It was a cold, wintery afternoon when I received the letter. This was back when people actually wrote letters. There was no return address – no indication of who wrote it. I scanned the letter until the words jumped off the page, “God has forgiven me, and I pray that
It seems impossible to have hope when you are filled with pain and loss and your dreams have been shattered. Although it is difficult to believe that God is near, His sovereignty never sleeps. When our pain is the deepest and our doubt the greatest, God remains with us. In
“If you are waiting for me to tell you I love you, you’ll be waiting forever.” When I first heard these words, I remember audibly gasping, as if my juvenile body couldn’t fully absorb the force and impact of the strike. The words pierced my soul, cleaving me with one
Paul concludes this letter to the church of Thessalonica with a prayer of hope. This young established church of new Christians had faced great opposition and persecution in the one year it had been in existence. Yet through all the severe trials they endured, the Thessalonians remained utterly dependent on
What has your heart? Is it your family, friends, your hobbies, career, or even your ministry? Maybe it’s a passion for art, travel, music, entertainment, or food. It’s easy to find ourselves living with half-hearted devotion to God. James urges believers to humbly submit to God in order to overcome
If it weren’t for people… work would be great. If it weren’t for people… church would be effortless. If it weren’t for people… humble service would be easy. Sacrificial service is something many people admire but may not truly desire to practice. Our culture values self-service and self-interest. More and
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” – Proverbs 3:27 Some of the hardest teachings in the Bible for me are those that abruptly confront my selfish flesh. Love your enemies. Count it as joy when you encounter trials. Forgive
We see angels ever present during Jesus’ Advent. These creations of God have the privilege of seeing God face to face in Heaven. Angels are seen throughout the Bible rebuking, informing, encouraging, guiding, protecting, advising, but primarily we read of them worshipping. And suddenly there was with the angel a
One of Jesus’ purposes in descending to earth was to redeem His people. In Heaven, a new song of worship will be sung praising the Son of God’s sacrificial actions for His people. Redemption is the act of gaining possession of something in exchange for payment of a debt. Jesus,
To what depths would you go for your spouse, your children, or your family members? Would you risk your life for them? How much would you sacrifice for their happiness or their safety? The answers for most people would be positive. But what if you were asked the same questions