“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are My followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.” —Matthew 5:11–12 NLT
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” —Psalm 46:10 NKJV
“A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.” —Proverbs 14:30 NKJV
“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” —Matthew 10:7 NKJV
See MoreThink you can't be effective at evangelism? You just might be surprised.
What one courageous man teaches us about waiting on God's timing.
What you need to know when it seems like your world is caving in.
Why partial obedience is just as bad as complete disobedience.
What a great man of faith teaches us about the rewards of doing what’s right.
Greg Laurie shares three biblical strategies for defeating the giants in our lives.
Three tried and true tactics of the enemy that we cannot afford to ignore.
An important principle we need to remember when we want to know God’s will.
What your spiritual appetite tells you (and others) about your spiritual maturity.
Four important things to know before engaging in spiritual battle.
What a first-century evangelist teaches us about sharing the gospel today.
What we need to remember about the enemy the next time we’re faced with temptation.
Why trying to be something we're not can be dangerous.
What we can learn from Jacob’s life about being truly willing to change.
What we need to remember when spiritual growth seems slow.
What Enoch teaches us about living a godly life in an ungodly world.
Why past blessings don’t exempt you from living a godly life in the present.
How to glorify God wherever you are, with whatever He has given you.
Why every believer’s spiritual gift makes a difference to the church...and the world.
What we can learn from a tragic story of sin, redemption, and second chances.
In light of what God has done for us, what can we do for Him?
The answer to reconciliation with God is also the answer to reconciliation with others.
Three prerequisites for knowing the will of God.
We see ourselves with all our imperfections. But God sees what we can become.
If you had to sum up what you actually live for, what would you say?
The reason why, even on our best day, we can’t measure up to God’s standards.
What we can learn from Paul about being a good example.
What we can learn from making God’s priorities our own.
God saw Peter for what he would become. And He sees us that way too.
What the world's wisest man concluded about living life to its fullest.
What Caleb teaches us about spiritual stamina in the race of life.
What we can learn from one man who believed God for great things.
Seven things we can learn from Joshua about being a person God uses.
Jesus' birth in Bethlehem was not only an arrival. It was also a departure.
Three things we can learn about joy from the angel's announcement to the shepherds.
Any nation that has ultimately collapsed first fell apart on the inside. Are we next?
Why worship is important — and what happens when we fail to worship God.
Dare we say there are moral absolutes? We can't dare not to.
Why the heart of the matter is a matter of the heart.
You are an example. The question is, will you be a good or bad one?
I heard that someone actually tried to calculate how much it would cost to give the gifts named in the classic Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
Greg Laurie offers three Rs for winning over worry.
While the world's greatest wealth lies within reach, it remains untouched by most.
Three things Christians should be actively doing if they are seeking to live godly lives.
More and more Americans say they are unhappy. Why is it so hard for us to find real happiness? Maybe it's because we aren't looking for it the right way.
Did you know that it's possible to do the right thing and still be in the wrong? When we choose our way instead of God's way, we run the risk of paying the consequences for years to come.
Have you ever wanted to know exactly what God wanted you to do in a situation? Unfortunately, there's no foolproof method, but there are four things that God desires for all believers.
Have you ever looked around at the world we live in and thought that our nation is in a state of moral decline? What can we, as Christians, do to help reverse this?
What the lives of Zacharias and Elizabeth can teach us about prayer.
It was the birth that changed history. And here's why.
Feel like you're in spiritual cruise control? Here's how to get back into gear.
Sometimes giving thanks is a hard thing to do. But here's why we should.
What we need to remember when bad things happen to good people.
A lesson from Jesus' ministry on what makes God angry — and how to avoid it.
Following Christ will make you a rebel in today's culture. Here's why.
Why the first commandment should be top priority in our lives.
Three words to remember when we want to break free from sin.
Why believing in humanity's inherent good is a bad idea.
A balanced approach to spiritual gifts and why we need them in the church.
Why we need to recognize and identify false teachers and their teaching.
Should Christians be pacifists? A biblical look at an age-old question.
Why we should always pray and not give up.
Five principles for standing strong, even when you’re standing alone.
The first step in raising children who want to follow Christ.
What a famous king teaches us about the importance of God’s discipline in our lives.
Why God issues warnings — and why we need to pay attention to them.
Lessons on boldness from one prophet who courageously challenged a wicked culture.
A tragic lesson about how little choices can have big consequences.
Why partial obedience is just as bad as complete disobedience.
One gift that surpasses all others you'll receive this Christmas.
Three things Christians need to remember when it comes to giving thanks.
Tragedies happen. Wars happen. Accidents happen. Illnesses happen. Cancer happens. We live in a broken, fallen world, and nobody's exempt.
How Jesus' suffering on the cross went beyond physical agony.
What the Resurrection means to us, past, present, and future.
What we need to remember when spiritual growth seems slow.
It is God's absolute joy to bless you...and here's why.
Five reasons for making reading and obeying God's Word a priority in our lives.
The Bible must be more than a prop — it must be your guide.
Seven things we can learn from Joshua about being a person God uses.
The Christian life is a battleground. The question is, will you advance or retreat?
How the Passover pointed toward God's ultimate sacrifice.
What led to Judas' fall — and what we can learn from it.
The one place to turn when you need a second chance.
There are three kinds of storms in life that every believer will face.
Six principles we need to remember about running the race of life.
A little girl noticed that her mom was getting really stressed out around Christmas.
Ever wonder if God has forgotten you? He hasn't, says Greg Laurie. And here's why.
Two things every Christian needs to know about forgiveness.
What we can learn from the early church about having prayer answered in the affirmative.
What fishermen can teach us about sharing our faith.
Four important principles for living in light of Christ's return.
God still looks for men and women who are willing to stand in the gap.
Four keys to ensure victory as you run the race of life.
The ultimate triumph at Calvary was first accomplished at Gethsemane.
How one follower of Jesus caught what everyone else had missed.
Moses enjoyed a close, intimate friendship with God. And so can we.
God can do a lot with a little, so never underestimate the power of one.
Jesus said every believer would face persecution. But here's what He promises when we do.
They might not help you find parking spaces, but angels are nearer than we realize.
People look for Jesus for different reasons, but not always the right ones.
Have you ever wondered where happiness comes from? Some say it comes from possessions or career or family. The reality is that happiness can't be found in what the world has to offer.
Christians are spiritual millionaires. Yet so many live like spiritual paupers.
Is there such a thing as real love? If so, how do we find it?
Going through a rough time? Consider this: it might be a test.
Think of yourself as God's friend? Find out if you really are.
"God helps those who help themselves," the expression goes. I hope you don't believe that, because it is not in the Bible, even though people will quote it as such. If the Bible were to contain a statement along those lines, it would probably be something like, "God helps those who can't help themselves," or "God helps the helpless."
We live in frightening times. All around us, there are threats of violence unlike any we have seen before. In the news, government officials are warning the public about future terrorist attacks and how to prepare for them. These are distressing days.
Timing is everything when it comes to doing God's will God's way.
Knowing God's plan for your life may not be as hard as you think.
How to build — and keep — your spiritual stamina in the race of life.
Setting some goals for 2003? Here's where you need to start.
Would you give the world to know the Bible? By that I mean, would you be willing to give up something in exchange for knowing God's Word?
A lesson from Elijah on winning over fear and discouragement.
If there is one earmark that should be evident in the lives of Christians, it should be that we forgive. The more we know of the forgiveness God has extended to us, the more we should be willing to extend that forgiveness to others. After all, forgiven people should be forgiving people.
What's in a name? Juliet asked Romeo that question in Shakespeare's famous play, Romeo and Juliet. She answered it herself by saying, "What is in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet."
What seemed to be life's greatest tragedy became history's greatest triumph.
Sometimes a little decision is much bigger than you can imagine.
He wanted to catch a glimpse of Jesus. But he came away with far more.
Do you have what it takes to effectively share your faith?
It isn't enough to start the spiritual race — you must also cross the finish line.
Four captives in a foreign land teach us about surviving and thriving in difficult times.
What we can learn from a mother who wouldn't give up.
Principles for personal evangelism from evangelist Greg Laurie.
Will the foundation you're building on be able to withstand life's toughest storms?
Why every Christian has the potential to fall.
When you embrace discipleship as Jesus taught it, the outcome just may surprise you.
Five biblical principles that can help your marriage not just survive, but thrive.
How husbands can build genuine, lasting love in their marriages.
A lesson from the life of Moses on winning over compromise.
Have some messes built up in your life? Maybe it’s time for some spiritual housecleaning.
Imagine throwing a party and forgetting to invite the honored guest....
The arrival of Jesus wasn't early. It wasn't late. It was right on time.
How can you know the will of God? Greg Laurie shares three guiding principles.
It's an often-repeated command in Scripture, yet it's one of the most often ignored.
When we're hurting, we need to run to the cross — not away from it.
Greg Laurie discusses the terrorist attacks on the United States.
What you need to know when temptation comes knocking at your door.
Four things about the adversary that every believer should remember.
The Christian life comes with great privilege — and great responsibility.
Are "gray areas" in your life keeping you from a wholehearted commitment to Christ?
It's the small, seemingly innocent choices that can lead to the greatest compromise.
If good things keep you from enjoying the best things, then they've become bad things.
Whether good or bad, a father's influence leaves a lasting impression on his children.
Ready for Christ's return? Here are five things to do while you wait.
What children want most from their parents can't be bought.
Growing spiritual fruit doesn't happen automatically. It takes time — and cultivation.
Not just an historical event, Christ's resurrection reverberates with a timeless message for Christians today.
Fifty percent of all born-again Christians don't have the assurance of salvation. Do you?
Authentic Christianity once turned the world upside down. How authentic is yours?
God wants to be included in all of your decisions. Especially this one...
To keep your marriage strong, sometimes you need to go back to the basics.
We all face an uncertain future, but there's one thing we can be certain of...
One new year's resolution that's worth keeping...
Why God issues warnings — and why we need to pay attention to them.
People are looking for a place to go where they can feel a sense of refuge and love; the church is a place where this is possible.
So often we only run to God in times of tragedy or when things in our lives begin to fall apart. Prayer is our secret weapon and should be a second nature to us, like breathing.
You need the constant filling of the Holy Spirit. And the good news is that God will not charge you!
Death is not the end. Jesus has overcome it.
Share the gospel — who knows if the one you share with might be the next Billy Graham!
We have all heard statements like those before. Sometimes, even Christians who don’t understand their Bibles will say them.
Jesus wants to use you to touch your world!
The power of God is released in the preaching of the gospel!
God can use anyone — God can use you!
Believers should not make compromises to “relate” to the lost.
Jesus was committed to the Church, and we should be too!
One thing that we need to remember as Christians is that we are running a spiritual race.
Why do some die young, while others live long lives? We can come up with all of our fanciful ideas as to why God lets one person live and takes another.
A while back, I was asked, “Who crucified Jesus?” Maybe the question should be, “Who didn’t crucify Jesus?”
The moment you believed in Jesus Christ, the spiritual race began for you. Some of you are just beginning, and others have been running for quite a while.
In his final words to the leaders of the church of Ephesus, Paul likened the follower of Jesus to a steward.
As we walk with the Lord, the words of the apostle Paul serve to help us focus on what really matters. It is so easy, if one does not apply effort to do what God desires, to find oneself in the empty pursuit of nothingness.
In Acts 20, the apostle Paul gives his final words to the leaders in the church of Ephesus. In doing so, he describes the Christian life as being like a watchman.
There are many things that could be said in response to the question of why God allows trials in our lives, but here is one you may not have considered: God allows trials and hardship in your life so you can help others.
When the apostle Paul was imprisoned for proclaiming the gospel, he was no doubt feeling a bit down and discouraged. Perhaps he was wondering if he would ever be released.
Jesus was revealing to the great apostle that he was more than aware of his situation. Just because he was in a prison didn’t mean that God had lost track of him.
Over the years, the legendary Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog has featured some pretty extravagant gifts.
It has been said that more have been killed by food than by poison. The second best can often be the worst enemy of the best.
The Pharisees did not doubt Jesus because they merely disagreed with Him. They doubted Jesus because they were hardened against Him.
Temptation. There is no escaping it. But know this: it can help you to deepen and grow spiritually, causing you to cling that much tighter to the Lord Himself.
We all want to experience spiritual growth and success. Sadly, we all know people who have been spiritual failures in life. Perhaps we regard ourselves that way.
It is my firm belief that God can use you to bring others into His kingdom. Why would God tell us to engage in this thing we call evangelism if it were not so?
Perhaps you have seen those side-by-side photos in magazines like People or US Magazine that ask, “Who wore it best?” You see pictures of two celebrities wearing the same outfit, and the readers are encouraged to vote on “who wore it best.” It’s usually a no-brainer, since one is usually quite a bit more attractive than the other.
Prayer is the way by which God helps us to overcome our anxiety and worry.
Let me say something that may surprise you: the will of God is not always easy to discern.
One of the clear marks of a true Christian is that they pray . . . a lot!
In the Great Commission, Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. But what does it mean to make disciples? And more to the point, what exactly is a disciple?
Getting into heaven early is a privilege, not a punishment. It’s a promotion, not a termination. An early death means an early crown.
God loves you. We have heard it a thousand times, but it’s true. He loves everyone, everywhere, all the time. Jesus put it best when He said “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (John 3:16 nkjv).
Have you heard of the Hope Diamond? It it’s been described as the most perfect blue diamond in the world. It is one of the most valuable gems on the face of the planet, and worth $250 million.
Look, suffering is inevitable. No one gets a free pass. The fact of the matter is that you are either coming out of a storm or headed into another. It’s just a matter of time.
And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” —Mark 4:9 nkjv
An idol is anyone or anything that takes the place of God in our lives. What things can potentially become idols in our lives?
Sometimes, worship and thanksgiving can be a sacrifice. That may be because we are down, depressed, or things are not comfortable for us.
Hardly a day goes by now that I don’t speak with or hear from someone who has lost a loved one through death.
The Bible tells us that, in light of all God has done for us, we should present ourselves to Him.
I have been asked, “Why do you go out and do Harvest Crusades? Why do you travel to different areas of the country, taking time away from your church and your family to do this? What’s your motive?”
I am convinced that we need God’s help, not only when we are alert and awake, but even when we are sleeping.
What does it mean to be a Christian? How do you become one? I’m glad you asked. First, let’s look at three ways you cannot become a child of God. That’s right. How not to become a Christian.
I have heard it said, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. What I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do.”
Have you ever wanted to be used by God?
God Bless You!
By Greg Laurie
As Christians, we use the words bless and blessing a lot, and most of the time, we mean it. They are spiritual words that the world may try to hijack, but they really have no idea of what they are. That’s because true blessings are something that only the child of God can truly experience.
“Doubt Your Doubts and Believe Your Beliefs”
By Greg Laurie
Have you ever had doubts about your faith or ever wondered if it were really true? If so, do not be too hard on yourself. Some Christians are reluctant to admit that they have any questions at all, but in reality, all believers do. I think that we sometimes have the idea that questioning God is an act of spiritual treason or betrayal, or that doubt is an unpardonable sin. Listen, everyone has moments of doubt. Even John the Baptist—the cousin of Jesus, the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, and the direct forerunner of the Messiah—had them. After he had been arrested and imprisoned, he sent word to Jesus, asking, “Are you really the Messiah we’ve been waiting for, or should we keep looking for someone else?” (Matthew 11:3 NLT).
"Happy People Are Holy People”
By Greg Laurie
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”—Matthew 5:8 NKJV
“Waiting for the Rat to Die”
By Greg Laurie
It’s been said, “To not forgive is like drinking rat poison and waiting for the rat to die.” If there is one thing we all could use more of these days—it’s forgiveness and mercy. Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7 KJV).
Don’t Be Afraid
By Greg Laurie
If you were to ask the average person what prohibition is found more than any other in Scripture, you would most likely hear responses like these: Don’t steal. Don’t kill. Don’t lust. Don’t covet.
“How to Impact Culture”
By Greg Laurie
How can we impact our culture today? Is it already good and getting better, or is it bad and getting worse? The biblical worldview of today’s culture is that it is dark—and getting darker. By its very nature, it cannot get anything but worse because it has no inherent goodness to build on. As John MacArthur said, “Man has increased in scientific, medical, historical, educational, psychological, and technological knowledge to an astounding degree. But he has not changed his own basic nature and he has not improved society. His confidence has increased, but his peace of mind has diminished. His accomplishments have increased, but his sense of purpose and meaning have all but disappeared.”
“Some Day, My Prince Will Come”
By Greg Laurie
One of the amazing things about little girls is their desire to be princesses. Having raised two boys, I did not spend a lot of time around little girls; that is, until Stella, my first granddaughter, came along. It was like she was genetically predisposed to like the color pink and all things princess-related. So I have entered into those once-mysterious pink aisles in the toy stores that stock all things of that genre. And I have a confession to make . . . it’s kind of fun!
“An Appointment with God”
By Greg Laurie
So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. —Psalm 90:12
“It’s Time to Pray”
By Greg Laurie
In some of the old TV Westerns of the 1950s, the desperados (always in black hats) would be making their escape with the stolen loot from the stagecoach robbery. Suddenly, someone in the posse pursuing them (usually the ones in the white hats) would shout, “We have ‘em now! They’ve ridden into a box canyon!” And everybody knows there’s no way out of a box canyon.
"The Church Marches On”
By Greg Laurie
“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, My Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as My followers, I am there among them.” —Matthew 18:19–20 (NLT)
“Get a Life!”
By Greg Laurie
We have all heard the expression, “You need to get a life!”
Well, Jesus would put it another way. He would in effect say, “You need to lose your life if you want to find it!”
Being a disciple of Jesus means a person must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him.
“The Paradox of the Cross”
By Greg Laurie
Jesus said that if we are to truly be His disciple, we are to take up our cross daily and follow Him (see Luke 9:23). But what does that mean?
“A Thing of Beauty”
By Greg Laurie
“To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.” —Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)
“Eyes Wide Open”
By Greg Laurie
Jesus said that we are to go into all the world and make disciples. Being a disciple of Jesus includes counting the cost.
Evangelism Is Not Popular
A popular trend in the church today is to not share your faith.
USA Today had an article about a man who described himself as a “recovering evangelist.” He said that he used to engage in what he called “bait-and-switch” methods. In other words, he would engage a person with the purpose of bringing the gospel to them, but now he has changed his approach.
Is It Okay for a Christian to…?
We've all heard the question before.
“Is it okay for a Christian to . . . (fill in blank here)?”
Perhaps you are asking it right now.
Hope Beyond the Grave
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’” —John 11:25 (NKJV)
The Key to Effective Prayer
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” —1 John 5:14 (NKJV).
Are You Discouraged Today?
Even the most committed believer has those moments when fear or worry can kick in.
Anxiety can overtake us. Maybe we’re concerned about our future, feel discouraged about some of our failures and shortcomings, or find ourselves anxious about the lives of our family members.
Heavenly Hope!
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” —John 14:2 (NKJV)
For Those Who Do Not Feel Worthy to Approach God in Prayer
Do you ever feel as though you are not “worthy” enough to approach God in prayer?
Timing Is Everything
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” —Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV)
It’s All About Him
By Greg Laurie
A little girl noticed that her mom was getting really stressed out around Christmas. Everything was bothering her mom, and she was very irritable.
The Greatest Gift of All
I heard that someone actually tried to calculate how much it would cost to give the gifts named in the classic Christmas song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The grand total came to about $15,000.
“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:23 NKJV).
“Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1 ESV).
We have all probably heard someone say at some time, “God loves you.” And we may sometimes wonder, “Is that actually true? Does God really love me?”
When you become a Christian, one of the more notable changes is that you will give up many of the things you once did. Of course, this depends on your lifestyle prior to your conversion. But for many of us, a dramatic change will take place.
“Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea” (Matthew 14:25 NKJV).
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7 NLT).
“Judge not, lest you be judged” (Matthew 7:1).
“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6 NKJV).
Over the centuries, people have scoffed at the Bible and have pointed out how unscientific it supposedly is.
This is not unique to our times. Since the earliest days of history, people have laughed at the Bible.
“Love endures long and is patient and kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).
I don’t know about you, but there are two places I don’t really like to go: the dentist’s office and the doctor’s office.
It seems even if it’s a teeth cleaning, they will always find some other issue, which usually means that dental drill is coming.
As a child, I always wanted to go to Disneyland on my birthday.
I still remember making a vow in the backseat of the car, saying to myself that one day, when I became an adult, made my own money, and had my own wheels; I would go to Disneyland every single day. And if I couldn’t do that, then at least I would go twice a week.
When you want to get in shape, it’s actually through the process of tearing your muscles down that you build them up. The first day of your workout isn’t so hard. But the next day, you’re in some serious pain. Everything hurts.
When you go to a place like Disneyland with your children, you know where they are. You don’t leave the park and forget them, because you protect what you love.
In the same way, God never forgets those He loves. Writing to first-century believers, Jude addressed his letter “to all who are called to live in the love of God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ” (Jude 1 NLT).
“And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you’” (Mark 2:1–5 NKJV).
Let’s say that your phone rings tomorrow morning, and it’s a call from the manager of your bank. He tells you, “I received a very unusual call the other day. Someone who loves you very much and is quite wealthy has given you a large sum of money. This anonymous donor will be depositing 86,400 cents into your account every single day.”
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8 NIV).
It has been said that the best cure for hedonism is an attempt to practice it.
If you chase after pleasure, you will eventually come to the same conclusion as King Solomon: “I said to myself, ‘Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the “good things” in life.’ But I found that this, too, was meaningless. So, I said, ‘Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?’” (Ecclesiastes 2:1–2 NLT).
A true story was reported about a couple visiting a jewelry store. As the jeweler showed them various cross necklaces, the woman commented, “I like these, but do you have any without this little man on them?”
How should I live my life on this earth? What purpose does God have in mind for me, now that I have received His Son Jesus Christ into my heart?
Thanksgiving is finally upon us. And that means Christmas is closely following. Often we put so much of our focus on Christmas, we miss this important American Holiday.
I like that fact that thanksgiving is not about buying presents or decorating trees and homes, but it’s about getting together with family and friends and doing what we all love—eating! And more importantly, it’s about giving thanks.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2 NKJV).
Have you ever had one of those birthdays when you wanted people to throw a party for you?
You wanted them to buy some nice gifts. You hinted at what gifts you wanted and even left maps to the places where you wanted them to shop. You were hoping someone would get the idea of throwing you a surprise party. You were certain that every time you went out to dinner with a friend that people were going to jump out and yell, “Happy Birthday!” You were looking forward to it with great excitement. But nothing happened. The party never took place. In fact, it seemed like people forgot your birthday. Or worse yet, they remembered it but failed to acknowledge it.
My computer screen flashes a little warning sign on those occasions when I try to load too much information onto my hard drive. It tells me my memory is full—it has no more room for any more information.
Does God still speak to people today?
Is He interested in what happens to us as individuals? Does He really have a master plan for our lives? Or are we merely victims of blind chance?
When I travel, I take my laptop computer with me, because I try to work on my messages. But often I must work off the battery, so whenever I get the opportunity, I plug in to the nearest electrical outlet. Why? Because my battery is running down, and I need to recharge.
We tend to put on pedestals the first-century believers and, in particular, the apostles.
We imagine them speaking in King James English, perfectly living out God’s commandments and boasting stained-glass lives.
If you want to learn about God and His ways, then learn to study the wonderful book God has given to us: the Bible. It is the user’s manual to life. It tells us what is right and wrong and what is good and evil. It tells us how to live, how to do business, how to have a successful marriage, and much, much more.
Imagine that you were desperately hoping for a letter from someone special. You stand at the window, waiting for what seems like an eternity for the mail carrier to arrive. Finally, he drives up and puts something in your mailbox. You bolt outside and tear into your mail, looking for that precious letter. Maybe it’s from someone you love. Maybe it’s an answer to a job application.
The word disciple means “learner.” A disciple is a pupil, one who comes to be taught. But a disciple is not a passively interested listener. The idea of a disciple is that of someone who listens to one who possesses full knowledge, drinking in every word and marking every inflection of the voice, with an intense desire to apply what has been taught. A disciple really wants to learn.
Just about everything I can think of in this world of ours has its limits: wealth, time, wisdom, opportunities—even physical life itself. Paul wrote: “For this world in its present form is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:31 NIV). And John declared, “This world is fading away, along with everything that people crave” (1 John 2:17 NLT).
Where will you turn in a time of crisis? When tragedy hits? When disaster strikes? Will it be your favorite magazine? The morning newspaper? The evening news? You will need something to give you strength and direction in your time of need—and you cannot find a better resource than the Word of God.
When you become a Christian, one of the more notable changes is that you will give up many of the things you once did. Of course, this depends on your lifestyle prior to your conversion. But for many of us, a dramatic change will take place.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” —Hebrews 12:1
Someone once asked the great British preacher C. H. Spurgeon if he could put into a few words his Christian faith. “Yes,” he replied, “I can give it to you in four words: Jesus died for me.”
Workers laid the foundation for one of Italy’s most famous structures in 1173, a tower designed to stand next to a cathedral. During construction, however, they discovered the soil was softer than previously thought, and the tower began to sink.
Not long ago, I had a conversation with two people after church.
One was in a wheelchair with a severe disability, and the other was speaking at length. I listened to her for a while, and then I turned to the woman in the wheelchair and said, “Well, how are you doing?”
Peter’s denial of Jesus did not happen over a period of seconds or minutes, but over a period of hours. An hour passed from the time the first person said, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean,” to the time Peter denied his Lord for the second time. He had ample opportunity to hightail it out of there, but for some reason he hung around.
My granddaughter Stella often would pick flowers, bring them to me and, with a smile of her beautiful face, say, “These are for you, Papa!” It always warms my heart.
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven . . . A time to keep silence, and a time to speak. —Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7 NKJV
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” —Romans 8:28 NKJV
I was with my granddaughter Stella and she said the cutest thing. She looked deeply in my eyes, then pushed her little nose right up to mine and said, “Papa, I can see myself in your eyes!”
Have you ever felt as though you were all alone and nobody cared? You might be surprised to know that the great apostle Paul felt this way too. In his final epistle, he wrote, “Everyone abandoned me” (2 Timothy 4:16 NLT). Know this: God has not abandoned you! He can compensate by His own loving presence for every earthly loss.
Have you heard the story of the time when all the people came out of their graves and walked around town? People dressing up for Halloween? A Zombie film? No, not exactly. I am talking about a story right from the pages of Scripture.
I find it interesting how we can look at the past through rose-colored glasses. Remember the children of Israel? They had been delivered from the tyranny and bondage of Egypt, where for years they had languished in slavery. In their deep distress they cried out to God for deliverance, and the Lord answered their prayers through a man named Moses.
And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” —Luke 18:26–27 NKJV
When you set up your nativity set for the Christmas season, one of the figures that is often not noticed, or is put off to one side, is Joseph.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” —Luke 2:14 NKJV
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. —2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT
When we are afflicted, suffering, or in trouble, God tells us what we should do: come before His presence and pray. Why? For one thing, it may just be that God will remove that problem because of our prayers. That is not to say that God will always take away our afflictions, suffering, or troubles; but sometimes He does.
Are you facing a “storm of life” right now? By that I mean, are you facing some kind of crisis or unexpected tragedy? Are you losing hope?
Have you been hit with an unexpected crisis? Are you wondering what to do?
Have you ever bought a used car? One thing you have to beware of is a car that has been in collisions and has a lot of “Bondo” on it. Bondo is a resin product that is used in the place of proper body work or to cover up some kind of problem with the body of the car. Sometimes I wonder if we have some “Bondo believers” out there. By that, I mean people who appear to be one thing but really are another.
The Christian life is the greatest life there is. God takes a life that was empty and aimless and, worst of all, headed to a certain judgment, and He turns it around and transforms it. That is more than enough right there. But in addition, He removes the guilt that haunted us, fills the emptiness inside of us, and takes residence in our heart. This all comes as a result of the gospel believed and followed. That is the good news.
I saw an advertisement in a computer magazine with a photo of a guy shaving. It asked the question “Is it an alarm or a calling that gets you out of bed in the morning?” That is a very good question. What do you live for? What makes you tick? What do you get up for in the morning?
Are you having troubles in your marriage? Consider this passage about how a husband should love his wife: “Love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4). I believe husbands hold the key to a flourishing marriage. If they would be proactive instead of merely reactive, leading spiritually, it would change everything, especially in a struggling marriage. Yes, the love that a husband is to have for his wife is kind. This love shows itself practically: showing her tenderness, bringing her gifts, actually telling her you love her.
The Christian life is the greatest life there is. God takes a life that was empty and aimless and, worst of all, headed to a certain judgment, and He turns it around and transforms it. That is more than enough right there. But in addition, He removes the guilt that haunted us, fills the emptiness inside of us, and takes residence in our heart. This all comes as a result of the gospel believed and followed. That is the good news.
Perhaps you have heard of George Bernard Shaw. We was a highly regarded thinker and writer and, among other things, won a Nobel Prize in literature. He also was an avowed and vocal atheist. Shaw firmly believed in science and what mankind could accomplish. But toward the end of his life, he realized this was a misplaced hope. He wrote, “The science to which I pinned my faith is bankrupt. Its counsels, which should have established the millennium, led, instead, directly to the suicide of Europe. I believed them once. In their name I helped to destroy the faith of millions of worshippers in the temples of a thousand creeds. And now they look at me and witness the great tragedy of an atheist who lost his faith.”
Have you ever eaten something that turned your stomach? This is exactly how Jesus feels about lukewarm people.
A father was talking with his daughter and her 5-year-old friend, Kristin, about birthdays. Kristin’s was March 30 and the father’s was March 27. The father said, “You know what Kristin? Our birthdays are three days apart!” She looked up at him and then said, “Yeah, but you grew much faster than I did!”
I heard a story about a wealthy employer who overheard one of his employees remark, “You know what? If I had $1,000, I would be perfectly content.” Knowing that wealth had never brought him contentment, he walked over to that employee and said, “You know, I have always wanted to meet someone who is perfectly content. So I am going to grant your desire.” He pulled out his checkbook, wrote a check for $1,000 and gave it to her. As he walked away, he overheard her say rather bitterly, “Why didn’t I ask for $2,000?”
The first recollection I have of going to church was with my grandparents. I was a little boy, and I didn’t like it at all. I thought it was boring. My grandmother kept shushing me, and I drew cartoons on the church bulletin as the preacher droned on.
Have you ever been gripped by fear? You know the feeling. Your blood goes cold. You get a shiver down your spine. Your stomach sinks. Your hair stands on end (in my case—that is singular, not plural). All of these are associated with fear.
“For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News” (Colossians 1:4–5 NLT).
“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD.”
— Psalm 31:24 NKJV
Someone asked this question on my Facebook page.
“My family lost our 14 month old daughter on June 2, and so my question is, what happens to babies when they die? I believe they go to heaven, but as I was reading that people in heaven know about what is happening here on earth, do babies know what is going on? Do they have someone guiding them? Seeing that she was so young, how will she know?”
Can a man and a woman fall in love, be married, and live “happily ever after”? Or is that just a fairy tale?
“‘I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,’ says the LORD.” —Ezekiel 37:14 NKJV
What on earth is happening in the Middle East? It seems that all we hear about in the news from this region is another outburst of violence—or a threat of one.
“But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’” —Matthew 5:37 NKJV
“God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart…” —Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT
“We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.”
—1 Chronicles 29:15 NLT
“I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’” —Isaiah 6:8 NKJV
“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” —1 Corinthians 9:27 NLT
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another . . .”
—Colossians 3:12–13 NKJV
“‘As for Mephibosheth,’ said the king, ‘he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.’”
—2 Samuel 9:11 NKJV
“A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.” —Proverbs 14:30 NKJV
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” —Psalm 46:10 NKJV
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” —1 Corinthians 9:24 NKJV
“Having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.”
—Revelation 14:1 NKJV
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die.” —Ecclesiastes 3:1–2 NKJV
“‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God.”
—James 4:6–7 NKJV
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."
— Proverbs 14:34
“And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them.’” —Revelation 21:2–3 NLT
“We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.” —Philippians 3:20 NLT
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
—2 Corinthians 5:10 NKJV
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
—Proverbs 17:22 NLT
“‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.’” —Revelation 14:13 NKJV
“God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.” —1 Corinthians 1:28 NLT
“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” —1 Thessalonians 3:13 NKJV
“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” —Ephesians 6:18 NLT
“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” —Matthew 10:7 NKJV
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are My followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.” —Matthew 5:11–12 NLT
“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” —Revelation 21:5 NKJV
“Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually.”
—Psalm 119:117 NKJV
“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” —2 Corinthians 5:8 NKJV
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