1 Kings 11:1-10Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, "You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods." Solomon held fast to these in love.  He had...  Read More

Strengthening the Walls of your SoulThe walls of the Temple as described in the Old Testament were apparently 3 to 5meters wide, the thickest of any structure existing at that time. The constructorswanted to depict the need for something strong enough to contain God’s gloriouspresence. Paul has this picture in his mind when he launches into his prayer inEphesians 3. He had just been talking about ...  Read More

The Gift of Pain To call pain a gift seems like an oxymoron, I know. But without pain, we would repeatedly reinjure ourselves in the same ways. Without pain we would simply maintain the status quo. Without pain we would ignore problems that can kill us.In fact, pain saved my life on July 23, 2000. I woke up that Sunday morning with intense pain in my abdomen, but I ignored it. I tried to preach a ...  Read More

Song of Solomon"The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!  For your love is better than wine.Your oils have a pleasing fragrance, Your name is like purified oil; Therefore the maidens love you. Draw me after you and let us run together! The king has brought me into his chambers.  We will rejoice in you and be glad; We will extol your love more than wine. Ri...  Read More

Passivity or FullEngagementPassivity is a robber. The prophet Elijah was anything but passive when he prayed forrain. There had been no rain on the land for three years. By anyone’s definition, that is aserious situation. How the rain came about is very interesting.In I Kings 18:1, God tells the prophet, “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will sendrain upon the land.” In I Kings 18:41, Elijah...  Read More

Living Prayerfully all Day Long Luke makes this statement as 3,000 people accept Peter’s message of Jesus, giving their lives to him and being baptized. As brand new Jesus-followers, “They devoted themselves… to prayer.” Prayer isn’t the “advanced course” in following Jesus, or something for a small circle of those monastically inclined. As a group of people following Jesus together in community, ...  Read More

What Are You Willing to Give Up?PRAY OVER THIS:“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’” (Hebrews 11:17-18)PONDER THIS:God is going to test your faith by asking you to do something that may surprise you. The test is often not in giving up wrong things an...  Read More

What are you Willing to Give Up?PRAY OVER THIS:“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’” (Hebrews 11:17-18)PONDER THIS:God is going to test your faith by asking you to do something that may surprise you. The test is often not in giving up wrong things an...  Read More

How to Walk WiselyThe Lord gives His wisdom generously to every person who genuinely seeks His ways.Ephesians 5:1-17Godly wisdom enables us to view things as the Lord does and to respond according to biblical principles. This discernment isn’t automatic, but it is available to all believers who “try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph. 5:10; James 1:5). And the best way to know what please...  Read More

Walk WiselyHow to Walk WiselyThe Lord gives His wisdom generously to every person who genuinely seeks His ways.Ephesians 5:1-17Godly wisdom enables us to view things as the Lord does and to respond according to biblical principles. This discernment isn’t automatic, but it is available to all believers who “try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph. 5:10; James 1:5). And the best way to know ...  Read More

1 Kings 10:1-9Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with difficult questions.  So she came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels carrying spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.  Solomon answered all her questions; nothing wa...  Read More

The Blessing of God’s PeaceWhen we sow peace, the light of Jesus shines into the world.To get the most out of this devotion, set aside time to read the Scripture referenced throughout.The Bible reveals to us who God is, and one important aspect of His character is that the Lord loves peace and wants it to fill the earth. Read Jesus’ promise in John’s gospel: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I giv...  Read More