Creating a Heart of Gratitude One of the most powerful emotions is gratitude. If we can find ways to be thankful and grateful throughout our life, we will find the power and emotional strength to walk through some of life’s hardest seasons. It's not always easy to find ways to be thankful

Because I Love You Sometimes you do what you want. Other times you do what you're told. Why? Because the boss says so-that's why. Strict rules govern our days: speed limits, tax laws, dress codes, policy manuals. Voices from every side threaten, "Obey, or else!" So when we hea

The Most Important Thing When Jesus was asked by the religious leaders about the most important commandment, He quoted Deuteronomy 6:5. This verse contains one of the key commands in all of Scripture... "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your s

Grace and Truth in Jesus For many centuries, the nation of Israel awaited the coming Messiah who would bring the Kingdom of God and make things right in the world. Despite pain, persecution, and setbacks, they persevered because their hope was grounded in the promises of God. Israel’s wait w

Trusting God's Generosity The deceptive yet popular story in our world is one of scarcity, convincing us that resources are limited. That story makes us stingy or anxious, causing us to see others as competition or obstacles to getting what we need. But Jesus' Sermon on the Mount invites

From Dawn to Dusk Close your eyes for a moment. And while you do that, picture this wonderfully diverse planet we call home. (Yes, really.) Everything that you just imagined—God created all of it. And God created all of us to worship Him. From north to south and east to west. From bustling

Loving Others Well Jesus said a lot of things. Beautiful, enlightening, and important things. But there’s one command that sums up how we should live... "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34 When we look at Jesu

From Death to Life Many of us unfortunately know what it feels like to lose a loved one. And we've longed to have just a few more hours with them here on earth. John 11 tells the story of Lazarus—a man who died but, by the power of God through His Son, Jesus Christ, was brought back to li

Learning to Live Humbly Have you ever met an angry Christian? You may have come across Christians who seem to grumble, complain, or even speak harshly about other people. Maybe you’ve even been that person at times in your own life. If we're not careful, we can easily become self-righ

Tears of Faith Have you ever had your heart broken? Or your dreams shattered? Or had your plans crushed by reality? That happened to the Jewish people when they were forced to leave their homes and become exiles in a foreign land. Their grief was surely deep and their questions surely plenty,

The Sweetness of Patience Have you ever plucked fruit prematurely? Perhaps you were drawn in by its vibrant color or sweet scent moving through the air. But when you took the first bite, you realized it lacked the ripeness you anticipated. Everything seemed right at first glance, but there wa

Be Strong and Courageous When Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthian church, he was writing to believers experiencing intense division. Power and politics within the church community were causing Christians to stray from Jesus’ teachings and compete with each other. Because of this, th

Called to Love You’ll never fully agree with another person—because there’s not a single person just like you. That means there won’t be anyone with your exact viewpoint on life, politics, money, relationships, or religion. You are unique, and so is the person next to you. But even though

Walking in the Light Have you ever walked in darkness? Maybe your power went out during a storm, or you were stranded on the road with car trouble. Walking in darkness can be scary, and it can be dangerous. Having a light makes everything better, and the same is true in our spiritual journeys

Keep Doing Good Do you remember the last time you were completely exhausted? Maybe you spent your entire day or week working on a hard project. Maybe you felt depleted after helping other people in your life. Or maybe hard situations and setbacks made you feel like giving up. All of us grow tire

Here’s What Mercy Really Looks Like… What would you do if you ran into someone who offended, upset, or greatly wronged you?  The Pharisees in Jesus’ time taught that it was excessive to forgive someone more than three times. But Jesus’ teachings set a standard for extravagant forgiveness. He

A Mindset of Abundance Do you know someone who constantly pours themselves out? They’re generous with their words, unselfish with their time, and openhanded with their money. And yet, somehow, they always seem to have more to give. The author of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to King Solo

The Three Figs: Prayer, Belief, and Forgiveness Have you ever heard of an object lesson? If you’ve ever taught children — in school or in ministry — the chances are high that you have, or that you’ve at least done one without knowing. If you haven’t, an object lesson is a teaching metho

Living in God’s Love Have you ever met someone who was exceptionally kind and caring? Good friends are like this—welcoming, eager to know how you’re doing, giving their undivided attention. A good friend reminds us who we are. They listen to everything, the good and the bad, with compassion and

The Need to Pray for Bible Translation (Isaiah 60:3) God's heart beats for the nations. He wants all people to experience the hope of Jesus. The Gospel brings the light of truth wherever it goes— transforming lives, communities, and entire nations. Yet nearly a billion people still lac