Love never fails. — 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV) “Love,” Paul says, “never fails.” The verb Paul uses for the word fail is used elsewhere to describe the demise of a flower as it falls to the ground, withers, and decays. It carries the meaning of death and abolishment. God’s love, says the apostle, will never fall…
Today I Will Walk Humbly and Gratefully with You, My Lord
When Jesus redeems your life, it is changed forever. Now understand something about that truth that I haven’t always known: a life redeemed by God doesn’t necessarily mean that all your external circumstances change, but because the risen Christ is present with you and in you, your life is full of purpose and hope. Yes,…
You Can’t Fake Passion
If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real . . . Knowing yourself, finding your true purpose in life, is the essence of true and real. You have to be, before you do, to have lasting inner peace. In other words, making a living is not the same as making…
Facing Rock Bottom
“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 When reminded that God does not give us any burdens we cannot handle, Mother Teresa…
Today I Will Follow Jesus
If we say we’re willing to follow Jesus, what do we mean? I believe there is only one valid reason for following Jesus: because he is worth it. And he is worth it because of who he is in all his love, his understanding, his compassion. Following him means doing so with no strings attached;…
Bedside Blessings
Christ delivered us from slavery—slavery to a “futile way of life” – 1 Peter 1:18. Whether we knew it or not, we were trapped in a lifestyle that had only empty pleasures and dead-end desires to offer. We were in bondage to our impulses, spawned from our sinful nature. In such a condition, we were…
Discipline
“I’ve never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn’t appreciate the grind, the discipline.” –Vincent Lombardi Discipline can mean different things to different people. To Lombardi, it meant hard work and sacrifice. Hard work isn’t just the number of hours invested or the blisters and bruises…
There Are No Good Cover-Ups
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” –1 John 1:9 A great lesson to be learned from scandals is that it’s often not the initial act that destroys you; it’s the cover-up. David and Bathsheba give a perfect example. First the…
God’s Word for All Sorts of Moms
Maybe you have a blended family, and your kids are only with you some of the time. Then pray for the “other” mom to water the seeds you plant in your children. Maybe you’re a single mom in need of spiritual support. Then find hope and support in Psalm 68, where the Lord is described…