"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23) Sanctify is a beautiful word. It means to make holy that which was unholy. It’s...
"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by...
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6,7) Last night, I received the sad news that one of my pastor...
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ." (Ephesians 4:15 NIV) When visiting one of my daughters, her 4 year old son was watching me put on my make up. He wondered what I was doing so told him...
"Please give us this land as our property, and do not make us cross the River Jordan and settle there." (Numbers 32:5 GNB) [1] Have you crossed the Jordan River? The tribes of Reuben and Gad saw how good this land was going to be on the near side of the Jordan River....
As a lawful citizen of my country, I can travel the roads, shop at the supermarket, visit my friends, cook a meal, hold a job, and so on. Everything I do is lawful and no restrictions are imposed on me. However, if I am not a citizen of this country, or if I have...
New seedlings that sprang up under the White Cedar tree were destined for the mower blade. They were growing in the wrong place and their characteristics were wrong for the area. So what if I could do something to give them a new life in a new place? Taking the...
"For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." (1 Peter 2:15 NKJV) It looks like Autumn is sneaking in a bit early this year in the forested mountains of my home. Tiny splashes of red, yellow, and orange are...
Remembering our roots keep us down to earth. Do you remember the first day you turned your life over to the Lord. I do. It was March 21, 1980. My life was total chaos before that time. I was wavering from church to church continually trying to find the answers in...
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery again to fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of...