You shall not make for yourself an [idol] in the form of anything… You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. — Exodus 20:4-5 Wouldn’t it be interesting if people were not only called by their given names but also by their most…
Worship Fully
The Missing Ingredient Our hearts are formed by what we worship. Excitement, anticipation, hope — each of these emotions swells around the object of our dearest affection. We spend our time and energy on what matters most to us. What do we worship during Advent? “Jesus” is the right answer, of course, but is it…
Out of the Pit and Singing a New Song
You will have a new song in your mouth, a hymn of praise to your God. That’s the second way you’ll know you’ve waved goodbye to the pit. Right after the psalmist tells us that God sets us on the rock and gives us a firm place to stand, he tells us God gives us a new song: He…
Through Life’s Interruptions
Through Life’s Interruptions The very first time I led people in worship was in January 1983 in Woodward, Oklahoma. But there was just one problem. Snow. Everything, including the roads, was covered in snow. In the Northeast or upper Midwest, that is just normal fare for those folks, but that is not the case in…
The Daniel Dilemma: Core Convictions Shape the Way We Live Our Lives
Convictions require you to decide what’s right ahead of time. They’re not based on what feels good or seems right in the moment. They are, instead, the unmovable foundation upon which our lives are built. We don’t need to be mean or judgmental when we share them with others, but we do need to be…
Worship & Prayer
Worship The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” – Acts 16:29-31 What a random question for a jailer to ask two prisoners.…
Black History Month: Rosa Parks’ Strength — Pray A Lot
I have problems just like everyone else. Whenever I do, I think about my grandmother and my mother. They were such strong women, who always taught me to place my faith in God and to read the Bible. I remember when I got married, I stopped reading the Bible. When my mother found out that…
Jesus’ Tears Give You Permission to Shed Your Own
Martha sat in a damp world, cloudy, tearful. And Jesus sat in it with her. I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. — John 11:25 NLT Hear those words in a Superman tone, if you like. Clark Kent descending from…
Unreasonable Hope: Action Steps During Times of Struggle
Over the course of our lives, we will all experience a struggle of one kind or another. We are not alone when we encounter heartbreak, death, or sickness. But when the worst of times comes, when we’re forced to face these trials, our goal should not be to try to smile them away, to ignore…
Praise: The Secret to Living Above Circumstances
Praise will get you victoriously through this day. When you worship Me, you connect with Me in a powerful way that transcends time and circumstances. I live in your praises, and you live and move and have your being in Me. Praising Me draws you into the depths of My Presence, where you can glimpse…
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