A Moment of Hope

What words come to mind when you think of  strife ? Maybe conflict. Disagreement. Hostility. Here's what the Word of God has to say about strife: Get strife out of your life! When strife exists in your life, "there will be disorder and every vile practice"  ( James 3:16 ). Strife invites a multitude of other evils into your heart: bitterness, anger, hate. How to eliminate strife from your life? Do...

"Under the circumstances, I'm fine." How many times have you heard this reply from friends when you ask how their day is going? Or maybe you've sometimes said it yourself. Here's the real question we should be asking ourselves: Are we, as followers of Jesus, living under our circumstances? If so, why? The Bible says that Jesus's followers are supposed to be more than conquerors through Jesus  who...

What's one thing that soldiers and athletes have in common? Scars. Sustained from injuries, lesions, or lacerations while participating in combat with others. The wounds heal, but the scars remain. And every one of us has scars. Our scars serve as reminders of the ways God has healed the wounds we've sustained, as broken people living with other broken people in a fallen and hurting world. But God...

In the book of Job, we learn of the incredible suffering Job endured while being tested by Satan. At the end of the story – after all that Job had lost – God restored double to him ( Job 42:10 ). It's a beautiful ending to a difficult, painful story. But don't miss the steps God took Job through before this double restoration took place. First, Job acknowledged God's sovereignty and greatness. The...

"Keeping up with the Joneses" is widely used in today's culture given the innate propensity of human beings to  want what others have. Keeping up with the Joneses is one thing. Finding out they've refinanced is quite another. Using material possessions - homes, cars, vacations, possessions - to define success in one's life illustrates the danger of riches. When we compare our lives with the lives...

In this day and age, almost everyone has received a trophy of some kind. Trophies typically represent success in a specific sport, talent or interest. Success that comes from investing one's time in some thing . No matter the reason behind the various trophies, they typically have one thing in common. They sit on our mantles. Or desks. Or in our closets. Or attics. Trophies gather dust. But friend...

"Son, the truth usually lies somewhere in between." My dad would often say these words to me when I was growing up. As I was trying to figure out which stand to take on an issue. What to believe. How to live my life. Jesus said that the truth will set you free  ( John 8:12 ). It does! The truth  will set you free. Therefore, it's essential to try and find the truth in all situations. How can this...

If you have to choose between being right and to love, choose to love. It's a great piece of advice for all relationships. Especially for marriages! When people experience conflict with one another – as we all do - many of us are fueled by the will and need to be right . We defend ourselves to the hilt. And our focus becomes  winning  the argument instead of  resolving  the problem and  loving our...

Most people associate the word fear with the feeling of being scared. Anticipating danger or harm. Being afraid of something or someone. But the biblical definition of fear is quite different. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction"  ( Proverbs 1:7 ). Here, the word "fear" means awesome respect. A submission to God's power. A sense of his majesty....

Two missionary friends of mine lived in an extremely hostile nation. They were under constant threat of persecution. Knowing that at any time, their lives could be taken. But instead of being consumed by fear, they rejoiced! Laughed at their difficulties ( Romans 5:3 ). Think about that. The ironic posture of their hearts. Explainable only by their deep roots in Jesus. The harder their trials, the...

What would you consider the greatest miracle in the Old Testament? The New Testament? The parting of the Red Sea and the Resurrection are the centerpiece miracles of each. In fact, the Jews were told numerous times throughout Scripture to remember the Red Sea ( Psalm 106:7 ). The crosses that many Christians wear around our necks today are to remind us that Jesus is alive. The tomb is empty. God h...

What do you do when you're feeling heartache? Discouragement? Despair? King David experienced a lot of joy throughout his lifetime. Along with plenty of hurt and heartache. Do you know what he did to get through the difficult seasons? He spoke to his soul. "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God"  ( Psalm 42...

In order to accommodate our staff's summer vacation schedules, this week we are re-publishing blogs from 2021. This week's blogs do not have audio accompaniment. Our regular blog schedule will resume next week. _________________________________ We sometimes forget the power of our words. Depending on how we use them, words can edify, encourage and build up others. A right word spoken at the right...

"You have kept count of my tossings;  put my tears in your bottle . Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me"  ( Psalm 56:8-9 ) Amazing, isn't it? That God collects all our tears in a bottle. Every single one of them. Think deeply about that reality. Every tear, wherever or whenever shed, God captures. Knows and cares about....

"Be angry and do not sin;  do not let the sun go down on your anger "  ( Ephesians 4:26 ). While we usually hear this biblical truth when it's spoken to married couples, it's a universal truth for all relationships in all life situations. If you let anger - for whatever reason - sit and stew in your soul, it will lead to bitterness that corrodes your heart and others around you like nothing else....

The expression, "Act like you've been there before!" comes from legendary football coach Vince Lombardi. It was a favorite saying of my college basketball coach, Dean Smith, as well. Here's what these coaches meant. Play each game with confidence! Winning begets winning. And when you do win, don't act surprised. Or get too excited. Or too cocky. Enjoy the victory and keep playing each game with co...

Douglas MacArthur spoke this truth, "It's fatal to go into war without the will to win it." Are you aware that Christ followers are constantly at war  ( Ephesians 6:12 )? We are. Our enemy is Satan and he is the supreme enemy of our souls. His job description is to kill, steal and destroy anything and everything that God created ( John 10:10a ). Including me and you. This ongoing, spiritual war wi...

What's a simple but surefire way to experience more success in your life? Today, stop doing one stupid thing! Something that is hindering you from moving forward in life. When we come to faith in Jesus, we become brand new people on the inside. We are re-created, new creations living in vital union with Christ. We do not merely turn over a new leaf, we begin a new life under a new master, God. "Th...

How do you define and measure true success? In my opinion, true success is doing the best you can with what you have. Period. It's not defined in comparison with what others are doing or have accomplished. But what you have done with what God has given you. I'll never forget something my college basketball coach, Dean Smith, wished for one year. He wanted the "Coach of the Year" award to be given...

" Go therefore and make disciples of all nations , baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age"  ( Matthew 28:19 ). What's God's favorite game to watch his children play? It's not "Show and tell!" but "Go and tell!" Jesus wants his followers to just go...

The famous conductor Leonard Bernstein once said that the most difficult position to play in the orchestra is second fiddle. How true! Everyone wants to be first. The superstar. The champion. The greatest. The hero of the story. Yet Jesus said, "The greatest among you shall be your servant"  ( Matthew 23:11 ). And that's exactly how Jesus lived his life. As a  servant to his followers. The best ex...

Christ followers go through all kinds of stages and phases as our faith develops. Sometimes we may suffer small setbacks. Sometimes even large ones. Why? Because we are flawed humans living in a fallen world with broken people. Sometimes we are faithless. But God is always faithful ( 2 Timothy 2:13 ). Think of Abraham, the father of our faith. He walked with God. Heard his voice. Obeyed. Then diso...

"For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction,  their god is their belly , and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things"  ( Philippians 3:18-19 ). These verses make it crystal clear: the godless have one thing as their destiny - destruction. The reason? Their god is their belly . If you...

If you want to lead the orchestra, you'll have to turn your back to the crowd. Why? Because leaders cannot be people-pleasers. People are fickle. Changing their minds from one moment to the next. One day they adore you and agree with your every sentiment. Then, the next day they don't and become your loudest critics. Once Paul learned this truth, it set him free to preach the gospel. He knew that...

It's an oft-quoted phrase in the business world today, coined by Benjamin Franklin in the 1700's: "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." It must be true given its staying power! Are you aware that this truth is deeply rooted in Scripture? The Valiant Woman plans ahead. "She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar"  ( Proverbs 31:14 ). "The plans of the diligent lead su...