On days, being heard is not nearly as important as hearing is. Be quick to hear, and slow to speak (James 1:19). How can they believe, if they have not heard, though? (Romans 10:17) When our conversations include more listening than talking, we might be much more effective with the little that we say, because we hear people’s fears or […]
I was considering recently how ridiculous all of us are. Then I remembered that we are the crown of all that Jesus has created. As I marveled at the contrast between our ridiculousness and the position humans hold in the created order, I was reminded by His Spirit first that those who are born from above, of Him, are even […]
Trading worries for peace:Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible ©®)
A hand full of briars is very uncomfortable. A stone made smooth in a mountain stream is pleasant in my hand, though. If the stone is in my shoe, it can hurt worse than the briars in my hand. A grain of sand in an oyster can become a pearl. A grain of sand in my eye can blind me. […]
But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, assuming you heard Him and were taught by Him, because the truth is in Jesus: you took off your former way of life, the old man that is corrupted by deceitful desires; you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new man, the one […]
You can’t grow old. By not growing, you just become old. You are either growing or dying. You get to decide, no matter what you perceive your limitations to be with regard to health or wealth or other resources. Plants grow best in manure piles. A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger urges him on. (Proverbs 16:26 Holman […]
We need to have instruction from the Spirit of God if we expect to get anything in life right. That is righteousness – doing things according to the will of the Lord. We must know what needs to be done. We can’t just do what seemed to work last time – we need fresh revelation about what the Lord is […]
“My sheep know my voice…” One of the best environments in which to learn to discern the voice of the Shepherd is in the reading of Scripture. If you have not yet read the whole Book, yesterday would be a good day to start. If you really are going to read it all the way through, it might be wise […]
Do not let grace and truth leave you — bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and esteem in the sight of God and of people. Trust in Adonai with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will […]
Your eternal life has already begun. You are not waiting for death and heaven to begin living the future. Learn who your Father says you are and ask Him for the strength and wisdom and character to be that person. If you hate your job, you live for the weekend. If you love your work, because it is flowing out […]