Devotionals

Welcome! Choose a devotional to read:

• Judgment (4/19/2008 11:39:08 PM)
  {Romans 2} Judgment Reserved for those who are free from guilt in like matters {Rom 2:1; Ps 50:16-23} Without partiality (showing favor to more desirable people) {Rom 2:11; De . . .
• I'm Made By God (1/26/2008)
  {Gen 1; Ps 8} "Make man in Our image" {Gen 1} Threesome: Soul (breath of life {Gen 2:7} Spirit Body . . .
• Return of the King (1/5/2008)
  {Revelation 19} Hallelujah One for God Salvation, glory, and power are God's {Rev 4:11; 7:10} His judgments . . .
• What's Your Worldview? (12/15/2007)
  What do I really think of God? He's the only One {Is 45:5-10} There is absolute right and wrong; everything created by Him {Ex 20} Jesus is the only way to . . .
• The Woman and the Dragon (12/9/2007 2:36:24 PM)
  {Revelation 12} The sign of the woman Clothed with the sun The glory of God? {Rev 21:23; Ps 60:19-20} Moon under h . . .
• End of Tribulation (12/1/2007)
  {Rev 9:20-21} - Despite all the horrible things happening on earth from the seven seals and six trumpets, mankind did not repent. {Rev 10-11} Angel with a little open book Seven thunder . . .
• One on a Throne (11/4/2007)
  What is He like? {Gen3; Ex 24, Is 6; Ez 1,10; Rev 4}  Sitting on a throne in heaven Lightning and thunder from the throne Fearsome {Ex 19,20} . . .
• Signs of the Times (10/20/2007)
  How to tell when the end is near? {Mat 24}   "Many will come in my name" I am the Christ, the anointed, the Messiah, your deliverer! So many people have proclai . . .
• Personality Test (10/14/2007 9:29:30 PM)
  The point here is that this book is about "the things which must shortly take place" - remember? This isn't about churches, or about history, or about us - it's about the Revelation of Jesus . . .
• Sending a Message (9/16/2007 12:10:14 AM)
  From & To {Rev 1:1-2,4} God gave this revelation to Christ Christ gave it to His angel His angel gave it to John John gave it to Christ's serv . . .
• Prophecy in the Bible (9/8/2007 11:27:57 PM)
  Warnings about what is to come Think of all the warnings to Israel, over generations Preemptive warnings as the people heard the law of God Pra . . .
• Parenting (8/25/2007)
  Instruction: Teach God {De 4:9} and His Word {De 6:7; 6:20; 31:12,13} Regular Bible study Regularly bring their attention to God Train {Pr 22 . . .
• Dealing with the Devil (6/30/2007)
  {II Kings 15:32 - 17:41} Jotham - good Did right But didn't clear out the bad Ahaz - bad Sacrificed his son to idols Appealed to Assyria instead of God to help when . . .
• Watered Tree (5/20/2007)
  {Ps 1:1-3} 1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2  But his delight is in the law of the . . .
• The Hand of God (5/5/2007)
  Israel under attack - {1Kings 20} Battle 1 (1-21) First demand for gold, silver, women, and children Agreed!! Then, demand to walk through and take whatever Nope. . . .
• The End (4/28/2007)
  Previously with Elijah, Elijah has just come off the triumph of the defeat of Baal's prophets, killing hundreds of them. He has been fed by God for years first by ravens, then by the bottomless fl . . .
• Decisions (3/31/2007)
  Jeroboam God offered His blessing if He was obeyed {1Ki 11:38} Headed up a petition for a good cause, reduced governmental oppression Jeroboam declined, and his kingdom . . .
• Foolishly Stubborn (3/17/2007)
  Rehoboam succeeded his father Solomon to the throne of Israel. He inherited a fabulously rich, powerful kingdom, and had known little else his entire life. As he begins his reign, his people entreat h . . .
• Faithful to Forgive (2/24/2007)
  God is faithful To keep his promises To forgive us To give us joy and peace Moving the ark to the temple (1-9) Gathering everybody together (1-5) P . . .
• Building the Temple (2/17/2007)
  {I Kings 5-7} Solomon builds the temple Conditions met: Solomon is king (i.e., David isn't) Peace is in the land Solomon wants to respect his father's wishes God's prom . . .
• Encouragement in the Church (12/30/2006 10:59:22 PM)
  Action, not reaction {1Peter 3} Put to practice in marriage {1Pe 3:1-7} The recipe for a good marriage is based on mutual respect and honor Use expanded to body of Chris . . .
• With friends like these, Who needs enemies? (12/24/2006)
  With friends like these, who needs enemies? Examples Delilah's treachery with Samson {Jud 16:18} Job's wife and friends {Job 2:7-13; 42:7} Judas' . . .
• Writing Encouragement (12/17/2006)
  "in my own hand" {1Cor 16:21; Gal 6:11; Col 4:18; 2Th 3:17; Phm 1:19} Why in writing? Takes more thought and refinement The writer benefits by spending time meditating on Go . . .
• Encouraging Each Other (11/19/2006 12:53:42 AM)
  What's the difference between this and loving one another? To inspire with hope, courage, or confidence; hearten. (from American Heritage Dictionary) The bottom line is that we care enough about e . . .
• The Encouragement of the Resurrection (11/4/2006 9:36:43 PM)
  The tale of Jesus' followers during the confusing times following His resurrection generally follow a certain pattern: Discouragement because of unbelief Encouragement because Jesus reveal . . .
• Communicating with Kids (4/29/2006 11:40:09 PM)
  Thoughts on proper communication, with kids in particular: In Word and in Deed "Actions speak louder than words" the old adage goes. Well, that certainly says a lot about how important . . .
• Be Like Christ (4/22/2006 9:35:14 PM)
  If, if, if. If only we could be like Christ all the time, in what we say, what we do, what we think. Paul has a few different ifs, along the same line of thinking, in {Philippians 2:1-11}. He's mak . . .
• Goals of Parenting (3/18/2006 7:11:28 PM)
  Goals Teach the Law {De 6} {De 6.2; 4:10; 11:19} Fear the Lord your God Keep his statutes and commandments . . .
• Praying Thanksgiving (11/26/2005 10:09:55 PM)
  Thanksgiving Day is behind us, along with all the family fellowship. food, and activities. We all know we should be thankful for what we have, but it isn't always easy, because our selfish desires dri . . .
• Wise Government (9/24/2005 9:47:57 PM)
  {Proverbs} has much to say about many things, setting out multitudes of cause-and-effect and comparisons that reflect the true nature of man and God's wisdom. Let's look at Proverbs and government . . .
• How to Pray (9/1/2005 7:55:08 AM)
  Jesus gave us an outline for prayer in {Matthew 6:5-15}. The text itself explains that this is not a prayer itself ("don't use meaningless repeititions" {Mat 6:7}), but is instead to be us . . .
• Word Power (8/13/2005 9:51:48 PM)
  Oh, the power of speech! More than just communicating, we use words and attitudes behind them with great effect.God wants to hear us talk.He wants to know we love Him {Jo 21:15-17}He promised to hea . . .
• On Trial (7/30/2005 8:20:15 PM)
  {Mark 15; Ps 22}Morning Council {Mar 15:1; Ps 2:2}Appearance before Pilate {Mar 15:1-15}Pilate's questioning {Mar 15:2}Priests' accusations {Mar 15:3-4}Jesus' silence {Mar 15:5; Isa 53:7}Barabbas' r . . .
• God Was With Him (7/8/2005 11:19:17 PM)
  "God was with him."Only a few men in the Bible had the privilege of this status, and it made a really big difference in their lives:Abraham {Ge 21:22,26:24,28}God prospered and blessed Abr . . .
• Joseph the Teen (7/2/2005 1:08:26 AM)
  {Genesis 37}Joseph's brothers simply did not like him. They had several reasons, just glace down through the headings that follow. He was Dad's pet, gets all the nice clothes, has presumptuous dr . . .
• Don't Love (6/12/2005 2:42:37 PM)
  "Love makes the world go round" , "all things are possible with love."Love isn't always a good thing. {1John 2:15-17}Yes, we are to love our brother {1Jo 4:21}, love our enemies . . .
• The Watchful Servant (5/29/2005 8:16:52 AM)
  Mark 13; Key phrase: Take Heed! Commands v5 See to it that no one misleads you v7 Do not be frightened v9 Be on your guard v11 Speak what the Holy Spirit leads v18 Pray the tribulation d . . .
• Transfiguration (11/27/2004 9:59:15 PM)
  Jesus was a man, and He is also God. During His time walking around as a man, His deity was shown "only" in His sinlessness, His miracles, and His Word. Only once did He actually look li . . .
• Transitions (8/25/2004 4:30:42 PM)
  Faithful daily plodding yields results, but at some point there'll be a change. Whether desired or not, you'll have to face that fact that somehow you'll have to transition out of an old position, w . . .
• The Better Man (6/13/2004 8:01:45 AM)
  During the time of Saul and David's cat-and-mouse chases, there were many men accompanying them in their efforts. Saul had the power of the government, and the advantage of a much larger army. His m . . .
• Rewards (5/5/2004 4:41:20 PM)
  Whether or not it's the greatest motivator, a reward is always welcomed for efforts done! Rewards are not gifts; they are earned, and vary depending on how well the work was done  and what type of wor . . .
• Spiritual Armour (3/3/2004 4:34:11 PM)
  What kinds of armour are there for the spiritual warrior?Armour of light {Rom 13:12}Armour of righteousness, as well as a breastplate of righteousness {2Cor 6:7, Is 59:17, Eph 6:14}Breastplate of fait . . .
• Courage (2/18/2004 4:15:34 PM)
  Before digging into Scripture for examples and clarification of what courage is, here's a bit about different application of it, from Webster's:Courage is that firmness of spirit and swell of soul whi . . .
• Do You Believe? (2/4/2004 4:10:21 PM)
  Do you really believe in the reality of a spiritual world? That the physical is merely a shallow shadow of a deeper reality? Obviously, we miss the importance of the spiritual world, because we don' . . .
• Growth into Trouble (1/14/2004 11:08:07 AM)
  The Israelites must have been extraordinarily fruitful {Ex 1:7} when they lived in Egypt! They arrived as a large family of 70 {Ex 1:5}, and increased in just a few generations to become quite numerou . . .
• The Spiritual Battle (1/4/2004 3:28:33 PM)
  DefensesGod’s protectionWatching over us {2Chr 16.9}Surrounded by His angel {Ps 34.7}Under his wing {Ps 91.4}Of Jacob's family against the Canannites {Ge 35.5}Of Israel against the Egyptians {Ex 14. . . .
• Fruit-Bearing Branch (12/18/2003 8:40:43 AM)
  Oh, the promise of {Isaiah 11}'s righteous King!Fruitful {Is 11:1}Empowered by the Spirit of the Lord {Is 11:2}Wise {Is 11:2}Understanding {Is 11:2}Counselor {Is 11:2}Strong {Is 11:2}Knowing {Is 11:2} . . .
• Hope (12/17/2003 11:42:47 AM)
  What it is about the future that's so appealing? For most of us, there is always the promise of a better tomorrow, a new beginning, something to look forward to. Yesterday is gone, today is not right, . . .
• Pruning (12/16/2003 8:44:46 AM)
  World leaders think they have so much power and control over their actions, when they really do not. God uses nations for His own purposes, and easily controls events to create circumstances in which . . .
• Messiah the Sacrifice (12/9/2003 10:34:19 PM)
  Jesus' first coming was dedicated toward saving His people, not ruling them. I doing so, He fulfilled many prophecies concerning His character through all of it:He was mocked and insulted {Ps 22.6-8}H . . .
• Messiah the King (12/2/2003 10:11:23 PM)
  The Jews were not wrong in expecting the Messiah to be the King that would triumph over all their enemies; their timing was just off! Jesus Christ is most certainly the King of Kings and Lord of Lords . . .
• Fulfillment (11/12/2003 5:05:39 PM)
  As one of the best examples of the integrity of the Bible, consider the propecies Jesus fulfilled in His few years on earth (from the Thompson Chain Reference Bible):Would be the "seed of a wom . . .
• How to get along (11/12/2003 2:53:15 PM)
  People getting along with each other has to be one of the most problematic issues on earth. Insurmountable differences cause war, separation, grief, and pain. As odd and dangerous as it sounds, the . . .
• No Wonder (11/11/2003 9:01:38 AM)
  It's no wonder the Jews were disappointed at Jesus' lack of military inclinations. They wanted their sweet revenge on years of oppression; they wanted to see God's promised payback time, like He descr . . .
• His Hand is Still Stretched Out (11/6/2003 7:32:12 AM)
  {Is 9} is a chapter of stark contrasts. The first seven verses contain some of the most famous prophecies of the Messiah, and yet the rest of the chapter is a hopeless declaration of judgement. Since . . .
• Steadfast (10/29/2003 7:38:13 AM)
  Like a tree, our Christian lives are to steadily grow in stature and strength, become a glorious example of God's power to create a solace for the weary from a little tiny seed of faith. A tree doesn' . . .
• Mastery (10/21/2003 10:13:37 PM)
  "Everyone who competes . . . exercises self-control in all things." ({1Cor 9:25}) Becoming really, really good at something doesn't ever happen by accident. Whether it's a sport, trade, occupation, s . . .
• Know it all (10/15/2003 12:47:53 AM)
  Once a person is saved by faith, he diligently applies himself to being approved by God. He doesn't want to displease his Father, so is careful to renew every aspect of his life by the power of the Ho . . .
• Adding (9/15/2003 11:52:33 PM)
  A growth plan for Christians, starting from {2Peter 1:5-11}: Faith Diligence Diligently pursue His calling {1Pe 1:10} Diligently establish a peaceful, spotless, blameless character {2Pe 3:14 . . .
• Growing Up (9/9/2003 9:41:53 PM)
  Antonio is going to grow up into a 13 year old young man this year. What goals do I have for him, and the other children to follow, as he matures into an adult?His HeartJust as our bodies' hearts pu . . .
• Sanctuary (8/25/2003 7:01:17 AM)
  In {Isaiah 8}, the prophet is told some more details about the upcoming captivity of Israel. As the Lord describes what He's going to do, He points out along the way how He's going to preserve His peo . . .
• Curds and Honey (8/12/2003 7:57:57 AM)
  We all know the prophecy, Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. {Is 7:14} What isn't so famili . . .
• How Long? (8/4/2003 9:50:05 PM)
  Things often take a lot longer than we want. It happens for God, too:How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? (to Pharoah {Ex 10:3})How long do you refuse to keep My commandments? (to Mo . . .
• Time's Up (7/30/2003 11:18:30 AM)
  After all the warnings and reminders of {Isaiah 1-5} and all the previous prophets, kings, and judges, God has had enough. Above all else, God is holy {Is 6:3}, and will not allow sin to flourish {I . . .
• Results (7/22/2003 8:17:07 AM)
  God is very considerate and careful. For hundreds of years, He has meticulously built and cared for His people Israel, as a vineyard {Is 5:1-4}. He has removed obstacles, blessed with riches, protec . . .
• Back to Shelter (7/15/2003 7:13:53 AM)
  The good thing about the judgment of God is that is accomplishes true repentance. It is a cleansing agent that purifies to the bone {Is 4:4}, leaving nothing but God to depend upon. When that time c . . .
• Not a Pretty Sight (7/14/2003 9:31:40 AM)
  You really do not want to face the judgment of God. He not only has the knowledge of how to truly punish us, but also all the power to completely support his warnings. {Isaiah 3} (and following) go in . . .
• Ups and Downs (7/10/2003 9:48:04 PM)
  Ever notice how in {Psalm} after Psalm, so many of them start out with a cry for help, then end up at peace with God? Life is definitely a roller coaster; despite our best intentions, we have an incre . . .
• The Fear of God (7/9/2003 7:33:41 AM)
  Isaiah writes of a wonderful day, when God directly rules the world, and peace is so prevalent that weapons are good only for farm tools {Is 2:1-4}. It doesn't get that way so peacefully, though. The . . .
• Refinement (7/8/2003 7:37:47 AM)
  God used Isaiah for many years to give Israel plenty of heads-up as to the consequences of their actions. Isaiah was around for Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah - many years of both good and bad tim . . .
• Building Project (7/2/2003 8:33:41 AM)
  A few reminders from {1Corinthians 3} of what really is real and important in life:Jealousy and strife are childish {1Cor 3:1-3}God causes growth, all people can do is plant and water {1Cor 3:-8}Chris . . .
• Mind-Reading (7/1/2003 7:35:42 AM)
  The goal of a Christian's life is to glorify God, by obeying His commandments and doing His will. The commandments are laid out very clearly throughout the Scriptures, but we often struggle with the o . . .
• Incompatibilities (6/25/2003 8:14:23 AM)
  People are usually incompatible. We generally can exist in close proximity to others, but the longer we are close, the harder it is to live together peacably. The to make this even more non-sensical, . . .
• It's All About People (6/16/2003 8:23:12 AM)
  Paul finishes up the book of {Romans} with the customary greetings. For never having visited Rome, he sure knows a whole lot of people there. For good reason, these people have powerful testimonies fo . . .
• Hope (6/11/2003 8:21:17 AM)
  Hope is a wonderful thing. Hope provides a vision of something wonderful to look forward to, a meaning and purpose to life. Hope is a very positive force, being different than fear - also a powerful m . . .
• Getting Along (6/10/2003 8:00:35 AM)
  One of the most certain things under the sun is that you will disagree with others. Each one of us has his own opinion, and lives as he thinks is best. This way can be completely self-centered, withou . . .
• Law, Love, and Life (6/4/2003 7:58:56 AM)
  LawLeaders think they get into power by working their way up the political ladder, whether through aboveboard or underhanded means. They think that with enough money and the right connections, power . . .
• Samson's Heritage (5/24/2003 8:32:50 PM)
  Samson's upbringing; {Judges 13}.The sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord {Judg 13:1}. Again? How many judges have preceded Samson?Abdon the son of Hillel (8 years) {Judg 12:13-14} . . .
• Remember, Resolve, and Recall (5/22/2003 10:58:59 PM)
  For a couple weeks we're studying {I Peter} in our youth group meetings. Last night my group make it through part of chapter one. We were looking for reminders, things to resolve to do, and a verse to . . .
• ToDo List for Peace (5/20/2003 7:31:17 AM)
  There is a big difference in how a Christian lives, compared to that of a non-Christian. The difference stems from a transformed nature. The Holy Spirit renews our minds into conformity with service t . . .
• Marvels of Creation (5/15/2003 7:20:50 AM)
  We have a lot of flowers around here this time of year, and we love to photograph these little works of art. Whenever we stop to marvel at the beauty and design of nature, we can't help but praise G . . .
• Bible Study (5/14/2003 7:28:28 AM)
  Study TypesTopicalBookChapterCharacterWord studiesTaking NotesOutlinesListsVoice recordingsRole playingArtSetting goalsVerse cardsMemorizationStoryboardAbout Bible Studyfrom R. A. TorreyDaily . . .
• Gardening (5/13/2003 7:45:17 AM)
  Remnants, branches, grafting, mercy, grace, and the role of Jews and Gentiles in this age. Paul addresses the issue of the chosen people, with regards to Israel rejecting their Messiah, and the inclus . . .
• Faith in Christ (5/12/2003 7:17:54 AM)
  It's really remarkable how well Paul knew the Old Testament. His extensive familiarity of it combined with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit brings so much perspective into the New Testament. If you . . .
• Friends (5/7/2003 4:25:52 PM)
  Our daily interaction with people is one of the most telling clue into our true character. Like nothing else, people bring out the extremes. Whether furious anger or exuberant joy, another person ofte . . .
• The Little Things (5/6/2003 7:19:36 AM)
  The little things count. They are the proving ground of your faithfulness and dependability. Little things have far-reaching affects more profound than one could ever imagine. God does the big things . . .
• Bad to the Core (5/5/2003 6:49:35 AM)
  A couple weeks ago, I dismantled a platform I'd put up between some trees in our backyard. The reason I did was because one of the three supporting trees was looking pretty bad, like it was dying, a . . .
• God's Freedom of Choice (5/1/2003 8:20:18 AM)
  We love our rights freedom of choice, our free will - but is it really that free? Are they really rights? It seems that it's actually a curse, as a result of disobeying God's command {Gen 3:5,7}. Maki . . .
• Victory! (4/29/2003 7:42:20 AM)
  {Romans 8} is a great guidebook for victorious Christian living. Free from sin, chosen by God to be glorified, and inseparably linked to Jesus Christ. Several verses are familiar to me in here, but . . .
• Living Death (4/28/2003 7:49:33 AM)
  For the Christian, there is a life-long struggle between the new and the old, the regenerated inner man vs. the sinful old nature {Rom 7:14-25}. I know what is right, I know how to do right, and I kno . . .
• Dying for Freedom (4/26/2003 8:14:51 AM)
  "For he who has died is freed from sin." {Rom 6:7}Paul continues his line of thought from {Romans 5}, developing the relationship of the Christian to sin.Our lives are united with Christ's . . .
• Through One (4/24/2003 7:44:34 AM)
  Paul spends quite a bit of time making the point that:One man, Adam, brought sin into the world, condemning us all because of one sin. {Rom 5:12,14,16-19}One man, Jesus, brouth salvation to the world, . . .
• Credit Account (4/23/2003 7:14:26 AM)
  How does one win favor with God? By obeying Him, certainly, but what if a person doesn't know the Bible, and the Law that is in it? Is there no hope? Does the person who never hears about Jesus Christ . . .
• Balance (4/21/2003 9:38:19 PM)
  "The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control." {Galatians 5:22,23}Balance is a large part of the Christian life. The strict requirements of the law have to be tempered with the sensiti . . .
• Guilty as Charged (4/17/2003 7:05:59 AM)
  God has graciously chosen to offer salvation to everyone, because everybody needs it:Nobody is righteous {Rom 3:10}Nobody seeks God {Rom 3:11}Everybody selfishly does their own thing {Rom 3:12}Everybo . . .
• Freedom to Serve (4/15/2003 8:30:09 AM)
  I recently had the opportunity to Biblically respond to a Christian brother's offense at something I was doing with our youth group. It wasn't easy to do, but it was the right thing to do.Being Impa . . .
• Gentleness (4/9/2003 4:26:03 PM)
  The calm, controlled strength from the Spirit. There is a direct tie between humility and meekness (from Online Bible Greek Lexicon, 5898): is humility, not the making of one’s self small when he is . . .
• Actions Speak Louder (4/9/2003 7:33:15 AM)
  Words are powerful things. Especially when said in less controlled ways, like in anger or in accusation, they reveal the inner thoughts and motives of the person speaking. In times of stress they open . . .
• Everybody Knows (4/8/2003 8:53:15 AM)
  {Romans 1}Paul was inextricably linked to his Saviour, Jesus Christ. He couldn't bear the thought of starting a letter without thanking God for his salvation, and often laying out the basics of that . . .
• Faithful Fruit (3/25/2003 10:19:44 PM)
  "The fruit of the Spirit is . . . faith" {Gal 5:22} This part of the fruit is both faith, a deep conviction in God as creator and Christ as Savior, and faithfulness, or dependability. It's also used . . .
• Good Fruit (3/18/2003 7:04:56 AM)
  Three of the nine Fruit of the Spirit are quite similar: NAS: Kindness, goodness, gentlenessKJV: Gentleness, goodness, meekness Looking for some more meaning here: Kindness, goodness: good, kind . . .
• Longsuffering Fruit (3/5/2003 8:00:57 AM)
  More than anything else, God is longsuffering. This seems to have a few shades of meaning: Enduring wrongful harm {Jer 15:15} Forbearance, whether being harmed or not {Rom 9:22, 2:4; 2Pe 3:9} . . .
• Steadfast (3/1/2003 9:45:27 PM)
  God wants us to be faithful. Not just when we feel like it, but all the time! It can't be called faithful if it's inconsistent. Another word that conveys this feeling of time well is steadfast; not mo . . .
• Peace Fruit (2/5/2003 2:13:32 PM)
  What is peace? Strong's definitions: Complete, sound {Rom 8:6, 2Pe 3:14} Friendship No war {Jos 9:15} Harmony between individuals {Mar 9:50, Rom 12:18, 1Th 5:13} Security, safety {Ps 119:1 . . .
• Love who? (1/22/2003 5:43:03 PM)
  Who/what does the Bible say we should love? God {Ex 20:6, De 5:10,6:5, 7:9, 10:12, 11:1,13,22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6,16; Jos 22:5, 23:11; Jud 5:31; Ps 18:1, 31:23, 97:10, 116:1; 145:20; Dan 9:4; Mat 22: . . .
• Why Fruit? (1/15/2003 4:55:09 PM)
  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" {Gal 5:22-23}. But? Right before the list of the fruit of the Spirit is a cont . . .
• Fruit (1/8/2003 12:05:51 AM)
  Fruit is Food Food {Gen 3:2} Satisfying {Ps 128:2} Often eaten by those who produce it {Is 3:10} Results Results of work {Ex 23:16} The results of a righteous man's life {Ps 92:11-15} . . .
• Joy Fruit (1/6/2003 7:07:49 AM)
  "But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy" {Gal 5:22-23} Joy is more than happiness. It's a state of contentment that doesn't require comfortable circumstances {Pr 14:13, 2Cor 7:4, Hab 3:17-18} in or . . .
• Time Management (12/29/2002)
  All time is God's He assigns it to us. {Job 7:1-3} Frame of referenceAs time passes, time units become less and less significant relative to the total passed
• Stressed-Out (12/22/2002)
  {Psalm 107} Because of: Alienation {Ps 107:4-5} lonely, disenchanted Enslavement {Ps 107:10-12} obligations, addiction Rebellion {Ps 107:17-18} going my own way, resisting God Adversity {Ps . . .
• Love Fruit (12/17/2002 6:18:55 AM)
  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love . . ." {Gal 5:22-23} This love is particularly the brotherly love kind. Along with the rest of the fruit of the Spirit, it makes it possible to live peacably with . . .
• Lists to Live By (12/16/2002 6:50:42 AM)
  The fruit of the Spirit is a dramatic contrast to the deeds of the flesh, showing the level of spiritual life flourishing in a believer {Gal 5:22-26}: Love - brotherly love {Gal 5:13, Rom 12:9,10; . . .
• Worthy of Praise (12/9/2002 6:29:09 AM)
  To finally finish my series on {Philippians 4:8}: "if there be any praise, think on these things." Praise is one of those fine arts. If you go too far with it, you are in danger of becoming a flatter . . .
• Wonderfall (11/8/2002 7:35:56 PM)
  "Stand and consider the wonders of God." {Job 37:14-24} I love fall. I love the crispness of the air. I love the smell of the leaves carpeting the ground. I love the colors of the early sunse . . .
• Making Disciples (10/29/2002 8:56:14 AM)
  Jesus spent a lot of time demonstrating and teaching us how to care for others. He healed people of all sorts of diseases, He fed thousands at a time, He gave His life for all people of all time - Jes . . .
• Forgetting, then Planning (10/19/2002 9:17:34 PM)
  The cupbearer forgot Joseph. Life was so good after being in prison, it just escaped him mind. In the same way, the abundant 7 years would be forgotten in the face of the hardship of the years of fami . . .
• Honourable Joseph (10/12/2002 10:25:01 PM)
  Getting a Perspective Joseph had two key things going for him: The Lord was with him {Gen 39:2} He was responsible {Gen 39:22} He's in the third "up" of his wild ride to the top of Egypt: Up . . .
• Dreams (10/10/2002 9:52:00 PM)
  Dreams and visions in the Bible were a unique method God used to communicate with people, especially prophets {Num 12:6}, {Joel 2:28}. Isaiah has a harsh vision {Is 1:1}, {Is 21:2} Ezekiel was tr . . .
• Good marriages (10/6/2002 8:22:15 AM)
  On the other hand There are plenty of good examples of husband wife relationships that worked, and accomplished good things for God: Elkanah and Hannah gave Samuel completely over to the service o . . .
• Purity and Prosperity (10/5/2002 8:41:42 AM)
  Joseph and Potiphar's wife: {Ge 39:1-21} He became successfull, because the Lord was with him {Ge 39:2} Potiphar realized that Joseph meant prosperity, so he put Joseph in charge of his entire ho . . .
• Fools (10/2/2002)
  Foolishness is a heart issue must be dealt with with the rod must be countered by teaching & showing love for wisdom is seriously sin has consequences stems from pride must be reprov . . .
• What if? (9/29/2002)
  There aren't any coincidences, God makes things happen to accomplish His sovereign will. If we do not do right, we miss out on the blessings of obeying God. But, He will always accomplish His will. . . .
• Contentment (9/8/2002)
  {Php 4:11} Contentment is a learned characteristic.
• Who am I? (9/1/2002)
  Insistent that God work in me, or just assume He will? {Ps 51:10} A living spiritual being, or a task-completing automaton? {Jn 4:24} Long for a meaningful relationship with God, or is He merely s . . .
• Music (8/25/2002)
  Music is a tool in church for worship, both personally and in groups. teaching the Word of God. It cannot be allowed to do anything else. Music is a tool, which may be used for many things i . . .
• Jesus' Crucifixion (8/18/2002)
  What was so significant about Jesus' death? Crucifixion was horrible, but men have been equally and more cruel in their ways of killing their fellow man. Yes he was beaten, spit on, mocked, whipped, . . .
• Lifestyle (8/5/2002)
  {1Pe 2:11-12} Replace soul-destroying fleshly lusts with excellent, unreproachable behavior. Not only to give no cause for attack, but even to give occasion to glorify God. Excellent is a great word . . .
• Thinking Big (7/28/2002)
  Ahaserus ruled the Middle East, he thought big. His party lasted for 6 months. He replaces his queen just because she didn't do what he wanted. He let his prospective wives take 12 months to pr . . .
• The Wierd Christian (7/21/2002)
  One day, we'll be ruling with Christ in a thousand-year reign. Imagine a life where the lusts of the flesh have no influence. Totally selfless. Nothing it more important to this person than the ap . . .
• The Little Things (7/7/2002)
  Life is all about the little things, the daily stuff: Faithfulness {Ps 61:8} Fellowship {He 3:13} Relationship-building Bible Study & Meditation {Act 17:11} Prayer {Ps 86:3} Nature has so . . .
• Bitterness (7/4/2002 6:04:36 PM)
  Some notes from Family Camp evening service, with Bob Jones III on {Heb 12:15}. Bitterness is a root sin; it goes deep down into a life {Heb 12:15}. Starts with something withheld {1Sa 18:6-9} It . . .
• Thinking Godly About Money (7/4/2002 10:18:12 AM)
  Some notes from the men's Family Camp chapel with Bob Jones III on money. How we spend our money is an excellent indicator of our hearts, and what we truly value. Money is a by-product of a life o . . .
• Praise God (7/3/2002 10:02:24 AM)
  Some notes from the men's session of Family Camp chapel, with Bob Jones III on {Ps 66:1-20}. Praise Him all the time Praise Him for life; both in keeping body & soul together, and for saving o . . .
• Looking and Going (7/2/2002 9:55:38 PM)
  Some notes from a Teen Camp evening service, with Mike Manor. Look to Jesus for Salvation, giving life for an Example, giving instruction for Strength, giving sustenance as the Lord, our owner . . .
• Sowing and Reaping (7/2/2002 6:51:54 PM)
  Some notes from the evening Junior Camp service, with Ed Dunlop on {1Ki 21:1-24}, the story of Ahab, Naboth, Jezebel, and the vineyard. Mr. Ed drew some interesting conclusions from this passage: Y . . .
• The Hardest Man on Earth to Find (7/2/2002 9:44:33 AM)
  Some notes from the men's session of Family Camp chapel, led by Bob Jones III, on {Eze 22:30}. The Lord is looking for a man to stand in the gap. That man: Cannot stand the dross of this world {Ez . . .
• The Little Things (5/14/2002 2:17:41 PM)
  I have the benefit of working at a location close to a couple parks, and bring my bike along in my car, and often take it midday for a ride. It's been quite a few days since I last rode, and today was . . .
• Make a Commendation (5/13/2002 7:02:57 AM)
  {Php 4:8} "If there be any praise." Here's a good one to dwell on; think about what you can say to praise another's commendable action. Don't be looking for such things for yourself; desire God's a . . .
• If There is Any Virtue (5/10/2002 7:49:57 AM)
  This seventh thing to think about in {Php 4:8} breaks the pattern (along with the eighth); instead of saying whatsoever things, the Bible instead says if there be. Are virtue and praise so rare, th . . .
• Don't Get Tricked (5/4/2002 6:00:09 PM)
  Don't believe everything you hear. Throughout our lifetimes we listen to hundreds of speakers and teachers who are trying to convince us of something. Whatever the agenda, however truthful (or not), . . .
• How to Treat Your Parents (5/1/2002 3:03:46 PM)
  How are children to treat their parents? Obey them {Eph 6:1}, {Rom 1:30}In all things! {Col 3:20} Care for their widowed mothers {1Ti 5:4} Honor them {Ex 20:12}, {De 5:16}, {Mt 15:4}, {Mr 10:19 . . .
• Reputation (4/15/2002 6:52:49 AM)
  {Php 4:8} A good reputation is a wonderful thing. When you have it, people believe you, people can count on you, and you bring honor to God. When you broaden the concept a bit, and consider anything t . . .
• A Thriving Relationship (4/2/2002 8:38:11 PM)
  Prayer is not a religious exercise, it's a conversation with God. We don't typically think of it as a two-way talk, and usually spend the time in a monologue. Does God talk, too? Yes! Through the Word . . .
• Antichrists (3/30/2002 9:49:44 PM)
  John writes about people who are antichrist {1Jo 2:18-29}. He refers to "that" antichrist, but makes the point that even now (in his and our times) there are many antichrists. What characterizes . . .
• Source of Strength (3/27/2002 2:50:02 PM)
  If we're to love God with all our strength, how long can that last? Our own determination and energy run out, and then we fall short of the command. How can we maintain an all-out love for God, as He . . .
• Where is your strength? (3/5/2002 10:24:01 PM)
  All your strength - do you have any? {De 6:5} says "all thy might." Some synonyms would be mightily, exceedingly, great force, to a great degree, up to abundance. Be exuberant, go over the top in you . . .
• Thinking about a good reputation (3/2/2002 9:22:59 PM)
  {Php 4:8} Whatsoever things are of good report. Good tidings, sounds good: these are the things you like to hear. So what is good news to you? {Pr 15:30} says good news improves health. A good reputa . . .
• Lovely Thoughts (2/26/2002)
  {Php 4:8} Whatsoever things are lovely. The Bible actually doesn't say much about lovely. The lovely you'd expect is in {Song 5:16} - his mouth is most sweet, yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my . . .
• Pure Thinking (2/23/2002)
  {Php 4:8} Whatsoever things are pure. To get an idea of what pure should be, look what is pure in the Bible: Gold (39) People (7) Heart (5) Olive oil (3) Candlestick (3) Words of the Lord, li . . .
• Just Thinking (2/19/2002)
  {Php 4:8} Whatsoever things are just. Justice is a very specific thing: giving to everyone that which is his due. Serving justice, finding justice, due justice - all these have to do with getting the . . .
• Do you believe me? (2/9/2002)
  Verse summaries: Heard, seen, looked at, handled Seen it, bear witness, show Seen, heard, declare fellowship Joy may be full Bearing Witness: "To affirm that one has seen or heard or experie . . .
• Who is my neighbor? (1/29/2002)
  We were watching the video "żEres mi prójimo?" a Veggietales video about being kind to your neighbor. The part I saw was the unfortunate situation in Zapatolandia (a land in which everybody wore shoes . . .
• Why do good works? (1/13/2002)
  Good works don't accomplish anything for salvation {Tit 3:5}, but are particularly beneficial for others {Tit 3:8}. Be subject to principalities and powers {Tit 3:1} Obey magistrates Ready for ev . . .
• Loving the Lord with Life (1/2/2002)
  Our souls are what make us alive. The Bible refers to the soul as the living part of people, what God has created, and is what needs to be saved. We choose to disobey God, do our own thing, and go ou . . .
• Sensibility (12/29/2001)
  Paul addresses several groups in {Ti 2:1-10}, listing several key character qualities necessary in order to be known as sensible. He gives the reason for doing so at the end of the chapter in {Ti 2:11 . . .
• Loving the Lord with all your soul (12/3/2001)
  What is the soul? A cursory scan through the 432 verses where it occurs raises some interesting points: Life The essence of life: God breathed life, and man became a living soul. {Ge 2:7} The pu . . .
• Nehemiah's Choices (11/17/2001)
  Take Action Weep, mourn, fast, and pray before God {Neh 1:4} Be sad before the king {Neh 2:2} - a dangerous thing to do. Plan and Prepare Request the king to send him to Judah, with free passa . . .
• The Joy of Being a Christian (11/12/2001)
  Dr. Hall, {Ps 126:1-6} Is the joy of the Lord obvious to all those around me? It should be unmistakable to them that God has done great things for me! Yes, He has! I need to turn from my captivity . . .
• A King's Choices (11/10/2001)
  Nebuchadnezzar's choices (from his standpoint) Beseige Jerusalem {2Ki 24:11}. Take everything good from Jerusalem, both stuff and skilled people {2Ki 24:13-14}. Promote Daniel, Hananiah, Mishae . . .
• When God seems silent (10/28/2001)
  Pastor Yarborough, evening service Can man be profitable to God? {Job 22:2} Yes, but not through his own righteousness; only submission to God make a person useful to Him. Why is God silent in . . .
• Jonathan's Choices (10/13/2001)
  Jonathan chose to: Promise {1Sa 18:1-5} Love David as his own soul Make a covenant with David Plead {1Sa 19:1-7} Mediate between his father and David, with success this time Plan {1Sa 20:1 . . .
• Why? (10/9/2001)
  Why do we do things? What motivates us to go ahead with a plan, and not even try others? It's all in the heart. Let's talk about motives for a little bit, and look at what the Bible has to say about . . .
• Ruth's Choices (10/5/2001)
  Ruth is famous for her words of determination to Naomi, but let's look a little deeper into some of the context surrounding her decision. Ruth was a Moabitess How to emphasize this? The Moabites wer . . .
• In His Heart (10/2/2001)
  Some interesting insights come from a look at the phrase "in his (or her) heart" in the Bible, both for good or bad: The Lord in promises Himself in {Ge 8:21} that He will never again curse the gro . . .
• Thoughts on Teaching Youth (9/27/2001)
  A couple thoughts on teaching young people, edited from an note sent to a friend: 1. Getting the young people to talk. This is tough, and this is also a weak point of a fill-in-the-blank outline: . . .
• What is love? (9/22/2001)
  Dr. Mark Minnick, Couples' Conference 2001 Four words for love: Eros - physical love; stems from visual beauty/ attraction; greedy lasciviousness Phileo - friendship love; warm, tender, affection . . .
• What is submission? (9/22/2001)
  Dr. Mark Minnick, Couples' Conference 2001 The indications of a Spirit-filled person are speaking, giving, & submitting {Eph 5:15-21} This is a proper, appropriate arrangement. It's not just wife . . .
• What is the purpose of marriage? (9/22/2001)
  Dr. Mark Minnick, Couples' Conference 2001 Procreation {Ge 1:28}, with the intent of raising godly children {Mal 2:15}, to send into areas we cannot go{Ps 127:5} Partnership {Ge 2:18}- man is not . . .
• What is a Christian marriage? (9/21/2001)
  Dr. Mark Minnick, Couples' Conference 2001 "The hallmark of a good marriage is the ability to reconcile differences" One flesh relationship {Ge 2:24}- one man & one woman permanently merged, u . . .
• What is Life? (9/15/2001)
  The Bible makes it clear that life is a momentary, transient thing. The most common allegory is grass. Life is like grass It withers away so quickly {Is 40:6}, {Ps 103:15} It blows away easily in . . .
• The Lord's Prayer (9/15/2001)
  {Joh 17:1-26} is the true Lord's prayer - this is how He prayed. The traditional "Lord's Prayer" is just an example, and outline, that He gave to His disciples as a teaching aid. Jesus prayed quite d . . .
• He has done so much (9/9/2001)
  God has earned our love. Yes, He deserves it because of who He is, but He has also gone through the trouble of earning our love, too. He created us {Ge 2:7} He did a wonderful job of it {Ps 139: . . .
• A Jealous God (9/4/2001)
  Why does God make such a big deal out of the sin of idolatry? In {1Sa 15:32} it's used as superlative about how bad stubbornness is It's right up there with fornication, covetousness, and extortio . . .
• Worshipping God (9/1/2001)
  How was He worshipped in the Bible? With sacrifices {Ge 22:5}, {1Sa 1:3,19,28}, {2Ch 32:12} With bowed head, often to the ground {Ge 24:26,48}, {Ex 4:31; 12:27; 34:8}, {2Ch 7:3; 20:18; 29:29 . . .
• One Lord: The Names of God (8/28/2001)
  God has many names. They tell us who He is, what He does, and why we love Him. What He is will be next week, and what He does will be later. What's in a name, that we should love God? We sing " . . .
• One Lord: The Characteristics of God (8/26/2001)
  The Lord our God is One Lord The Characteristics of God: "There is none like the Lord" {Ex 8:10} - The plagues in Egypt proved there is none like the Lord, and getting rid of the frogs was . . .
• Honest Living (8/25/2001)
  {1Sa 26:1-30:31} For the past several chapters, and several years, David has been running around in the wilderness areas of Israel hiding from Saul. Twice he has spared the king's life, who rep . . .
• The First Commandment (8/20/2001)
  Background to the First and Great Commandment {Mk 12:28-34} Other references: {De 6:4-5}, {De 10:12}, {Mat 22:34-40}, {Luk 10:25-28} Deuteronomy is really where the command is stated. Jesu . . .
• Getting Back (8/18/2001)
  The Story {1Sam 25:2-44} David was considerate of Nabal's people and property, being hospitable and providing protection to his shepherds while they stayed with David and his men. . . .
• The Lord our God is one Lord (8/11/2001)
  The beginning of the greatest commandment is not love, it is the Lord our God. Sound too obvious? Let's check it out: One Lord The names of God I am the LORD Jehovah , the . . .
• Jealous for God (7/28/2001)
  David had a really big challenge to overcome in the person of Goliath {1Sa 17:1-53}. This bruiser had been having  a lot of fun picking on the Israelites, challenging them to a one-on-one. Davi . . .
• Life isn't Fair (7/6/2001)
  Joseph isn't alone in being harshly treated for doing right, nor is it the first time for him. Daniel {Da 6:4-5}, his three friends {Da 3:21}, David {Ps 119:86}, Paul {2Ti 2:9}, many prophets {Mt 5:12 . . .
• Fleeing from Sin (6/30/2001)
  Joseph's brothers sell him to Egypt, where he is purchased as the slave of Potiphar. God prospers Joseph in all his work, and also prospered Potiphar for Joseph's sake. Potiphar liked these kinds of . . .
• Family Trouble (6/16/2001)
  Sibling rivalry at its worst! Joseph had 10 older brothers and one younger, but he was dad's favorite. This didn't go over well with the 10, and they made it very clear that they hated him every tim . . .
• Giving (6/9/2001)
  It is a shame there are so few examples in the Bible of real giving. This type of giving is definitely against human nature, and defies all logic. Poor Widow {Mr 12:41-44}, {Lu 21:1-4} . . .
• A Good Start (5/27/2001)
  A few character studies on youth: Jeroboam - valiant and industrious, to setting up God-less northern Israel {2Ki 11:28} Started: As a man of standing, of valor; industrious End . . .
• Loving God (5/25/2001)
  Mark doesn't have a lot to say about love. He only mentiones the word in three contexts: First in {Mr 10:17-31} to describe Jesus' feeling toward the young, but rich, man Second in . . .
• The Parables of Jesus (5/19/2001)
  Let's take a look at parables, as seen in {Mr 4:1}. Mark records four parables in this particular chapter: The Sower & Soils {Mr 4:3-9} The Candle {Mr 4:21-23} The Sleeping Sower {Mr 4:26-2 . . .
• Encouraging One Another (4/29/2001)
  Build up one another {1Th 5:11} Edifying words {Eph 4:29} Wise & gracious {Ec 10:12} Make peace, build each other up: pursue {Ro 14:19} Graceful speech, seasoned with sal . . .
• What is Jesus Like? (4/29/2001)
  {Joh 4:27-54} Crosses barriers Beyond understanding Attracts people Lives to do the Father's Will, and thrives on it Sees reality: people's hearts and needs Kno . . .
• Trust Me, I know what I'm doing (4/28/2001)
  Jesus' life leading to His death on the cross was often confusing for His disciples. He knew they would understand once His work was complete, and simply wanted them to trust Him. Events in {Mr . . .
• Goals for Youth Ministry (4/23/2001)
  Youth in the Bible | Conclusions What does the Bible say about young people? Their hearts' imaginations are evil {ge 8:21} They can be honorable {ge 34:19} Joseph's e . . .
• Honest Thinking (11/2/2000)
  "Whatsoever things are honest" - Philippians 4:8 Biblical honesty is serious about a task. More often than not it refers to how a Christian is to live and deal with others. Grave is ano . . .
• True Thinking (10/2/2000)
  "Whatsoever things are true" - Philippians 4:8 Thinking correctly, finding out the truth, getting to the heart of the matter. Seeking what is true, and dwelling on it. The context m . . .
• Self, the Subtle Strongman (9/2/2000)
  Self The subtle strongman There is no greater obstacle to the work of God in our lives than the love of self. Greed, inconsideration, indifference, and neglect are common evidences of self . . .
• The Bible, Guidebook to Life (7/2/2000)
  The Bible Guidebook to life  Truth {da 10:21} The Bible can be confidently looked to for an authoritative, unequivocal answer.  You can be sure it is consistent, and th . . .
• Sin: The Beginnings (6/2/2000)
  Sin The beginnings Webster's: any voluntary transgression of a religious law or moral principle; moral depravity; wickedness; iniquity. Sin may consist in commission, when a known divine . . .
• My Role as a Husband (11/22/1993)
  Lead ({Eph 5:23; 1Co 11:3}; 8, p81; 1, p125; 2, p49) By Serving (6, p32; 5, p27) As Jesus was a servant ({Php 2:6-8}; 5, p27) As Jesus served His disciples ({John 13:1-15}; 5, p27) By Kn . . .
• God - The One and Only