Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7, NIV). We have spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches that these gifts are a unique aspect of the Christian faith. Other religions offer instruction for hard works with their scriptures, while the Bible […]
Our Spiritual Gifts ~ Part 2 Read More »
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed (1 Corinthians 12:1, NIV). Examining a list of books on Amazon about spiritual gifts, I first see many titles, and second, I note that most of them were written after 1970. Why? The Charismatic Movement coincided with the
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Let’s see if you see the pattern for the last five Psalms . . . Praise the Lord! (Psalm 146:1, ESV) Praise the Lord! (Psalm 147:1) Praise the Lord! (Psalm 148:1) Praise the Lord! (Psalm 149:1) Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:1) At 150 Psalms, the Book of Psalms covers every aspect of life—victory, betrayal, revenge,
Psalms On Saturday ~ Psalms 146, 147, 148, 149, & 150! Read More »
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? (Psalm 139:7, NIV) As believers, God is with us. It’s not mystical but relational and practical. One of the most important aspects of God walking with us is hearing His voice. Let’s make a connection between God’s presence and His guidance. Dallas
God’s Presence and Guidance Read More »
Christianity is relationships. Having great interactions with others means practicing Biblical rules of communication. For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech (1 Peter 3:10, NIV). I’ve learned three things not to say in conversations: Ghosts, Generals, and God-Speak. Let me give you
Generals, Ghosts, and God-Speak Read More »
Second Timothy 3:16 is the most famous verse in Scripture on Scripture: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (NIV). With the Bible breathed out from the God of the universe, the inspirational works of Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Mark Twain, and David Baldacci pale in comparison. Mere human thoughts attempt
The Significance of 2 Timothy 3:14-17 Read More »
During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:9, NIV). During the Apostle Paul’s second missionary trip, as he considered where to travel next, he received a vision beckoning him to Macedonia. I’m not the Apostle Paul, but my “vision” was
Please Pray for Us! Read More »
We overlook 2 Peter because it has a “2” instead of a “1” as in 1 Peter. We find the same problem with a “2” and even a “3” as in 2 John and 3 John. So, we might demean these epistles in favor of books with a “1.” Well, at least I memorized 1
Psalm 78 is a history lesson of Israel. How does this Psalm portray Israel? They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel (v. 41, ESV). I believe this history lesson is for the church today—all of us who follow Jesus. As one historian wrote, “The one thing we learn from history is
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Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question (Luke 22:34-35, NIV). I’ve listened to many people question God. Citing evil in the world, the actions of Christians, natural disasters, and personal pain, we might feel justified in challenging God’s goodness. We