Everything Else About Jesus

Colossians 2:9 (NLT) For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

For most Christians, Jesus is the loving Savior who forgave them of their sins, declared them righteous and who gave them the hope of heaven, and that's where they stay in their hearts and minds. While I am forever humbled and grateful for this miraculous form of mercy an...

Living Worthy of the Call

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (NLT) So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

The Christians at Thessalonica were exemplar...

The Right Kind of Sacrifice

Proverbs 21:3 (NLT) The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.

We many times forget that we were created in God's image. That means that if we are somewhat like God's image, there are things about us that are like God. Parenting brings out many of our God-like traits as most parents would do anything for their children, including giving their lives for them if they have to. That's why the way...

The Bad That is for the Good

Philippians 1:12-14 (NLT) And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message  without fear.

The Apostle Paul was in ...

Everything to Gain

Psalm 112:4, 7 (NLT) Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.

Some Christians defend their faith by telling people who don't believe in God that even if they were wrong to believe in Jesus because it turned out that it wasn't true, at least they lived a good life. They go on to say that those who don't believe in Je...

No Time to Run

Nehemiah 6:10-13 (NLT)  Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.” But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No,...

With Everything and Forever Praise

Psalm 146:1-2 (NLT) Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.

The Word of God encourages us over and over to praise the Lord our God. It tells us to praise Him for what He has created, for what He has done, for His goodness, mercy and love, and for the simple but awesome fact that He is the Sovereign Lord over the heavens and the ea...

A Much-Needed Heart Scan

Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT) Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Every year, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) lists the leading causes of death in our country and every year, heart disease ranks as the number one cause of death among people. The heart is the primary vital organ in our bodies and life is defined as the moment the heart...

The Salvation-Making Process

Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV) Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,  for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

We just recently purchased a bread machine and we've been enjoying fresh bead ever since. In order to get fresh bread to e...

Use Your Influence

2 Chronicles 34:33 (NLT) So Josiah removed all detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the Lord their God. And throughout the rest of his lifetime, they did not turn away from the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

In the history of the people of Judah, there were a few good kings but many evil kings. As the kings went, the people went. In other words, when a new king would begin his reign by honoring God and ...

What's His is His

Ezra 1:7-8 (NLT) King Cyrus himself brought out the articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his own gods. Cyrus directed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to count these items and present them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah.

When King Nebuchadnezzar came to give the final blow to Jerusalem and the Temple before taking the people as captives to Babylon...

Looking for Help in All the Wrong Places

2 Chronicles 28:20-21(NLT) So when King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria arrived, he attacked Ahaz instead of helping him. Ahaz took valuable items from the Lord’s Temple, the royal palace, and from the homes of his officials and gave them to the king of Assyria as tribute. But this did not help him.

The Bible recounts the history of the people of God, including the good, the bad and the ugly. The Word of God tells it like it is and we learn valuabl...

Encouragement Through Relationship

2 Chronicles 32:6b-8 (NLT) Then Hezekiah encouraged them by saying: “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people.

The ...

The Sure Road to Success

2 Chronicles 26:5 (NLT)  Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success.

King Uzziah is listed among the eight "good" kings that Judah had in its history before Jesus came. The Northern Kingdom (the Northern ten tribes known as Israel) had no good kings at all...not even one. The ...

A Sure Way Down

2 Chronicles 26:16 (NLT) But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.

King Uzziah was another one of the small group of Judah's good kings. He was only sixteen years old when he began his reign and he reigned in Judah for fifty-two years. Because he feared the Lord and b...