“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18, New English Translation). True happiness seems elusive to many people. Part of this may result from their viewpoint on life. If we judge our happiness…
“Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel” (Proverbs 11:17, New Living Translation). Everyone needs a little kindness in their life—to give some and to receive some. But what is kindness? Or is it even easily definable? Urbandictionary.com says it is…
“You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says:…
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1, New King James Version). How long does it take before God answers a prayer? Is there a point when we just give up asking? Even if we find prayer—and how to…
“Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough to live forever and never see the grave” (Psalm 49:8-9, New Living Translation). How much is a life worth? Ransom demands in famous kidnapping cases have reached into millions of dollars. Perhaps the largest in modern times…
“And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work” (II Corinthians 5:8, New English Translation). Abundant life. We probably all view what that means in various ways.…
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37, NKJV). Have you ever been thirsty? Really, really thirsty? I have. I recently took a long hike on a very hot day. I…
“The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18, New King James Version). The crowd gathered on Mount Carmel and listened as the challenge was made. One man stood alone, facing 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the…
“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45, English Standard Version). My morning reading of the Bible has been somewhat different this week. I have read the same chapter every day. It’s fairly short, only twenty-nine verses, but I haven’t made it to the end of the…