What if you paused your study of Scripture and began just reading Scripture? Just read the text, continuously and in context. No inductive questions. No introductory illustrations. Just the Bible—at least for a season....
“My eyes fail from weeping; I am in torment within; my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed because children and infants faint in the streets of the city.” —Lamentations 2:11 NIV...
Puerto Rico lies devastated by the destructive force of Hurricane Maria. Monsoon flooding has decimated parts of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Three hurricanes at the same time left islands demolished and major portions of Florida without power. Houston continues to recover from the floods of Hurricane Harvey. Two powerful earthquakes measuring 8.2 and 6.2 hit within two weeks in Mexico, burying people alive in some of the poorest areas....
A recent Facebook post caught my eye: California is on fire, Oregon is on fire, Montana is on fire, areas of Canada are on fire, Texas is underwater, Idaho had a 5.3 earthquake, North Korea just tested their 6th nuclear bomb causing a 6.3 explosion quake, and Irma is now the most powerful category 5 hurricane in over a decade....
God’s plan for His people didn’t begin in the New Testament with the coming of Christ to the earth. Actually His plan had been there all along, in the beginning, where Christ is found throughout the Old Testament....
It was the end of the school year, fifth grade, no less. A year of “lasts.” Last talent show, last STARS concert, last science fair. Last school lunch with my daughter in the cafeteria surrounded by her giggling friends. Sniff, sniff. One last assignment and then off to middle school. Spring fever was in high gear and my daughter wanted to rush through her work and be done with it....
I have been turning five words over and over in my mind. They are nestled in the middle of the third chapter of Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi: I want to know Christ (v. 3:10). God has been teaching me something profound in those five words, so let’s read them one more time, slowly. I want to know Christ....
In John’s Gospel, Jesus uses a metaphor that rings true for anyone with a green thumb. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener,” He says. “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” Jesus goes on to explain that we are His branches. If we want a fruit-producing life, we must...
Each year around the holidays I usually receive a few invitations to share at various women’s ministry events; invitations I accept eagerly and with deep gratitude. I just love to talk about Jesus. Honestly, He’s my absolute favorite. I start praying for the event well in advance, and those prayers usually go something like this:...
With the start of the New Year, many Christians like to put in place some sort of structure to help hold them accountable to the personal habit of spending time in the Word. I’m a big fan of structure and accountability. I need them myself in any area of my life where the good behavior that ought to happen habitually does not. But just as not all diet and exercise plans are equally beneficial or...