Spiritual Desperation-are you there?
Desperation, a sense of total helplessness and hopelessness, is essential to a minimal understanding of the love and mercy of God in Christ Jesus....
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A Plan for Reading the Bible in Chunks. This reading schedule will take you through the Bible one book at a time during the year.
Ezekiel shows us the stunning contrast of spiritual death and God's power. His life-giving power overcomes even hopeless death....
Isaiah challenges us, but we can learn to relish this prophecy. Here's why and how to glean much from the prophet Jesus quoted frequently....
If we consider that the writer of the gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles was not Jewish but a Gentile and not a fisherman but a physician who never met Jesus in person (Colossians 4:14), we might expect his gospel to have a somewhat different flavor from the others. Our expectations will not be disappointed...
Kingdoms fall. So what should we do? Wring our hands and weep? It happened to Israel and Judah. What can we learn from their history?...
Our readings this week show that nothing in this world will ever completely satisfy us. But there is One who does fill our souls....
Ever wonder why we read about the failed kings of Israel and Judah? Are there good lessons from bad kingdoms? Yes, indeed! Read on and see....
It is hard to exaggerate all the joy of life in Christ. Do you know what it means to be in Him? This theme runs through Paul's letters....
Mary and I recently took a drive through a scenic part of our rural Virginia county on a beautiful late Spring afternoon. We drove as slowly as was prudent in order to drink in the sights and smells of newly mowed hay fields, wildflowers and honeysuckle, cows and calves, sheep and goats, rolling hills and mountain peaks....
The Bible gives us a rather in depth look at the life of David. We are fortunate in this because there are many great lessons to learn from one whose life would otherwise be an enigma....
Our emotions can be troublesome leading us down paths we later regret, but should we attempt to escape them? Or can they be redeemed by God for a good purpose?...
I hope you were able to complete our scheduled reading for last week in 1 Samuel 21-31 and Psalms 16-30....
Many ask why certain occurrences happen. The Bible doesn't answer all our questions, but it does teach us what we need to know--that God is in control of the most personal details of human life as well as of the events at the highest levels of nations and empires....
Desperation, a sense of total helplessness and hopelessness, is essential to a minimal understanding of the love and mercy of God in Christ Jesus....
Keep ReadingThe Bible is the cosmic story of creation, corruption, and redemption. In the end, God wins because through Jesus Christ, He will re-purpose us for His glory....
Keep ReadingGod rules in judgment over all. No one escapes. For you and me, our meeting with Him could be sooner than we think. Are you ready?...
Keep ReadingJoy--not dependent on circumstances--springs up in the life of those who have God’s Spirit. Nothing and no one can steal that joy from us. It is unquenchable....
Keep ReadingGod controls history including every large and small event, every good and bad situation. Those who trust Him can rest that His grace will get us home....
Keep ReadingWe need to be watchful never to forget that the horror of our sin and the holiness of God put Christ on the cross for us who believe. It's heart check time....
Keep ReadingEternal salvation is no do-it-yourself project. The gospel tells us that the law was given to point us to Christ, never to save. Why does legalism die hard?...
Keep ReadingHuman love is a reflection of the love of Christ for His Church. For that reason, we can learn a little about Christ’s love from human love stories....
Keep ReadingDeep disappointment, alienation, pride, and disagreement occur in relationships, but the God of peace is glorified with reconciliation....
Keep ReadingLove overcomes any obstacle and pays whatever price necessary for the beloved. Unstoppable is the love that Christ has for His Church....
Keep ReadingAre you exhausted from trying to meet everyone's expectations? There is freedom not to live our lives in vain controlled by the fear of man....
Keep ReadingOne must beware of the distinction between deception which passes as true wisdom and true wisdom which can be imperceptible and overlooked....
Keep ReadingBeware of a common saying which we hear today that implies that God doesn't care about our faithfulness but only our faith....
Keep ReadingThe gospel of Jesus Christ shows us that the earthly life of believers, while not complete as it will be in glory, is also not vain as Solomon thought....
Keep ReadingHere we meet a group who did not let their desperate need stop their generosity. How God is glorified by such people who give despite their circumstances!...
Keep ReadingGodliness has both negative and positive sides. When we turn from sin; we turn to righteousness. Likewise when we turn to righteousness, we turn from sin....
Keep ReadingBeware of forming alliances with fools and unbelievers. Your intention to “reach” them is likely to fail and result in your own downfall....
Keep ReadingLife has meaning because we will all stand before an Omniscient Judge from whom we will receive our due. We must aim to please Him....
Keep ReadingAll this world offers pales in comparison to the glory awaiting those who know God’s grace in Jesus Christ. The best is yet to be....
Keep ReadingSpiritual growth is a gradual process, like a great tree, it will not reach maturity quickly. Gather wisdom and truth and be patient. Time is a factor....
Keep ReadingChristians are called to shoulder a heavy responsibility, one that even the Apostle Paul found daunting. Did you know you emit a distinct fragrance?...
Keep ReadingThe rules in Proverbs have exceptions, but there are no exceptions to the rule that God is with His people in their deepest trials fulfilling His purposes....
Keep ReadingGiving to the needy honors God, their Creator. It should be done in an orderly way so as to minimize the danger of misappropriation of funds....
Keep ReadingThoughts of life and death are never far from our mortal minds. We have death through the man of dust but life through the man of heaven....
Keep ReadingThe character of a man or woman is revealed in their response to wise instruction. The wise listen to wisdom and act. Fools choose foolishness....
Keep ReadingGod’s Word bears the force of His authority. To ignore it is death, but to study and obey it brings wisdom for blessing and life....
Keep ReadingChristians should be inexperienced in sin, but not ignorant of what it is. Extensive experience with wickedness contributes nothing to mature thinking....
Keep ReadingBiblical love is not a matter of mere words but expresses itself in practical ways both in what it does and what it avoids....
Keep ReadingWisdom and understanding which leads to the true knowledge of God and a proper fear of the Lord are keys to a blessed life. But can we attain this?...
Keep ReadingThe final Psalms and the Lord's Supper prepare us for the coming grand finale of praise to God when Jesus Christ returns in all His glory for His people...
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