Facing Death with an Eye on Heaven At death we put the signature on our life’s portrait. The paint dries. The portrait’s done. Ready or not. ~ Randy Alcorn, The Law of Rewards Interview: Luis Palau The numbers and facts about Luis Palau are well known. Palau was only a youngster when his father died,…
Whose Agenda is Our Concern Anyway?
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…
Contend for Me
Contend for me, my God and Lord. — Psalm 35:23 God loves it when we fight for Him. But God loves it even more when we let Him fight for us! How do we do that? When we hit our knees, God extends His mighty right hand on our behalf. When we pray, He fights…
The Purpose of Prayer
The function of prayer is… to change the nature of the one who prays. — Søren Kierkegaard Scripture shows us many types of interactions with God. We see Jacob wrestling with God for hours, and Job overcome with doubt and bitterness in His presence. We see Moses’ fearful excuses and Jonah’s stubborn resistance. Then…
Treasures in the Darkness… A Story of Beauty in Brokenness
Several years after my initial descent into deafness, my charts showed an inexplicable suspension in its progression. I couldn’t hear any better, but neither did my hearing get much worse. My team of doctors couldn’t understand it. Mystified, they ordered test after test, trying to determine why my hearing loss seemed to be slowing down.…
What Kind of Woman?
Editor’s note: The following excerpt is from one of our favorite books of this past year. It is powerfully insightful, it is fun and inspirational, and it is filled with heart-pumping Hope. You Are the Girl for the Job by Jess Connolly will spur you on in the belief of the most foundational truth –…
Prayer Combats Worry
Editor’s Note: In 1964, Margaret Fishback Powers wrote poem called, “Footprints”. It’s become a well-known and widely loved poem that has reminded those who read it and re-read it that the Lord will never, ever leave us in the hardest of times. In fact, if we allow Him, He’s happy to carry the heavy…
God’s Plan for Partnership with Us
One of my favorite things about God is that nothing ever surprises Him. I take the greatest comfort in knowing that no matter how crazy the world gets, God is in Heaven saying, “Yep, I saw that coming. I’m still in control. You’re okay.” Knowing that the Creator of the Universe is in control reassures…
Compelled to Pray
Compelled by Problems in Our World Daniel’s prayer pulsates with this type of emotional conviction. His life for sixty-seven years had been difficult at best. As an old man, he lived through another violent regime change as the Medo-Persian Empire overthrew the Babylonians. His position was uncertain under the new ruler. He may have…
Are You Painting Your Masterpiece with My Pain?
Honest Prayers for The Darkest Times Dear God, I was making a list of things I know for sure, but when I went to write “God loves me,” I couldn’t — it felt like a lie. I believe You love me, but I don’t know it. I think You do. Your book says You…