This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:22-24 The number-one question people asked Jesus about himself…
Integrity: Don’t Leave Home Without It!
He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known. – Proverbs 10:9 What is the single most important trait of a person who desires to truly make a difference in our world today? Some would say it is intellect. After all, knowledge is power in many ways. Others contend it is intensity, that spirit…
Giving Thanks In Everything
I sit at the prayer bench before my bedroom window. Outside, our boys roll millions of flakes into a snow fort. I read the passage, one I remember from the musty basement of the Knox Presbyterian Church Sunday school. I think I know this one. Jesus restores ten lepers to wholeness. And only one returns…
Sharing the Love of God: An Outpouring of Aloha
In Hawaii the word aloha means a lot more than just hello and good-bye. It also means love. Hawaii is called The Aloha State. Hawaiians show aloha to one another. Things can be done in the spirit of aloha. Literally translated, aloha means “breath of God be upon you.” It’s kind of like saying, “May God bless you.” It means you…
The Cure for Stuckititis: Model Forgiveness Like Jesus
Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. – John 13:1 Chances are you know the claustrophobia that comes with commitment. Pets are only the beginning. Instead of being reminded, “She is your dog,” you’re eventually told, “He is your husband.” Or “She is your wife.” Or “He is your child, parent, employee, boss,…
Laugh… With the God Who Sees
She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me.” – Genesis 16:13 Hagar, the pregnant maidservant of Sarah, had fled into the wilderness. She just wanted to die. But God sent an angel who found her and told her to go back home even though it was the…
Answers to Prayer: No, Yes, and Not Yet
“Hey Colton, I bet you asked if you could have a sword, didn’t you?” I said. At that, Colton’s scowl melted into a dejected frown, and his shoulders slumped toward the floor. “Yeah, I did. But Jesus wouldn’t let me have one. He said I’d be too dangerous.” ~ Heaven Is for Real Heaven is…
Fit For Battle: Put On the Full Armor of God
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. – Ephesians 6:11 Don’t doubt for a moment the devil’s existence, and don’t doubt for a moment that he is your Enemy. Forget the cute cartoon images of an impish figure with a pitchfork and a red…
Happiness Is…
Blessed… in the Eyes of God Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. – Matthew 5:3 What is happiness? Ask 20 different people to answer that question, and you’ll probably get 20 different answers. But for the citizen of the kingdom of heaven, the path to true happiness is…
Grief and God… and Manna Grace
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. – Deuteronomy 8:3 I shouldn’t, but I do. I look up.…