Thursday, January 31, 2019

Let God Blow Away Your Anxiety: Three Big Promises for the Fight


Let God Blow Away Your Anxiety: Three Big Promises for the Fight – Good reminders for any day and especially the hard days.

The Beautiful Question the Gospel Compels Us to Ask


The Beautiful Question the Gospel Compels Us to Ask – “Is there anyone else left?”

Are You “Full of Sap?”


Are You “Full of Sap?” – Here’s a good word on fruitfulness as you get older as a believer.

The Two-Minute Rule


The Two-Minute Rule – “The more you ritualize the beginning of a process, the more likely it becomes that you can slip into the state of deep focus that is required to do great things.”

Important Things, the Chief Thing, the Only Thing


Important Things, the Chief Thing, the Only Thing “One reason people fall out over such matters is because they end up prioritise one thing – maybe even a good thing – at the expense of all else.”

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

The Four Most Important Decisions in Your Day


The Four Most Important Decisions in Your Day – “We make hundreds of decisions every day but there are three or four that determine so many of the following ones.”

Living in the Aftermath of Suicide


Living in the Aftermath of Suicide – “More than 42,000 people die by suicide every year in the U.S., and each one leaves behind on average six to 10 survivors—spouses, parents, children, other family and friends who are devastated by the loss.”

Your Marriage Needs More than Carbs


Your Marriage Needs More than Carbs – “Passion without purpose is nearly impossible to sustain for a lifetime. A romantic infatuation with no greater end than our own delight is like soap bubbles, fog, and a sunset—fascinating and ephemeral at the same time.”

The U.S. Sends Millions to Countries That Persecute Their Own Citizens—for Being Christian


The U.S. Sends Millions to Countries That Persecute Their Own Citizens—for Being Christian – “It’s hard to wrap your mind around. Every year, we send millions of dollars to countries that persecute their own citizens—for being Christian.”

Abortion: The #1 Cause of Death in the World


Abortion: The #1 Cause of Death in the World – “Yet unlike most of the other leading causes of death in the world, abortion is almost 100 percent preventable. Case in point: In the U.S., 9 out of 10 abortions are elective. That is to say they are performed not due to medical reasons but because the baby is not wanted.”

The Apostle Paul’s Secret to Contentment


The Apostle Paul’s Secret to Contentment – “Paul learned how to be content in all circumstances, so why can’t we? In this article, John Piper explores how the apostle Paul learned how to resist grumbling, even in the midst of suffering.”

5 Religious Liberty Issues for Church Leaders to Watch in 2019


5 Religious Liberty Issues for Church Leaders to Watch in 2019 – These are issues all believers should be aware of.

The Apostle Paul’s Top 21 Leadership Traits


The Apostle Paul’s Top 21 Leadership Traits – “Look over this list, and then take time to assess yourself as a leader.”

The Bible Literacy Legislation


The Bible Literacy LegislationJoe Carter has one of his FAQs to help explain the Bible literacy legislation that President Trump tweeted about a couple of days ago.

Pope Francis Declares Mary to be the Influencer of God


Pope Francis Declares Mary to be the Influencer of God“They are desperate for God to work in their lives, but they are trained to go to all the wrong sources in order to get His attention.”

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Living With a Confident Expectation of the Goodness of God


Living With a Confident Expectation of the Goodness of God – “Here are five biblical reminders for your own heart, when you long for a confident expectation to rise up in your heart.”

4 Reasons to Pray for Your Children

4 Reasons to Pray for Your Children – Here is a good lesson on praying for your children from the first chapter of Job.

5 Bad Excuses for Not Giving to Your Church


5 Bad Excuses for Not Giving to Your Church – “Many struggle with the idea of giving to their church. There is a barrier between them and the offering plate (or online giving site). Often the excuses for not giving are based on a misunderstanding of Scripture or a misunderstanding of their church. Here are five bad excuses for not giving to your church.”

Christ Puts a Comma Where the World Puts a Period


Christ Puts a Comma Where the World Puts a Period – “If we are in Christ, though, physical death is not the end. If we are in Christ, our fellowship may end with our loved ones, but death marks the beginning of an eternity of fellowship with Jesus.”

The Secret to Living Well in a Scary World


The Secret to Living Well in a Scary World – “As you look to Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of your faith, don’t forget to listen. You just might hear the chains of fear start to crack.”

Can We Trust the Gospels? Yes, We Can.


Can We Trust the Gospels? Yes, We Can. – “Because of the way the Gospels report Jesus both in speeches and in conversations, we actually have more variety of testimony for Jesus’s speech than for that of Tiberius. Even someone taking a skeptical view of sources should admit that we, therefore, know more about what Jesus said than about what the Emperor said.”

Add Oil and Squeaks


Add Oil and Squeaks – Here is a good summary of the book Atomic Habits and principles for beginning a good habit or breaking a bad habit.

Meet Generation…Alpha


Meet Generation…Alpha – Here are some interesting trends in the newest emerging generation - those born beginning in 2010. 

Seven Questions to Ask Your Daughter’s Boyfriend


Seven Questions to Ask Your Daughter’s Boyfriend – “Situations will vary, prudence must be applied, prayers offered, and considerations of your daughter’s desires appropriately measured, but in the end, a father (or brother) in the Lord should speak with a daughter’s (or sister’s) pursuer. Can you think of any good reason not to?”

Monday, January 28, 2019

Brokenness


Brokenness – Julie Lowe asks, “Does brokenness threaten to discourage or undo you? Does it cause you to question God’s goodness or distrust him? Our inclination is to allow the brokenness of our circumstances to shape our view of God, to believe suffering means he is absent or indifferent.”

Paying Off Christmas Debt


Paying Off Christmas Debt – Chuck Bentley gives sound counsel from Crown Financial Ministries.

Be Aware of Human Trafficking and Pray as You Travel This Year


Be Aware of Human Trafficking and Pray as You Travel This Year – “January is Human Trafficking Awareness month. Sadly, no community—yes, even here in the United States—is immune to the evils of human trafficking.” This prayer guide is helpful.

Freedom from Fear


Freedom from Fear – “The eighth chapter of Romans provides a sure hope for conquering fear. The strong, yet tender, words of the Holy Spirit provide hope and encouragement when fears arise in your life or the life of your children.”

Cares and Consolations


Cares and Consolations“What cares and concerns burden you today? What challenges are you facing? Does God seem relevant to them? Do you experience his presence and help in the press of life’s challenges? What happens when anxieties grow within you?”

Your Marriage Is About So Much More Than You


Your Marriage Is About So Much More Than You – “Your marriage is about so much more than you.”

How Evangelism Is Kind of Like Fishing


How Evangelism Is Kind of Like Fishing – “Let’s draw a few comparisons that, I trust, are legitimate without being trite. In what ways is evangelism kind of like fishing?”

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Shameless Attempts at Prayer


Shameless Attempts at Prayer “God would rather have us pray than not pray. He’d rather we take a blind stab at talking to Him than remain silent and not try at all. I think God is far more concerned with talking to His people than He is that they ‘get all the holy words right,’ as if that were a real thing.”

God Will Give You Everything You Need


God Will Give You Everything You Need – This includes things you don’t think you need or realize you need.

Pray to Receive Your Reward: Five Lessons from Jesus’s Prayer Life


Pray to Receive Your Reward: Five Lessons from Jesus’s Prayer Life – “The prayers of Jesus offer us a window into the most precious relationship between a man on earth and God in heaven.”

Tons of Encouragement, Peace, and Hope


Tons of Encouragement, Peace, and Hope – Praying through Romans 5:1-5.

Saturday, January 26, 2019

I Can’t Do This, God


I Can’t Do This, God – “Humans are impressed by the whole range of human strengths. But God is only impressed by one human strength: strong faith.”

B.B. Warfield’s Beautiful Description of the Self-Forgetful Christian Life


B.B. Warfield’s Beautiful Description of the Self-Forgetful Christian Life – I was blessed by these simple, biblical, and somewhat poetic descriptions.

Too Good to Be True


Too Good to Be True – “Every word we speak, every action we take, every decision we make, and every desire we entertain was meant to be influenced by our awe of God’s goodness.”

Why You Can’t Get to Heaven through the Mormon Faith – While the terms may sound the same, the meanings are far from biblical Christianity.


Why You Can’t Get to Heaven through the Mormon Faith – While the terms may sound the same, the meanings are far from biblical Christianity. – While the terms may sound the same, the meanings are far from biblical Christianity.

Friday, January 25, 2019

11 Ways to Know You’ve Settled for a Mediocre Marriage


11 Ways to Know You’ve Settled for a Mediocre Marriage – “Whether it is stress, finances, kids, in-laws or sin, too many couples simply settle for a mediocre marriage.”

3 Questions to Ask When Helping Someone Find the Right Bible


3 Questions to Ask When Helping Someone Find the Right Bible – Here is a helpful comparison of good translations.

When Prayer becomes an Excuse for Indecision


When Prayer becomes an Excuse for Indecision “When you pray, pray for God’s presence, his power, and pray to demonstrate your dependence upon him. But don’t ask him to do what you are supposed to do. Pray and obey, pray and do not delay to do what he has commissioned you to do.”

God’s Favorite Prayer to Answer


God’s Favorite Prayer to Answer – “Let’s not let old English be lost on us who know our Bibles and pray without ceasing, without pretense, and without ignorance for the hallowing of our Father’s name. It is his favorite prayer to answer.”

Where There is No Bible


Where There is No Bible“When a group of believers does not have God’s Word in their own language, three challenges emerge that could extinguish any young church.”

The Twin Thieves of Fear and Worry


The Twin Thieves of Fear and Worry – “Father, we choose stillness and trust, over fear and worry. “

When the Mormons Come Calling


When the Mormons Come Calling – “You can win the argument about the authority of the Bible but still lose the opportunity to share the gospel.”

Thursday, January 24, 2019

This Living Hope Is an Anchor in Every Storm


This Living Hope Is an Anchor in Every Storm – “This new year brings hope for answered prayer and demonstrations of God’s tendency to go beyond what we could think or imagine.”

Teach Your Kids that God Is Awesome


Teach Your Kids that God Is Awesome – “As parents, we should ask ourselves if our kids see in us an awe for God. In the way we speak and live, they need to see our reverence for the Lord.”

Why We Suffer


Why We Suffer – “God doesn’t leave us answer-less to this urgent question.”

For Christian Women, Persecution Looks Like Rape


For Christian Women, Persecution Looks Like Rape – “Around the globe, female followers of the faith suffer sexual violence, forced marriage, forced abortions, travel bans, and trafficking.”

It’s A Dark Day In New York State


It’s A Dark Day In New York StateAnne Kennedy laments the New York State Senate voting to extend abortion rights to almost the farthest possible degree. 

What You Need to Know About New York’s New Late-Term Abortion Law


What You Need to Know About New York’s New Late-Term Abortion Law – “The RHA gets rid of any definition of abortion as a criminal act, categorizing it instead within public health law. The bill also removes some limits on who can perform an abortion. In addition to licensed physicians, now other medical professionals, such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified nurse midwives, can perform one.”

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

10 Bible Verses to Lean Into When You Feel Stressed


10 Bible Verses to Lean Into When You Feel Stressed – “Money is tight. The schedule is crammed. Work is overwhelming. The list could go on and on and on. Let’s be honest—life can get stressful. And when you find yourself stressed (which will happen), lean into Scripture. Feel free to use these verses as a starting point.”

You Will Die Someday


You Will Die Someday – In light of this reality, how then should we live?

Six Truths About God’s Wrath


Six Truths About God’s Wrath – “Christians care about all suffering, especially eternal suffering.”

Let’s Make Wisdom Great Again


Let’s Make Wisdom Great Again – In a world of fake news, outrage, and bullying we need the wisdom of God.

Satan Will Not Leave You Alone: Living in a World Filled with Devils


Satan Will Not Leave You Alone: Living in a World Filled with Devils – “While all true believers know Satan exists, many have succumbed to the notion that spiritual warfare is not that big of a deal.”

Darkness Does and Will Descend


Darkness Does and Will Descend – “Darkness can be spiritually complex. When it comes in earnest, we need ways to counter the thoughts and feelings that offer either incomplete or inaccurate assessments of what is true.”

Welcome To The World’s Largest Gathering Of Humans


Welcome To The World’s Largest Gathering Of HumansPray in this season for the Hindu world to be awakened to the truth of Gospel and pray for believers making Christ known.

5 Myths about Abortion


5 Myths about Abortion – You’ll hear them so you might as well get ready for them.

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

16 Truths About Digital Time and Real Friends


16 Truths About Digital Time and Real Friends – This may be refrigerator worthy.

If God is Not In Control of Your Pain


If God is Not In Control of Your Pain – This is an important perspective on suffering.

A Short Dictionary of Jesus Words


A Short Dictionary of Jesus Words – Here are some theological words that are important to understand. “Jesus words help us read the Bible. They serve as short, pithy reminders of major themes. They also provide us with the best available specification of what the Bible says.”

Four Powerful Influences in our Lives


Four Powerful Influences in our Lives – “We cannot just blame outside sources for our problems. But outside forces can certainly spark, ignite, and enflame these internal forces. We therefore need to be on guard both for the enemies outside and inside.”

Faithful with the Few


Faithful with the Few“If you can’t be faithful with a few, don’t ask the Lord to give you many.”

On Earth as It Is in Heaven: A Biblical Theology of Worship


On Earth as It Is in Heaven: A Biblical Theology of Worship – “Since the beginning of time, there has been worship—in heaven and on earth.”

10 Reasons Racism Is Sin


10 Reasons Racism Is Sin – “Most people know that racism is wrong. It’s one of the few things almost everyone agrees on. And yet, I wonder if we (I?) have spent much time considering why it’s wrong.”

Joining a Mob


Joining a Mob – “Christians participate in rush to judgment after viral video; only some apologize after context revealed.”

Monday, January 21, 2019

The Good We Never Ask For: What God Does for Us in Suffering


The Good We Never Ask For: What God Does for Us in Suffering – “There’s no nearness to God without dependence on God. And nothing makes us more dependent on Him than when the bottom drops out.”

Be Patient with Your Slow Spiritual Growth


Be Patient with Your Slow Spiritual GrowthHere are three truths and three action steps.

10 Conversations I Wish Someone Had With Me as a Teenager



21 Ways to Get Involved in Orphan Care


21 Ways to Get Involved in Orphan Care – “Ultimately, orphan care is about reflecting the heart of the gospel. And we do all of this as an act of honor to Jesus, who has loved us and come for us. Why do we care for orphans in their affliction? Because God has cared for us in our affliction. He has made us his sons and daughters.”

When a 14-Year-Old Wants to Change Gender


When a 14-Year-Old Wants to Change Gender“Who gets to decide when a 14-year-old wants to change gender? The child, the hospital, the battling parents? A B.C. case raises difficult questions about parental rights and about how young is too young to make medical decisions. The result is a messy ethical and legal tangle.”

Ethnic Arrogance Dies Beneath the Cross


Ethnic Arrogance Dies Beneath the Cross“No follower of Jesus has said more important or more explosive things about race and ethnicity than the apostle Paul.”

Karen Pence the School Teacher


Karen Pence the School Teacher“Karen Pence is a believing Christian woman. She took a part-time job at a private Christian school. And this, believe it or not, is a scandal. Don’t believe me? Her job has already merited not just one, but two critical Washington Post stories.”

Saturday, January 19, 2019

The Countries Where It’s Most Dangerous to Be a Christian in 2019


The Countries Where It’s Most Dangerous to Be a Christian in 2019 – Here are the countries, the primary threats to the Gospel, and how to pray for them.

10 Traits of a Real Man


10 Traits of a Real Man – What does it look like to be a real man in this modern world?

Don’t Adjust Your Conscience Just to Fit the Culture


Don’t Adjust Your Conscience Just to Fit the Culture – “We don’t want to hear the judgment of conscience; we want to destroy the judgment of conscience. That’s our nature. The only antidote is knowing the mind of Christ.”

Is the Old Testament Law Useful Today?


Is the Old Testament Law Useful Today? “Here are some basic principles that can help in a variety of ways including, protecting you from false teachers who twist the Old Testament, and helping with the difficulty of applying your morning reading from Exodus.”

Anger: the Enemy of Loving Communication


Anger: the Enemy of Loving Communication – “When your mind is filled with anger, it colors everything you experience and it compromises your ability to listen to God.”

Ephesus: The Church That Forgot to Love!


Ephesus: The Church That Forgot to Love! – “You have left your first love.”

What Is Textual Criticism, and Why Is It Necessary?


What Is Textual Criticism, and Why Is It Necessary?“The word ‘criticism,’ which today often connotes negativity, derives from an older usage, meaning ‘to analyze or investigate.’ Textual criticism involves analyzing the manuscript evidence in order to determine the oldest form of the text.”

The Illusion of Enemy-Less Christian Discipleship


The Illusion of Enemy-Less Christian Discipleship – “We are frail in our flesh and must pray for God’s protection from evil.”

Clean Water or the Gospel?


Clean Water or the Gospel? – The answer is both.

Friday, January 18, 2019

What about Tomorrow?


What about Tomorrow? – “Jesus puts tomorrow in proper perspective.”

We Can’t Save Our Kids


We Can’t Save Our Kids “As a parent, I sometimes fall into that trap of scaring my children into salvation. I mean, what Christian parent doesn’t want their children to follow Jesus? We all do, and if we’re honest we would save them if we could. But we can’t.”

How the Lord Rewards His Laborers


How the Lord Rewards His Laborers – “Are you grateful for the privilege to serve the Lord? Are you willing to let the Lord handle is own business? Are you trusting the Lord will treat you right at the of the day?” 

Worry is Practical Atheism


Worry is Practical Atheism – “Anxiety takes God out of the picture, causing us to respond to a situation as if he were not present.”

Stop the Presses! Christian Teacher Goes To Teach at Christian School!


Stop the Presses! Christian Teacher Goes To Teach at Christian School!“If you want to know why so many traditional believers look with skepticism at mainstream news media, look no further than the reporting on Karen Pence’s new teaching job.”

Same Sex Relationships: Should We Just Agree to Disagree?


Same Sex Relationships: Should We Just Agree to Disagree? – “There are five reasons why we must regard the issue of homosexuality as being of first importance.”

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Why I Wish We Hadn’t Lived Together Before Marriage


Why I Wish We Hadn’t Lived Together Before MarriageLisa Lakey writes: Here are five reasons I wish my husband and I hadn’t moved in together before saying “I do.”

Asia Rising: The Top 50 Countries Where It’s Hardest to Follow Jesus


Asia Rising: The Top 50 Countries Where It’s Hardest to Follow Jesus “Christian persecution has worsened in the most populous countries in the world, China and India, putting millions more believers at risk for their faith. The two Asian nations moved up on Open Doors’ annual ranking of the 50 countries where it’s hardest to be a Christian.”

8 Steps for Real Repentance from Psalm 51


8 Steps for Real Repentance from Psalm 51 – “If we look closely at Psalm 51, we see that repentance is a turning away from sin and a turning toward God—a process that doesn’t merely alleviate guilt but cultivates deep joy.”

How Anxiety Can Feed Anger, Irritability, and Frustration


How Anxiety Can Feed Anger, Irritability, and Frustration – “Anxiety often results in becoming annoyed with other people who don’t appear to be as concerned as we are. When this occurs it typically spawns other sins. This is the case with Martha.”

How to Reset Your Joy in God


How to Reset Your Joy in God – “Whether you were drained by holes that resulted from events outside your control or by those you made yourself, the question is the same, How can I refuel, and regain the joy I lost?

The Biggest Thing Christian Parents Forget


The Biggest Thing Christian Parents Forget – “When we, as earthly mothers and fathers, forget the daily mercies we’ve received from the Heavenly Father’s hands, mercies we could have never earned, deserved or achieved, it becomes much easier for us not to parent our children with mercy.”

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Jesus Wins


Jesus Wins – “The eschatology of the creeds does not foster fear or speculation—it calls for hope and anticipation, joy and confidence.”

How to Discern God’s Will in Your Workplace


How to Discern God’s Will in Your Workplace – “Christians in business—especially those whose choices affect employees and company direction—often wrestle with how to follow God in their decisions.”

Setting Financial Goals for the New Year (and how to reach them)


Setting Financial Goals for the New Year (and how to reach them) – “The ultimate purpose of our financial goals should be that our lifestyles glorify God.”

3 Reasons the Psalms Encourage Us


3 Reasons the Psalms Encourage UsHere are encouraging benefits from reading the Psalms.

6 Reasons You Should Preach Through Amos



The Secret to Self-Control


The Secret to Self-Control – “I have never seen someone consistently stick to positive habits in a negative environment.”

From Envy and Rivalry


From Envy and Rivalry“Envy is a distrust of Christ. When I envy the position, prestige, or platform of another, I am screaming in my heart that Christ, though gracious in all His actions towards me, has failed to give me enough.”

Your Marriage is About so Much More than You


Your Marriage is About so Much More than You – Here’s a good story with a great reminder and some practical applications.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised


The Revolution Will Not Be Televised “When the tribes of the earth see the coming Christ there will be no confusion about his identity, no doubt about his authority, nor any dissenting from the reality of his judgement, but what a stunning image of the sovereign Savior.”

False Feminism


False Feminism “As the #MeToo movement has spread from the upper echelons of Hollywood to the halls of Congress, what has most struck me is the startling disconnect between the movement’s feverish sensitivity to sexual impropriety, on the one hand, and women’s eager embrace of our nation’s sex-drenched popular culture, on the other.”

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

It’s Time to Regain First Generation Faith


It’s Time to Regain First Generation Faith – “Here’s the difference in first generation and second generation.”

When You Feel Disappointed in Jesus


When You Feel Disappointed in Jesus – “Jesus knows and cares; He will not turn a blind eye to those who cry out to Him for mercy . . . but He may wait.”

True Praise Flows Out of True Worship


True Praise Flows Out of True Worship – “True praise of God flows from the true worship of God. Praise which does not flow from worship is cheap. It’s nothing more than a bunch of religious words, and God knows it. “

Awe in the Ordinary


Awe in the Ordinary “This world is beautiful. Our awe in creation ignites our awe in the Creator.”

Why I’m Optimistic Amidst a Cultural Crisis


Why I’m Optimistic Amidst a Cultural Crisis – “Hope never emerges from easy answers to the questions of a broken world. Hope comes from a Person.”

Preoccupied with Love: Lifting High Evangelism Again


Preoccupied with Love: Lifting High Evangelism Again – “In Christ, we are never alone in an ultimate and enduring sense, and that is great news to the lonely.”

In China They’re Closing Churches, Jailing Pastors–And Even Rewriting Scripture


In China They’re Closing Churches, Jailing Pastors–And Even Rewriting Scripture “Researchers say the current drive, fueled by government unease over the growing number of Christians and their potential links to the west, is aimed not so much at destroying Christianity but bringing it to heel.”

Monday, January 14, 2019

Love Your Bibles


Love Your Bibles“Who doesn’t love to hear the sound of God’s voice? The problem is that most of us want to hear God’s voice, but we don’t crack our Bibles.”

What Has the Lord Been Teaching You From His Word?


What Has the Lord Been Teaching You From His Word? – Tim Challies requested testimonies last week and here are some encouraging and challenging ones.

What if the Church Was the Church?


What if the Church Was the Church? – “There is still need for the people of Jesus to place ourselves in the path of God’s light, so his light will reflect off us as it did from the face of Moses as he came down from the mountain (Exodus 34:29-35).”

How God Changes Our “Why Me?” Questions in Suffering to “Why Not Me?”


How God Changes Our “Why Me?” Questions in Suffering to “Why Not Me?” – How do we process our suffering before the Lord?

Do All Things Without Complaint


Do All Things Without Complaint“The things we complain about are the very tools used by God to complete the work in us. He can’t be unfaithful to himself, so he can’t be unfaithful to us.”

Saturday, January 12, 2019

5 Ways to Jumpstart Your Prayer Life This Week


5 Ways to Jumpstart Your Prayer Life This Week – “If we’re honest, there are times in our relationship with God where prayer can feel flat, rote or downright lifeless.”

6 Deadly Enemies of Marriage


6 Deadly Enemies of Marriage – “If Satan cannot destroy a marriage, he will at least determine to weaken it. To neglect any of these 6 things is to invite his presence and to welcome his influence.”

What’s Good in World Missions?


What’s Good in World Missions?“Firstly, more people are becoming Christians than at any other time in history. Let that sink in for a moment.”

Evangelism Must Explain What’s Wrong with the World


Evangelism Must Explain What’s Wrong with the World – “What happened that caused our planet to go from paradise to our present brokenness? And how can this explanation be good news for our unbelieving neighbors?”

The Sorrow of Comparing Suffering


The Sorrow of Comparing Suffering“He has given us not hearts of granite, but hearts of flesh that feel stings, scrapes, bruises, and wounds. And we are free to place that before God.”

Friday, January 11, 2019

3 Reasons to Study the Biblical Geography of Israel


3 Reasons to Study the Biblical Geography of Israel – “Israel’s geography is more than side trivia for the events in the Bible—it’s the stage God chose to place the characters of his story.”

3 Precious Words for This Troubled Soul


3 Precious Words for This Troubled Soul – “Can I dare to believe them?”

Identifying Bad Habits


Identifying Bad Habits – “How can we tell if a particular habit is good or bad.”

Life Is Not ‘Meaningless’ in Ecclesiastes


Life Is Not ‘Meaningless’ in Ecclesiastes – “The message of Ecclesiastes isn’t that earthly joys are worthless, but that they are not ultimate.”

5 Things to Remember When We Lose Someone We Love


5 Things to Remember When We Lose Someone We Love – Whether the loss is recent or some time ago, these are good things to remember and explore.

How Can We Prioritize Our Marriage over Work and Kids?


How Can We Prioritize Our Marriage over Work and Kids? – Here are six suggestions in response to a complex question.

Wise Men Still Bring Gifts: Our Extraordinary Christmas in Egypt


Wise Men Still Bring Gifts: Our Extraordinary Christmas in Egypt – “Egyptian Christians are experiencing new freedom, protection, and encouragement from their civil government for the first time in decades.”

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Read Your Bible to Fight Unbelief


Read Your Bible to Fight Unbelief“In reality, we stop reading our Bibles because we lack the faith to believe that God himself speaks to us through it.”

A Two Sentence Prayer to Guard Your Heart in 2019


A Two Sentence Prayer to Guard Your Heart in 2019 – “If these two sentences are faithfully and frequently prayed when you have decisions to make your life will be oriented to be one of praise and honor to God.”

Does Your Giving Say “Leftovers” or “Lord”?


Does Your Giving Say “Leftovers” or “Lord”? – “Imagine how Jesus must feel when we give him our leftovers, when our giving reflects that our treasure lies with something other than him. What gets the first and best of your treasures?”

God Is Near


God Is Near – “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

How to Forge a Friendship


How to Forge a Friendship – “Friendships are an amazing discovery in life, but strong friendships don’t just spring from nothing. Friendships require wise effort.”

Viral Verses Read Wrong


Viral Verses Read Wrong – “What is interesting about the most viral verses being tweeted, hashtagged, shared, favorited, bookmarked or highlighted—whether through Bible Gateway, YouVersion or any other source—is that the reason they are going viral has little to do with the actual meaning of the verse itself.”

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

How to Plan an Amazing Quiet Time


How to Plan an Amazing Quiet Time – “I’m convinced that the one thing that will change everything about your life for the positive is establishing a daily quiet time with God.”

The 6 Biggest Misconceptions About the Bible (and God)


The 6 Biggest Misconceptions About the Bible (and God) – “So don’t rely on rumors, ratings or trailers to judge the Bible. Don’t rely on my review. Read the Book.”

Don’t Look Away


Don’t Look Away – There’s a lot out there we need to be aware of as parents and church leaders. This video is a part of a series and this episode is titled “Kids Meet Someone Who’s Had an Abortion.” It’s been widely viewed and seeks to pass by parental voices.

A Plan for Habit Change


A Plan for Habit Change – “The punch line is clear: people who make a specific plan for when and where they will perform a new habit are more likely to follow through”

God Questions


God Questions – “If you could ask God any question, what would it be?”

Learning to See What God Sees


Learning to See What God Sees – “For marriage and parenting, we need the eyes of Paul, always thankful for the good we see wrapped up in lives of imperfection.”

Emotions Make Terrible Gods: Taking Control of Our Feelings


Emotions Make Terrible Gods: Taking Control of Our Feelings – “How does he teach us to love, hate, and feel in line with godliness? He gives us at least four helps.”

Refreshed In Chains


Refreshed In Chains – “The Bible is far from barren prose on ancient parchment. Instead it ripples with life, it rises and falls with the breath of God, it ebbs and flows as the Spirit wields it with surgical precision.”

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Ten Triggers of Godliness


Ten Triggers of Godliness – “If you want to increase godly habits in your life, increase godly cues in your life. If you want to decrease ungodly habits, decrease ungodly cues.”

Why Did Jesus Sleep During the Storm?


Why Did Jesus Sleep During the Storm? – Here are some possibilities.

Hope Is Not a Wish


Hope Is Not a Wish – “Our hope is an anchor we can grasp and cling to. It is real, lasting, and secure. It is found in our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

How to Create a Personal Growth Plan for this Year


How to Create a Personal Growth Plan for this Year – John Greenleaf Whittier wrote, “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, ‘It might have been.'”

How to Love a Prodigal Son or Daughter


How to Love a Prodigal Son or Daughter – “Trust that God is sovereign over your child’s journey.”

Holy Boldness is Needed in Hostile Climates


Holy Boldness is Needed in Hostile Climates“What are Christians to do in hostile climates and with cultural topics where orthodox Bible believing values are seen as an invitation to a fight?”

Where Is Jesus in the Old Testament?


Where Is Jesus in the Old Testament? – “Jesus unites the Bible. He is not absent from the Old Testament, sitting on the bench, awaiting his fourth quarter winning play. He is the player-coach-manager directing all things.”

What You Need to Know About Interpreting Prophetic Scripture



Teach Your Teen How to Read Their Bible


Teach Your Teen How to Read Their BibleJen Wilkin: “Parents contact me frequently to ask what devotionals or young adult Bible studies I would recommend they do with their teens. My encouragement is to simply read the Bible with your teen in a way that models and trains Bible literacy—no special teen resource required.”

Monday, January 7, 2019

How Have We Prayed Today?


How Have We Prayed Today? – I’m not often impressed by poetry but this poem about prayer is one that blessed and challenged me today.

How To Share The Gospel In 10 Words


How To Share The Gospel In 10 Words – “Sometimes we, or those in our ministry, fail to share the Gospel because we simply don’t know how. It takes practice, but here are three keys I’ve found to make it a little easier.”

Fully Known and Fully Accepted


Fully Known and Fully Accepted – “Jesus is the giver of eternal life who knows everything about you and yet reveals himself as the fullness of forgiving love for you. In him you are fully known and fully accepted.”

Prostitutes, Mistresses and the Messiah: Seven Great Women of Ill Repute


Prostitutes, Mistresses and the Messiah: Seven Great Women of Ill Repute – “A strange thread runs through the most prominent women associated with Jesus: They are all women of, shall we say, ill repute. Most of their notorious reputations spring from sexual scandals. What does this say about Christ? An awful lot.”

Marching Endlessly Around a Wall


Marching Endlessly Around a Wall – “Do you ever feel like you’re living this life of faith, doing what God tells you to do, and it seems like you’re walking in circles? Do you have a person or people in your life that you long to see surrender their hearts to Jesus, but year after year goes by and there’s no response? No change.”

5 Lessons from Persecuted Christians in China


5 Lessons from Persecuted Christians in China – “Here are five lessons we can learn through their sacrifices.”

Disowned for Jesus: What I Lost and Found in Christ


Disowned for Jesus: What I Lost and Found in ChristWhen I left Islam to follow Jesus, I didn’t know what it would cost me.”

Walking Saints Home


Walking Saints Home“It is a privilege to walk with saints to the end of their life.”

Saturday, January 5, 2019

A Letter to the Inactive Church Member


A Letter to the Inactive Church Member – We all need encouragement from time to time to not quit but to keep with it. I hope you know that just as you need us, so we need you.”

I Take You: Our Vows for the Unknown Country


I Take You: Our Vows for the Unknown Country – “Today, we stand on the edge of an unknown country and make promises bigger than both of us. To have and to hold. For better or worse. To love and to cherish. Till death do us part.”


Marriage is for Grownups


Marriage is for Grownups – “If you don’t want to grow up, don’t get married. It’s as simple as that!”

In the Most Diverse U.S. Congress to Date, Christians Still Majority


In the Most Diverse U.S. Congress to Date, Christians Still Majority – “By analyzing self-reported data, Pew Research Center found that 88 percent of Congress members are Christian, compared to 91 percent in the previous Congress. In the general public, by comparison, 71 percent of American adults say they’re Christian.”

Are You Helping Your Children to Despise Themselves?


Are You Helping Your Children to Despise Themselves? – “It is important for your children to see obedience as a blessing rather than the means to obtaining blessing.”