Sometimes blessings don’t use the word “bless.” When my husband and I were raising funds to become missionaries, we visited numerous small churches. Often the pastor would call everyone up to pray for us and in that one summer, at three different churches, someone prayed this blessing over us, “The Lord will prepare for you a table in the presence

2. Introductory prayers during which a priest may include a brief penitential rite if the person to be anointed hasn’t already received the Sacrament of Reconciliation (commonly referred to as confession) prior to the anointing (John 20:19-23)3. Readings from Holy Scripture4. The laying on of hands by the priest in anointing the sick person’s foreh

Lust is a desire in our flesh that must be kept under the control of the Holy Spirit living within us. When the Bible tells us to flee from lust (1 Corinthians 6:9) it points out the dangers that come from allowing lust to control our decisions and behaviors (Romans 6:12). When we are lured into temptation, this almost always involves a component o

We need other Christians in our lives to challenge us, support us, and help us understand what it means to live a life for Jesus. We cannot sharpen ourselves, we need others to do that. The Holy Spirit works through other believers to help refine us, and a small group is often the ideal place for real and lasting spiritual transformation to take pl

What Makes a Crisis?Crisis, defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is, “a turning point” and “an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person's life.” Crisis results in the temporary loss of coping abilities, disrupting our capacity to regulate our internal response to an external threat. In neurological terms, crisis s

1. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).While John 3:16 may be a familiar verse for many Christians, it serves as a reminder that God’s love for us is so deep that He gave up his only son, Jesus, on the cross so that we may have ne

The Christmas season is a beautiful time of reflection of the year that has passed, and a new year to come, but more than anything the reminder of what Christ did for all of mankind in humbling Himself as a mere child to be the Savior of the world. For many, His humbling as a seed to grow as a great tree to be chopped down and rise again is best re

Be aware that many people who’ve used, or responded to, the Romans Road often miss the vital point of repentance and wholehearted devotion to Christ as their Master. Giving the impression that simply “accepting Jesus” will bring earthly blessings and heaven’s reward, at no personal sacrifice to the sinner, is a watered-down gospel that will “tickle

“Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and d

When John and the other apostles, including Simon Peter, were faced with the possibility of betraying Jesus, they called Him “Lord.” Judas called Him “Rabbi.” While this Hebrew word for teacher was a title of honor, of distinction, and acknowledging Jesus’ knowledge of the Old Testament, it did not acknowledge Jesus’ deity, power, and proper place

What Is a Hardened Heart?In order to understand the heart, let’s first look at it physiologically. This central muscle forms in humans around the third week of pregnancy—nearly the beginning of our lives. With each thrust or thump of the heart, blood courses throughout the body. The heart is a human engine of sorts, dispersing life flow from that f

1. It Allows God to Provide for YouI tend to think if we’re awake worrying, instead of sleeping, God lets us continue to worry. But if we choose to switch off our minds at night and trust Him to do for us what we can’t do, He gets to work on what it is we need.Although you may be most familiar with the New International Version’s translation of Psa

Lifts: It lifts us up to the heavenlies, where we are seated with Christ – a buffer of faith that lessens our times of doubt and trouble and exposes the deceptions that surround us on this fallen earth (Ephesians 2:6-7).Delivers: Sometimes, praise of God brings deliverance from suffering and healing to the body (James 5:13-14).Why Else Should

How, then, can we insist on others being clean before we will honor them with our presence? The Apostle Paul, a Christian-killing terrorist before he was met with the radical love of Jesus, made it clear that as Christ’s followers, we are not to judge the world (1 Corinthians 5:12). That is God’s job. Not ours. We do hold those within the church ac

1. Pray SpecificallyTake some time to research the Appalachian region. Developing a sense of what this place is like will help you to pray for the people and the church. The Appalachian church needs you to pray specifically for economic development, wisdom for the leaders of this area, and a resurgence of hope. Pray for a loss of the “I’m stuck” me

Judah's Youth In Hebrew, Judah means thanksgiving or praise - יהודה. The name was appropriate, given the circumstances in which he was born. His mother Leah was Jacob’s first wife, but not the wife he loved. He wanted to marry Leah’s younger sister Rachel, but their father Laban tricked the young Jacob into marrying Leah first. Leah felt this coldn

Suggested hymns: Joy to the World, Hark! The Herald Angels SingFourth Sunday of Advent Readings: LoveLight the third purple candle. The Love Candle, also known as the Angel’s Candle, symbolizes God’s love revealed in Christ. Purple reminds us once more of the royalty of Christ and the love that motivated God’s plan for salvation.John 3:16-19, “For

Elsewhere, the apostle Paul gave a suggestion to help Timothy’s ailment: “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Timothy 5:23). Today, we might advise others to seek medical help and get the support they need from those who are trained professionally. Having healthcare is

...by Giving His Life for Them…How did Jesus face His own suffering and death? Jesus knew His purpose was to suffer and to die. It was prophesied in Isaiah 53 that He would be “a man of suffering, and familiar with pain” (verse 3); He “took up our pain and bore our suffering” (verse 4); He was “pierced for our transgressions” “crushed for our iniqu

If Jesus lives inside a believer, they cannot be indwelt by a demon. We no longer live under the authority of the powers of Satan (1 Corinthians 1:13-14). For more on this topic, check out this article by Don Stewart from Blue Letter Bible.Should we be scared of demons?I would suggest reading C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters for a case study on how be