Grow where you are planted. This can have a profound effect on your life. Like a flower that grows in the cracks in the road, sometimes we must make the best of our situations and bloom where the Lord has placed us. Our family lived 2000 miles from where we grew up for almost ten …
Praying for your enemies makes a difference because the Lord wants to transform both you and them. When we pray for others, we begin to see them in a different light. The Lord desires that people live in peace with one another, and prayer can be a step in that process. During the cold war, …
Timely encouragement is one of the essential experiences that we can have and sometimes can come unexpectedly. Life can have difficult seasons, and a word of encouragement can make a huge difference. I remember encouraging a young man, and when I did, he stood up straighter, and a smile came to his face. There is …
There is always a remnant that is faithful to God. I remember visiting a large Greek Orthodox church in Russia in 2004 called the Green Church. As we entered the church, I saw several older women gathered for prayer. What had these ladies endured in their lifetime to remain faithful to the Lord? How had …
God called the prophets and believers today to proclaim God no matter the response. I remember preaching a funeral message many years ago where a relative of the deceased was an atheist. After the service, he confronted me because I had proclaimed the good news of Jesus. The comforting words of Jesus touched many who …
Resisting God hardens our hearts. You may not be aware of this as you make subtle decisions that resist the Holy Spirit. Like soil erosion, having a hardened heart does not happen overnight. The word “heart” is an important word used in the Bible and is crucial regarding our spiritual condition. When I have a …
Send me! Nothing changes a person more than responding to God’s call to go forward to build His Kingdom. Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” Isaiah said, “Here I am. Send me.” 9 And he said, “Yes, go. [1] We …
Paul speaks about how we are redeemed for a purpose. Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. [1] Many people may think life is about following their dreams, but that is not what the …
Seeing ourselves compared to God’s holiness makes us suddenly aware of our sinfulness. In life, we compare ourselves to others and think we are not too bad and better than most. The problem in comparing ourselves is that we can develop a false image of ourselves as we try to elevate ourselves. As God gave …
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be in heaven? As we go about our daily lives, thoughts of heaven may not be something we spend much time on. Yet, for every believer, heaven is just a heartbeat away. 1 Corinthians 2:9No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no …