"The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped." ~~King Solomon
I am thinking how true this is. The more we bless others the more we are blessed. And it is …
Category Archives: Vault
Jesus expects that I have an attitude of gratitude
Jesus is direct and straightforward. Jesus expects that I have an attitude of gratitude. My choice today is obey Jesus …
“God is strong, and he wants you strong.” ~Apostle Paul
Some things are amazingly simple with God. Here is one of them. God is strong. Nothing weak about him at …
“Seek God’s right ways. Seek a quiet and disciplined life.” ~Zephaniah
Some days it is just not clear where God is. He doesn’t seem to be anywhere around. Don’t see Him. …
“But God doesn’t lose his temper.” ~Nahum
Sometimes we think of God as we think of ourselves. Big mistake. God is God but His emotions aren’t like ours …
"Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges not to retaliate. It is in our core, when someone hurts us, to strike back. Jesus has a …
“Provoked to sarcasm, they told Jesus he didn’t know what he was talking about.” ~Mark
Am I the one Jesus brings into the room with Him or am I the one provoked to sarcasm and …
“God has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” ~Apostle Paul
Now this is something to be thankful for. I am qualified. No doubt about it. God has done it for …
“As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.” ~Apostle Peter
God is speaking. He is moving. Will I keep quiet about what I have seen and heard? God had used …
"You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to live life with Him in charge. Now that is tough because we all like to be …
"Live out your God-created identity." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to be the person God wants us to be. It is not about us or our unique …
“But take heart! I have conquered the world.” ~~Jesus
Many days, there is a whole lot of worrying going on. Fear can cripple. How many times does God come …
Jesus, unconventional wisdom and going against the grain
In listening to Jesus, much of what He is saying (see Matthew 5) goes against the grain of what I …
"You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to make sure our words are clear and genuine. They should reflect all of His love. Embellishing …
"They act like they are worshiping me, but they don’t mean it." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to stop acting. And, He is serious. He means it. How many times do we just go …
"Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe." ~~Jesus
You come to Jesus. Your son is sick and is going to die. You ask Jesus to come and heal …
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” ~Apostle Paul
Not all work is the same. Some things are much more important in the Kingdom than others. I shouldn’t waste …
“The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart.” ~Samuel
What is the BIG THING my heavenly Father is looking for? He is desperately seeking a man after his own …
"Take your stand with God’s loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die." ~~King Solomon
There is a way to live and there is a way to die. Living comes from aligning myself with God …
“You’re cheating on God if all you want is your own way.” ~Apostle James
Am I cheating on God? There are times I just want my own way. That cheats God of the relationship …
"Are you being willfully stupid?" ~~Jesus
Jesus explains so many things to us. He challenges us to hear, really hear, what He is saying. Jesus is blunt. …
“How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other.” ~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to stop being competitive. We are always comparing ourselves with others. It is a serious problem. It …
“Love each other as if your life depended on it.” ~Apostle Peter
Oh yes. There are times I felt my life depended on many things. This good word sets a wonderful standard …
“Watch what God does, and then you do it.” ~Apostle Paul
Well here we go. When I keep company with God, hang out with Him, I will learn a life of …
“God doesn’t want his children holding grudges.” ~Apostle Paul
We are God’s children. Now think about it. He has forgiven us. How does he want us to act? Does …
"These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it." ~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to have our heart in the right place with God and everyone else. It is all about …
"Too many of you are using doing things ‘legally" as a cover for selfishness and whim, pretending to be righteous just because you are ‘legal.’ ." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to look at whether meeting the “letter of the law” means we are living right in God. …
"It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God." ~~Jesus
We get caught up in the wrong things. What church do we go to or what denomination do we belong …
“He healed them.” ~~Apostle Matthew
Jesus didn’t cause anyone to be lame. It was never about character building. There was no lesson to be learned. No …
“Start with God.” ~~King Solomon
God offered Solomon anything he wanted. All Solomon asked for was wisdom. God gave it to him. Here is his suggestion …
Does God feel this way when I pray?
I am hoping that God doesn’t feel this way when I pray. I have heard lots of prayers (including my …
“The one who seeks good finds delight; the student of evil becomes evil.” ~~King Solomon
There are many things we can be students of. Seeking good is God’s goal for us. God wants us to …
“The same people who want 60 minute worship services rent 2 hour movies; watch 3 hour ballgames. It’s about our heart’s focus!” ~ J. Bull
Oh man, this cuts to the bone. What is our heart focused on? Why are we so impatient with God? …
“Life collapses on loafers; lazybones go hungry.” ~~King Solomon
This is a stunning insight from Solomon. God’s goal for us is that we work. The work He has given …
"I’m not here to demolish God’s Law or the Prophets but to complete. " ~~Jesus
Jesus, God’s Son, shows how He completes what was started in the Old Covenant (Testament). Everything in the Old Covenant …
“Some scholars have naively declared God to be dead, forgetting that they are dealing with a God who found His way out of the grave.” ~Cardinal Ivan Dias
Jesus rose from the dead. That is amazing and represents the good news of God. God is not dead. We …
"Las Vegas and New Orleans will have it easy on Judgment Day compared to you." ~Jesus
Tyre and Sidon were well known pagan cities in Jesus time. It might be like saying Las Vegas and New …
"Little girl, get up." ~~Jesus to a dead 12 year old girl
She is 12 years old. She got sick. She died. Everyone is beside themselves in grief and horror. You don’t …
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” ~King David
Ever heard of Francis Thompson? Young guy, drop out, drug addict, drifter, sometime homeless. Eventually diseased and dead at 48. …
“A good and honest life is a blessed memorial; a wicked life leaves a rotten stench.” ~~King Solomon
Some things smell pretty bad. And then, there is a rotten stench. Just a plain putrid smell. It is disgusting. …
“I’m bankrupt without love.” ~Apostle Paul
Today’s scripture blew me away. What is important? Not what the economy is doing. Not what I give away. Not …
"If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water."~~Jesus
Jesus knows first hand the generosity of God. Everything starts from God caring and His generosity. Jesus knows that God …
God knows how ….
God knows how to do surgery. He can bring about internal purification. I can trust Him. He is good, all …
“Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.” ~King Solomon
Easier said than done some days. Someone says something and off I go. I react. I speak. I regret it. …
"You feed them." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us. It had been a long day. It was beginning to get late. His disciples came to him …
“If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.” ~Jesus
Jesus summons us to a new level of belief. There are no “ifs” in His world. The new plan he …
“God’s Spirit and God’s power did it.” ~Apostle Paul
Paul wasn’t afraid to admit that he was inadequate. Now that is something. In fact, he was scared to death. …
"Do not be anxious about anything." ~~Apostle Paul
My part is to rejoice. God is so very good and He is always in this amazing mood. Jesus has …
"Would you give me a drink of water?" ~~Jesus
Jesus asks a question. Simple and to the point. He was thirsty. Jesus also knew where the question would lead …
“Not one detail has failed of all the good things God, your God, promised you.” ~Moses
Not one single promise has failed. How powerful those words are to us. His word is filled to the brim …
“So nobody has a good excuse.” ~Apostle Paul
Oh how we all love excuses. God doesn’t and we don’t have any. The Apostle Paul knew that at his …
“We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” ~Apostle Paul
Some days things don’t look good. All I have to do is listen to the news to know that. Bad …
“I’ve been given it all by my Father!” ~~Jesus
Oh my goodness. Jesus has everything. It is a great gift from His Father. All authority, power, love. Everything!! Nothing …
The Yes of Jesus in us
God makes a promise. Jesus says YES to it. The Holy Spirit makes it happen in us. Jesus is the …
” You have need of endurance.” ~~Apostle Paul
Many of our struggles about faith have to do with timing. We believe, at least in theory that God will …
“Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.” ~James
Am I as serious as I need to be? Am I really serious? God has a goal for me. I …
Jesus was not in an election
Before Jesus, the High Priest had to offer up sacrifices to blot out the continuous nature of our missing God’s …
Who is your hero?
Who is your hero? We ask that a lot. Who do we look up to? We all want to know. …
“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” ~Jesus
I look at the question and it seems pretty reasonable to me. But Jesus blew them (and me) away with …
“Don’t just do what you have to do to get by. Work heartily.” ~~Apostle Paul
My work is not for myself. My work is for our God. That allows me to have an amazing attitude …
What are the possibilities?
Imagine being a young woman. You are a virgin. An angel shows up and lets you know you are going …
Free to pursue what God wants and be released from tyranny
I can learn to think like Jesus. He didn’t expect to get His own way. Now that is radical. Who …
Digital Ministry: How important is the moment where a disciple decides to engage?
Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp …
"Isaiah was right about frauds like you, hit the bull’s-eye in fact." ~~Jesus
Jesus spends special time with religious people. He is direct always. Are we frauds? It is a question to ask …
The raw power of God
There is a time to think long and hard. That of course would be about what God has created. Just …
“That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” ~Apostle Paul
Am I sure? Do I know it for a fact? God’s enabling Spirit is in us and lets us know …
Trust steadily and become more mature in God
As I seek to mature in the Lord, one of the big three things to focus on is trusting Him …
“You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” ~~Jesus
Nothing is impossible with God. Do we have confidence in Him? Do we know, deep in our inner being, that …
MOM — Director of Operations — 24/7
Great video. Every mom should watch it. This is the best.
Are we special agents for God?
God has a plan for us. Under His plan, we are special agents of Jesus. His assignments for us aren’t …
“One of the stupidest things I can do is assume other’s motives since God says I cant even accurately assess my own! Jer 17:9” ~Rick Warren
“One of the stupidest things I can do is assume other’s motives since God says I cant even accurately …
"Who touched my robe?" ~~Jesus
Jesus is wired with the power of God. God’s energy flows through Jesus continuously. So much so, when a sick …
God is serious business
There is a lot frivolity going on and there is nothing wrong with that. Fun is fun and God is …
All who wander are not lost. Israel knew how to get to the promised land. They didn’t have the courage to go.
Wandering around is not a sign you are lost. In your heart, you probably know where God wants you to …
"If you won’t take seriously what Moses wrote, how can I expect you to take seriously what I speak?" ~~Jesus
The religious scholars and the average Jewish person of Jesus time on earth thought they took “the Law”, what Moses …
What is God’s standard for how to love?
This is tough stuff. It doesn’t feel right. Our natural reactions, in relationships, can get us in trouble. Jesus has …
"If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?" ~~Jesus
Jesus doesn’t want us to play a game of hide and go seek. Now think about it. He is light. …
“What marvelous love the Father has extended to us!” ~~Apostle John
It is interesting how some people just don’t “get it”, i.e., understand what we are up to in God. We …
"Why all this busybody grief and gossip?" ~~Jesus
We get consumed with our feelings. Jesus challenges us to move beyond that and see His world. He can provoke …
"Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way." ~~Jesus
God is God. He does things that don’t make sense to us. We clearly wouldn’t do very much the way …
"If Tyre and Sidon had been given half the chances given you, they’d have been on their knees long ago, changing their mind and crying for mercy." ~Jesus
What if Jesus said this to Dallas? What if he said this to New York City? I can imagine it. …
“I was not able to understand how it could be wrong to pay a ball player for entertaining the public.” ~~Al Spalding
“I was not able to understand how it could be right to pay an actor, or a singer, or …
How important is alignment of my heart and my words?
It is God’s goal for me to align my heart with my words in a way that is acceptable to …
The greatest mistake you can make in lif
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one – Elbert Hubbard
“I waited patiently for the Lord.” ~~King David
We are always, and I mean always, in such a hurry these days. Our culture is on hyperdrive. We want …
“For this is the original message we heard: We should love each other.” ~~Apostle John
John simple got it. The message from God our Father and our Messiah Jesus is that we should love one …
“Jesus is God’s ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one.” ~Apostle Paul
Different cultures and religions have unique views of God. There is only one message though. That is the message of …
Should I be the judge?
This theme seems very clear. There isn’t too much to be added here. 8 very specific references citing Jesus, Peter …
Christians are being persecuted and are in chains
Christians are being persecuted. We are so far removed from this we may forget. Please pray for our brothers and …
“Judge not, that you be not judged.” ~~Jesus
Jesus can be very straightforward and direct. His suggestion on criticizing is to not do it. Period. End of story. …
“Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter.” ~Apostle Paul
My oh my, there is some misguided thinking going on in this world. God has a goal for us. We …
"Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you’re healed and whole." ~~Jesus
With faith comes a risk. “What if ….”, we think. What if God doesn’t answer.What if we look silly. We …
“Rich as he was, Jesus gave it all away for us.” ~~Apostle Paul
As the Son of God, Jesus the Messiah had all the riches of our Father. Yet He chose to give …
Yesterday’s price, tomorrow’s breakthrough
What did it cost? But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a …
"The Father who sent me, confirmed me. And you missed it. You never heard his voice, you never saw his appearance." ~~Jesus
God sent Jesus. Jesus is His plan. There is danger in missing all of this. Jesus warns us. God’s goal …
“Let the peace of the Messiah rule in your hearts.” ~~Apostle Paul
Some things just aren’t forced on us. We can have it or we can not. Peace comes from knowing His …
Just the facts?
Luke got it right. Knowing and having supernatural courage (faith) about Jesus is what it is all about. He made …
“When I was born again, I received the very life of the risen Lord from Jesus Himself.” ~~Oswald Chambers
This says it all. Jesus and His Father are so pleased to give us life. And not just any kind …
“In the Messiah, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade.” ~~Apostle Paul
Parades are so much fun. The bands, the floats, and the celebration of a special day. Everyone gets into it. …
"The time is coming when everyone dead and buried will hear his voice." ~~Jesus
Jesus lives. He is resurrected. God is a God of resurrection. We live a resurrected life with Him. That is …
