How do you respond when someone asks about your belief in God? Do you become defensive, do you go into combat mode, become intimidated? None of these extremes are necessary. The Bible tells us that when we are presented with an opportunity to speak concerning the hope in us, we should “not fear their intimidation, […]
We all have times in our lives when, if you caught us in that moment, we would all appear faithless. God never wants our lives to be held hostage to a single moment of failure or unbelief. In Scripture, Thomas is one of those people who was defined by a single moment in his life […]
Have you ever heard the parable of the sower? Jesus taught it and it can be found in Matthew 13:3-8. Like all of Jesus’ parables, this one contains amazing surprises. This parable speaks of seed being scattered on stony places, shallow places, among thorns and on good ground. It says the good ground produced some […]
Jonah 1:15 (NKJV) 15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. You usually read or hear sermons from preachers encouraging you to “get out of the boat” or to “walk on the water”. This is not that message! Some of you need to tell […]
“The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this… ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’” (Heb 10:15,17) Some believers feel that the Holy Spirit is convicting them of their sins. Only He doesn’t. How could the Holy Spirit convict us of something He chooses not to remember? Look at what He […]
I have heard this preached many times, “when you sin and confess your sin, Jesus reapplies His blood to your sin”. The Bible never speaks of Jesus reapplying the blood. According to the Bible, this was done once for all. Once! Not every time we confess or repent, not daily, not weekly, but once: Romans […]
In the movie Talladega Nights, Ricky Bobby prays to the infant Jesus. Which Jesus do you see when you pray? Which Jesus do you trust in? – Is it the infant Jesus of Christmas? – Is it the merciful and kind Jesus who was friendly to sinners? – Is it the Jesus who died on […]
When it comes to you, God has a totally undivided heart. Many of us sadly grew up in a religious system that perpetuates the idea that God is bi-polar, that He loves us, but He’s also angry with us, that God looks at our behavior and if it’s not good, then He turns away from […]
My dad died three weeks ago, the day before Thanksgiving, just as everyone was getting excited for turkey dinners and Christmas. His health had been declining for a few years, but we were not expecting his death so soon. I’ve found myself struggling with a roller-coaster of emotions. I opened a Christmas card today from […]
Every time there is a natural disaster, the bad news preachers are quick to claim that the storm, hurricane or earthquake is God’s judgement. As I write this blog, my heart goes out to the those who have lost loved ones and been impacted by this unprecedented flooding in the Carolinas. These bullies with a […]