"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
"You must learn to wrestle against the things that hinder your communication with God." ~~Oswald Chambers
We wrestle with many things. Prayer. The world’s culture. Evil. We can’t wrestle with God. God is God. He wants …
"The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us." ~~Oswald Chambers
It is all about God. God is God. He will have His way, in us and in the world. It …
"No more tit-for-tat stuff." ~~Jesus
Our culture tends to be one of retaliation. Someone hurts us, we envision a way to get them back. There …
Exactly like Jesus says? Yes, that is our job.
Jesus has things he wants us to do. He gives us instructions. Do we do it exactly like He says? …
"Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever." ~~Jesus
Eternity is a long time. Think a billion years. Not enough. A trillion years. Not enough. It is hard enough …
“Where do you get your value system?” ~Kris Vallotton [Video]
Check out this videoby Kris Vallotton on virtues. He is masterful at refuting our current culture and what God’s word …
Am I willing to dance in the bright light of Jesus?
Jesus is the light. He is the only light. Will I dance in His light for all to see? Yes, my …
"My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God’s Word. Obedience is thicker than blood." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to see the reality of GOD’s World (Kingdom). Who is our family? Who are our mother’s, brothers …
My dad fought for my liberty
I learned so much from my Dad. He was in the artillery in WWII. What an amazing man. He fought …
"Count on this: The wicked won’t get off scot-free, and God’s loyal people will triumph." ~~King Solomon
Sometimes it seems like doing the right thing is not being rewarded. Solomon reminds us this isn’t true. God is …
Nothing sparse at all: A Poem
Jesus has always been supreme. He was in the beginning and He will be in the end. Jesus is leading the resurrection …
"If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to forgive others. It is a clear command and unambiguous. That is our part to do. When …
“We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies.” ~Apostle Paul
All it takes is to watch the evening news to know we live in a massively corrupt culture. God’s goal …
"Holiness is the balance between my nature and the law of God as expressed in Jesus Christ." ~~Oswald Chambers
God’s goal for us is that we be holy, just like God is holy. God has given us the power …
“Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble.” ~~Apostle Peter
Am I humble enough? Not yet and that is important to understand. Who gets the credit? That is a central …
Putting my foot down
I was a dupe of sin. I was stubborn, refusing to believe Jesus. I went around with a chip on …
“God wants you to live a pure life.” ~Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul nails it. He understands God’s goal. God wants us to live a pure life. No doubt about …
“The Bible is a dangerous book of religious dogma used for centuries to oppress people” ~27% of Millennials agree
Do we hang out with Christians too much? Is our “religious language” irrelevant to most others? Do we use jargon …
"You scratch out God’s Word and scrawl a whim in its place. You do a lot of things like this." ~~Jesus
Jesus is talking to religious people. That could be us. Jesus challenges us to really understand what God is saying and …
“God isn’t pleased at being ignored.” ~Apostle Paul
Am I focused on God? That is an essential question. It may be the only question worth considering most of …
Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances. ~~King Solomon
We all need direction. Our vision is always limited. There are so many things we don’t see for our self. …
"But don’t think I’m going to accuse you before my Father." ~~Jesus
Jesus is clear about His role. He is the one who saves us from missing God’s goal for our life. …
"If your faith is in experiences, anything that happens is likely to upset that faith." ~~Oswald Chambers
Is our faith contingent on how we feel right now? What we are experiencing right now may shake our faith. …
“I’ll go. Send me.” ~Isaiah
Isaiah was an amazing man of God. He stood in God’s presence. He knew God intimately. One day he heard …
"God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile." ~~Max Lucado
Jesus promised that in this life we would have trouble. Jesus challenges us to know that the way is not …
"No one can pray and worry at the same time." ~~Max Lucado
God’s goal is for us to talk with Him, trust Him and obey Him. Our alignment with God takes the …
"Don’t load yourselves up with equipment." ~~Jesus
Jesus has powerful but simple things He wants us to do. We don’t need a lot of equipment to complete …
What do millennial’s think about the Bible?
Here is some insight on what millennial s are thinking about the Bible, from the Barna Group. Practicing Christian Millennials …
Christ is not the last name of Jesus
Christ is not the last name of Jesus. Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is the anointed one of God. Jesus …
“Jesus couldn’t get over their stubbornness.” ~Mark
In His hometown, the people He grew up with were offended by Jesus. While they knew Him, they didn’t see …
That Jesus didn’t command everyone to sell everything gives comfort only to those He would say that to.
That Jesus didn’t command everyone to sell everything gives comfort only to those He would say that to. God is …
“If you make a run for God—you won’t regret it!” ~King David
There a lot of things in life we all regret. They are the could of, would of, should ofs of …
"People who don’t know God and the way he works worry too much." ~~Jesus
Why do we worry?What produces that anxiety in our gut? Because we don’t know what a good mood God, our …
What did it cost Jesus?
I pray that the evidence of the Master’s love in my life will be clearly verified in my life. There …
"A gadabout gossip can’t be trusted with a secret, but someone of integrity won’t violate a confidence." ~~King Solomon
Jesus wants us to be people of integrity. Everyone we know needs to be able to trust us completely. It …
"But you weasel out of that by saying …." ~~Jesus
Jesus is direct with us about twisting God’s words and using them to our advantage. Jesus knows what His Father …
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 …
"Go home. Your son lives." ~~Jesus
You come to Jesus. You beg him to personally come and heal your son who is dying. Jesus puts you …
"Mean-spirited slander is heartless; quiet discretion accompanies good sense." ~~King Solomon
Speaking ill of others, whether it is true or not, is just not God’s way. Jesus summed it up well, …
"Self-help is no help at all." ~~Jesus
God knows us. He knows that we miss His goal for our lives. Jesus challenges us to face up to …
Have I re-calibrated to true North?
I must take time to check with God before I act, speak, or do anything. Great question: Have I re-calibrated …
“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 …
"You’re interested in religion, I’m interested in people." ~~Zechariah the Prophet
The people of the town of Bethel sent a delegation to the priests and prophets with a question. They wanted …
"It is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do— God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself." ~~Oswald Chambers
God has a goal in mind for us. Sometimes goals are framed by what the goal is not. God …
"In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it." ~~Jesus
Wow. Jesus is direct. Grow up!! OK, that makes sense. We can be very childish. We live in God’s World …
"God is faithful even when his children are not." ~~Max Lucado
We get disappointed by others. Perhaps by our father or mother. Could be friend. Could be a spouse. We get …
"Keep your lives simple and honest." ~~God to Zechariah
Jesus summed up what God wants us to do. It was nothing new. God is all about simplicity. God goal …
"You get rid of God’s command so you won’t be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions! " ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to obey God and not follow the latest religious fads. God is clear in what He wants …
"When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes; evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time." ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 11:11)
We can be a blessing to our cities, towns, states and country. When we are right in God, we can …
“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. …
"Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to not be deceived by things in this world. In God’s World (Kingdom), you can drink water …
“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 …
Think about 10 years ago. Is what was average then below average now?
Think about 10 years ago. Is what was average then below average now? Probably. What does that mean to our …
Jesus speaks to the Father in our defense
Jesus speaks to the Father in our defense. Now that is some very powerful good news. We know that we …
"The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction; the common sense of the godly preserves them." ~King Solomon
The most difficult thing in life to control is our tongue. What we say makes a difference. Words spoken in …
"Keep it simple; you are the equipment." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to not get wrapped up in all “stuff” that keeps us from fulfilling His mission for us. …
"If good people barely make it, what’s in store for the bad!" ~~King Solomon
Jesus is straight with us. The way is not easy. He says it over and over. Unfortunately, many in the …
"When the wicked die, that’s it—the story’s over, end of hope." ~~King Solomon
We are a people of hope. We serve a God who gives us hope. We live in the present and …
“Isn’t it obvious that all angels are sent to help out with those lined up to receive salvation?” ~Apostle Paul
I have to say that it hasn’t always been obvious to me that angels are here to help me. There …
“Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you.” ~Zephaniah
What is it about His love? It is so calming. I know Jesus is here to save me. God is so happy …
"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 can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” ~Apostle Paul
I have ideas. I imagine, “what if”. Some of these thoughts seem pretty cool!! Does it seem to be far fetched …
"You ditch God’s command and are just taking up the latest fads." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges the religious to stay focused on God and what He wants. Fads come and go. Jesus and His …
“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 …
Shouldn’t we be afraid of God?
You know, if you really think about it, we should all be terrified of God. Anybody that can create the …
"I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to see the opportunities right in front of us. We need to see what God is doing …
"A good person is saved from much trouble; a bad person runs straight into it." ~~King Solomon
We are “made good” and whole by Jesus. He alone can do this. And He did. It is done. God …
Our Father would rather do it right than do it quick!
Our Father would rather do it right than do it quick! He is in the “doing it right” business. Now, …
“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 …
He whispers to me
The LORD comes to me and whispers to me not to despair. He is present with me. He is here. …
“John’s words that gave strength to the people, words that put heart in them.” ~Luke
John the Baptist was an amazing man of God. His words gave strength to people. His words put heart in …
"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 …
“A wise heart takes orders; an empty head will come unglued.” ~~King Solomon
We live in a world where we must respond to others and take orders. We have bosses, police, parents, teachers …
Life Starts with my Heart
My life starts with my heart. That is the center of everything. Nothing else matters so I need to be …
"They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy." ~~Jesus
Jesus is very direct about how religious leaders are focused on justifying what they teach to match their way of …
When has God had enough and gives up?
When has God had enough and gives up? When does God draw the line in the sand and say “That is …
“Love doesn’t keep a list of the sins of others.” ~Apostle Paul
Sometimes we keep a list of other peoples wrongs. We can recite it chapter and verse. It can actually be …
“Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.” ~Apostle Paul
What excuse do I find to sing a song to God? I don’t need one. Everything is a reason to …
"The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to focus on the main thing. God has a goal for us today. God wants us to …
I hunger for God’s touch in my life
I hunger for God’s touch in my life. It is all about the relationship. God’s goal for me is to be …
“Love never gives up.” ~Apostle Paul
My heavenly Father never gives up on me. He loves me even when I haven’t wanted to know Him. He …
“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 …
“God can’t break his word.” ~Apostle Paul
There is the saying “As good as his word”. God is God. All God has to do to guarantee His …
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 …
“To me, the very least of all saints, this gift was given, to proclaim the Good News of the unfathomable riches of Christ.” ~Apostle Paul
That God has done something in my life is a real surprise, Him handling every single detail. It is nothing …
"The Message that points to the Messiah on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction." ~~Apostle Paul
The way God works seems silly to those who don’t know Him. For many, “Why” is the big barrier to …
"I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart." ~~King David
It all starts at home. Work is important and so is the church, but living love out at home is …
"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 …
"Regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it." ~~ Apostle Paul
God has chosen us for a new life. It is a life of love. It’s characteristics are: Compassion Kindness Humility …
"I’ve made myself available to those who haven’t bothered to ask.’ ~~God
Our God is amazing. He doesn’t wait on us. In fact, He did it all by sending Jesus to take …
"My arms wave like banners of praise to you." ~~King David
I must find the place of worship. I must open my eyes. In His generous love, I can really live. …
"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 …
“I pray for good fortune in everything you do — that your everyday affairs prosper.” ~~ Apostle John
God goal for me is to prosper. He has every good thing in mind for me and wants me to have …
"Go and do the same."~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us. He tells us stories to shake us up. He wants us to love like our heavenly Father …
“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 …
