Our world whirls and spins without thinking. On hyperdrive, society cruises ahead at breakneck speed. We move fast to get what we want fast. Like Veruca Salt, we want it, and we want it now! Gone are the days of slowness, the days when the journey was just as beautiful as the destination. We often think any shortcut worth taking, that the quickest route is the best route. (8 Minutes/1500 Words)
Read moreGet Help For Your Weaknesses From Your High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Even a cursory glance at the Psalms shows us that God wants to help his people. Time and time again, in their national prayer book, on inspired by God's Spirit, the people of Israel asked God for his help. "In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help" (Psalm 18:6). (20 Minutes, 3200 Words)
Read moreWe Need The Spirit's Power (Acts 1:8)
Jesus, man, sometimes he drops some wild stuff. The Spirit had come upon some of the Old Testament saints. They did some great things for God. David killed the giant. The prophets prophesied. Esther did her thing. But when God's Spirit came upon those Old Testament heroes, it was temporary and rare. He did not stay in them or upon them, nor did he empower all of them. (2 Minutes, 500 Words)
Read moreJeremiah Wasn't Always Alone -- Neither Are You (Jeremiah 26:20)
Jeremiah, like most of the prophets, was a solitary pillar of truth in a wasteland of doctrinal deception. He stood for the truth of God, saying hard things during hard times when no one else would. As truth spilled from his mouth, lies dripped from the lips of many false prophets. (3 Minutes/600 Words)
Read moreArchival Podcast: Restorative Praise For Your Spouse
For Whom Does Your Heart Burn? (Hosea 7:4-7)
Ready. Set. Go. The people of Israel, during Hosea's prophetic work, were primed and prepared for rebellion. Their hearts, like a preheated oven ready to bake, were predisposed to chase after various forms of heartbreaking and painful sin. Their temperature was on high -- 450 degrees and ready to get into something harmful. (3 Minutes, 500 Words)
Read moreJesus Brings His People Into True Rest (Hebrews 4:1-13)
Jesus, famously, said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Millions, since he said it, have craved that rest. We seek him for it. (20 Minutes, 4000 Words)
Read moreArchival Post: God's Surpassing Power
click to read
God's Surpassing Power
Gospel Scope: God's Children (Romans 8:12-17)
Recently, I attended a large pastor’s conference with church leaders from all over the world. During one of the allotted sessions, they held a question and answer session with senior leaders. Every pastor on the platform had been in ministry for at least forty years. (20 Minutes/3500 Words)
Read moreGod's Systematic Destruction of Our Self-Reliance (2 Corinthians 1:8-9)
Though we do not know what trial Paul endured in Asia, the Corinthians knew, and what we do understand is that he was "utterly burdened beyond strength." The man was at his breaking point, unable to endure, feeling his last ounce of strength evaporate. Paul trudged through great pain in his years, but this was the last straw. (4 Minutes/750 Words)
Read more