Joe Barnett

You do not know what a day may bring forth.                          —Proverbs 27:1 Today is a once-in-a-lifetime gift. There has never been a day like it before; and will never be one like it again. It’s one-of-a-kind, unique, unrepeatable. You may have laid out […]

I thank you that you have heard me.                       —John 11:41 “Pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks” (Phil 4:6 NCV). At the tomb of Lazarus Jesus said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.” He prayed, and thanked

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.                —Romans 15:13 The calloused hands of a tough-as-nails dad turn tender in brushing away the tears of his child. Though God has all power, he is a Father of gentleness. He

[He] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.      —Ephesians 3:20 Enter today with positive expectations. Your power is limited; God’s isn’t. Your abilities are limited; God’s aren’t. “[He] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine . . .” Don’t stop there—the rest of

Teach me to do your will.        —Psalm 143:10 It’s difficult to succeed without a plan. If the Lord is in your plan, you up your chances of success: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Prv 16:3). But shouldn’t there be more to it than asking him

Cheer up! . . . He’s calling you.                   —Mark 10:49 Jesus was just seventeen miles from Jerusalem, where he would be denied, tried, and crucified. How could he think of anything else? Yet, when a blind beggar shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

He heard my voice.     —Psalm 116:1 Maria Rameriz’s genius at voice recognition blows my mind. She recognizes my voice and calls my name before I finish “hello”—and was doing so long before the invention of Caller ID. I’ve been in her office and marveled as she answered call after call, and said name

They kept quiet.   —Mark 9:34  “What were you arguing about on the road?” Jesus asked his disciples. They were zip-lipped because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. William Barclay called it “the silence of shame.” Do you sense their embarrassment? They had nothing to say because there was no

Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet.         —Mark 9:27 Jesus attracted crowds of thousands. He hiked to Jerusalem to die for the wide, wide world. But he also stopped along the way to give total attention to the needs of a single individual: a father, a