Are my prayers just monologues?
I am hoping that God doesn’t feel this way when I pray. I have heard lots of prayers (including my …
Category Archives: God’s Goal
Can children get along?
We are God’s children. Now think about it. He has forgiven us. He has adopted us. All is right in …
What food gives me energy and keeps me going?
Jesus challenges us to focus on the main thing. God has a goal for us today. God wants us to …
Am I being stupid or willfully stupid?
Jesus asks some stunning questions. We don’t exactly know how to respond. Some days, there aren’t great answers. Jesus is …
How do we receive God’s nourishment?
I hunger for God’s touch in my life. It is all about the relationship with God. God is all about …
Does love ever give up and quit?
My heavenly Father never gives up on me. He loves me even when I haven’t wanted to know Him. He …
Am I a loafer and lazybone?
This is a stunning insight from Solomon. God’s goal for us is that we work. Work is Godly. Work is …
Can we calculate the riches we have in Jesus the Messiah?
That God has done something in my life is a real surprise, Him handling every single detail. It is nothing …
What kind of people is God looking for?
What is the BIG THING our heavenly Father is looking for? He is desperately seeking men and women after his …
What does Jesus know about forgiveness?
Jesus’ mission from God our Father was to bring forgiveness to the world. On the cross, Jesus accomplished the mission. …
Is self-control the mark of a wise person and an aspect of a disciples character?
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is physical and emotional self-mastery, particularly in situations of intense provocation or temptation. …
Is God first in my life? Am I trying to fool Him? Can He be fooled?
God knows how to do surgery. He can bring about internal purification. I can trust Him. He is good, all …
Do we become children of God by new birth? Is that even possible?
This is stunning. As disciples of Jesus, we are the chief objects of God’s fatherly love. We become God’s children …
Let’s all wear love. It’s our basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
God has chosen us for a new life. It is a life of love. It’s characteristics are: Compassion Kindness Humility …
How much time do I spend jockeying for position with others?
Jesus challenges us to stop being competitive. We are always comparing ourselves with others. It is a serious problem. It …
Do we find peace through the Father’s provision for the believer?
God’s ultimate provision of peace is discovered in the person and work of Jesus the Messiah. It is only through …
What does Jesus want us to keep doing? What do we need more of?
Jesus challenges us. He tells us stories to shake us up. He wants us to love like our heavenly Father …
What was the most important thing to Jesus?
Everything was complete. The last thing Jesus says is so profound. This is the way it has always been with …
Is an “eye for an eye” the way to live?
It happens all the time. Someone uses us for their own advantage. We get upset. It’s just not right. We …
What is hypocrisy? Why it is evil and hated by Jesus?
Hypocrisy is an outward pretense masking an inner reality. Jesus condemns hypocrisy, especially in matters of faith. Followers of Jesus …
They can take our lives but can they take our freedom?
In Jesus, we have true freedom. Jesus has set us free and we are free indeed. On May 24, 1995, …
What kind of fruit am I producing? Has Jesus changed my character?
I can’t impress God. Some ministers are trying to impress us though. Jesus called it straight. Jesus knows the real …
Does our yes mean yes? Does our no mean no?
Jesus challenges us to mean what we say. Religious jargon and trite sayings are useless. It is the power of …
Is family the foundation of relationships in God’s Kingdom?
Family is extremely important in the Bible, both in a physical sense and in a spiritual sense. The foundation of …
Is God’s plan for us one of healing and restoration?
Jesus didn’t cause anyone to be lame. It was never about character building. There was no lesson to be learned. No …
Has Jesus finished everything He came to do?
Jesus had been thirsty. They gave him some sour wine. Jesus knew everything God had sent him here to accomplish …
Will God lead us in a direction that he won’t give us strength to endure?
Some people don’t get what God is doing. They see His powerful Spirit working in us and are confused about …
Am I working for myself? Who am I working for?
My work is not for myself. My work is for our God. I am a slave to my Master Jesus. …
What are reasons to get angry? Where will that get us?
I get jealous. I get angry. One can lead to the other. The parable of the prodigal son is a …
Is my grandeur to forgive and forget?
I need to learn how to hold my tongue. Easier said than done some days. Someone says something and off …
Why is Jesus thirsty?
Hanging from the cross. He will die for us. The agony is unbearable. He didn’t say a lot. It was …
Some things smell pretty bad
Some things smell pretty bad. And then, there is a rotten stench. Just a plain putrid smell. It is disgusting. …
Is love optional?
Is love optional? Yes, I get to decide whether to love or not. So do you. I often am not …
What is Jesus concerned about as he is facing a slow and cruel death for us?
Jesus’ mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. They …
Is patience important in enduring life’s circumstances and sufferings?
I hate pain. I try to avoid suffering, I hate being poor and I don’t go out of my way …
Am I bankrupt without love?
This scripture blows me away. There is a question to be asked. Jesus wants to know. What is important? Not …
Are we ready to work for Jesus?
Use me Lord. Use me until I am all used up. May I be disciplined in listening to You. May …
What is peace? How do we make peacemaking real? What is the promise of Jesus?
Jesus says: “Happy [blessed] are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” The commendation of peacemakers – …
What is God’s goal for us? Do I get it?
Jesus knew why He was here. He knew how it would end. He knew He would go through the worst …
Is panic over money greed’s cousin?
Panic over money is greed’s cousin. Am I content with what I have? Do I have enough to eat and …
What is religious fraud all about? What does Jesus say?
Jesus spends special time with religious people. He is direct always. Are we frauds? It is a question to ask …
What do we do for a living?
Paul made tents for a living. It wasn’t how he defined his work. His work was to help people understand …
“But for right now, until that maturity, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.” ~Apostle Paul
As I seek to mature in the Lord, one of the big three things to focus on is trusting Him …
What is courage? Do we have confidence in God?
Nothing is impossible with God. Do we have confidence in Him? Do we know, deep in our inner being, that …
“I, Paul, am under God’s plan as an apostle, a special agent of the Messiah Jesus, writing to you faithful believers in Ephesus.” ~Apostle Paul
God has a plan for us. Under His plan, we are special agents of Jesus. His assignments for us aren’t …
Should we be generous? How about to the poor?
God is clear about my obligations to the poor. This is a consistent theme under both the old and new …
What is courage?
Wandering around is not a sign you are lost. In your heart, you probably know where God wants you to …
What does Jesus think about retaliation?
Jesus challenges us to not retaliate. It is in our core, when someone hurts us, to strike back. Some, famously, …
Does God hate cheating?
When it comes to business, I need to always be aboveboard and true to my word. I should always see …
Are we blessing others abundantly?
I am thinking how true this is. The more we bless others the more we are blessed. And it is …
What is God’s goal for our hearts?
It is God’s goal for us to align our hearts with our words in a way that is acceptable to …
Do we get the simple message about love?
John simply got it. The message from God our Father and our Messiah Jesus is that we should love one …
Do we remember to pray?
Christians are being persecuted. We are so far removed from this we may forget. Please pray for our brothers and …
To judge or not to judge …
Jesus can be very straightforward and direct. His suggestion on criticizing and judging others is to not do it if …
Should we lend a hand to those who falter? What is strength for?
My oh my, there is some misguided thinking going on in this world. God has a goal for us. We …
What did it cost me?
My dad (perhaps like your dad) always reminded me there is no such thing as a free lunch. And … …
Does it takes supernatural courage to love the way God loves?
This is tough stuff. It doesn’t feel right. Our natural reactions, in relationships, can get us in trouble. Jesus has …
Are we exposing the works of darkness?
Not all work is the same. Some things are much more important in the Kingdom than others. I shouldn’t waste …
God’s goal for us to grow up and live the Life of Jesus, doing everything His way.
Jesus challenges us to be the person God wants us to be. Jesus challenges us to grow up. Grow up! …
Jesus is radical and demands that we live in a radical way.
In listening to Jesus, much of what He is saying goes against the grain of what I have thought brings …
Do we make our words true by embellishing them with religious lace?
Jesus challenges us to make sure our words are clear and genuine. They should reflect all of His love. Embellishing …
I want a 60 minute worship service. Where is my heart’s focus?
Oh man, this cuts to the bone. What is our heart focused on? Why are we so impatient with God? …
Do I really mean it?
Jesus challenges us to stop acting. And, He is serious. He means it. Jesus can’t stand hypocrisy. How many times …
Am I pretending to be righteous just because I am acting legally?
Jesus challenges us to look at whether meeting the “letter of the law” means we are living right in God. …
Am I being stupid or willfully stupid?
Jesus asks some stunning questions. We don’t exactly know how to respond. Some days, there aren’t great answers. Jesus is …
Am I cheating on God?
Am I cheating on God? There are times I just want my own way. That cheats God of the relationship …
What kind of men is God looking for?
What is the BIG THING our heavenly Father is looking for? He is desperately seeking men and women after his …
Does death come from a phantom life of evil and their friends?
There is a way to live and there is a way to die. Living comes from aligning myself with God …
“If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.” ~Apostle Paul
Our friends in Jesus are amazing. We are to look out for our brothers and sisters. Paul presents a hypothetical …
How much time do I spend jockeying for position with others?
Jesus challenges us to stop being competitive. We are always comparing ourselves with others. It is a serious problem. It …
All I need to do is love others as if my life depends on it.
Oh yes. There are times I felt my life depended on many things. Things don’t love. Things are immaterial to …
“Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” ~ Jesus
There is no doubt that poverty’s reach is both widespread and devastating. God’s people cannot be indifferent toward those in …
What do I want from God? What should I ask for?
God offered Solomon anything he wanted. He could have anything at all. Now that is amazing. What did Solomon want? …
Am I a student of good?
There are many things we can be students of. Seeking good is God’s goal for us. God wants us to …
Is my heart in it?
Jesus challenges us to have our heart in the right place with God and everyone else. It is all about …
Am I caught up in the wrong priorities?
We get caught up in the wrong things. We don’t have the right priorities. What church do we go to …
Are my prayers just monologues?
I am hoping that God doesn’t feel this way when I pray. I have heard lots of prayers (including my …
Will God lead us in a direction that he won’t give us strength to endure?
Some people don’t get what God is doing. They see His powerful Spirit working in us and are confused about …
Am I working for myself? Who am I working for?
My work is not for myself. My work is for our God. I am a slave to my Master Jesus. …
Are there any “ifs” among the followers of Jesus? Can anything happen?
Jesus summons us to a new level of belief. There are no “ifs” in His world. The new plan he …
Why is Jesus thirsty?
Hanging from the cross. He will die for us. The agony is unbearable. He didn’t say a lot. It was …
Am I a loafer and lazybone?
This is a stunning insight from Solomon. God’s goal for us is that we work. Work is Godly. Work is …
Is my grandeur to forgive and forget?
I need to learn how to hold my tongue. Easier said than done some days. Someone says something and off …
Some things smell pretty bad
Some things smell pretty bad. And then, there is a rotten stench. Just a plain putrid smell. It is disgusting. …
I am bankrupt without love!
This scripture blows me away. There is a question to be asked. Jesus wants to know. What is important? Not …
What is God’s goal for us? Do I get it?
Jesus knew why He was here. He knew how it would end. He knew He would go through the worst …
How should ministries be financially supported?
Jesus sent the disciples out to spread the good news about how God rules. He recognized that they would need …
Are we going to Jerusalem with Jesus?
Jesus destiny was in Jerusalem. God’s goal for Him would come to pass there. He would die and be raised …
Is it reasonable to ask Jesus what I must do to do the works of God in my life?
‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ A question from the disciples. I look at the question …
Should I beg God?
Jesus said, “Everyone who asks (begs) receives …” Sometimes it takes a lot for us to ask. We think we …
“This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message.” ~Apostle Paul
Paul made tents for a living. It wasn’t how he defined his work. His work was to help people understand …
“Whenever you give to the poor.” ~Jesus
Most disciples of Jesus believe we are to help the poor but how are we to make good judgments on …
“You have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.” ~Apostle Paul
I have to be careful. My nature, along with all of us, is one that is fallen, and I constantly …
“You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine” ~Apostle Paul
I must be careful. It is easy to get confused and stumble around. I have been brought out of slavery …
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” ~Apostle Paul
Jesus calls on me to be humble, gentle and meek. It is a requirement and not optional. Arrogance and all …
“Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ~Jesus
The mission of the church is to make disciples. Just before Jesus returned to heaven, He commissioned His disciples this …
“When a prophet speaks in the Lord’s name, and the message does not come true or is not fulfilled, that is a message the Lord has not spoken.” ~Moses
I must be careful. There are many who proclaim “thus says the Master”. How can I know if they are …
“Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.” ~Luke
Jesus wants me to focus on the country where Jesus is in charge. That is the Kingdom of God. The …
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” ~Apostle Paul
My mission, given to me by Jesus, is to love. That is it. That should be my day. That should …
“And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!” ~Jesus
Jesus wants me to know something. Jesus is going to return. It could happen anytime. It is up to God …
