Prayer for Family PeaceLord and Father, Scripture guarantees that as Christians we will face trouble in this world. I pray that my family, as we face this trouble, will take heart. Fill us with comfort and peace and remind us of how you encountered trouble during your days here on Earth. Amen.Prayer for GrandchildrenDear God, help me to pray and co

He also shares the same sentiment in John 15:7: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”John 16:23-24 says “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my na

Love Is the Belt That Holds it All in Place“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:14).Paul writes to the Corinthian church and says that “love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). It sounds similar to Colossians 3:12-13 above. He goes through all of the attributes which describe what love i

1. The Truth and Meaning of Confirmation Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” – John 2:19One of the most beautiful truths in the angel’s declaration that he is not here for he has risen is the truth of confirmation. I believe this is the most important truth. Without the reality of the resurrection, J

1. Hanukkah“Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.” - John 10:22We will start our list with Hanukkah, as it is perhaps the best-known Jewish holiday to those who are not otherwise familiar with Judaism. Hanukkah, which is translated as ‘dedication,’ is a b

How Do the Psalms Bring God Praise?God is glorified in the praises of His people, and the Psalms have been a blueprint for His praise for the last several thousand years. The word Psalm is simply a translation of the Hebrew word meaning, ‘song’. Throughout the centuries, many songs have been written based on the soaring language found in the Psalms

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”And Jesus says in John 15:26, “When the Advocate comes, who

The Vanity of Life: A recurring theme in Ecclesiastes is the notion of "vanity" or "meaninglessness" (Ecclesiastes 1:2). The Teacher, or Qoheleth, reflects on the fleeting and transient nature of human endeavors and achievements, suggesting that many pursuits ultimately lack lasting significance.The Inevitability of Death: Ecclesiastes addresses th

What Do We Learn from Ecclesiasties 3:1 about Change and Timing?Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, goes to great lengths to preach that we must put our trust in God’s sovereignty which means he is in control of all things. God is with us in the hardest battles. He guides our steps from one season to the next. He sees what is coming ahead for us a

Key Verses from Genesis through Joshua“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” – Genesis 1:27 KJV“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. You must not have any other god but me.” – Exodus 20:2-3 NLT"Do not seek revenge or bear a gru

Psalm 23:4 - “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”Psalm 37:4 - “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”John 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your h

We call Good Friday good for a number of reasons. First, we remember that Good Friday did not end on that Friday. We had Resurrection Sunday a few days later to look forward to. It is good in the sense that we anticipate what would come to pass days later.Secondly, we call Good Friday good because we cannot have the Good News of the Gospel without

What Does Glory Mean? The word glory comes from the Latin word “gloria” which means fame or renown. In a secular sense when people speak of glory the term can have two meanings. In one instance, it is the bestowing or showering of high honor or praise on a person, usually for some achievement. For example, if you do well in school you may be put on

The Least Are the GreatestAnother passage that makes clear the upside-down nature of the Kingdom comes from Matthew 23:11-12. In this passage Jesus says that “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” This is in stark contrast with the way our world

Is Porn Sinful? In today’s world, where most pornography is made on camera, the very creation of it involves the sin. Even when the sex acts are simulated, making the videos, or posing for graphic images, involves the two people removing their clothes and engaging in sexual contact. With erotica, the author must engage in the act of sitting and thi

1. When a person receives the gospel, it reveals that God has already been at work in their heart.“Zacchaeus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way” (Luke 19:3-4).Zacchaeus

What Does it Mean to "Work Out Salvation with Fear and Trembling"? The New Living Translation of Philippians 2:12 reads "Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear." The Message version reads "Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God." Paul is encouraging us to be humbl

How Should We View the Good Gifts from God in Our Lives?As we look at the many gifts in our own lives, we can do several things to grow in our relationship with the Giver of these gifts.1. We can be humble.The Bible pulls no punches when humans are considering becoming prideful. “What do you have that you did not receive?” Paul asks. “If you then r

What Is “Blessed Assurance?"Many Christians doubt their eternal security. We can become trapped into thinking that if we aren’t doing enough or aren’t holy enough then we’ve lost our salvation, or maybe were never saved. Fanny Crosby, who wrote the lyrics to this song, stood firm on her faith in Jesus. As a child, she memorized multiple books of th

1. CedarwoodEgyptians used cedarwood to embalm the dead as a means of preservation for the afterlife. It is also used as a traditional medicine in Tibet. Derived from the cedars of Lebanon, much like its balsam fir neighbor, cedarwood is known for its healing and cleansing properties.Cedarwood in Scripture: “The priest shall order that two live cle