13 See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. 14 But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. 15 And he will startle many nations. Kings will stand...
The world around us is ever-changing and, at times, can feel as if it's spinning out of control. As believers in Jesus, we must discipline ourselves to set our hope in eternity and to rest in the sovereignty of God....
1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? 3 Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is...
[rt_reading_time label="Reading Time:" postfix="minutes"] You’ve been there. The pain of betrayal, wounds you don’t think will ever heal. Someone has broken your trust, hurt you deeply, and the thing you thought would never happen has become your reality. Where once was a healthy bond of strength,...
Many Christians in the church mistakenly believe that one must be married in order to serve as a foster parent. But Carol Ann Denyer is shattering that misconception. As a single, young woman Carol Ann felt God prompting her to become a foster parent. "A...
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an...
I am convinced that the promises and truth of the Gospel is seen nowhere better than in the eyes of a child who has witnessed and experienced divorce. A judge deciding the future relationships of a child and his/her mother and father is a clear...
1 I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! 2 When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. 3 I think of God, and I...
All of us, at one point, have found ourselves in the position of Philemon, the offended. We have been betrayed, left feeling vulnerable, abused, and taken advantage of. And yet, we have all also found ourselves in the shoes of the offender, Onesimus. ...
It makes me a little (a-lot-a) nervous to be writing on a blog that will just be dangling out there in cyber world for anyone to read. Actually, this is less comfortable for me than thinking about a 6-month-old and a 2-year-old in my care...
19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and...
1 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She...
1 This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, 2 and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that...
26 As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd trailed behind,...
1 How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! 2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. 3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount...
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! 23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to...
Influence is the culminating result of building character in the first part of life and subsequently gaining credibility. Barnabas,an example of this progression, spent his life influencing in the background. As a testament to the character growth he had experienced in Christ early in his...
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I...
1 This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, 2 and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that...
1 Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When...
Oh, how I can relate to poor Martha! I love making "to do" lists and joyfully checking tasks off one by one. I am a “do-er,” often tempted to take on more than I can reasonably handle. Like Martha, I also enjoy opening my home...
Could a VBS held at an apartment complex be successful? Originally, I thought popsicles and free food would be the ultimate selling points, but the kids really seemed to be coming for something else....
1 While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently....
19 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. 20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from...
Where do our talents and abilities intersect with our call to make disciples? And when do those things line up in a such a way that we move into an opportunity for full time ministry?...