In my garden out back of our house, I planted tomato, pepper, and squash plants this spring. I did not plant only a single seed of each, but many seeds of each type. What would you think of me if I say I am disappointed today that I have no apple trees, cactus plants, or strawberries growing? Would you think me foolish? What if I went further to say that I am frustrated that so…
Have you ever heard someone quote from the Bible that, “money is the root of all evil?” Does God really oppose riches and want His children to avoid nice homes, cars, and other physical possessions? Is it wrong to seek financial freedom and success? To start off, let’s check the accuracy of that biblical quote. 1 Timothy 6 7For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.…
One day, a little boy decided he wanted to learn to ride a bike. He found his dad and asked him all about how bicycles worked. His dad told him all about the history of bicycles, the parts that make up a bicycle, and the technique required to ride one. Victory! Or Is It? The boy and his dad began working diligently on learning to ride the bike. As the boy practiced, he gradually improved,…
Are you growing? Not in height, but in your capabilities, your character, your walk with God? Here’s one way to check: how often lately have you been frustrated, overwhelmed, and uncomfortable? Yes Benefits, No Discomfort It’s a little funny sometimes how we always want to have the capability, the strength, the skill, but we avoid the exact things it takes to develop those parts into us. I’ve heard it said that the place where success…
Do you expect that following God’s way will make life easier? If you study the Scripture and seek to keep all its precepts, will your circumstances be easy and smooth? While our loving Heavenly Father promises many good things to us, His children, a life of comfort and ease isn’t one of them! Psalm 3 (New Living Translation) 1O LORD, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. 2So many are saying, “God…
Can you think of a time when you faced a tough decision and were unsure of the proper course? When posed with two different options and can only choose one, how do you sort out the best way to go? I believe that the first step is to recognize the value in seeking council. This is natural, isn’t it? To tell people around what’s going on in your life in order to hear their perspective? …
What would you think of a person who drove his 2013 Corvette convertible around while wearing a blindfold. How about someone who kept his eyes glued to the rearview mirror as he blazed down the highway? Would you think that person is nuts? Would you consider that person dangerous? Would you be surprised if I told you this is exactly the way most people operate a major aspect of their life? The illustration above is…
Would your friends describe you as an appreciative person? Are you grateful for the many blessings you enjoy? Or, are you prone to take the benefits you daily enjoy for granted? Do you occupy yourself more with giving thanks for the good things or keeping count of the bad things? Today we’ll learn from the master, as the Lord Jesus Christ teaches us to have hearts of gratefulness. Luke 7 41″A moneylender had two debtors:…
I used to think that leaders were the ones with all the answers—the smartest ones in the room. While it takes intelligence to lead a team, I’m learning that great leaders do something you might not expect, and they do it exceptionally well. You may think that you’re the smartest person in the room—and you might even be right. But if you’re unwilling to listen to the people around you, you will dramatically hamper your…
What is truth? Have you taken a moment recently to think about this question? You have beliefs, beliefs that guide your decisions, and even how you react to situations in your life. But are these ideas true? If we’re honest with ourselves, every one of us has an imperfect worldview in some way. We use our experiences, our minds, and God’s Word to guide us, but only One man who has walked the earth had…