I press on toward the goal to win the prize. —Philippians 3:14 What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of David? Is it his head-scratching character collapse; the blunder with Bathsheba? End of story? No! There are 150 psalms in […]
Flubs Aren’t Final Read More »
We all stumble in many ways. —James 3:2 My song leader and I were perched on the front pew, ready to lead the congregation in song and sermon following communion, which was now being served from the platform seven steps up. Our server, beginning his descent with trays of
You Stumbled . . . Now What? Read More »
What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. —James 4:14 At the time of this writing, average life expectancy in the United States is 78.4 years. Visualizing those years on a
Scene I — AD 33 (John 18:17, 25, 26) “For the third time,” said Peter, “I do not know this man, Jesus! How many times do I have to tell you?” Scene II — Two Months Later (Acts 4:17–20) “This court has reached a decision. We order you not to speak of this man, Jesus,
My Lord and My God Read More »
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us. —2 Corinthians 5:21 Jesus’ agonizing shriek on the Cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” was answered with silence. Our Savior’s severance from our God can be comprehended only by awareness of the nature of sin—sin separates the sinner from
[B]e transformed by the renewing of your mind. —Romans 12:2 You are living well . . . When you scrap pessimism, realizing that negative thoughts never produce positive results. When you refuse to allow an event—“I failed”—to become an identity—“I’m a
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. —Philippians 4:13 You are living well . . . When you live optimistically, certain that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all [you] ask or imagine” (Eph 3:20). When you accept that God has made you good at something, and live
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others. —1 Peter 4:10 You are living well . . . When you “look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil 2:4). When you nourish your faith, confident that when you feed faith,
[B]e clear minded and self-controlled. —1 Peter 4:7 You are living well . . . When you let go of the past, enjoy the present, and face the future with faith. When you focus on your responsibilities instead of your rights. When
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow. —Mark 14:34 In Gethsemane, Jesus “began to be filled with horror and deep distress” (Mk 14:33 NLT). He needed companionship in those agonizing hours. He asked Peter, James, and John, to stay close—to watch and pray—as he went
