Joe Barnett

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.        —Psalm 147:3 I’ve been running for forty years, with very few run-related injuries. But recently I had a humdinger. At my age, I’m afraid if I stop I might not get my motor running again, so instead of seeking help, I kept running. […]

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.      —Matthew 5:15 Jesus did not say become the salt of the earth; he said you are the salt of the earth. He did not say become the light of the world; he said you are the light of the world. We

You are the light of the world.             —Matthew 5:14 When Jesus came into the world, John introduced him as “The light [that] shines in the darkness” (Jn 1:5). Jesus commissioned his disciples to reflect his light: “You are the light of the world,” he said. Christians not only carry

You are the salt of the earth.             —Matthew 5:13 Jesus described his followers as “the salt of the earth.” Food is bland without salt. Our lives—as salt—should paint Christianity as delightful, not distasteful; desirable, not disagreeable. In Jesus’ day, salt was used primarily as a preservative; rubbed into meat

Trust in him at all times.       —Psalm 62:8 Martha loves her son and is always there for him—but she admits to being a bit vexed that she only hears from him when he needs something. Never allow your relationship with God to become seasonal. Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!

Have mercy on me, O God.          —Psalm 51:1 David confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord.” God’s prophet responded, “The Lord has taken away your sin” (2 Sm 12:13). God fast tracks forgiveness of the penitent. The Lord honors your faith, notwithstanding your failings. Never forget that. If you need a

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

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

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