How do we explain the evil of Christian persecution?  What is the reason that a believer in Egypt is arrested and jailed for posting a message on social mediate that offended his Muslim neighbors?  How do we understand when missionaries are kidnapped in South Niger?  How do we account for a 13-year-old Christian girl who is forced to convert to Islam in Pakistan (persecution.org)?  How do we make ...  Read More

1 Corinthians 1:17-31For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.  For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE...  Read More

Romans 14:23But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith;for whatever is not from faith is sin.The writer of Hebrews reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God ( Heb. 11-16). Whenever God reveals something, He expects us to believe Him and adjust our lives accordingly. What does this mean? It means we trust Him implicitly for all of our needs, bec...  Read More

"Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and He was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them." Mark 6:47-48aHave you ever walked through something so difficult, so terrifying, that you have caught yourself asking, "Jesus, where are You?"Sometimes when life gets overwhelmingly hard or confusing, it can feel like our Messiah has g...  Read More

Conversations of giftedness draw our minds to natural abilities.  Some people a great with words.  Others run fast or can fix a car or excel in baking cookies or have the gift of gab.   Theses types of talents fall to everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike.Spiritual gifts are different.  They are only for those who live with the presence of the Holy Spirit.  These attributes serve the purpo...  Read More

1 Corinthians 1:10-17Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.  For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you.  Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and ...  Read More

2 Timothy 3:16-17All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.All Scripture is profitable! Knowing this, we cheat ourselves when we do not access every book, every truth, every verse, and every page of our Bibles for the promis...  Read More

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come - 2 Corinthians 5:17 Dear God,Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for all that you have allowed into our lives this past year, the good along with the hard things, which have reminded us how much we need you and rely on your presence filling us every single dayWe pray for your S...  Read More

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.  Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27).The body of Christ is ...  Read More

1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours; Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.I thank my God al...  Read More

This week children around the world will share their personal answer to: What did you get for Christmas.  It is an easy request that has a much deeper connection.  In the child's mind the response is all about the stuff.  They will tell stories of special toys with a little glimmer in their eyes.  The unspoken truth is that each gift is attached to a relationship.  Children are excited about the n...  Read More

Christmas is a time for giving gifts … and receiving gifts.  Think about that Christmas gift you received.  What did you do to get it?  You did not earn it.  You did not necessarily deserve it.  All you had to do on Christmas morning to make it yours was to unwrap it and receive it.  After all, it was freely given by someone who loves you.The Bible says the gift of God is eternal life through Jesu...  Read More