”This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going… Continue reading “What’s Next, Papa?”

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. [Jude 20-21 NIV] Word Study: mercy (Greek – eleos) Outline of Biblical Usage: 1 mercy:… Continue reading Cultivate Love

Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. And not only this, but [with joy] let… Continue reading Confident Assurance

“For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God]. Let no one deceive you with empty arguments [that encourage you to sin], for because… Continue reading Children of Light

Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It… Continue reading Clarify Why

“He has brought me to his banqueting place,And his banner over me is love [waving overhead to protect and comfort me]. “Sustain me with raisin cakes,Refresh me with apples,Because I am sick with love. “Let his left hand be under my headAnd his right hand embrace me.” (Song of Solomon 2:4-6 Amplified Bible) Word Study:… Continue reading Love Prevails

Why ·am I so sad [are you downcast, my soul]?    Why ·am I so upset [are you groaning/in an uproar]?I ·should [or will] ·put my hope in [wait for] God    and ·keep praising [or will again praise] him,my ·Savior [Victor] and my God. (Psalm 43:5 Expanded Bible) REFLECTION  There are times when I feel so discouraged, but I pray… Continue reading Pray Anyway

For it’s by God’s grace that you have been saved. You receive it through faith. It was not our plan or our effort. It is God’s gift, pure and simple. You didn’t earn it, not one of us did, so don’t go around bragging that you must have done something amazing.  For we are the product of His hand, heaven’s poetry etched… Continue reading True Identity

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8: 36 NIV) REFLECTION I was recently reminded of how dangerous idolatry is, as I pondered these words by the late, great Timothy Keller: “What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that… Continue reading Confront Idolatry

”But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ. From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies,… Continue reading Seek & Speak The Truth