Do You See Thorns or Roses? Numbers 14:1-11 Two boys were eating some grapes. One of them remarked, “Aren’t they sweet!” “I guess so,” the other replied, “but they’re full of seeds.” Wandering into a garden, the first boy exclaimed, “Look at those big, beautiful red roses!” The other commented, “They’re full of thorns!” It was a warm day, so they stopped at the store for a soft drink. After several swallows, the second youngster complained, “My bottle’s half-empty already.” The first quickly responded, “Mine’s still half-full!” Many people are like the negative-thinking boy in this story. They always look […]

God Will Move the Stone Read: Mark 16:1-14 When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. Mark 16:4 The women who sought to anoint the dead body of Jesus are to be commended for their tender love and regard for the Savior. Yet, as they came near the place of burial, the practical difficulty of moving the heavy stone that sealed His tomb brought them unnec¬essary anxiety. Their fears were groundless; the stone had already been moved. So too, we are often needlessly concerned over prospective dif¬ficulties that God graciously removes or helps us overcome. […]

A Better Place for the Bible BIBLE MEDITATION: “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Psalm 119:11 DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: The home is a good place for the Bible. The hand is a better place. The heart is yet a better place. We must learn to hide God’s Word in our hearts. And in order for it to get in our hearts, we have to read it. We have to study over it. How much time are you spending with the Word of God? Do you wonder why you can’t live a pure […]

You Are Never Alone Read: John 14:15-21 | Jesus is just as real today as He was when He walked on this earth. Even though He doesn’t move among us physically, by the Holy Spirit He is here, there, everywhere—a continuous, living presence—outside of us and inside of us. That may be a terrifying thought for some. Perhaps you don’t like yourself, or you’re contemplating all the bad things you’ve done. Insecurity and sin can create a sense of fear, awkwardness, and clumsiness in Jesus’ presence. But think of what you know about Him. Despite what you are or what […]

Cut Off – Psalms 31 For I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before Your eyes”; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You. — Psalm 31:22 We all feel helpless and cut off at times. It may seem that not even God can hear or answer our cries for help. The psalmist David said in a time of trouble, “I am cut off from before Your eyes” (Psalm 31:22). But David discovered that the Lord had not forgotten him, and he rejoiced, “You heard the voice of my supplications when […]

What do you worship, We all Worship something! Why do some folks enjoyed hearing about God’s grace and have no qualms about some of His teachings, but they usually get upset when they realized Jesus asked for everything. When they’d see those passages about Jesus telling people to give up everything, say goodbye to all they know, they’d get upset. How dare He. Who does He think He is? They’d always freak out because they thought Jesus had no right to ask for everything from them. To put their whole lives, desires, and passions at His feet. I don’t understand […]

MONDAY MORNING PULPITS To things bother me a lot when the subject of Christians and their work is mentioned. First, how few are genuinely happy in their jobs. Second, how frequently I hear about Christians who are poor workers on their jobs. Some employers have even told me that they prefer to not hire Christians. Wow … That’s quite an indictment! As I probe for reasons, here’s what is said. They tend to be presumptuous – they take advantage of a Christian boss… . They are often preoccupied with other things – witnessing, church, whatever… . Frankly … I can’t […]

COMPROMISE AND CONSEQUENCE Some things make no sense at all. Like lighting a match to see if your gas tank is empty. Or stroking a rhino to see if he’s tame. Man, not smart! They’ve got a name for nuts who try such stunts. Victims. Or (if they live to tell the story) just plain stupid. And yet there’s a strange species of Christian running loose today who flirts with risks far greater than any of the above. That’s right. And they will do so with such a calm face you’d swear they had ice water in their veins. You […]

Our Lifeline Read: Psalm 91 He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust. Psalm 91:2 In his book The Fisherman and His Friends, Louis Albert Banks tells of two men who were assigned to stand watch on a ship out at sea. During the night the waves from a raging storm washed one of them overboard. The sailor who drowned had been in the most sheltered place, while the one who survived was more exposed to the elements. What made the difference? The man who was lost had nothing to hold on to. What […]

Are Good Times Bad? Read: Jeremiah 32:1-2, 16-30 You show loving-kindness to thousands…. You are great in counsel and mighty in work. Jeremiah 32:18-19 In books and sermons, Christians are often asked whether their faith is strong enough to withstand bad times. I’m wondering, though, if a better question is this: “Is my faith strong enough to survive good times?” I keep hearing about people who drift away from the Lord not when life is bad but when it’s good. That’s when God seems unnecessary. Too often we interpret His blessing as an indication of our goodness, not His. We […]