The first petition in the Lord’s Prayer is that God’s name be hallowed. The second petition, “Your Kingdom come,” builds on the first by showing us how God’s name is hallowed in the world. God reveals His character and reputation as His Kingdom spreads to every corner of the earth and as citizens of that…
Remembering Billy Graham
Billy Graham 1918–2018 I am convinced the greatest act of love we can ever perform for people is to tell them about God’s love for them in Christ. ~ Billy Graham It was September 14, 2001 — three days after the September 11 attacks robbed nearly three thousand people of their lives. A service of…
What Will We Do in Heaven?
The New Heaven and the New Earth God has established an eternal home for His children where there will be no sickness or dying. Former sorrows will not be remembered as His children spend eternity in His presence, rejoicing in the New Jerusalem. Can you imagine a holy city? It will be a community where…
Death Is Temporary
Death has been swallowed up in victory. — 1 Corinthians 15:54 NIV Barring the return of Christ, you will have one final moment… a last gasp, a final pulse. Your lungs will empty, and your blood will still. What will you be after you die? Answers vary, but Christianity posits a startling idea: “Death has been…
Please, God
Maybe your dad was always there for you. Maybe he took you school-supply shopping, hugged you when you cried, and told that ex of yours that he or she messed with the wrong kid. Or maybe your dad was deeply flawed. Maybe, through his words and actions or his silence and neglect, you learned that…
You Are Part of God’s Kingdom
“But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33 Unshakable Hope The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel” — Mark 1:15 With these words, Jesus not only began His ministry, but He introduced His…
Humility Matters When We Pray
Prayer that storms the gates of Heaven doesn’t have to be fancy or long or filled with Bible verses. In fact, I almost wonder if it needs words at all. It really is a heart’s cry, isn’t it? And one wrapped in complete humility. Recently, I spoke at a Christian gathering that was multigenerational, multiracial,…
Flaming Torches and Living Promises
Doubt. He’s a nosy neighbor. He’s an unwanted visitor. He’s an obnoxious guest. Just when you were all prepared for a weekend of relaxation… just when you pulled off your work clothes and climbed into your Bermuda shorts… just when you unfolded the lawn chair and sat down with a magazine and a glass of…
What Do You Wonder About Heaven?
How Far Away Is Heaven? As a child, I wondered where God lived in outer space and how long it would take to get there. Had I been old enough to read an astronomy textbook, I would have discovered a few statistics that would have blown me out of the water. Our solar system has…
Every Reason to Laugh
True to God’s word, Sarah had a baby boy, Isaac. Can you just see her in her traveling desert nursery? Layers of sheepskins overlapping, white and resplendent on a bed covered by a breezy gauze canopy. Sarah and Isaac lying together face-to-face, her aging lips kissing his plump ones, her sinewy fingers caressing his, fresh…