Sometimes we hear things about a brother or sister in Christ, but we don’t actually hear it from that brother or sister in Christ.  We hear it from another party, who may or may not have all of the facts.  Regardless of what we hear, how we hear it and from whom we hear it, Christian love (that’s agape love) responds (at…

At least eight times in the Psalms, the writers call out to God for help.  “O Lord, do not be far from Me…hasten to help me!” (22:19; 71:12).  “Make haste, O God, to deliver me!  Make haste to help me, O Lord!” (70:1; 40:13; cf. 38:22).  “Help me, O Lord my God!  Oh, save me according to Your mercy” (109:26).  “Help me!”…

The book of Proverbs contains the divinely-given wisdom of Solomon written in wise sayings of spiritual truths.  Contained in the wisdom of this book is heaven’s connection between wisdom and knowledge.  Note carefully what God says a wise person will do with knowledge: “The ear of the wise seeks knowledge” (Prov. 18:15).“When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge” (21:11).“Wise people store…

Imagine having been with Jesus in the upper room, when He washed the disciples’ feet and spoke His departing words to them, including the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Imagine being in that room when Jesus introduced the Lord’s Supper, saying, “This is My body” and “This is my blood.”  Now, imagine having followed Jesus to the Garden of…

The psalmist asks a very poignant question in Psalm 116:12 – “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” There are two thoughts in that question: (1) think about all of God’s benefits toward me, (2) what shall I give to the Lord in return? Read through Psalm 116, for starters, and you’ll find numerous (but not…

A recent compliment was paid to Palm Beach Lakes that was especially encouraging.  This is not written to build us up or to point any fingers at our accomplishment(s), but it is to draw attention to what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.  A visitor, who visits here a couple times a year, said:  “PBL truly feels like the first-century church…

Bible translators have given this as the “title” to Psalm 63—“Joy in the Fellowship of God.”  Read the psalm for yourself.  The translators didn’t do too bad naming this one. David says, “My soul thirsts for You…My soul shall be satisfied…My soul follows close behind You…”  Why does his soul do this?  “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life…Because You have been…

It is easy for one to profess to know God, and thus easy for one to profess that they are following God.  But, how can we know if one is truly following God and is truly accepted by God.  Titus 1:16 is an interesting verse in this regard; think about these words carefully.  “They profess to know God [yes, we know people…