Why This Independence Day Is Different for Me
The Fourth of July holiday—commemorating the beginning of the American revolution against the motherland, England—is a central part of the United States’ origin story. Odds are that even if you don’t live in the USA, your home country has an origin story, too.
A Perfect World
Katie was given a school assignment to write an essay entitled “My Perfect World.” She wrote: “In my perfect world . . . ice cream is free, lollipops are everywhere, and the sky is blue all the time, with only a few clouds that have interesting shapes.” Then her essay took a more serious turn. In that world, she continued, “No one will come home to bad news. And no one will have to be the one to deliver it.”
No one will come home to bad news. Isn’t that wonderful? Those words point powerfully to the confident hope we have…
Discover How To Become “Grace Dispensers”
It’s easier to extend grace to those who share our beliefs, values, and common experiences—people we like. But we’ve all got some people who are, well just a little harder to love. Today on Discover the Word, the team, and special guest Philip Yancey discuss how God’s love influences how we interact with people we disagree […]
The Concentration of Personal Sin
When I come into the very presence of God, I do not realize that I am a sinner in an indefinite sense, but I suddenly realize and the focus of my attention is directed toward the concentration of sin in a particular area of my life. A person will easily say, “Oh yes, I know I am a sinner,” but when he comes into the presence of God he cannot get away with such a broad and indefinite statement. Our conviction is focused on our specific sin, and we realize, as Isaiah did, what we really are.
When God’s Promises Don’t Mean Very Much
I was standing at the precipice of a new season, nervously anticipating the last day of my salaried job and the dreaded world of freelancing that awaited me after. It wasn’t a career move that I’d chosen. But the company wasn’t doing well, so I’d been retrenched.
I See You
When Xavier was two, he darted into one aisle after another in a small shoe store. Hiding behind stacks of shoeboxes, he giggled when my husband, Alan, said, “I see you.”
Moments later, I saw Alan dash franticly from aisle to aisle, calling Xavier’s name. We raced to the front of the store. Our child, still laughing, ran toward the open door leading to the busy street outside.
Within seconds, Alan scooped him up. He embraced us as I thanked God, sobbed, and kissed our toddler’s chubby cheeks.
A year before I became pregnant with Xavier, I’d lost our first child during the…
Understanding the Bible: The History Books
Since the fall of man, God passionately pursues a relationship with His people. The historical accounts of the Bible show us God’s love for humanity and his plan for redemption—the Savior! Each book in the Bible unveils God’s covenant with …
Old Testament Basics (CD)
Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jonah, Samson and David. How well do you know their stories? And do you know what they have to do with us? The stories of the Old Testament are important even today.
This CD, including 10 Bible Basics lessons, will help you understand how all the stories found in the Old Testament fit together, teach us valuable…
Extending Grace To Those Who Deserve It Least
In order to offer grace to others, we first need to receive God’s grace ourselves! Today on Discover the Word, the team and special guest Philip Yancey, take note of how Jesus extended grace to those who seemed to deserve it the least. It’s the start of an eye-opening discussion about becoming “Grace Dispensers,” today on Discover the Word!
The Conditions of Discipleship
If the closest relationships of a disciple’s life conflict with the claims of Jesus Christ, then our Lord requires instant obedience to Himself. Discipleship means personal, passionate devotion to a Person— our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a vast difference between devotion to a person and devotion to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause— He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself.
Why I Meet Dying People Everyday
As I walked the streets of Baltimore, USA, I saw many addicts and homeless people. One of them, an elderly man with his belongings all around him, was sitting in a wheelchair and only his face was visible between all his bulky clothes.
Living Out Loud
While staying at a hotel in Austin, Texas, I noticed a card on lying on the desk in my room. It said:
Welcome
Our Prayer is that your stay here will be restful
and that your travels will be fruitful.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, and make
His face shine upon you.
This card from the company that manages the hotel made me want to know more, so I accessed their website and read about their culture, strength, and values. In a winsome way, they seek to pursue excellence and live out their faith in the workplace.
Their philosophy reminded me of Peter’s words…
The Inevitable Penalty
There is no heaven that has a little corner of hell in it. God is determined to make you pure, holy, and right, and He will not allow you to escape from the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit for even one moment. He urged you to come to judgment immediately when He convicted you, but you did not obey. Then the inevitable process began to work, bringing its inevitable penalty. Now you have been “thrown into prison, [and] . . . you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny” (5:25-26).
