Discontent and the Need for Change
Discontentment. Is it something you brought on yourself, or is it something which God has brought into your life? Maybe God is using discontentment to help you bring about change…
Discontentment. Is it something you brought on yourself, or is it something which God has brought into your life? Maybe God is using discontentment to help you bring about change…
In order to preserve civilization, decisive action against terror organizations is not an option. Can we forgive our enemies, as Jesus mandated, and crush them at the same time? Can…
Make Jesus Christ Your Living Hope You can lose a lot of things and still have hope. Hope is the last thing ever lost. You can lose a marriage, your health or…
Roger, My heart is so burdened for the people of Israel. I wish I could go over there and fight! What can I do now, today, to intervene for God’s…
George Mueller once said something like this (not verbatim, but this is its essence): “I read Scripture until I come to a verse that can bear my whole weight, and…
In Peace of Mind, we will look at how some familiar names in scripture dealt with many of the same struggles we face today. We’ll learn how they overcame those struggles…
Dear Roger, I have had a very successful career. I have multiple graduate degrees, traveled the world and had a host of admirers. I was famous for my contributions. But…
There is something so beautiful about God’s Promise of Divine Protection… something that settles every fear and chases away every doubt. For as long as I can remember I have…
The Hebrew word for peace is SHALOM. Shalom is RELATIONAL HARMONY and it’s four-dimensional. It’s right relationship with God, Self, Others, and Creation. How do we experience the peace…
Rejoicing always in the Lord (see Philippians 4:4) may seem unrealistic at times. But we must remember that this rejoicing is centered not in a passing circumstance but in a constant…
There is something so beautiful about His Promise of Divine Protection… something that settles every fear and chases away every doubt. For as long as I can remember I have…
When it comes to repairing relationships, no one responds well to being convinced, coerced, convicted or controlled. Yet we try those approaches over and over again. www.northpointcommunitychurch.com.
With the Global Peace Index the lowest it’s been in a decade and the Misery Index at a high, it’s hard to believe that peace is within reach in today’s…
It’s God’s pleasure to reconcile people to Himself, but not every human relationship can, will or should be reconciled. Not all friendships will last a lifetime. They can turn sour…
What is Hope from a Biblical Perspective? Hope is a word used in the Bible both as a verb and a noun. It has a range of connotations, but mainly…
Seasons of adversity—economic or otherwise—do not catch God off guard. He knows everything that is going on in our world. He also knows what lies ahead. He is orchestrating all…
“If an individual Christian does not show love toward other true Christians, the world has a right to judge that he or she is not a Christian.” —Francis Schaeffer I…
“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to…
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…
Have you ever walked into a room and felt out of place; like there was a chasm standing between you and everyone else? Maybe it was the way you dressed,…
Grief is an emotion that can overwhelm you. Grief can take many forms from denial, anger, fatigue and depression. Here are a few tips on identifying grief in your life…
Hurting someone because they hurt you doesn’t end the cycle. It perpetuates it. And it makes you look like the person you dislike. www.sermons.love. www.northpointchurch.com.
People have been going to war for centuries. Conflicts and clashes are part of our history both as a civilization and as a nation. But there are three wars that…
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 (ESV) Losing someone you love can cut into your heart so viciously that it forever…
Joy. It’s not getting what you want. It’s appreciating what you have. Joy isn’t always the easiest choice or the obvious choice, but joy is a choice. The Apostle Paul…
Dear Roger, I worry a lot. My friends and family call me a “worry wart.” I have to agree with them. My worrying makes me miserable. Yesterday, our pastor preached…
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…
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 We are reluctant…
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 At work and at home, conflicts are inevitable. We are imperfect people living in an imperfect…
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God…
It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending…
Here are six things you can do when you’re feeling overwhelmed with life. 1 – Embrace what you’re facing We usually want to hurry through life; we want to get…
“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!” Psalm 57:7 (ESV) I trust God. Until I don’t. That doesn’t feel like a…
Dear Roger, I’m stressed and scared. It seems that the world is becoming more unstable daily. I worry about COVID, mass murderers, and protests. I’m worried about losing my…
I want to talk about the difference between resting to restore versus just resting, why rest alone is often not enough, and how to use a Neurocycle to effectively and…
I don’t like to be in pain. In any way. And if I’m not careful, this aversion to pain can lead to me grabbing for something to fill the deep…
Dear Roger, All over the world, wars, persecution, plagues and famine are everywhere. People seem frightened, frustrated and angry. I know that we are continuing to face an uphill battle.…
“The Future Looks Uncertain…but God” Daniel 2 Introduction Predicting the future is big business People have created an industry, from fortune cookies to horoscopes In the US, it’s a $2…
No matter what, God is ultimately in control of this and every other election in history. As Proverbs 16:33 reminds us: man can cast lots, but God decides. His sovereignty…
In my previous blog, How to Respond to a National Crisis, we looked at the first of four kinds of crisis in our lives, taken from this month’s Intentional Living teaching with Dr. Randy…
One of the callers on the Intentional Living program said, “I’m a single mom. I’m feeling overwhelmed with life. I’m trying to go to work. I’m trying to raise my kids.” And…
Conversations about race are hard, but they need to happen. How can we handle those talks—and our relationships, too—in a way that infuses them both with understanding and hope? Join…
Dear Roger, I’ve seen questions about the Third Temple and current peace treaties happening with Israel all over social media. President Trump helped orchestrate the treaties too. Does that…
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” 1 Peter 3:8 Pastors and Leaders, This is probably one of the…
I want to talk today about you. There are a lot of questions about what kind of unique witness should the church have at a time like this—how do you…
So you’ve been sheltering in place and quarantined with the people you’re supposed to love most for months now. And how exactly is that going? If you’re like most…
Dear Roger, How can I still believe God is at work and know that He is “working it all for good” when people are out of work, coronavirus is spiking…
Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry. He lived and interacted with others at the speed of walking. He had time for people. He was relaxed. However, for most…
They say that comparison is the thief of joy, and whoever “they” are, I agree with them. If we are always measuring ourselves against our neighbors who are broadcasting their…
One of the callers on the Intentional Living program said, “I’m a single mom. I’m feeling overwhelmed with life. I’m trying to go to work. I’m trying to raise my kids.”…
Today I am going to be answering some of the questions you have sent in regarding handling COVID-19 anxiety, and coping with social distancing and staying at home. Many of…
Do you ever feel the pinch of a life under pressure? Do you wonder in those moments how you’ll find the time to consider God and His work in your…
How do I deal with the loneliness of social distancing and home quarantine? First, look at your loneliness—look at it differently. Take the time you now have on your hands…
Is your day consumed with regret from the past or fear of the future? Do you ever have times in your life when you say to yourself, “Whew, where did…
Have you ever thought of sleep as a gift? Symbolically, it means God the Father wants to teach you the rest you can experience by trusting in Him. Hebrews 4:9…
The command “don’t worry” comes from Jesus. In Matthew chapter 6, verses 25 to 34, Jesus says “Stop worrying”, in verse 25, 31, and 34. Stop it. Now you say,…
I was asked a few days ago three questions related to our finances and needed perspective during these challenging times with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis. Honestly, our needs as Christ…
How long till we get back to normal? You keep waiting all you want. Or you can worship. You could keep resisting, or you can receive. I love what God…
Love needs to rest so it can awaken again later, not in the form of lust, but in a truer and more beautiful state. This additional rest allows it to…
So much of what’s on the news today truly feels like something we’d only see in a Hollywood movie — not real life. COVID-19 has not only spread across the…
So what’s needed to have stronger faith, the faith of Paul? What’s needed is that tenacity. What’s needed is that spirit that says, hold on a second. I’m not going…
We are different. We are not of this world. Our minds are transforms so we can do the will of God. We live by faith, not by fear. We are…
I was walking into a grocery store the other day, and while dutifully using the antiseptic wipes provided for me at the front door, I began wiping the handrail on…
Many people, including many readers of this blog, are facing some level of financial uncertainty right now because of the coronavirus crisis. These are challenging times, and you may find…
She walks ‘with’ fear, but she does not live ‘in’ fear. At nineteen, Anna’s story is less a story and more a most wrenching tale penned of blistering heartache, seemingly…
Pastor John Piper was asked “How Do We Make Sense of the Coronavirus?” Here is his thoughtful answer: “How do I make sense of this? How do you get understanding?”…
I had a car accident about a month ago. I was driving, comfortably aware of the moment. Life was good, and then, BOOM! I instantly went into fight or flight…
Be Still We are designed for time spent in the quiet, simply being with our heavenly Father. In the stillness, we have opportunity to pay close attention and to listen…
Max Lucado inspires with these words about how to handle a recession with peace and joy: “Turn on the TV or open a paper and the financial news can be…
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and…
If you have breath, you are the proud owner of conflict. It lurks around every corner of our days. I wake up first in our home. I get dressed and…
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,…
Our emotional lives are driven by what we think. There is plenty of scripture instructing us how to think –taking captive every thought out of obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).…
It’s that time of year. Okay, truth be told, I don’ think the time of year makes any difference. Seems we all face major stress every day, all year long. But…
Do you dread Christmas? Or love it? Some people dread the holidays because family feuds abound. Is it “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?” Well, it should be, and…
Learn how to address conflict in a healthy way. Learn to identify patterns of conflict and how to decline to get into the cycle.
“Just as you’ll never understand the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman, so you’ll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does” (Ecclesiastes 11:5 MSG).…
How can God use stress in our lives to produce good. How can it conform us to the image of Christ. Randy Alcorn writes: 1. God uses stress to get…
Many Christians ask me, “Am I sinning if I’m not happy as a Christian?” In answering this question, I’m assuming two things of readers: Happiness and joy are synonyms, and…
How do you know if your “first love” for Jesus is fading? Here are a few significant indicators that your love for Jesus may be waning, and an encouragement to…
How do you handle the suffering that comes your way? Suffering can take many forms: mental anguish, physical pain, hurting children, grief or financial ruin. Lysa TerKeurst describes God’s love…
Dear Roger, I’ve attended so many churches that are mean and unwelcoming. So many Christians fight and are hypocritical. I am embarrassed to say I go to my church.…
Extreme weather is now a daily news story. Storms are coming. The sun is searing hot. Fires are blazing. Snows will suddenly follow. Hurricanes and typhoons pummel our shores. We…
Lysa TerKeurst explains that the key to surviving pain is laying your sufferings before God: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8a (NKJV) Does it…
Spiritual Weapons “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh . . .” 2 Corinthians 10:4— that is, they are not merely human. This is not a…
Spiritual Weapons “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh . . .” 2 Corinthians 10:4— that is, they are not merely human. This is not a…
Though often well-intended, a commitment to being “color blind” becomes harmful when it fails to recognize the good ways God has filled the world with color. In other words, sometimes…
I have read Paul’s words, “Be anxious for nothing” many times (Philippians 4:6). That means when something happens that we didn’t expect in our health, we’re not to be anxious…
The day had arrived. It was beyond sad. It was solemn, and it was heavy. Without hesitation we were there to support, to console, and to be present. In what…
“How easy is it for you to handle the stressors of life today? How hard are simple decisions?” A few months back, Josh Reich, pastor at Revolution Church and author…
Scripture says that the Lord left nations in the promised land “to test Israel by them (that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan); only…
Dear Roger, I am so overwhelmed. Why doesn’t God meet my needs? I pray and pray, and He doesn’t seem to hear or care. Am I praying for the right…
Conflict is part of life. We can handle it in a godly way, or brush it under the rug. Dr. Caroline Leaf teaches us six ways to argue well. “Did…
Max Lucado calls us to life and peace in a world filled with uncertainty and violence: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” Matthew 10:28…
Life can be very challenging. We are constantly facing stressful situations at work, home, school, in the car…you name it. In many cases, our reactions to these situations can make…
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 We all have those times we wish the voice of God…
“My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants.” Mark 3:35 “Give me a word picture to describe a relative in your life who really…
Dear Roger, I’ve struggled with fear, anxiety and worry my whole life. Now, more than ever, death, disease and financial uncertainty plague all of us. My mother used…
“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” Matthew 10:28 All of us struggle to make sense of bloodshed and violence. Life is a dangerous endeavor.…
The majority of people in the world will miss the next Christmas. But how can that be? How can anyone miss Christmas, given the amount of advertising, publicity, and promotion…
Kevin DeYoung shares his thoughts on how his life changed with just a week of limiting his use of technology. This article was originally titled “What I Learned on my…
When my children were young, one of my sons came into the kitchen while I was doing the dishes, and nonchalantly asked me, “Mom, do you know how to tell…
Are you really excited about the holidays, or are you dreading them? Many people dread “family time.” Russell Moore writes: “We tend to idealize holidays, but human depravity doesn’t go…
Joy Hlavka Forney grew up in our church. She is a missionary to Uganda and teaches powerfully on how to live victoriously in the midst of difficult circumstances. Here are Joy’s…
These days there’s a lot of talk about “unity” in the church. On the one side, there are Christians who insist that any talk of “race” and racism threatens the…
Too often we don’t appreciate what we didn’t work for or had to sacrifice for in one way or another. Hand something to us with no effort exerted on our…
We should each be able to go to bed every night and reflect back on the day and know that we took at least one action to move us a…
Dear Roger, Jesus said, “Resist not evil”, turn the other cheek” and other similar pacifist type sayings. But yet, we in America continue to support and fight in what…
Some prayers change lives. This one will change yours. “I was asked to pray an extended prayer for the New Year. Here is my prayer, which I wish for all…
Dear Roger, With everything that is taking place in the Mid-East, it is easy to see Bible prophecy playing out right before our eyes. The Bible is clear about what…
What are those things upon which we wage war? There are those completely virtuous and entirely untainted causes that are birthed at those seminal moments when the very foundation of…
It seems that Thanksgiving; at least the meaning of it all is being lost somewhere. In many respects we’ve traded it wholesale for football, turkey, an insane variety of foodstuffs…
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 Can we achieve racial reconciliation? Can our multicolored,…
Here are a few things you should know about the future of Christianity and how we can reach the next generation with the Gospel in an authentic, relevant way. Our…
You can recover from divorce. Here are some right and wrong ways to start your new life. Now you are single. Solitaire is a card game that you play alone.…
I wish Christians would argue more. No, I’m not being sarcastic or saying this with an eye roll. I mean it. I want Christians to argue more and fight less.…
The Book of Zephaniah contains a wonderful and moving description of God’s love. We don’t deserve God’s love, but He offers it to us in the gift of Jesus Christ.…
A perverse man spreads strife, and a slanderer separates intimate friends. —Proverbs 16:28 Jesus made a remarkable statement concerning Judas. He said, “‘Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve,…
“God shapes the world by prayer. The more prayer there is in the world, the better the world will be, the mightier the forces of good against evil …” – E.M. Bounds…
Dear Roger, Let’s be honest. I’m a Christian and I’m scared. It seems like the globalization of our world teeters on the brink of collapse. I worry about …
At our church, Redeemer we often speak of serving, strengthening, and “renewing” New York City. When we talk like this, we must be careful not to deny “common grace.” We…
Dear Roger, I am a pastor and my members are always asking me why I don’t preach the Book of Revelation. Can you help me? Why should I preach…
TIME magazine featured a cover story on a new initiative against Internet pornography. These anti-porn activists, though, aren’t the caricatured pursed-lip moralists. They are instead young men who say that…
The Prince of Peace (Shar Shalom) declared that his mission was to restore shalom — to bring freedom to the prisoner, recovery of sight to the blind. And how did…
Roger, I am in a quandary that has me in a bit of a desert…. My family and I attend church, and lately, we feel that we may not…
When my wife and I purchased our first home, I determined our lawn would be at least comparable to that lovely lush landscape of the guy two doors down. Our…
So it’s Saturday morning and your 7th grade daughter comes running in your room and says, “Mom/Dad, Brian just called and asked me to go to the show this afternoon.…
Guest Author:Dr. Faydra Shapiro Introductions are funny things – sometimes it’s what is unsaid, what is assumed, that can tell you the most. Several years ago I gave a talk…
I was on a flight from San Diego to Dallas. I’m a million-miler with American Airlines so I usually request, and get, an aisle seat, but on this flight, I…
I have always found Jesus’ words in Matt 5:21-22 to be shattering. He begins by reminding his listeners that anyone who murders will be judged. But then he gives three…
“Blessed is the person who is not offended by me.” ~ Matthew 11:6 To be offended means to stumble or trip. The Scripture tells us that Jesus is a rock…
Last week Matthew Paul Turner reached out to get my opinion on church Father’s Day celebrations like Church Unlimited’s Baconfest (Corpus Christi, TX) – offering 5 types of free bacon…
Let me chat with those of you who are control freaks. I’m a control freak, a perfectionist. I’m a Type A personality. I want to control everything! It is human…
The following article is adapted from John MacArthur’s response during a Q&A session at Grace Church. Much of what John says here has been expanded in his book, Safe in the Arms…
Many church leaders are aware that pornography is a massive problem among Christians. According to some surveys, it is one of the most confessed sins and is deemed by church…
The presence of Christ in our darkest times should give us boldness and confidence. The whole passage is about peace in the midst of the storms, the threats in our…
Dear Roger, I recently became a Christian and I have a question. The woman who led me to Christ encouraged me to start reading my Bible immediately. She told me…
Jesus teaches that we live under great stress when we worship the rival god, Money. We must learn to walk in faith in the present and run to Jesus when…
Some of you love to work with jigsaw puzzles. You take a jumble of disconnected pieces and arrange them in the right order. Certain folks are so proud of their…
Here’s an excerpt from How Women Help Men Find God: Michelangelo captured the relationship between man and his Maker on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. A holy God, surrounded…
Burnout happens only to givers. Its nature is the depletions of the physical and emotional resources that enable the giver to keep giving. Losing these resources causes despair, depression, irrational…
Dear Roger, It seems like the world is falling apart. I’m scared. My friends and I talk about what is happening to the global economy and I just get more…
On October 22, 1976, Clyde Kilby, who is now with Christ in Heaven, gave an unforgettable lecture. I went to hear him that night because I loved him. He had…
Choosing not to be afraid or not to lose heart is less about the feeling and more about about how we open our hearts and minds. This happens in a…
Some people look at faith in God as something that is regulated to “personal belief.” In other words, you can believe something if you want, but it’s not really real.…
Joseph’s model for reconciling with his brothers and father are illustrated in this story. To reconcile a broken relationship, your much rebuild trust with truth, repentance and time.
What is the source of your joy? Why do you get anxious? God reveals through Paul His plan for inner peace and strength. WATCH CLAYTON’S STORY
The apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians from a dark prison cell in Rome. We learn much about inner joy and contentment from his story.The prisons of loneliness,…
No matter how you look at it, King Ahab’s marriage to Queen Jezebel was no match made in Heaven. When he chose her as his bride, he was seemingly entering…
We learn from the misunderstanding between the twelve tribes of Israel that conflicts must be handled appropriately. We should be proactive about the things of God. Clarify the issues before…
A Vietnam vet, a widow and a mom relates their journeys defending their country and keeping the faith.
Dear Jessie, My precious little girl with Jesus, I can hardly remember how it felt to hold your tiny frame in my arms. I thought I would forget you, but…
Over the past ten years, I’ve fought an ongoing battle with depression. I go through seasons of life in which it is only barely present: a dull hum beneath a…
Over the past ten years, I’ve fought an ongoing battle with depression. I go through seasons of life in which it is only barely present: a dull hum beneath a…
Celtic Christians called the Holy Spirit An Geadh-Glas or the Wild Goose. A wild goose can’t be tracked or tamed. Unpredictability or a hint of mystery or an element of…
Everyone makes New Year’s resolutions… like getting in shape. I love the BowFlex commercial… Five minutes, three times a week and you can look like a Greek god. Mr. BowFlex…
Can you protect your child? As parents we often want what’s best for our children – I love what Psychologist Jonathon Haidt suggest about hardships and how they shape us…
The prophet Isaiah told Israel of a Messiah who was not only God, but He was their Prince of Peace and their Counselor. He walked in their shoes and was…
I recently read an interesting quote about Buddhism’s impact on real world problems. Check this out. “Christmas Humpreys, an influential Western Buddhist, admits…’It may be asked, what contribution Buddhism…
I recently read an interesting quote about Buddhism’s impact on real world problems. Check this out. “Christmas Humpreys, an influential Western Buddhist, admits…’It may be asked, what contribution Buddhism…
Wycliffe missionaries Larry and Nancy Hagberg relate a remarkable story of faith in the midst of cancer, a near-fatal car crash and floods. God’s Word is the powerful, sustaining force…
We all deal with feelings of anger. In Matthew 5, Jesus gives us a model for handling anger. We must not belittle others, we must reconcile with those we have…
Dear Roger, Why does God Tell us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem? With everything that is taking place in the Mid-East, it is easy to see Bible prophecy…
Fear is the antithesis of faith. Examples like the terrified Hebrews spying out the Promised Land, David facing the giant Goliath, the disciples panicking on a stormy boat, illustrate the fact…
In spite of our fears, Jesus says we can handle the truth and it will set us free. God used Elijah’s fears to deepen Elijah’s faith and distinguish his spiritual…
In a world where spiritual warfare seems to be heating up… And opportunities for distractions are so readily available at one swipe of the finger… And pressures and situations seem…