I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:1-2 NLT) This Scripture beautifully reminds me of one simple, but absolute, TRUTH: that when I pray, God is near.…
Ever feel unaccepted? “When God has selected you, it doesn’t matter who else has rejected you, or neglected you. God’s favor outweighs ALL opposition.” – Author unknown The angel Gabriel was sent by God to visit Mary (Luke 1:26-28), and he had three high compliments for her: (1) “You are…
In our last study, we talked about FAITH being like a LENS. There are lots of different kinds of lenses for different purposes. But, the fact is, a lens is an optical device—it doesn’t change the viewed object. It doesn’t change TRUTH— or what IS. A lens only changes the…
My perspective is in my control. A lens is an optical device. We all use them, whether for cameras, telescopes, microscopes, or eyeglasses. You look through it. A lens doesn’t change the object you’re looking at—it doesn’t change WHAT IS. It only changes how YOU SEE it. Depending on the…
In our last study, we discussed how that the keystone—placed LAST at the very top of an arch—is the ultimate key to its strength. If a prayer was an arch, the keystone was the AMEN. Our response to the manifest Plan of God should always be “not my will, but…
Where were you on October 28, 1965? It was a monumental day. Literally. On that day, the final 10-ton piece—the keystone—was lowered into place at the very top of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. That last piece marked the completion of the 630-foot-tall monument, standing near the banks of…
In the meantime … Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem. In the midst of His journey—as He came through a village on the way, He heard a group of lepers crying out to Him from a distance. Why not?! What did they have to lose? Perhaps they saw this as a…
The power of ONE voice—to an audience of ONE. We are well familiar with the third book of the New Testament, the Gospel of Luke. But who was Luke? He certainly was not one of The Twelve. Though he likely had a close relationship with at least some of His…
The day after Christmas, I enthusiastically challenged my nine-year-old grandson to a game of bowling. The standup video kind. We were having a blast—he was winning—until something caused me to lose my footing, and I went down. I apparently tried to break my fall with my arm, but instead I…