Hope with God... with Andrew and Wendy Palau

As I’ve gotten older, my social media feed has flooded with anti-aging products. Everything from weight loss supplements to skin care, to ads for plastic surgery…a million ways to try to slow down the effects of time. But isn’t it true— everyone alive on the Earth right now will one day be gone? That’s a fact. These bodies will not last forever. So instead of scrambling for youthful looks, why not...

There’s a message in the book of James in the Bible that may surprise you. It says… Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created the lights in the heavens. He never changes, and he never casts a shifting shadow. What if all the good things in your life were actually from God, who loves you? Not only that… through Jesus, He gave His life to be close to y...

Scientists know we remember bad things that have happened far more than we remember good things! The hurtful words of a friend, moments of embarrassment, loss, and hurt. And it makes sense, right? It’s our brain’s way of helping us avoid danger and not repeat the pain. But what if you could bring the heavy burdens—all the hurt of your past and release it? Jesus said this to His friends long ago, a...

More and more, people are bringing their big questions and small questions to AI. Asking about everything. But do you know, there is a being who knows all things? He knows the tiniest hair on your head. He knows the galaxies beyond where even our telescopes can see. The mind of God holds the answers to everything. Not just information, but wisdom, insight, relationship, love. The God of the Bible...

Who do you turn to when you have an emergency? Maybe you have close friends or family who help you out when bad times come. Or maybe you’re doing your best to just cope with life’s struggles on your own. Whatever the case may be, when troubles come, you can turn with confidence to God. He is the One with the power, and the desire, and the commitment to really help you. Whether you know Him or not,...

Have you ever been lied to or betrayed? It can be so jarring to be hurt or tricked by someone you love—someone you once trusted. And it can cause your trust in people to be deeply shaken. But there’s someone who will never lie to you, never betray you, never let you down. And it’s God. God’s ancient book of wisdom says this: God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not cha...

News right now is so unsettling. There are so many things happening around the world that are so troubling. War, suffering, division, environmental disasters that are beyond our control. The other day, when we were in Albania, the earth shook under us as we experienced an earthquake. We were all fine; there was no damage. But it reminded me of the verse in Psalm 46. “God is our refuge and strength...

Are you stuck? Maybe you feel like you’re in a rut, unable to move forward. Well, God is offering you a way forward — through a relationship with Him. Long ago, a follower of Jesus named Paul wrote this in a letter to the people of Corinth: …anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! You can be made new today! If you confess your sins and wron...

Jesus is the radiance of God's glory, the exact representation of His being. Do you want to know God? What God is like? Look at Jesus. In the four gospels in the New Testament, we can read the story of Jesus’ life. As Jesus walks through the world and interacts with people, we get a picture of what God is like. In Matthew 3, John the Baptist tells us that Jesus is the One who will baptize with the...

What do you celebrate? How do you celebrate? Is it with singing and dancing, and joy, as people come together to celebrate a person or a whole group of people? It can be so much fun to celebrate others, and to do so alongside a group of friends or family. That’s what life’s all about. But a celebration on Earth is only just a glimpse of what Heaven will look like one day. Imagine! And God has made...

In the book of Psalms, the ancient songbook of the Hebrew people, there’s a song about an evergreen tree. This type of tree can remain tall and green, and healthy all year long. The leaves never fall off. Psalm 1 says this about people who focus on God’s ways: They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves will never wither, and they prosper in all they do...

Studies show that peace is the one thing that every human on the face of the earth wants. All over the world, there is war, there’s conflict. In our homes, we face conflict and pain. In our very souls, we’re full of anxiety and fear. And we long for peace. True peace is wholeness, when things are as they should be. The Bible tells us that we will only have true peace when we enter into a relations...

It’s not always easy to forgive, right? Especially when someone hurts you deeply and doesn’t even apologize. Maybe you feel they don’t deserve to be forgiven. And maybe you’re right! But think about this: Would you die for that person? Probably not. Would you die to take the punishment for their wrongs? Even more–NO! This is what Jesus did for you and for me! This way of love it’s so different. He...

Do you ever hear God shouting? I do. I live in a beautiful part of the world, and at times, the beauty of the mountains or the sky or the sunrise overwhelms me. And I can hear God’s voice. His voice is loud and His voice is quiet. Psalm 19 tells us that the Heavens declare God's glory, the work of His hands His creation pours forth speech and displays knowledge in every language. The glory of God...

Does your mind feel cluttered? Maybe your thoughts are swirling with to-do lists… These are the moments where peace can feel like it’s impossible. But there’s good news. Even in the most confusing times, God can bring true and lasting peace—for you. Yes, you! Even in the midst of what you’re going through now. Listen to what it says in the book of John in the Bible, God’s book of life. Jesus said...

Have you ever been lost? Like you’re on a path, and all of a sudden, you have no idea where you are? Maybe you feel like somehow you started out with a good plan, but then you got off track. I want to encourage you with this truth: God has come to find and rescue those who are lost. Matthew 18 in the Bible compares us to sheep who have gotten lost and not only lost, but have fallen into grave dang...

Does God live in you? This seems crazy to think about, doesn’t it? That God could live in us. Yet, the Bible tells us yes! The Bible doesn’t say that we become God, but that through the presence of God's Spirit, God lives IN us. When we become His child, when we submit our lives to walking with Him, when we believe what He says is true, and we receive His gift of life, we’re told we become a part...

Have you ever felt deeply seen by someone? Not just seen with their eyes, but understood in a way that you know you are loved and valued. God sees—He truly sees you—more than anyone else. He knows every part of you, inside and out. In the book of Psalms, King David wrote this profound truth long ago in a song that he wrote to God: You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in...

I met a woman recently who told me she used to love God. But because of deep loss and pain in her life, she hadn’t prayed or talked to God in years. He felt like an old grandfather who had moved to a distant land. It was such a joy to share the truth with her that even though her heart was hurt or hardened or disappointed in God, He had never left her. Ephesians 2 tells us that because of Jesus, t...

Will you pause for a minute and try this with me? Think for a moment about the way you feel when you greet your closest friend or a family member. Maybe you smile and feel warmth and joy as you walk over to them. Maybe you embrace them and feel the stress and worry of life fall off your shoulders. Did you know that God wants to have that kind of joyful meeting…with you? He already knows you, but H...

Have you ever met someone who sees the world with clear eyes and open motives? It’s rare—and it’s refreshing. Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." What drives us when no one’s watching? A pure heart wants what’s good, not just what looks good. But how do we get to that state? The truth is, we can’t get there on our own. We need Jesus to come into our hearts...

Recently, I witnessed the most beautiful thing at one of our festivals. A couple on holiday wandered into the square where our festival was taking place. And they were drawn in as my husband Andrew shared the truth about Jesus. He invited anyone interested to pray along with him. They prayed, they gave their lives to Jesus Christ right there in the square. As my friend Melissa prayed with them, th...

Have you ever forgiven someone who didn’t apologize? Maybe you’ve shown kindness to someone who really didn’t deserve it. You may never get thanked for making those choices. But long ago, Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Mercy happens when you choose love over revenge. Jesus says life is good for those who choose compassion—even when it’s hard. And Je...

I met a woman in Albania. She had grown up in a family of the dominant faith of her nation. After the service, everyone lined up to walk under the tomb of a dead saint. As she walked away she whispered to God, “If you are real you must be alive not dead.” She said, “God, I want to know the God who is alive!” Soon after she was invited to a Christian church, as she walked in and she experienced the...

Have you ever looked at the world and thought, "This is not how it’s supposed to be"? That ache inside you for wrongs to be made right—it’s there for a reason. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." This kind of hunger is not about food. It’s a longing for justice, for things to be repaired in the deepest sense. It’s a...