Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Has a sympathetic listening ear 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) “11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” Provides Godly and wise counsel Proverbs 27:9 (NLT) “9 The heartfelt counsel of aRead More →
Dear Heavenly Father, You tell us in 1John 4:8 that anyone who doesn’t love doesn’t know You, because You are love. You also tell us in 1John 4:16 that everyone that lives in love lives in You, and You live in them. This is beyond wonderful, Heavenly Father. Thank YouRead More →
John 14:27(NLT) “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” I was thirty-three years old when I broke my elbow. It hurt soRead More →
In Luke 14:25-35, our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, teaches us about the cost of being his disciple. During the time in which this passage took place, there was a weeding process going on—a thinning out process if you will. Lots of folks followed Jesus Christ for the wrongRead More →
We should never judge a book by its cover. This is one of those golden rules, and it truly is one to live by. Judging something solely on the basis of what appears externally can be a costly mistake, and many single women can testify to this. A person canRead More →
Dear Heavenly Father, I heard a word this week that I absolutely fell in love with. It was inspiring to hear because I see this a lot with people who have a candy store mentality when it comes to Your blessings and empowerment. They neglect the empowerment of Your Word,Read More →
2Thessalonians 3:15(NLT) gives us a tremendous jewel of comfort. It says “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.” This verse is so comforting that we might forgetRead More →
The person that we choose as a partner is not necessarily who God would choose for us. We typically have no idea how monumentally consequential this statement is. We do the pickings, and then we ask God to cosign, and that’s not how that thing works. I think some ofRead More →
The other day, I spoke with a Christian man that many perceive as a strong man of God. He’s been very active in the community and in his church; and for some, he’s looked upon as very dependable and a pillar of both. However, he told me that he’s revertingRead More →
Dear Heavenly Father, In the Old Testament, You told Your people in Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV), “18 Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way inRead More →
Psalm 23:4-6(NLT) Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my headRead More →
There is little in life that is more emotionally painful than going through divorce. For many people, it’s a tremendous loss. God tells us a little bit about how He deals with our losses in the encouragement of Joel 2:25-26(NLT). In this passage HeRead More →
From the Book of Job in the Old Testament, we can learn tremendous principles and great divine truths. The drama of Job’s record begins in Chapter 1, and there we learn that Job lived in the land of Uz. God’s Word also tells us that Job was perfect, a manRead More →
Dear Heavenly Father, Many people say they love You, Heavenly Father, but they do not show it in their actions. We are all guilty of having attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors that don’t please You, but instead of repenting of these in humbled submission, we say things like, “God knows myRead More →
There’s a famous quote that says, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to worry about keeping a lie straight.” There’s also another golden gem that most all of us have heard, “Honesty is the best policy.” Unequivocally, honesty is always the best policy, practice, and pursuit; but sometimesRead More →
The wisdom of Ecclesiastes 11:4-5(NLT) tells us, “Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. 5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understandRead More →
There are only two books in the bible named after women, Ruth and Esther, in the Old Testament. I personally love them both, but the Book of Ruth is the one from which I draw the most relatable encouragement. I marvel continually at Ruth’s devotion to her mother in law,Read More →
Brian’s wife was diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, not long after they were married. Before they got married, they talked about how they couldn’t wait to retire and start traveling to the places they had both longed to see. Neither of them could’ve imaginedRead More →
Dear Heavenly Father, You tell us in Romans 12:2 (NLT), “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing andRead More →
The notion of a ‘Critical Question’ is something we talk quite a bit about in our teachings. The word ‘critical’ in this context is not referring to an unfavorable or harsh judgment. It is related to something that is desperately urgent. A critical question is one for which the answerRead More →
Jesus Christ said in Mark 4:22(NIV), “For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.” In this verse, our blessed Lord and Savior is teaching about the Kingdom of God, because he wantsRead More →
It’s hard to hear, but the truth about us human beings is that some of us believe negative things that injure our ability to build faith. It’s these wrong things that continue to run a program of doubt in our hearts even though ourRead More →
Edna woke up and got ready for work, just as she does every day. She made her regular stop to grab a cup of coffee, but for some reason the drive-thru was extraordinarily long. She didn’t want to be late for work and decided she’d make out better by goingRead More →
There are some people who don’t like surprises of any kind. They don’t want surprise ingredients in their foods, don’t want surprise birthday parties, spontaneous trips, or surprise gifts. The idea of being presented with anything unexpectedly is a no-go for them, and they are not amused. The irony isRead More →
Dear Heavenly Father, As I think about what I’ve witnessed in my significant relationships, as well as those of some of my friends, we often make assumptions that ultimately cause us heartbreak. We don’t give ourselves time to find out if the person we’re attracted to is someone You’ve presentedRead More →
Dear Heavenly Father, So many people that I know personally are sad because they are not satisfied with their lives. Some of them have tried to accomplish goals but have failed. Others feel very alone, and they are down on themselves because they don’t have a significant person in theirRead More →
Jesus Christ gave a strong, but short and to-the-point warning in Luke 17:32(NLT). He said, “Remember Lot’s wife.” For this warning to hit our hearts and minds as impactful as it must, we need to know a little bit more about Lot’s predicament. He was Abraham’s nephew, and when AbrahamRead More →
There are periods within every trial and tribulation that weigh more heavily on us than other times. It can feel as though we’re trapped with nowhere to turn. This is a period that can really cause us to suffer emotionally and mentally, and the solution for times like this willRead More →
1Corinthians 15:57 tells us to give thanks to God, for He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. This isn’t a victory that takes us to the half-way mark and drops us off. It’s overwhelming victory that applies to every aspect of your existence. It’s a huge arena, becauseRead More →
Dear Heavenly Father, You have delivered many of us from a multitude of dark and negative issues, and we still carry idols with us into our deliverance. I personally know individuals that have moved to a different area, job, relationship, or place of worship; and remnants of the same issuesRead More →