Featured Blog Posts – February 2018 Archive (7)

A Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the…

Jesus said it in Matthew Chapter 7. “You can't grow grapes from thorn bushes.” This applies to every area of our lives from running a marathon to raising your children. And it especially applies to writing which is the fruit of your soul. I remember reading something Baxter Black wrote on how he began writing poetry. He told about writing a poem with a religious theme for an English class in college. He got the paperback with the words writ large and in red…

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”—Hebrews 4:12 (NIV).

Focused on beginning a new column, I was startled when movement outside my office window distracted me. One, two...no, three deer were running through my yard headed to the wooded ravine behind my house. With white tails pointed upward, the three…

On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up in the midst of all the people and declared to them the gospel. In Acts 2:22 he described Jesus as,

“A man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know”

Don’t you think that was a strange way for Peter to say that. Wouldn’t you have simply said, Jesus…

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. -1 Peter 1:6-7

Peter was writing to believers who were suffering in all kinds of ways. They lived in the midst of some of the greatest miracles and revelations of…

What do all of these bullets below have in common?

• You need direction
• Someone near you needs direction in their life
• You are confused
• You have no peace

ANSWER: The God of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33) has the answer.

Lack of Peace is an Answer

And remember that…

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. -- John 15:7-8

Books about prayer promises are popular. "Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." Who wouldn't buy into that?

But like all promises in the Bible, this one has a context - and the context of this promise is fruitfulness. Six times in…