Last month I turned forty. For some that’s old, for others it’s young. For me, I feel the same way I did at thirty-nine! But turning forty seemed like a good time to stop and reflect on God’s goodness in my life. So on the morning of my birthday, I took a couple hours and wrote down forty things I’m thankful for at age forty. There’s not a strict order to my list, but it does move more or less chronologically through my life. Upon turning forty, I thank [...]

In our culture, physical beauty is a matter of great importance. There are many who climb high on the ladder of social status because of the way they look, and there are those who struggle to fit in because their appearance falls short of society’s standards. As Christians how should we think of physical beauty? We should start by remembering that the Captain of our faith came to us in a lowly and humble appearance: “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no [...]

John 17 is one of the richest and most profound chapters in the Bible. It is often called Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer” because it contains Jesus’ prayer for his people.  Verse 9, “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” Jesus’ longest recorded prayer in the Bible is for us. This is amazing. The profundity of John 17 is also in that Jesus gives us a peak behind the curtain into some of [...]

“And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.’”- 2 Samuel 18:5 How could David say such a thing about Absalom? This rebel son, this scoundrel who turned the kingdom upside down. He was a murderer and a liar who conspired against his father David, didvided the nation of Israel, and caused David and his men to run into hiding. Yet, when the occasion finally arose for vengeance, the king asked nothing of his commanders but gentleness toward this [...]

“For who has despised the day of small things?” Zechariah 4:10 Have you ever wanted to read and understand the Scriptures more but simply do not have the desire? Have you ever planned to be with God each night in prayer but then found yourself giving in to the flesh? Have you ever looked at other Christians and wondered how they can be the way they are, and you are just you? Has it ever seemed like the Lord is busy doing big things with your brothers and sisters [...]