“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41, ESV) Have you ever been tempted to do something you knew was questionable at best and something that you should probably totally avoid? As children, if our mom said, “Don’t touch that,” what was the one thing we wanted to do? The forbidden was just too tempting. We did not outgrow that tendency. Even today, if we pass a sign that says, “Do Not Touch. Wet Paint,” what do we immediately want to do? Almost automatically our finger…
“O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23, NKJV) There are a few places in the world where seasons never change. The temperature remains fairly constant with only a few degrees variation. Other places experience…
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34, KNJV) Do you know someone who is a worrier? Or perhaps you are one yourself. It’s easy to worry about the “what-ifs” in any situation. But becoming anxious…
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Peter 1:18-19) When people hear the word gospel, many immediately think about the New Testament — the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While that is true, the message…
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Proverbs 13:12. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Every single person reading this has felt disappointment in their lives. Disappointment is no respecter of persons, age, or personality. Children, teens, and adults fall victim to this unique facet of heartache. Maybe you feel disappointed right now. Disappointment means unfulfilled expectation. I can think of so many times in my life when my goals, opportunities, or my future did not happen the way I expected. Disappointment floods a persons heart with grief and many times evokes tears. In The Message, the…
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” Psalm 51:10-11 Chapter 12 of II Samuel records the story of Nathan’s visit to David, revealing the grievous sins he had committed. He reminded David that there would be severe consequences because of what he had done. David was convicted. Psalm 51 is his prayer of repentance. The child that was born to Bathsheba became sick. Even though Nathan had warned him that the child would die, David still asked…
Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” (Genesis 16:13, NLT) Hagar really didn’t have much going for her in life. An Egyptian slave in the household of Abraham and Sarah, she was far from her homeland. But her life became even more confusing and difficult when her master’s wife suggested she become a surrogate mother to provide them with an heir. God had promised them a child, but Sarah remained barren. This…
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 Amazing grace shall always be my song of praise, For it was grace that bought my liberty. I do not know just why He came to love me so. He looked beyond my fault and saw my need. I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary To view the cross where Jesus died for me. How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul. He looked beyond my fault and saw my need. For the past two weeks,…
