Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5, ESV) When we fail — It’s not an “if” but a “when” we fail. A quick AI search reveals abundant witticisms on failure. . . Failure is simply […]
Dealing with Failure Read More »
And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26, ESV) Recently, my wife and I began watching the new Prime Video
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1, NLT) Grace sets Christianity apart from the other world religions! In Romans 8:1, we find the greatest benefit of grace for followers of Jesus — no condemnation! The Greek word for “condemnation” means “final judgment.” Have we told ourselves, “I
The “No Self-Condemnation” Principle of Romans 8 Read More »
Psalm 149 seems discordant to me. Let’s read a verse from the beginning of the Psalm and then two verses from the end of the chapter to see if you understand my dilemma. Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful (v. 1, NLT). Let the praises
Psalms On Saturday ~ Psalm 149 Read More »
We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5b, NASB). We daydream differing memories thousands of times per day. Those memories come at us from all directions — what has angered us, feelings of nostalgia, good and bad times, significant events, and embarrassments. Our future hope, staying positive, and maintaining healthy relations
Three Steps to Healthy Memory Management Read More »
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God. John 17:3 ESV The purpose of Christianity is knowing God. It’s not about dry traditions, stultifying obedience, or empty repetition of creeds — Christianity is a relationship with God. And the purpose of this relationship is knowing God. When Jesus teaches in John 17:3, “That
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:4-5, ESV). For years, the Harvard Business Review has been a favorite read of mine. An article recently discussed the difference between inspiring vs. infuriating leaders
Inspiring vs. Infuriating Leaders Read More »
Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written (John 21:25, NLT). The miracles of Jesus in the Gospels tempt incredulity as skeptics doubt and scoffers laugh. Then Jesus doubles down on doubts about miracles when He proclaims
The Five Greatest Miracles of Jesus Read More »
Great are the works of the Lord; They are studied by all who delight in them (Psalm 111:2, NASB). I agree with Psalm 111 when it says, “Great are the works of the Lord; they are studied …!” So, let’s consider the five greatest miracles in the Old Testament. Below is my list. I’ve excluded the
The Five Greatest Miracles of the Old Testament Read More »
For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! (Psalm 143:11, ESV) Psalm 143 is unique. It lists a step-by-step process of freedom from discouragement. As a pastor for 49 years, when dealing with a follower of Jesus depressed by a life situation, I felt my best advice would
Psalms On Saturday ~ Psalm 143 Read More »