He Will Do It!
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24 Men, I think we would all agree we’d like to have a spirit, soul,...
The Narrow Door
Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us. “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you...
The Sheer Power of the Cross
Men love strength and power! There are few things better than feeling and experiencing brute force and raw power. A 700HP pickup truck, a 12-gauge shotgun, a buffalo wing sauce that’s packing heat, a lion on the hunt or a felling axe with a C45 steelhead. Powerful! If I made a list of the most powerful events in history, the...
So Give Your Servant a Discerning Heart
So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor...
One Plants, One Waters
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are...
Oak Tree Roots
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. – Jeremiah 17:18 An oak tree can live up to 600 years, and the roots...
She did not consider her future
Have you noticed that all of life’s choices end in victory or failure? Circumstances, environment, and access to resources can all affect outcomes but the recipe for prosperity is often effort and obedience. As the book of Lamentations opens, the nation of Israel is under Babylonian rule and the capital city of Jerusalem is lying in ruin. An exhilarating season...
It’s Not About You
There’s no denying that I’m the least important person in my home during the Christmas season. My wife proudly decorates every corner of the house the moment we finish eating our Thanksgiving meal. Our tree is full of a mix of homemade ornaments but none of my childhood decorations make the cut. We have four stockings hanging on our mantle,...
Nor Were They Thankful
One of the benefits of growing up poor is that every little thing becomes a blessing. One Christmas I remember getting a football jersey with my name and number on the back. Thomas in bold letters with the number 49 below. As I wore my new jersey to school, I felt like a big deal receiving compliment after compliment from...