“Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves . . . but our competence comes from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:4-5) Confidence comes from competence. But, there’s the rub; God never calls us to a task for which we’re...
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27 NASB) When Jesus spoke the word, “peace,” storms stopped and seas stilled. This is the peace He offers us....
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven . . .” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Change is inevitable but growth is optional. Gas and grocery prices change daily. Our jobs, health, and finances can change without warning. Of course, there’s the...
“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion . . . and everlasting joy will be yours.” Isaiah 61:7 (NIV) Guilt and shame are the natural responses of our inner justice system that demands that wrongdoing (sin) be punished. The problem is that we don’t want...
Forgive
“Forgive one another . . . Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Col 3:13 (NIV) We receive all of the blessings of God’s grace when we receive Jesus (Eph. 1:3). However, in God’s economy, our personal experience of those blessings is proportional to our giving them away....
Why Worship Matters by Louie Giglio
Why Worship Matters by Louie Giglio When the subject is worship, the stakes are high—because worship is what God is all about. Worship should matter to you simply because it matters to God. And worship matters to God because He knows He’s worthy. I know that doesn’t...
BattleGround
‘“This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.’ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 3:17-4:1 NIV) Here’s a biblical pattern; battleground follows holy ground. This is because God measures our maturity, not by...
Service
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. (1Peter 4:10 NIV) In God’s economy what we give away comes back to us in increasing measure. When we use our spiritual gifts to serve others...