Hope with God... with Andrew and Wendy Palau

When you were born, you inherited some of the physical features of both your parents. You share some of their personality traits, too. But there is an identity that’s even deeper than what you share with your parents. The Bible tells us that even before you were born, God made you, and chose you to be His own. This is your spiritual inheritance and in this way, every human is an image-bearer of Go...

We all long for home. I’m born and raised on the island of Jamaica. I call it “My Sweet Jamaica.” And I have so many beautiful childhood memories of sunshine and my barefoot freedom as a little girl. The country rural areas… But the truth is that the home I had as a child doesn’t exist any longer. Things have changed, and I’ve changed. But there is a home that does exist and is so beautiful! Liste...

Right now, you have an earthly home. Maybe you live in a house or an apartment. Maybe you share a living space with friends or relatives. Wendy and I love to have guests come into our home for celebrations or just to spend time together. Maybe you do that kind of thing, too. But your home right now it’s temporary. If you are a follower of Jesus, your eternal home is in Heaven—in the face-to-face p...

The Bible calls us exiles. It’s the word Peter uses in 1 peter. Speaking to the church, he says, “To God's elect, strangers in the world.” That word is ‘exile’. We are strangers living in a strange land. We are made for another home—an eternal home. Jesus told His friends in John 14, I am going to prepare a place for you. So do not be afraid. Right after He said this, He went to the cross, where H...

Think for a moment about your family…the people who took care of you when you were a baby. Hopefully, they fed and clothed you, and made sure you were healthy. Can you imagine if, when you were born, your parents asked you for a resumé just to show that you're qualified enough to be included in your family? That would be absurd! And in the same way, you don’t have to earn the right to be in God’s...

What does it mean to be an ambassador for Jesus? It just means carrying His message with us into the world, everywhere we go—sharing what He has done for us. It’s summed up for us so perfectly in this passage— 2 Corinthians 5:19-20. Where it says… God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has now committed to us the message of reconciliatio...

Do you long for your eternal home? Do you know that the promise of this kind of home is for you? And one day, you WILL be at home with your Father. One thing to remember is that God is a hospitable God. He’s welcoming, and He wants all to come home. As we think about home, He’s invited you, and He wants you to invite others. Hospitality is God’s idea. In the last words of the book of Revelation ch...

Jesus entered into the world He created in order to absorb the judgment we would have faced for all our sins. And He came spreading a message—that through Him we can have closeness with God, whose love and power are bigger and better than we could ever imagine! What would happen if we decided to make His message our life’s message? What’s one way to do that? Jesus worked to correct people’s false...

We are constantly working and trying and striving to create a home here that will never be possible. Honestly, the true meaning of home is people, isn't it? The people we love, the people we would die for, protect, the people we'd pour out for- this is what home is all about. The thing that shakes us is that the home we long for and we need can so easily be lost. One day, we will all breathe our l...

Much of Jesus’ words in the Bible are sending a message that His plan to be close to us is bigger and more powerful than we have dared to imagine. In John 4, Jesus is speaking to a woman next to a well as she’s drawing water. And He says, Those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. The message is that ther...

There is an amazing story in the Bible about when Jesus was walking down the road with His disciples. But they did not know it was Him! He had just died on the cross, and they did not yet know that He had been raised from the dead. They thought they were talking with a stranger until He revealed Himself to them, and then He vanished! Listen to what they said after He was gone… They said to each ot...

When God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel, He instructed Ezekiel in a vision to eat a scroll. And it was covered with the words God wanted him to speak to the people. And when he ate it, it tasted like honey, and God told him to go and speak the words to His people. What if God has given YOU words to share with the people in your lives? The truth of who God is in the world, the hope that He offers to...

As followers of Jesus, we are called to carry the message of the Gospel and the loving character of Jesus into the world. Jesus talked about it this way, He said, You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it’s lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? Well, what does that mean? We’re supposed to stand out in the world, adding blessing and benefit wherever we go. If we shrink back...

Just like our bodies need food to function, our spirits also need nourishment. We know what to feed the body, how to give it rest and shelter, and care. But what about the care and feeding of your spirit? Jesus said this about Himself: I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did … but will live forever. Jesus Himself is the life-giv...

Sharing the Good News of Jesus with someone else is the most kind and loving thing you can do. When you share the Gospel, you’re offering someone the opportunity to choose eternal life in Jesus Christ and to experience all the goodness that God offers- starting right now. Proverbs 16:24 says this, Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Maybe the kind words you might...

How do you connect with God? Do you know that if you gave your life to Jesus, Christ is living in you right now? How can that be? It’s such a mystery, for sure! The apostle Paul said it this way… God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. God has come to live inside each one of us who believe. We are to be His han...

During the time of the Old Testament, God spoke to a few chosen people through prophets and miraculous signs. But now, all believers have direct access to God through prayer and the Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus said about the Spirit of God living in each one of us who believe…He said, I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of...

Have you ever thought of yourself as a minister or a priest? Listen to this passage from 1 Peter. This is how Peter describes God followers… You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. When Jesus gave His life for the sins of all mankind, He declared that all w...

During the time Jesus walked the earth, there was a place in the temple where a thick curtain surrounded the most holy place—where the presence of God dwelled. It could only be entered by the high priest once a year. But on the day Jesus gave His life as payment for the sins of all humanity, that curtain miraculously tore into pieces. Because of what Jesus did for you and me—the perfect One, who g...

Did you know that you don’t need a priest, a pastor, or any other kind of leader to make it possible for you to connect with God? Listen to this amazing passage from the book of Hebrews (the Bible itself)-it says, We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a hi...

In John 15:15, Jesus says this to His followers… I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. Isn’t that amazing that the God of the universe calls you His friend? But what about your other friends? Do they know Him? God’s offer of friendship is for ev...

How should you pray? Is there a certain place you should go or specific words you should use? There’s a verse in the Bible that brings clarity to these questions. It says… Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Pray without ceasing… That means that the place to pray is… wherever you are! And the best time to pray is…any time! An...

Have you ever wanted to share the Gospel but hesitated because it just didn’t feel natural? Well, I want to encourage you…find a way to share Jesus that feels natural, authentic for you. There is no formula. And each person’s story of coming to know Jesus, each person’s communication style, it’s different. And that’s more than okay—it’s actually good. Very good! 1 Corinthians says, How strange a b...

One thing that never fails to amaze me is that God calls us His friends. I am His friend! And if you’ve given your life to Him, guess what? You’re His friend! In John 15:15, Jesus says… I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. How amazing. God has revealed Himself to us in the person of...

So many things can prevent us from sharing the Gospel, but one of the most common thoughts is, “I just don’t want to bother people. I don’t want to be rude by making them feel uncomfortable.” Consider this for a moment. If you saw someone wounded on the roadside, would it be rude to stop and offer them help? That’s the truth of the situation! People are making choices every day out of their own br...