power of Christ dwells. It was in the place he...
Go the Extra Mile
When you decide to serve others, you will be required to give more than you expected. This will happen because you will see the need is more significant than you first thought, but also it will be to make people happy that will never be happy. Jesus encourages us to...
Too Big for Your Britches
My grandpa used to have a saying that he used on his grandkids when they were getting too much attitude. He would say, “you’re getting too big for your britches.” It meant that we were getting a little full of ourselves and needed to be brought down a few notches....
Choose Your Battles
There is a popular saying today, “Not every hill is worth dying on.” The basic gist is that you need to choose your battles, not every argument or disagreement is worth the time or energy you need to put into it. That is a lesson you have to learn early in ministry;...
An Opportunity to Give
We have an unprecedented opportunity to give to those in need. With millions of people losing their jobs and out of income, we are being presented with a great need that we can fill in a straightforward way. Food banks are in need of donations, neighbors need...
Hearing the Voice of the Lord
There are so many voices out there that it is hard to know who to trust. We can listen to those who share the same political views we do, or we can listen to our favorite celebrities. Hearing the voice of the Lord in times like these can be challenging. We need to...
Choose to Become Poor
Everybody is interested in the rags to riches story. We value people who put in the hard work and make something of themselves. At the same time, we often look down upon those who had it all but lost it due to drugs or other bad choices. Most people would choose to be...
Abundant Joy in Affliction
Each day is a new challenge as we receive direction from our governments. The threat of having to be restricted to our homes for an extended period is a distinct reality. That presents numerous challenges for families as they navigate having kids at home, getting...
The Light that Leads to Life
You never realize how much you rely upon the sun until you go through several days of rain. The cloud cover and dampness make you cold no matter what the temperature is. You want the sun to break through the clouds and remind you that it is there. The same can be said...
This Too Shall Pass
With the Coronavirus wreaking havoc in the world, there is a lot of people expressing their opinions online. You have those panicking and purchasing toilet paper in bulk and those mocking those people. My advice to you is to remember that this too shall pass. In a...
Hearing a Hard Word
No one likes criticism, especially when it comes from one of our leaders. Often our initial reaction is to defend ourselves and go on the offensive against the one criticizing us. Hearing a hard word is never easy, but the Apostle Paul shows us that we need to learn...
Going in the Same Direction
Very few things cause more heartache than a bad partnership. Whether it be a business relationship or a marriage, it only adds stress to an already stressful situation. As a Believer, Paul implores us to make sure that those we join together with are like-minded. Two...
Something to Live For
If you believe the studies and statistics, most people wake up each morning with little purpose. Sure, they have to go to work so they can put food on the table and pay the bills, but after that, there is very little motivation. Everyone wants something to live for...
Stand and See the Salvation of the Lord
The moment before every battle is the most intense. Your mind is racing with all of the possibilities, and the thought of dying is chief among them. Some movies have great speeches by leaders to motivate the troops right before they rush into combat. Some battles you...
Focus on the Eternal
We take our sight for granted until it is taken away. As we get older, our eyesight diminishes, and we have to correct our vision or put greater trust in our other senses. To be honest, what we see with our eyes can be misleading and cause undue anxiety. Paul knew...
Illuminate Your Hearts
The amount of people who struggle with some form of depression is staggering. Those taking anti-depressant medicine is off the charts. The drug companies are making billions of little pills that promise to lift the mental fog off of our day. God never intended for HIs...