Bless Those Who Curse You!
Who is your enemy? Perhaps you think of Satan or a political leader. Yet, it could be a family member, ex-spouse, neighbor or the person who just cut you off…
Who is your enemy? Perhaps you think of Satan or a political leader. Yet, it could be a family member, ex-spouse, neighbor or the person who just cut you off…
This morning I woke up early in Ohio to much cooler weather, and as I looked out of our hotel room window, I was met with the turning of the…
For a brief period, Israel was very close to Camelot. A king with a heart after God established its borders and took possession of its capital city, Jerusalem, to display…
God wants to bless you beyond your ability to ask or imagine! The very first thing God does, after creating us in His image, is to bless us. Blessing is…
When you read Genesis in entirety, you see what a master stroke God is doing, very deliberately, to repeat these stories. They tell us something very important, they tell us…
Everyone needs to be encouraged. Sometimes it is easier to give encouragement than to receive it. Ask God to encourage you and to bring people into your life that can…
When you think about coming to church, what aspect do you look forward to the most? For the sake of this discussion, let’s assume your answer is something spiritually noble—nothing…
What will we experience on the New Earth? (Make your own list. This is just a portion of mine.) Forever more: Closeness to God greater than we’ve ever known The…
Our words and actions tell the truth of what we believe. If that statement is true—and I believe it is—then is Christ honestly replicated in everything we say and do?…
“Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees.” Isaiah 35:3 One of the reasons we make a trip to the desert is so God can heal us. God…
You need some good news—as a human and as a leader. We all do. While 2020 was dominated by crisis, tragedy, division and disease (as this recap of the Top…
Have you ever found yourself having an out-of-control reaction in response to someone else’s out-of-control actions? I understand. It’s all so very hard. When I share biblical discernment with someone…
Many of Jesus’ blessings were spontaneous. The wind of the Holy Spirit Jesus described in John 3, the fire by night in the desert in Exodus, the miracles of Jesus…
Another birthday in the books. I won’t tell you which one I just celebrated but I will give you three hints. 1 – I clearly remember being sent home from…
What lessons do we learn from the families in Genesis? Most consequences don’t come with an expiration date. Love your wife, love your kids, but put God first. Live a…
Remember: List 5-10 things you remember from childhood. Now, go back and scan your list. How many of those memories are negative in nature? Don’t be alarmed if most of the…
One – A Blessing of Hope May the God of peace, the eternal One and only God, grant you an awareness of his immediate return. May you be patient, may…
Happiness happens when we give it away. Be the family member who offers to wash the dishes after dinner. Be the colleague who serves the staff by arriving on time…
Brokenness is a surprising road to happiness and fulfillment! Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3)—i.e., the “broken ones,” those who recognize that they are spiritually bankrupt…
Did you know that an observant Jew says a bare minimum of one hundred blessings per day? Those blessings cover the gamut of human experience. They offer a blessing before…
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything…
The small band of church leaders had been praying earnestly for revival in their community—a village on the Isle of Lewis, the largest isle of the Outer Hebrides, just off…
Ever had God blow your socks off? Shock you with His goodness? Leave you speechless with His plan? This weekend I was reading the new book by Richard Preston.…
Ever had God blow your socks off? Shock you with His goodness? Leave you speechless with His plan? This weekend I was reading the new book by Richard Preston.…
These days, it’s easy to become obsessed with everything that’s wrong with the world. We’re continually bombarded by “news” (which is sometimes more sensational than informative) that dwells on the…
Hi Roger, When was Jesus born? Thanks, “LAC” Dear “LAC”, What an interesting question! It may or may not surprise you to know that there is much discussion—even argument—throughout…
Being thankful is a nice idea and something that we’re supposed to do. There’s something right and proper and good about it. But sometimes in the rush of life we…
Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred…
What do you do when you are feeling blue? You don’t need to feel helpless! Many of us experience depression at a significant holiday like Christmas. Especially this year….Sometimes it’s…
It’s often our times of greatest struggle that we can gain the most strength and increase our faith. Jacob renamed his son Benjamin. This compelling Bible story shows us that, though…
How do you know you have a spiritual stronghold in your life? Max Lucado writes: “Does one prevailing problem stalk your life? Where does Satan have a hook in you?…
I talked with a young woman who viewed the Christian life as one of utter dullness. She knew that following Christ was the right thing to do, but she was…
You are hurting, aren’t you? You are stressed. I know I am. How do you know you are worried and stressed? 42% of Americans experience these stress symptoms: anger, irritability,…
Francis teaches on the importance of trusting in God to lead us towards what is best for us. Planning, while not always a bad thing, can be counterproductive if planning…
Is Christianity Dying? Christianity is dying. At least, that’s what major newspapers are telling us today, culling research from a new Pew Center study on what almost all sociologists are…
“After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another,…
You will be astonished at this information. Christians should not be ignorant of God’s plans for His chosen people in His Word. Jews are, biblically speaking, the “chosen people…
Church leaders want to be good stewards of what is entrusted to them, but each generation has struggled to find an appropriate way to measure their effectiveness. Businesses measure return…
In Psalm 127, we are encouraged to allow God to “build our house,” or build our lives. We can rest because He is in charge and nothing can be done…
Is Jesus welcome at your house? Or are you afraid He’ll see the dust bunnies in your life? “Batten down the hatches!” I was happily brushing my molars early one…
The Blessing is something we all crave and long for in life. The approval, appreciation, and affirmation is what we need to keep moving forward. The Blessing flows from God…
Mary of Bethany truly learns to worship at the feet of Jesus. Mary receives her blessings at His feet, and she lays her burdens at the feet of Jesus. Too…
“Spirituality” is now an acceptable and even a stylish presence in our cultural life, including the university or college. It can come in the form of religion, in some traditionally…
Celebration is about spiritually savoring all of who God is, all that He has done. It is all about the joy available to us and the connections we have with…
As we seek to be obedient, the blessings of honoring one another pour out into the body of Christ. It really is the key to proper functioning. (1 Cor. 12:12,…
In the Old Testament, Samuel declares that he would be sinning against the Lord if he fails to pray for the Israelites. (1 Sam. 12:23) The value of praying for…
I believe it was Roger Barrier who I first heard point out that there are basically no functional families in the Bible. That is absolutely the truth. And to see…
We are stewards of all the earthly possessions God has given us — our mates, children, homes, cars, education, skills and more. Because of His great gifts, we must be…
The key to abundant living is to abide in Christ, to drink of His “living water.” Many see life filled with scarcity, stagnation and misery instead of a life with…
Jesus models the lifestyle of affirming and blessing others. As parents, we can minister blessing to our children by meaningful touch, by spoken words of love, by attaching high value…