Month: September 2024

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2 NIV) Read full chapter REFLECTION  Boasting has its… Continue reading Divine Access

“Paul’s test for spiritually immaturity: Do you argue? Do you compare yourself to others? Are you jealous? Answer “yes” to any of these, then you are spiritually immature.” “My job was to plant the seed, and Apollos was called to water it. Any growth comes from God, so the ones who water and plant have nothing to brag… Continue reading Beloved Handiwork

“Pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 GNV) Read full chapter REFLECTION  Today’s reflection is in the form of an excerpt from my book Unseen Beauty: Prayer precedes patience, and patience precedes precious peace. And divine grace is needed for it all, for only our Maker can fill us and fuel us with what we deeply need. So,… Continue reading A Tapestry of Trust

“Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].” (Proverbs 16:3 AMP) REFLECTION  How would you define success?  If we want to succeed in ways that line up with God’s Word, and bear eternal fruit, then we need to… Continue reading Eternal Fruit

“So then, being always filled with good courage and confident hope, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]—” (2 Corinthians 5:6-7 AMP) Read full chapter REFLECTION … Continue reading Confident Belief

“Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking… Continue reading Strengthened to Serve

“Brothers and sisters, don’t think like children. Be innocent of malice but mature in understanding.” (1 Corinthians 14:20 The Voice) Read full chapter REFLECTION  A measure of maturity can certainly develop over time and through an abundance of experience. However, spiritual maturity — the kind of that deeply impacts reality and echoes into eternity —… Continue reading Spiritual Maturity

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”… Continue reading Enlightened Love

“Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never… Continue reading Joyful & Confident Hope

“Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7 AMPC) Read full chapter Footnotes REFLECTION  As we move forward, let’s stay mindful that we are created beings. We did not make ourselves. Our caring Creator… Continue reading Breath by Breath