Last week we discovered that Psalm 32:8 & 9 is a powerful passage on divine guidance for our lives. It contains both a promise and a warning. The promise is simply this: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; I will advise you with My eye upon you." The warning is simply this: "Do [...]

The Bible is filled with accounts of men and women setting out on journeys that defied conventional wisdom, but were done in obedience to God. Examples of these journeys of faith range from Abraham and Moses to Mary and Joseph. We know from these accounts, and many more, that these sojourners wondered at times if [...]

Last week we spent a little time unpacking 1 Corinthians 13:1 - 7. This passage immediately follows the teachings on Spiritual Gifts found in chapter twelve of 1 Corinthians. This passage is one of four found in the New Testament that shed light on this topic of spiritual gifts. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as recorded [...]

I was reading a devotional recently from IN TOUCH ministries based upon (1 Corinthians 13:1 - 8). The topic was specific to forgiveness being An Act of God. We often hear that the thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians is the Love Chapter. But the context relates to forgiveness. Forgiving people who've wronged us is a tough command to follow. [...]

For the last two weeks we have been examining the two primary worldviews that determine how we think, act, and perceive reality: Theism and Atheism. Simply stated, a Theistic worldview claims that all things begin and end with God. An Atheistic worldview denies the very existence of God. A Biblical Christian adheres to a Theistic worldview, and our [...]

Last week we began a conversation about worldviews. Your worldview determines how you think, act, and perceive reality. We rightly identified that there are two primary worldviews, Theism and Atheism. In truth, a wrong or incomplete view of God provides justification for those who claim to be atheists. To that point, you were encouraged to [...]

Every person has a worldview or philosophy of life that influences how they think, act, and perceive reality. The fundamental questions that all worldviews must answer are called "The three great questions of life" 1. What is the origin of life? (How did I get here?) 2. What is the meaning of life? (What is my purpose?) 3. What is our ultimate destiny? (What happens when [...]

The purpose and joy of the Christian life isn't to live for ourselves and our own exaltation, but for God and His glory. Glorifying the Lord isn't merely something we sing about on Sundays; it encompasses the entirety of our lives. What does this idea mean?  From Pastor Charles Stanley: 1. To glorify God we must understand what His glory is. From Scripture we [...]

Happy New Year! Yep, another opportunity for reflection. As you look back over the past year, do you see any exciting accomplishments? To that question, Pastor Charles Stanley comments: "Maybe you reached a goal or started working toward one. Your successes might be spiritual ones seen only by you and God, or you feel the year was filled [...]

I am sitting at my desk on the first day of winter writing this blog for the day after Christmas. I must have read Luke 2:10 - 11 a dozen times this month, focusing upon this simple phrase: ..."I bring you good tidings of GREAT JOY, which shall be for ALL people...". This is a powerful declaration. We all want more joy [...]