What we tolerate our children will embrace.

Good-looking. Young. Smart. Worldly, evil, Nebuchadnezzar set his sights on these. He endeavored to teach them the ways of his world so they might serve him well. For three years, they would be given the best of the best of the king’s delicacies and wine. But Daniel. He purposed in his heart not to defileContinue reading “What we tolerate our children will embrace.”

Don’t be silent.

Something is off.Wrong.I feel it in my spirit. I look at our world, specifically at our country, and I see things happening at a pace I never thought possible. Do you see it too? Fewer and fewer people are thinking for themselves or even have the opportunity to do so. Instead, hidden minions, working behindContinue reading “Don’t be silent.”

Disconnection Causes Tripping

This morning, I am reminded my friend and mentor, once told me “ministry is seductive”. I’ve pondered her words for years and asked God to guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus as I write and speak. One day as I prayed, the Holy Spirit helped me think about myself as a water hose.Continue reading “Disconnection Causes Tripping”

These are not the days not to do your homework!

I was worried and teary-eyed. I remember looking at my wise, older friend who had faced so much heartache, but had so much joy, and said, “But, what do I do?” She looked at me and smiled and said, “You keep seeking Jesus through His Word. You diligently guard your heart and mind in Him,Continue reading “These are not the days not to do your homework!”

The enemy won’t make it easy. This will help you.

Those who were made new by the blood of Christ, will never live content in their old ways. Though we may try to hold on to certain sins, downplaying their dangers, our hearts will never find peace there. As we daily surrender our will to the way of the Lord, we are refreshed to walkContinue reading “The enemy won’t make it easy. This will help you.”

The devil doesn’t care about THIS.

“The devil doesn’t care at all if you know Jesus or love Jesus or pray to Jesus – as long as it is a false Jesus, a make-believe Jesus, a Jesus who is not there, and who therefore cannot save.” – David Guzik, Enduring Word App John says in his letter, “Beloved, do not believeContinue reading “The devil doesn’t care about THIS.”

The world is hard. The Bible is God-breathed to help us.

Even when Jesus walked the earth, there were those who pretended to be righteous. They wanted to deliver Him to the power and authority of the governor. They wanted to catch Him in something so the government could contain, control, and ultimately condemn Him. But He perceived their craftiness (Luke 20:23). And so should we!Continue reading “The world is hard. The Bible is God-breathed to help us.”

Monday Morning Life and Peace

Have you ever read a familiar passage of scripture and suddenly, something just stands out to you, that maybe, you never really noticed before? I’ve honestly thought to myself, though I know it’s not true, “God, did you just put that there?” This happened to me as I was reading in Philippians. Paul was givingContinue reading “Monday Morning Life and Peace”

In our desire to love others, we can’t encourage what God calls sin.

Let’s be careful to walk in truth, as defined by the Bible. Let’s understand there is no “my truth” and “your truth.” Let’s understand the danger of the popular phrase -“I’m so happy you found your truth”. These words should never be spoken from the mouth of a Christian. Truth is not relative. God forbidContinue reading “In our desire to love others, we can’t encourage what God calls sin.”

Why do some fall away?

For years, I had read this somewhat strange passage and wondered what it meant— “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and putContinue reading “Why do some fall away?”

Will you be able to stand?

Right now, we are seeing the winds of hard days and our “cancel culture” blowing away those who aren’t planted with deep roots in biblical truth. Psalm 1 compares those who follow God to a strong tree planted by rivers of refreshing water and goes on to say, “The ungodly are not so, but areContinue reading “Will you be able to stand?”

Is your following of God conditional?

God makes a profound covenantal promise to Jacob in his dream (Gen 28:13-15) and then Jacob makes a conditional vow to God. CONDITIONAL Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing toContinue reading “Is your following of God conditional?”

Those who truly love us will tell us the truth.

Paul is about to lay down the pen to the most famous of letters ever written. His powerful, God-inspired words will forever influence the theology of human hearts. His hard words have inspired and challenged the church for thousands of years. Through Paul, God has clearly explained the only way dead men miraculously find eternalContinue reading “Those who truly love us will tell us the truth.”

Fullness of Joy

In His presence is fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11) I’m not sure I’ve so closely observed anyone who exudes the truth of this more than my son, Ben. God is Ben’s go to. Even as a little boy, he seemed to have God on his mind so often. He’d come to me with spiritual thoughtsContinue reading “Fullness of Joy”

A note from my daughter…

As I open my news feed to see professing Christians defending and arguing with other Christians about the suggestion that Taylor Swift’s new album is something to stay away from (the lyrics are anti-God), this note from my daughter popped up in my FB memories. It truly put everything in perspective as she began withContinue reading “A note from my daughter…”

Failing God with Your Success

The ones who’ve lost so much, the ones who’ve struggled with trials and temptations and ran to God, oh how we love to hear their stories. And then there are the other stories, the ones we hear again and again of those who’ve obtained incredible success in life but fall; and often the story isContinue reading “Failing God with Your Success”

When the ungodly lead.

A while back, I sat with some young adults who talked of some who were leading worship and small groups while living very ungodly lives on the other days. I listened as they said, rarely, have they themselves, been asked what they believe before they had been asked to lead in church. And as IContinue reading “When the ungodly lead.”

My thoughts on the “He Gets Us” ad…

It’s hard to navigate this world. We know evil is coming at us all day long. We know false teachers abound. We know Satan is still after hearts and souls and doing all he can to keep the lost from the One True God. The Bible tells us false teaching will increase in the latterContinue reading “My thoughts on the “He Gets Us” ad…”

Chasing Contentment

Great gain.We want that.We all want that. Paul said, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain”. (I Tim 6:6) How true.Godliness with contentment. “So, I’ll follow God and be content with where He leads and what He gives.” But, that’s easier said than done for our flesh-filled wandering hearts who are constantly chasing contentment. SoContinue reading “Chasing Contentment”

Hold Tight

Take a slow read of these words the Apostle Paul penned so very long ago. May we take them to heart in this day. May we not live in fear, but be warned and so very careful about who we allow to speak into our lives – “If anyoneteaches otherwiseand does not consentto wholesome words,evenContinue reading “Hold Tight”