Some things are ours to carry. Some things are not. That distinction matters. God calls us to be responsible, faithful, and obedient. There are decisions we must make, work we must do, people we must help, and steps of faith we must take. Scripture never presents trust in God as an excuse for passivity. ...►Read More ►
We sometimes assume that when God opens a door, everything should fall neatly into place. The path should be clear, the obstacles few, and the outcome almost certain. But that was not always Paul’s experience. Writing to the church at Corinth, he said: “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and ...►Read More ►
We often think of availability in terms of time.We are available for a meeting, a phone call, or an appointment. And sometimes we approach God the same way. We find a few minutes for prayer, spend some time in His Word, and then move on with the rest of the day.But being available to God ...►Read More ►
We tend to think strong faith should keep us out of trouble. If we are praying, obeying God, and doing our best to live faithfully, we naturally expect life to go a little more smoothly.But Scripture tells a different story. Sometimes faith is tested, not because we have wandered from God, but while we are walking faithfully ...►Read More ►
Most of us would rather avoid the desert.We prefer seasons when prayers are answered quickly, doors are opening, direction is clear, and everything around us seems to be flourishing. But throughout Scripture, some of God’s greatest work took place in wilderness seasons.Moses was prepared in the desert. Israel was shaped there. Elijah encountered God there. ...►Read More ►
Worry has a way of showing up without an invitation. A problem arises. A phone call comes. Something doesn't go according to plan. Before we know it, our minds are rehearsing everything that could possibly go wrong.The Apostle Paul gives us a better response:“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with ...►Read More ►
Most of us know what it is to begin the day asking God for help.Lord, give me strength.Lord, guide my steps.Lord, help me with what I’m facing today.And there is certainly nothing wrong with those prayers. We need His strength, His wisdom, and His help every day.But spiritual maturity sometimes turns the prayer in another ...►Read More ►
The older I get, the more I realize how expensive experience can be.Some lessons come through success. Others through failure. Some are learned in moments of great joy, while others come through disappointment, loss, difficult decisions, and seasons we would never have chosen.But all of them cost us something. What God has taught us along the ...►Read More ►
"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”— Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)Forgiveness is one of the clearest reflections of the character of God.We forgive because we have been forgiven. God did not wait until we deserved His mercy. He extended grace to us when we could never ...►Read More ►
We often approach the Bible looking for something: an answer, a promise, direction, encouragement, or perhaps a better understanding of a passage. And there is nothing wrong with studying Scripture. We should read it carefully, thoughtfully, and consistently.But the Bible was never intended merely to be a book we examine. It is a book that ...►Read More ►
