A Moment of Hope

Scripture tells us that God opposes the  proud  but gives grace to the  humble  ( James 4:6 ). I think it's pretty clear here that pride is  not  from God. In fact, prideful people often become that way because they've rejected God's wisdom over a long period of time. Maybe months. Maybe years. Maybe a lifetime. And when we're used to walking through life with a prideful posture, we need something...

Perhaps God's greatest gift of grace to all who believe in Jesus is this - his presence in our hearts. And it is this presence that gives us peace. Before leaving this earth, Jesus left us with promised peace. His  peace ( John 14:27 ). And it's a peace far greater than anything in or of this world. It's a  supernatural  peace - one which passes all understanding and comes only from the Creator of...

In seeking God's will, peace is the key. What should you do when you have a huge decision before you? Especially one in which you don't know what to do? First: Pray. Ask Jesus for his wisdom. Second: Lay it before the Lord. Tell him you are willing to do whatever he asks. Third: Talk to trusted, Godly friends and seek their counsel. There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors ( Proverbs 15:22 )....

Someone once quipped that if the devil has put a bullseye on you, make sure you do this one thing: Become a moving target! This same idea is seen in action movies where the hero always tries to stay one step ahead of the villain. When he does, he's safe. When not, he's in danger. The same is true with our spiritual lives. We must exercise ourselves! Stay active in our spiritual walk. Keep moving,...

There are numerous promises throughout the New Testament concerning the Second Coming of Jesus. They must be true, or he wouldn't have said so. Therefore, how should we live while we wait? Here is a great idea for all seasons of life: strengthen yourself. That's what David did. Pursued by King Saul, distressed, overwhelmed, and totally fatigued, David decided to strengthen himself ( 1 Samuel 30:6...

We will meet Jesus one day. Either in his return to earth. Or in death. If he is God, he cannot lie. What should we do while we wait? Here is one suggestion from the apostle Paul: self-examine  ( 2 Corinthians 13:5 ). What does this mean? Think about this analogy. When you go to the doctor, he or she may ask you to do regular home self-examinations. Look and feel for this kind of lump. Unusual mol...

The story is told that a man walked by a tombstone and saw the following written on it: Pause stranger as you pass me by, As you are now, is once was I, As I am now, so you will be, So prepare for death and follow me. Supposedly, another passerby saw these words and scratched on an addendum: To follow you, I'm not content Until I know the way you went. Humorous, for sure.  But packed with a lot of...

Recently, I was watching a TV show. The main characters said to another who was facing a desperate situation: "God won't give you more than you can handle." To which his friend desperately responded, "But I don't think I can handle this huge problem!" The main character paused, then calmly said, "Then God won't give it to you." God controls all. He knows the problems in this world. He knows what y...

Years ago, Marilynn and I were driving down a country road somewhere in the Carolinas, and we saw a church sign that read: "The devil ain't ever too busy to rock the cradle of a sleeping backslider." What does this mean? A lot of people are sleep-walking through life. They allow their lustful urges to go unabated. They refuse to engage in this spiritual battle we have with the enemy. So, if you're...

Yogi Berra is widely regarded as one of the best catchers in baseball history. He also became affectionately known for his "Yogisms." These are the phrases he coined in terms of quirky sayings and memorable malaprops. Here's one he used to say all the time: It ain't over till it's over! But this particular quip is actually biblical. It's why I added "God" to the original quote (while correcting th...

My wife Marilynn and I went through about four years of infertility. Over time, we became a bit discouraged, and were experiencing times of unhappiness during the waiting. One weekend when we went to the beach for a vacation, I felt the Lord speak to my heart. He wanted me to share with Marilynn that she would never be happy with  a baby until she was happy  without  one. So, I shared that with he...

Jesus told his disciples that they were not greater than their master ( John 13:16 ). What happens to him will happen to them. Jesus was giving his followers a warning. As he gave his life for them, they must be willing to give their lives for him. Of those listening to Jesus, all but one died a martyr's death. The other one, John, died after living into his 90's. But only after he suffered a grea...

My dad and I would often just sit down and talk. Dad to son. Son to dad. During these times, I learned some of life's most valuable lessons. One time, we were discussing prayer. It's power. Efficacy. Meaning. Dad paused. Looked heavenward. Musing, he uttered these words, "Sometimes I wonder if prayer isn't good, clear thinking." Of course, prayer is much more than this. It includes silent meditati...

Words are easy. Anyone can say anything at any time, as evidenced through this social media driven culture in which we live. But it's our actions that mean the most. They truly define what we feel. That's why the Bible adjures us to "bear one another's burdens"  ( Galatians 6:2 ). To  "not grow weary of doing good"  ( Galatians 6:9 ). Jesus said to love your neighbor like you love yourself ( Mark...

Every athlete or leader knows this truth: The most important shot in any sport is the next one. You can't change yesterday. It has happened. It's gone. What you can do is learn from what happened, and make a better and right decision in the moment. Now. In the present. One very successful NFL quarterback was asked to define the reason for his extraordinary success. He simply responded, "Amnesia."...

Jesus wants us to know that he is sovereign over everything that happens in our lives. Nothing is beyond his control. And for his followers, we have the unyielding promise that  all  things work together for our good and his glory ( Romans 8:28 ). Jesus also wants us to walk by faith and not by sight ( 2 Corinthians 5:7 ). We see this in how Jesus handled Thomas, one of Jesus's disciples, after he...

Can you imagine having something or someone be the priority of your life, yet never doing anything to show it? It's impossible. King David knew this truth. When buying a piece of land where his son, Solomon, would eventually build the Temple, he refused the owner's offer of accepting it free of charge. David insisted on paying for the property. David could not imagine building the Temple, where da...

Something or someone has the most important place in your life. Sits on the throne of your heart. Rules you from within. Here is the key question for all of us today: Does that place belong to Jesus ? Jesus said that we can't love father or mother, nor son or daughter, more than him ( Matthew 10:37 ). He must be our life's primary passion. He said that we are to seek the kingdom of God first and f...

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord"  ( Proverbs 21:31 ). Scripture is clear. Repeatedly throughout the Bible we are told this truth: The battle belongs to the Lord.  But even though Christians regularly  hear this, our lives don't necessarily reflect it. What's the tell-tale sign that you don't believe the battle is the Lord's Incessant worry. Fear....

"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming"  ( Matthew 24:42 ). Stay ready, and you don't have to get ready. This is true in every area of life. For athletes. Soldiers. Workers. Last minute preparation is hard, difficult, and rarely successful. It's also often a surefire way to fail. This is especially true for followers of Jesus. Every day we are to live in Jesus'...

"Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked"  ( Psalm 37:16 ). Less is more. It's a great life lesson I'm learning. I just don't need as much as I think I do. In fact, there is a freedom in having little. Think about it. The more you accumulate, the more things you own. And then, the more those things eventually own you . Your possessions require your time and mo...

"Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you"  ( Ephesians 5:14 ). My last breath here will be my first breath there. Think about this beautiful reality. If you believe in Jesus, death will be like going to sleep, awakening, and arising to new life. Seeing the face of Jesus for the first time. And then all of our loved ones in heaven. And the multitude of saints who hav...

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword"  ( Matthew 10:34 ). Martin Luther, a 16th century leader in the Protestant Reformation, had to take stands for Jesus that could have potentially cost him his life. His mantra was this: "Peace if possible. Truth at all costs." The apostle Paul said, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, liv...

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies  will be burned up  and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed"  ( 2 Peter 3:10 ). Through the years, I've invited people to put a tag on every possession they own that simply reads, "Gonna burn." The Bible is clear: one day everything is goi...

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light"  ( Matthew 11:28-30 ). Did you know the Bible says "fear not" more than any other phrase? Over 350 times! I think that's because all human beings have a propensity...