Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that […]
I had originally planned on posting something else I had prepared. Until today happened. After today’s encounters with people who are genuinely suffering in horrific and depressing ways, the topic I’d prepared suddenly seemed trivial, insignificant, and rather irrelevant. Petty “first-world problems” when people here and elsewhere are facing life and death choices, persecution, trauma […]
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19) Lucy had a short fuse. When Linus asked for one good reason why he must memorize the Christmas script, Lucy numbers her fingers, forming a fist. […]
It’s really easy to shirk away from Overcoming when the times get tough. Speaking the truth, honoring a commitment that you no longer feel like keeping because others are ridiculing you, or standing boldly for a cause that matters is hard work. Everyone wants to be loved and no one enjoys standing alone–especially in a crowd. […]
Some days, Overcomers just need a little reassurance regarding the ultimate victory that is headed our way. I’m in the mood to hear the inspirational hymn called The Holy City. About this hymn, The African American Experience in Ohio 1850-1920 states this story: “THE HOLY CITY.” Thirty men, red-eyed and disheveled, lined up before a […]
There are few things more rewarding in the Christian walk than developing a discerning mind. In a world of look-alikes, fakes, and frauds, it’s helpful to cultivate the ability to discern truth from error and gain the wisdom coming from it. Ephesians 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose […]
Psalm 23:1 <A Psalm of David.> The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through […]
I wonder sometimes if I have a big sticker on my forehead that says, Talk to me. I’ll listen.” Wherever I go, people pour out their life stories to me and you know what? I like that. I like it so much that I won’t change my seat from an assigned middle seat on an airplane […]
If the goal of our instruction is love, the result of the instruction is faith. Faith makes all the difference in the world. There’s a song that I really like that has the following lyrics: “Faith makes a way to stand when others fall apart. Faith makes a path of peace for a heavy hurting […]
