God looks favorably upon those who are “poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3; Isa. 66:2), which begs the question — is it possible to be “rich in spirit” and how would God look upon such a person? Let’s consider some Bible synonyms.  To be “poor in spirit” is synonymous in Scripture to “a broken spirit” (Psa. 51:17), “the lowly” (Psa. 138:6), “a contrite…

I have been so very impressed with the amount of work, the quality of work and the willing spirit behind the work that has gone into our Vacation Bible School.  To every person who helped to cut, paint, tape, glue, draw, copy, color, trace, design, move, lift, cover, bring, buy, give, pour, serve, teach, act, sing, build, hang, decorate, photograph,  pray, etc.,…

The origin of the apostles’ words was no mystery to those who honestly listened to them and sought truth.  There were many “religious messages” that were being taught, but the message of “the Word of God” stood out and stood far above anything else that man was hearing. Paul affirmed, “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but…

One of the most painful yet needful responsibilities of faithful Christians and faithful congregations of the Lord’s church is to be mindful of and take action on behalf of our brethren who are walking “disorderly and not according to the tradition” of God’s Word (2 Thess. 3:6; i.e., not obeying God’s Word, cf. 3:14).  When the body of Christ seeks to take…

Men and women have found it very difficult over the years to take “their own glasses off” (figuratively speaking) and to “put on God’s glasses.”  Meaning—when we grow accustomed to seeing things the way we see them, wanting things the way we want them, directing things in the way we want them to go, it is tough to stop…take a step back…remove…

As I sat, patiently waiting for the light to turn green, the American Flag flapping in the light wind caught my eye.  It was an average size flag (nothing showy), faded and beginning to show some frayed edges.  I’m not sure how often I have seen this flag, but it is in a location where I easily could have seen it several…

There was a man in the New Testament named Joses, but we don’t know him by that name.  In fact, the apostles did not even know him by his own name, for they had given him a new name, which better reflected to them who he was. Sometimes we give people names and cannot remember (or maybe never knew) their actual name. …

Picking up a dictionary to read a definition for a word is a basic skill that most learn as a child in school.  Sometimes within a dictionary, like Webster’s, there are images next to the words and the definitions to give a visual representation of the word.  Then, there are those dictionaries that are called a “Pictorial Dictionary” or “Visual Dictionary.”  These…