An acorn looks absolutely nothing like an oak tree, except maybe in similarity of color. Yet, hidden in the identity of an acorn is perhaps a thousand oak trees, if the little nut’s story goes well. Who you are after being born of Yahweh was very well hidden by the identity of who you were when born of your parents. Who you can become as His obedient servant, then as […]
Author Archive: Douglas Thomas
God My Strength
If the Lord had not been my help, I would soon rest in the silence of death. If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your faithful love will support me, Lord. When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy. (Psalm 94:17-19 Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©)
Finishing Well
There are many stories about foot races in which one contender is many minutes behind the winner of the race. In one, even though the race has been won, she does not stop her run and surrender. She continues to run, and despite the fact that the winner is being congratulated by coach and family, and the crowd is no longer watching a race, she crosses the line. Some of […]
Be Successful
Jesus answered, “Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it up in three days.” (John 2:19 Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©) When humans informed Jesus that they did not want Emmanuel, that they did not want Yahweh to dwell among them, He responded with a declaration that they could not drive His love out of the earth. They could kill Him, but that would only give Him greater power to […]
Forgiving or Not
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing. “ (Matthew 6:12-15 […]
Calling All Sinners
A congregation recently handed what was left of their resources (including their buildings) to another congregation that is growing. The older congregation had been growing smaller and smaller because they had not grasped this truth: As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” So he got up and followed Him. While He was reclining […]
Doing Great Things
The whole crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming out from Him and healing them all. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves. “I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going […]
The Greatest Gift
If any of our children ask for something good, we would not give them something evil instead. How much more will our Father Yahweh give His Holy Spirit to any of us who ask Him? When Simon the warlock saw Philip doing miraculous works as he evangelized the Samaritan town where Simon lived, he was impressed enough to believe Jesus to be the Messiah and get saved from his sin. […]
Captive Thoughts
For although we are walking in the flesh, we do not wage war in a fleshly way, since the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©) You […]
Joy In Him
Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves the Messiah in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. (Romans 14:16-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©) What are you bringing into your environment […]