Joe Barnett

Look up at the heavens and count the stars —if indeed you can count them.                —Genesis 15:5 Go outside tonight and look at the stars. Your father and grandfather looked at the very same stars. And long before your grandpa lifted his eyes skyward, Jesus stepped out the […]

Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today.           —Hebrews 3:13 You have never seen this day before, for it has never been before. And you will never see this day again, for it will never be again. You will see faces today for the first and last

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.          —Psalm 147:3 You sit in your physician’s waiting room well past your appointment time, trying to convince yourself that what brought you here isn’t serious—all the while thinking it may be. Stripped of your bravado, most of your clothes, and all of

Honor your father and your mother.                      —Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and mother … except or unless. There is no except or unless in the fifth commandment. It is honor your parents. Period. Honor them for having taken care of you before you could take

Knock and the door will be opened.                    —Luke 11:9 Rap, rap, rap! Rap, rap, rap!! Rap, rap, rap!!! “Who’s knocking on my door … it’s midnight for cryin’ out loud!” “Hey neighbor, it’s me. I need a little help here. I have an unexpected house guest

That we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.               —Hebrews 5:16 Grace isn’t earned. It’s a gift from God. God’s grace goes something like this … Here is the world I’m giving you. In your world beautiful things will happen; also

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done.              —John 13:15 When Jesus stated his reasons for coming to earth he reduced them to two: to serve and to give. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and

What I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.   —Romans 7:15 They are strong enough to admit that addiction has played havoc with their lives. They come together because they’ve learned they can’t change on their own: they need each other; and they need God—or a Higher Power

Do not boast about tomorrow.               —Proverbs 27:1 We have been to the moon; built and manned an International Space Station; put a rover on Mars. We have sequenced the genes in the Human Genome. We have transplanted hearts, kidneys, and lungs. We have built skyscrapers, and a car

We all stumble in many ways.                     —James 3:2 First verse: God has never used anyone who hasn’t stumbled. Never will. Because as James wrote, “We all stumble.” Second verse: God has never used anyone who didn’t get up and give it another try after stumbling.