David assembled at Jerusalem all the leaders of Israel and of the tribes… – 1 Chronicles 28:1, Amplified Bible Satan hates the God who created him, but Satan has no power to directly hurt his Creator. So, instead, he comes after the Creator’s children. Unfortunately, Satan is quite adept at causing God’s children to sin,… Continue reading God knows you’ll sin. Let Him forgive you so you can get back to work.
Don’t fret the exercise of faith. It draws us closer together.
When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. – John 9:6, KJV In John 9, Jesus restored sight to a man born blind from birth. For years I was puzzled as to why Jesus chose… Continue reading Don’t fret the exercise of faith. It draws us closer together.
Once God has given you the go-ahead, get on with the work He’s told you to do.
Arise therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee. – 1 Chronicles 22:16, KJV The movie Shenandoah, starring the late Jimmy Stewart, tells the story of widower farmer Charlie Anderson and his family during Civil War times. Although not an overtly Christian movie, the story demonstrates how the prideful Charlie learns just how… Continue reading Once God has given you the go-ahead, get on with the work He’s told you to do.
God’s not terribly excited when you rely on yourself.
And God was displeased with this [reliance on human resources], and He smote Israel. – 1 Chronicles 21:7, Amplified Bible Most Christians don’t have a clue how irritated God gets when we rely on ourselves rather than on Him. Consider 1 Chronicles 21. In this passage, King David instructed his captain, Joab, to take a… Continue reading God’s not terribly excited when you rely on yourself.
You aren’t doing God any favors by obeying.
Is he grateful and does he praise the servant because he did what he was ordered to do? – Luke 17:9, Amplified Bible Pride is difficult to shake, even for the most dedicated of Christians. As soon as we think pride is gone from our lives, God will bring something into our lives to show… Continue reading You aren’t doing God any favors by obeying.
God wants to be your refuge when the storm hits.
On May 20, 2013, an EF5 tornado cut a 20-mile path of destruction in and around Moore, Oklahoma, a southern suburb of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The EF5 category is the strongest category of tornadoes measured. This particular twister was approximately 1.3 miles wide and possessed winds between 200 and 210 miles per hour. The day… Continue reading God wants to be your refuge when the storm hits.
Everything has a beginning.
Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God. – John 3:3, Amplified Bible I’ve had many people tell me over the years that they have been a Christian… Continue reading Everything has a beginning.
The Enemy is real, and you’d better be ready for him.
…I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. – Ezekiel 28:16, KJV Not long ago I watched a movie where two protagonists were having a discussion about their archenemy. During the discussion, one of them asked the other, “Did you defeat him?” The other protagonist answered, “Yes. At… Continue reading The Enemy is real, and you’d better be ready for him.
Why don’t you wait until God can join you?
Then they were quite willing and glad for Him to come into the boat. – John 6:21, Amplified Bible We make the Christian life harder than it needs to be. In John 6, Jesus had just finished feeding the five thousand. In order to avoid being seized and made king after this miracle, Jesus withdrew… Continue reading Why don’t you wait until God can join you?
God is serious about people keeping their promises.
It is on account of Saul and his bloody house… – 2 Samuel 21:1, Amplified Bible In Joshua 9, Joshua made perhaps the biggest mistake of his life. Before entering the Promised Land, God commanded the Israelites to utterly destroy the inhabitants of the land. Joshua, however, after being deceived, broke God’s commandment by vowing… Continue reading God is serious about people keeping their promises.