Topic > Christian Beliefs > God > Love of God >
Let’s take a closer look at Jacob’s life-transforming vision
Exhausted from running from his lies and deceit, Jacob finally fell asleep. And the dream God gave him turned his entire life around! Have you had a moment that changed your life?
Find out how God uses flawed families
Does your family fight and bicker? Perhaps there are a few skeletons in your family’s closet. Don’t worry; you’re not alone! Let’s reveal the decades-old feud that took place in Jacob’s family, and how God’s mercy showed up in the midst of domestic conflict.
Find out how to avoid making the mistake of missing a potential blessing
Have you ever misconstrued a conversation? It can happen when we hear only what we want to hear. Discover how Jacob’s family misinterpreted a God-given prediction, and almost missed the potential blessing! Learn how to avoid making the same mistake.
The Day My Dad Met Jesus
My grandfather, my father, and his brothers were all tough men who, understandably, didn’t appreciate people who “got up in their faces about faith.” When my father, Howard, was diagnosed with a rapid and deadly cancer, I was so concerned that I took every opportunity to talk to him about Jesus’ love. Inevitably he would end the discussion with a polite but firm: “I know what I need to know.”
God’s mysterious way of working out His amazing plan!
We know that God has a plan for us. But how He accomplishes that plan can often leave us scratching our heads! If the life of Jacob tells us anything, it’s that those confusing events are all part of God’s amazing plan!
Discover how what looks like favoritism is actually a sovereign plan to bless the entire world
There is an entire nation of individuals identified in Scripture as “God’s chosen people.” But where did this divine favoritism come from? Let’s go back to the origins of Israel, and God’s promises to His people.
The Kite’s Master
When Jesus preached during His earthly ministry, He made frequent use of parables—short stories teaching a useful lesson—and people would eagerly listen. A few days ago, I was reminded of this when an interesting story came up in discussion. “There was once a boy who loved his kite very much. One […]
The World’s Children
After a group of high schoolers visited an orphanage during a ministry trip, one student was visibly upset. When asked why, he said it reminded him of his own situation 10 years earlier.
Let’s turn to God’s Word for some insight on what makes a good dad
Being a dad is a tough job. It seems everyone has a different opinion on what qualities make up a good father. Hear a study in Mark chapter 9.
Generous God
When our family lived in Chicago several years ago, we enjoyed many benefits. Near the top of my list were the amazing restaurants that seemed to try to outdo each other, not only in great cuisine but also in portion sizes. At one Italian eatery, my wife and I would order a half portion of our favorite pasta dish and still have enough to bring home for dinner the next night! The generous portions made us feel like we were at Grandma’s house when she poured on the love through her cooking.
Lesson From A Toothache
When I was a child I often had a toothache,” wrote C. S. Lewis in his classic book Mere Christianity. He continued, “and I knew that if I went to my mother she would give me something that would deaden the pain for that night and let me get to sleep. But I did not go to my mother—at least not till the pain became very bad. . . . I knew she would take me to the dentist the next morning. . . . I wanted immediate relief from pain, but I could not get it without having my teeth set permanently right.”
More Than We Deserve
Sometimes when people ask how I’m doing, I reply, “Better than I deserve.” I remember a well-meaning person responding, “Oh no, Joe, you deserve a lot,” to which I replied, “Not really.” I was thinking about what I truly deserve—God’s judgment.
Discover the lengths to which Jesus went to prove His love for us
Love is an over-used word these days. We use it to express our affection for a spouse, or to show appreciation for a really good dinner! But what does it mean to truly love someone?
Words To Live By
For many years I’ve maintained a file folder labeled “Speaking.” It has become thick with articles, quotations, and illustrations that might be useful. Recently I went through it to discard things that are out of date. I found it difficult to throw away many of the items, not because I haven’t used them in a talk but because I haven’t put them into practice. I closed the folder thinking, “These aren’t words to talk about; these are words to live by.”
