Do I Matter?
I stand in the cashier line of the local supermarket and look around me. I see teenagers with shaved heads and nose rings looking through the snack foods; a young professional buying one steak, a few twigs of asparagus, and a sweet potato; an elderly woman pondering the peaches and strawberries. Does God know all these people by name? I ask myself? Do they really matter to Him?
The Maker of all things is the Maker of all human beings, and each of us is deemed worthy of His individual attention and love. God demonstrated that love in person on…
The Day My Boyfriend and I Fought
I was so mad at my boyfriend―let’s call him “T”.
When a child goes completely against your beliefs
How would you cope if your children made a choice in their faith, lifestyle, or politics that totally went against your beliefs? Today on Discover the Word, author Patricia Raybon shares the challenges she faced when her daughter converted to Islam, leaving her shocked and perplexed, questioning her worthiness as a parent and as a […]
Discovering Divine Design
As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me . . . —Genesis 24:27
We should be so one with God that we don’t need to ask continually for guidance. Sanctification means that we are made the children of …
All Together Now
While Nicholas Taylor was boarding a train in Perth, Australia, his leg became wedged in the gap between the platform and a commuter car. When safety officials could not free him, they coordinated the efforts of nearly 50 passengers who lined up and, on the count of three, pushed against the train. Working in unison, they shifted the weight just enough to free Taylor’s leg.
The apostle Paul recognized the power of Christians working together in many of his letters to the early churches. He urged the Roman believers to accept each other the way Christ had accepted them and…
Faith or Experience?
. . . the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me —Galatians 2:20
We should battle through our moods, feelings, and emotions into absolute devotion to the Lord Jesus. We must break out of our own little world …
Pay Close Attention
As I sat in the auditorium, I faced the pastor with my eyes fixed on him. My posture suggested I was absorbing everything he was saying. Suddenly I heard everybody laughing and clapping. Surprised, I looked about. The preacher had apparently said something humorous, but I had no clue what it might have been. From all appearances I had been listening carefully, but in reality my mind was far away.
It’s possible to hear what is being said but not listen, to watch but not see, to be present and yet absent. In such a condition, we may miss important messages…
The Changed Life
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17
What understanding do you have of the salvation of your soul? The work of salvation means that in your real life things are dramatically changed. You no longer look at things in the same way. Your desires are new and the old things have lost their power to attract you.…
Bread!
I live in a small Mexican city where every morning and evening you can hear a distinctive cry: “Bread!” A man with a huge basket on his bike offers a great variety of fresh sweet and salty breads for sale. I used to live in a bigger city, where I had to go to the bakery to buy bread. So I enjoy having fresh bread brought to my door.
Moving from the thought of feeding physical hunger to spiritual hunger, I think of Jesus’s words: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live…
Be still and know that I am God
Are you fidgety and restless, unable to sit still? Today on Discover the Word, the team will discuss a challenge we all face, learning to “be still and know He is God.” In a sense, it takes work to rest. “Nesting in God’s Presence” . . . be part of the conclusion to the study […]
Why did God Create a World that He Knew was Going to Go Wrong eventually?
This introduction that you’re reading now is really my third. Twice, I wrote a few paragraphs, only to remove them after finding that they were going nowhere. Despite having spent a couple of hours coming up with the first two versions, it wasn’t really difficult to click on “delete”. I mean, why continue something that is flawed?
Seeing Well
Raleigh looks like a powerful dog—he is large and muscular and has a thick coat of fur. And he weighs over 100 pounds! Despite his appearance, Raleigh connects well with people. His owner takes him to nursing homes and hospitals to bring people a smile.
Once, a four-year-old girl spotted Raleigh across a room. She wanted to pet him, but was afraid to get close. Eventually, her curiosity overcame her sense of caution and she spent several minutes talking to him and petting him. She discovered that he is a gentle creature, even though he is powerful.
The combination of…
Those were His words to James, those were His words to John, and those have been His words to me for some time now. Oh how I wish I would have had the courage to drop my nets and follow Jesus immediately. Today I am taking that step. Jesus wants me, all of us, to be fishers of men. I have experienced so many divine moments in the past two years and Jesus has called me to share them with you!
In 2014, I was diagnosed with cancer and this year, by the very hand of God, I became a survivor. I know the sole reason I am with you a while longer is to share my journey. I will be writing to you frequently and I pray you will look for me here.
After I was diagnosed, I plunged into a deep depression. I could only see the worst of possible things to come. The day we recieved the news, I immediately began to pray and I immediately knew that I was again turning to God in a dark, desperate hour, as I have done many times before. Why had I not prayed as ferverntly for others... why had I not sought God during joyful times? I felt ashamed and not worthy of His help now. This was heavy on my heart but not His. I called and He came and sat with me on the darkest of days. I was home alone and lay in my bed overcome with fear. And then my miracle happened. I knew I was in His very presence. I shut my eyes tight, reached out my hand, and touched His cloak.
I will save the rest of this moment to share with you soon. It is not quite what you may be thinking. I am eager to share this, and so many other moments with you! Love and peace to you all!
