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Using your Gifts to Bring God Glory
Someone once said, “Vocation does not come from a voice ‘out there’ calling me to be something I’m not. It comes from a voice in here, calling me to be the person I was born to be.” Let’s talk about what it really means to use our specific creative gifts to bring God glory and bring us fulfillment as well.
Playing with Fire
When I was a young boy, my mom warned me that I should never play with fire. Yet one day I decided to see what would happen if I did. Taking a book of matches and some paper, I went out into the backyard to experiment. With heart beating fast, I knelt on the ground, struck the match, and set the paper aflame.
Suddenly I saw my mother approaching. Not wanting to get caught, I put my legs over the flames to hide what I was doing. But Mom shouted, “Denny, move your legs! There’s a fire underneath them!” Fortunately, I…
Success: Once Given, Not Given Up Easily
It would be all too easy for me to sit here and say, “Give up everything for God. Don’t chase the success of the world. Don’t be so career-minded.” That’s what I used to imagine myself telling others—until I faced the dilemma myself.
God’s Plans
An army officer may have an overall plan, but before each battle he has to receive and give out new instructions. Joshua, a leader of the Israelites, had to learn this lesson. After God’s people spent 40 years in the wilderness, God chose Joshua to lead them into the land He had promised to them.
The first stronghold they faced was the city of Jericho. Before the battle, Joshua saw the “commander of the Lord’s army” (probably the Lord Himself) standing opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. Joshua fell on his face and worshiped. In other words, he…
Words and Actions
The email from the student in my college writing class expressed urgency. It was the end of the semester, and he realized he needed a better grade to participate in sports. What could he do? He had missed some assignments, so I gave him two days to complete those papers and improve his grade. His response: “Thank you. I’ll do it.”
Two days—and the deadline—passed, and no papers appeared. He didn’t back up his words with action.
Jesus told about a young man who did something similar. The boy’s dad asked him to do some work in the vineyard. The son said,…
God’s Plans
An army officer may have an overall plan, but before each battle he has to receive and give out new instructions. Joshua, a leader of the Israelites, had to learn this lesson. After God’s people spent 40 years in the wilderness, God chose Joshua to lead them into the land He had promised to them.
The first stronghold they faced was the city of Jericho. Before the battle, Joshua saw the “commander of the Lord’s army” (probably the Lord Himself) standing opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. Joshua fell on his face and worshiped. In other words, he…
Imitators
Kids love to imitate. That’s how they learn. And just as we pass down our wisdom, skills, or hobbies to our children, God asks us to follow His example. There’s no better way to learn how to love life and live life than from the One who created us.
Continuing with Christ
As a child, my favorite week of the summer was the one I spent at a Christian youth camp. At the end of the week, I’d sit elbow-to-elbow with friends in front of an enormous bonfire. There, we would share what we had learned about God and the Bible and sing. One song I still remember focused on deciding to follow Jesus. The chorus contained an important phrase: “no turning back.”
When Elisha decided to follow the prophet Elijah, Elisha did something incredible that made it difficult, impossible really, for him to return to his prior occupation of farming. After going…
Discover how to imitate Mary
The Christian life is more than a one-time decision to follow Jesus. It’s a daily affirmation. It also requires us saying a daily “no” to anything that hinders our faith in God. Join us today on “Discover the Word” as we conclude our study on Mary, the mother of Jesus, and how she consistently said “yes” to God.
An inspiring look at Mary’s life
Think of all the moments in Mary’s life when she must have topped to consider what God’s plans were for her son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Mary went from a tender mother of a young boy to a sometimes-perplexed follower of her own son as Lord. Join us today on “Discover the Word” for another edifying discussion.
How Mary said “no” to shame
It took great faith for Mary to accept God’s will for her life—to be pregnant with the Savior, Jesus, and yet unmarried. What would Joseph say and feel? Not to mention everyone else? Mary would have to trust God despite the shadow of shame.
Saying “yes” to God
When we say “yes” to God’s call, that often means we have to say “no” to something that could hinder our commitment. Listen in today to learn from the faith of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her life of faith was a daily pattern of saying “yes” to God, and “no” to unbelief.
The Importance of Healing from Within
If an athlete is injured during training or competition, he will need time to recuperate in order to regain his form. Depending on the severity of the injury, the recovery process may involve applying an ice pack to the affected area, treating it—which may include cleaning the wound and stitching it up—or simply, resting.
A God who does the impossible
Sometimes in life our doubts and feelings of inadequacy can roll in like waves, and we can feel that our circumstances are just impossible. But the encouragement that God gave to Mary the mother of Jesus, a long time ago, is a message for us too!
