Posts Tagged ‘Encouraged’
No Compromise
Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. Psalm 119:1–3 (NLT) The introductory verses in Psalm 119 describe a path of success for…
Read MoreWe Are the Body
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Romans 12:4–5 (NLT) When we asked Jesus to forgive our sins and we accepted his gift of salvation, we became a…
Read MorePressing On
Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” Hosea 6:3 (NLT) For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.…
Read MoreSpeak to the Bones
Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! Ezekiel 37:3–4 (NLT) Dem bones Dem…
Read MoreSpeak Up
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. Proverbs 31:8–9 (NLT) Is there anything complicated in understanding the meaning of these verses? I favor the NLT “Speak up for those who cannot speak for…
Read MoreGod of Restoration
“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you;…
Read MoreSpeak Grace
Let every word you speak be drenched with grace and tempered with truth and clarity. Colossians 4:6 (TPT) It does not take a genius to observe a lack of grace demonstrated in our world today. Speech in all segments of politics, education, science, society, and even sports is intentionally polarizing. There is minimal effort to…
Read MoreSpeak Wisdom
The godly speak wise words and promote justice. The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip. Psalm 37:30–31 (NET) All wisdom is not the same. Or, stated differently, the wisdom that comes from God far exceeds any so-called wisdom that this world has to offer. The challenge that we face…
Read MoreSpeak the Truth
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:15 (NLT) Have you ever heard someone say, “Everyone has their own truth?” What exactly does that mean? Logically, if that were true, the case could be made…
Read MoreSpeak the Name
And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the Name of Jesus. Acts 4:18 (NET) The Name of Jesus is beautiful. It is a mighty name. But it is also a controversial name. Tyrants and dictators have tried to stamp out the Name of Jesus without success.…
Read MoreTake Up Your Cross
Jesus said to everyone, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23 (CEB) What does it mean to “take up our cross?” Some people see it as a burden, such as a physical challenge or a complicated relationship. People would describe…
Read MoreNevertheless
They will look up to heaven and down at the earth, but wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness. Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. Isaiah 8:21–9:1 (NLT) Words are fascinating—all words, really, but especially words…
Read MoreDo Something Small for God
On Sunday, July 31, I preached at Canvas Church, my home church, a message near and dear to my heart, “Do Something Small for God.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAqjRZcMVp4&t=2220s
Read MoreA Thirst for God
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 (NLT) David wrote Psalm 63 out of his experience in the wilderness. The wilderness was a barren, desolate place where…
Read MoreTear Down the Wall
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11 (NIV) In 1987, President Reagan said in a speech in Berlin, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” President Reagan was referring to the wall built by the communists, separating East and West Berlin. A little more than two years…
Read MoreThe Cure for a Drought
A drought will strike her water supply, causing it to dry up. And why? Because the whole land is filled with idols, and the people are madly in love with them. Jeremiah 50:38 (NLT) California is once again facing drought conditions. The solution to a drought crisis is obviously water. Even in the best of…
Read MorePowerful Graciousness
Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 (CSB) Our commitment to graciousness is sometimes inversely related to the importance of the situation. It is easier to be gracious when the stakes are low. That is when the issue does not matter significantly to us. However, when something that is…
Read MoreBe Unshakable
So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe. For our God is indeed a devouring fire. Hebrews 12:28–29 (NET) Earthquakes Everywhere Natural earthquakes can cause significant damage with great loss, both lives, and property. You might be…
Read MoreA Reflection on Praise and Worship
Have you ever considered the difference between praise and worship? Is there a difference? It is not uncommon to hear the words praise and worship used in tandem and even interchangeably, but do they mean the same thing? On one level, they may seem the same, but there are significant differences. There are numerous Hebrew…
Read MoreGot Tribulations? – Be of Good Cheer?
My dear family, when you find yourselves tumbling into various trials and tribulations, learn to look at it with complete joy, because you know that, when your faith is put to the test, what comes out is patience. What’s more, you must let patience have its complete effect, so that you may be complete and…
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