What Might ‘Giving in the Name of Jesus’ Look Like? Some heart examination can help us determine whether our kind of giving resembles how Jesus gives.Jesus served others in humility. He “took the form of a servant and humbled himself” (Mark 10:45). He modeled humility. Giving in His name should look like humility, not posturing or a desire to be no

It will be many years before the story unfolds and we see the identity of this precious Son. But Genesis certainly points us there. We see that our rescue will come from outside. There isn’t much in Genesis that points us to the eternity that awaits us. But again, there are little glimpses, like Jacob’s ladder. There is hope even in Joseph’s death

Our Biblical Heroes Asked the Same Questions Abraham was asking the same type of question. God said, “I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” Yet, his wife remained barren and they were both well past the years for giving birth.

The Challenge of Practicing the Sanctity of LifeIf you are going to be an advocate for the sanctity of life, then here is where this gets a little sticky. Before you can proclaim you believe in the sanctity of life, it is imperative you begin by searching your own heart and asking yourself some tough questions (don’t worry I had to do this too). Ta

May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. (Psalm 141:2)Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)Be joyful in hope, patie

What Does This Verse Mean? To understand what this verse means, it is important to look at the surrounding passage to make sense of what James was teaching. This will help us better comprehend what James was referring to and how we can apply this to our own hearts and lives. What Is the Context of James 1? The early church and ongoing tradition h

Therefore, we know that love ultimately is about living a life centered on God. To love God is to obey him (1 John 5:3). When we do that, we set our standards not by how we happen to feel but by an eternal standard and a person who can guide us. This helps us go beyond just trying to be nice, giving sacrificially, and doing difficult things because

A Prayer for Times of ChaosI praise You because You are good and faithful. You are gracious and merciful. I am thankful for all the ways You take care of me and watch over me. I trust You see all things, especially what I am going through right now. Lord, my heart is heavy with confusion, with stress, and with feeling anxious right now. I desire to

A couple of summers ago, I was diagnosed with COVID. Thankfully, my symptoms were much milder compared to many others who had the illness. But it did seem as if it took me forever to get my oxygen levels back. A friend had given me a pulse oximeter, and I found myself checking my levels almost nonstop. It wasn’t healthy. Always checking your temper

We Need Each Other Throughout Scripture we can see this truth revealed in the accounts of God’s people:-Adam could not fulfill his destiny alone, so God gave him Eve.-Abraham could not fulfill his destiny alone, so God gave him Sarah.-David could not fulfill his destiny alone, so God gave him Jonathan.-Elisha could not fulfill his destiny alone, so

In Jesus’ name I pray,Amen.SourcesBarnett, John Dr., Discipline Yourself for Godliness. Tulsa: DTBM, 2007.Christian DisciplinesSpiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord a

Peace Through GraceDear God, thank You for Your truly amazing grace. Please help me give Your grace away to others as freely as I’ve received it from You. May I see You as God over the small things, just as much as the big ones, so I can experience Your unending peace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Jasmine WilliamsPrayer for Peace in the FamilyHeavenly F

What Is the Armor of God and Its Purpose? Paul starts the book of Ephesians with greetings and praise for God's blessings to believers. The next three chapters are a quick but compelling reminder of what believers have received through Christ, and the heritage they share. Next, Paul turns to stressing how members of the body of Christ need to show

Why Does the KJV Include the Phrase "Sound Mind"?sound mindA Prayer for When You Are Filled with FearI praise you because You are good and have good plans for me. You have called me to certain purposes in my life, and I do not want fear to ever draw me away from you, hinder me from doing what you want me to do, or prevent me from sharing the hope I

How Can We Be Faithful Witnesses Today, in the Places God Has Placed Us?Just as the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit’s guidance and peace to move forward in proclaiming Jesus to the world, we are filled with the same to be faithful witnesses of Jesus to those who don’t know Him or have a personal relationship with God.ConclusionWhen Jesus

Cain’s generations excelled at human endeavors and vocations such as building, music, metal forging, etc. (Genesis 4:17-22). God is not mentioned in this passage regarding Cain’s descendants. They advanced in one sense, but corruption identified them (polygamy came through Cain; Lamech boasted about murdering a man, etc.).In the generation stemming

For example, what Saul did, above, in asking a medium to bring forth the spirit of Samuel, is an example of how far he strayed from the Lord as the first king of Israel — and why he was replaced by King David.Familiar spirits are not the departed family member but some other spirit impersonating them — or a demon.Are Ghosts Demons?Some of what we m

God Is MercifulGod Is HolyBethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.

Judah and TamarIn Genesis 38, an unusual story appears in the middle of the account of the brothers selling Joseph. In the Old Testament, men were supposed to take their brother’s widows in marriage to bring up sons for the dead. Judah refused to give his youngest son to his daughter-in-law, Tamar, after her husband died.She tricked Judah into a se

Do We Still Have to Tithe?Why Is Tithing Important for Us?Pamela Palmer is a writer, speaker, and the founder of upheldlife.com, the platform on which she produces devotionals and faith resources to inspire keeping faith at the center of life. She is in pastoral ministry and gets to share in the emotional and spiritual lives of others. She lives an