Some Christians have a hard time believing and hard time explaining the statement in Romans 8:28 that says “all things work together for good to those who love God.”  Why do they find it hard to believe or explain?  Perhaps because the negative things in our lives are easier to focus on than the positive things.  Perhaps because we become so accustomed…

We speak words, but where do they go?  We make unspoken requests in our hearts, but what happens to them?  We collectively make petitions in our assemblies, but do they reach beyond the ceiling?  Christians have sometimes been charged with silliness, because they believe that when they sincerely and with devotion of heart say, “Lord, please help me,” that the Almighty God…

A “Pictorial Dictionary” or “Visual Dictionary” gives visual representations for each of the entries on its pages.  If you were in charge of selecting a Bible character to depict each of the following words, who would you choose to put in your “Visual Dictionary”? ENCOURAGEMENT. If the apostles had written a visual dictionary, there is only one picture that could have found…

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…