Tag Archives: Faith

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Finding Peace and Strength Amid Chaos: A Promise from Psalm 29

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Out of his power, God grants peace and strength.

Peace and strength are always in demand!

We need peace as we navigate the always changing landscape of life. .

We need strength to walk toward the unknowns of the future.

The Bible tells us the Lord will give us both. Psalm 29:11 says, “The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.”

This is the same Lord described in Psalm 29 as powerful and majestic. He spoke creation into existence; everything came from nothing simply by his voice. He calms storms; nature acts as his symphony. His power and majesty are greater than any other, and he grants you and me peace and strength.

Take a moment today to reflect on the Lord’s power and majesty. Allow the Lord to give you strength and bless you with peace today.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Casting Off Anxiety

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As you begin today, you may have a lot of anxiety. It may be caused by stress at work or in your personal relationships. Perhaps money is tight this week as you push through to pay day. I don’t know the cause of your anxiety, but I know Scripture makes a terrific promise to us.

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Think about this invitation for a moment. Cast – THROW – your anxieties on the Lord because he cares for you. The stress we’re feeling today can be thrown on the Lord. He will help us carry the load and get through the day.

As anxiety builds today, remember, you can throw it on the Lord, and he will help you carry it.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Miraculous Healing: Exploring the Faith and Gratitude of the 10 Men Healed of Leprosy in Luke 17

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One morning there was no food to eat at the orphanage. The director went ahead and gathered the children and workers together to give thanks as they did every morning. There was a knock on the door a moment later. The local baker was bringing bread. He had been prompted the night before to bake bread for the orphanage. The baker was just leaving as a local farmer came up to the door. He had an abundance of milk which he would like to share with the children. The director of the orphanage had faith the Lord would provide, and he remembered to give thanks.

Luke 17 tells of a man, afflicted with leprosy, who had faith and remembered to give thanks.

Crying Out

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, and as he enters a village, there are 10 men with leprosy standing there. “Crying out, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us,” says Luke 17:13.

What a scene. These 10 outcasts of society have formed their own little community. Perhaps their only commonality was the indiscriminate and incurable leprosy. As Jesus approaches, they attempt to grab his attention. The affects of the disease would have been obvious. Disfigured hands, lumpy foreheads, and damaged vocal cords scrambling for Jesus to look their way. They knew their need, and they had heard Jesus could help them.

We too have needs.

  • Financial needs.
  • Health Needs.
  • You can insert your specific needs here.

Like these men, our crying out to him will easily gain his attention. And, like Jesus did for these men, he will help us.

Going in Faith

Verse 14 says, “He looked at them and said, ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.”

Jesus gave these men instructions and sent them on their way. He did not provide instant cleansing. The men had to trust Jesus and follow his instructions to get what they needed. It took faith on their part.

It takes faith on our part as well. Not every day is a good day. Some days are simply a struggle. Yet, Scripture encourages us to continue trusting the Lord. He will help us with our need.

  • Proverbs 3 encourages us to trust in the Lord and not lean on our own understanding.
  • Jesus asks for our trust in John 14. “Trust in God; trust also in me.”

Remember the director of the orphanage. It was his trust which prompted him to go to the Lord in prayer, and remember to give thanks.

Giving Thanks

Luke 17:15-16 records, “One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus shouting, ‘Praise God!’ He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet thanking him for what he had done.” Verse 19 goes on, “And Jesus said to the man, ‘Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

This man relied on Jesus and his needs were met. Our reliance on Jesus will also meet our needs. Relying on Jesus can help us with our heartaches and struggles. It can replace fear with confidence, and give us the assurance of eternal life. Jesus told the man it was his faith that saved him.

Like this man, we need to remember to give thanks.

Don’t Forget the Thank You

10 men received cleansing that day, but only 1 returned to offer thanks. The other 9 must have quickly forgot the source of their blessing. Needs met, these men could move on with life. They could return to their families. They could continue pursuing their dreams and desires, so they quickly forgot how the Lord helped them.

Often, the busyness of life can consume our thoughts. Our phone’s calendar is filled with dots. We have to be here at a certain time, and there a short time later. Sometimes, we even need to be two places at once. We can quickly forget the source of our blessings. Giving thanks is pushed out of our minds by the thoughts of the day’s activities.

So, here is a challenge. Make yourself part of the 10% of Luke 17. Take time each day to thank the Lord for the abundance of blessings you have received. Take time to thank him for what you know he will do even before he does it.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Cultivating a Deep Faith: Don’t Be Like The Toppled Tree

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I was standing at the kitchen sink. The sun was coming in the window as it was a sunny, but windy day. I could hear the wind blowing and for just a second, the noise level increased. Thinking it was just a gust of wind, I went on washing dishes. Then from the next room comes, “The tree fell!”

A seemingly nice evergreen tree in our neighbor’s yard had been toppled by the wind. The tree’s root system was weak, so it couldn’t handle the force of the winds.

Paul writes in Colossians 2:6-7, “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him and let your lives be built on him, then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

How is your faith’s root system? As a deeply rooted tree is less likely to be toppled by the winds, a deeply rooted faith in the truth of God’s Word is less likely to be toppled by the winds of life. Scripture encourages Christians to fertilize our faith’s root system by spending time in God’s Word and in prayer, and by overflowing with thankfulness.

When we realize how we have been blessed and the source of our blessings, the resulting response should be giving thanks. We are encouraged in Colossians to continually and habitually offer thanksgiving. We know the winds of life will blow, but a firmly rooted faith can help us stand tall. Even amid a storm in life, Christians have reasons to be thankful. There’s always a reason to give thanks.

In a Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown feeds Snoopy on Thanksgiving Day. He gives the pooch his usual dog food. Snoopy looks at it and says, “Dog food again. That’s all I ever get is dog food. Everyone else is having all kinds of food today, but I just have my dog food. Oh well, at least I’m not the turkey.” There’s always a reason to be thankful.

Thankfully, the tree that fell did so in an almost perfect way. Across our neighbor’s yard into our yard. The only thing the tree hit was an old, ugly bush at the corner of our yard. We wanted the bush removed and the tree knocked it over, so mark that off the to-do list. There’s always a reason to be thankful.

Challenge yourself to spend time fertilizing your faith’s root system.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Today’s Enough

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How full is your calendar today? If you are like me, it is pretty full. Between work, getting the kids to school, and running errands, there is just not a lot of time for anything else. Especially worry about tomorrow. That’s why it is encouraging to find this nugget of wisdom tucked away in Matthew 6.

Jesus says, “Don’t worry about tomorrow for today has enough worries of its own” (Matthew 6:34)

As we think of all that is coming and all that may happen tomorrow, it is easy to let worry creep into our lives. However, Jesus encourages us not to worry about those events and days in the future. We are reminded the Lord has our back. He is going to take care of tomorrow. After all, today’s agenda is full; there’s no room for worry about tomorrow.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

The Great Time Taker

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It sneaks up on us and steals our time. It can take a minute hear and a minute there, or it can rob us of a whole day without our realizing it. It is the plague of worry, and it steals much of our time.

According to a study conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Cincinnati, the average person spends about 1 hour and 50 minutes per day worrying. This adds up to a total of about 12 hours and 50 minutes per week or 672 hours (or 28 days) per year. That is a when our peace is robbed from us.

This is why it is important to fight the plague of worry. As worry creeps into your day, try challenging yourself to remember the words of Matthew 6:33. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6 reminds us birds don’t worry, and flowers don’t fret. Jesus promises the Lord will take care of birds and flowers, and will take care of us as well.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Navigating Change

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Change. Do you find it stressful or invigorating? I’m somewhere in the middle; change can be good, but for the most part, I don’t like it. No matter how much we dread change, it is unavoidable.

The world around us is always changing. Society is always evolving. Employers are always “improving systems” and having their teams work differently. As you and I go through life, change may be forced upon us, but there is one constant.

The Bible reminds us “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

So when faced with change, choose to stay encouraged and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. With Him by your side, you can navigate any change with confidence and hope because Jesus is unchanging.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Fight Back

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Don’t get pushed around without fighting back.

James says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you”  (James 4:7).

This doesn’t mean he won’t fight our resistance, but with the Lord’s help, we can win the fight. Perhaps the best weapon to use is Scripture!

Jesus used Scripture to win the fight. Jesus was in the wilderness, and Satan tried tempting him numerous times (Matthew 4). Each time Jesus quoted Scripture and caused Satan to flee. Satan kept trying – just as he will with us. But Scripture kept him fleeing – just as it will with us.

Keep resisting and the devil will keep fleeing.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

More Than Romance

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Valentine’s Day is approaching and love is in the air, but there’s more to love than romance.

Attend a wedding, and along with the decorations and beauty of love on display, you’ll probably hear this passage read, or at least, referenced.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says:

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages[b] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 

This passage certainly describes the type of love a husband and wife should have for one another, but it goes farther. It truly describes the type of love Christians should strive to imitate in all of our relationships. This passage does a marvelous job describing it, and the Gospels give us explicit illustrations of how Jesus modeled it.

Jesus’ Patience

On one occasion, James and John came to Jesus desiring to be called the greatest. They wanted Jesus to promote them to places of honor. His response demonstrates his patience.

The NIV Jesus Bible remarks, “Consider the passage in the Gospel of Mark in which James and John asked Jesus to do whatever they asked of him. They boldly asked—maybe even with a hint of demand—to sit on either side of him in glory. However, rather than chiding them for such brashness, Jesus spoke to them patiently (Mk 10:35–40).”

Jesus’ Kindness

Jesus’ disciples felt Jesus was busy and would not have time to visit with some families who brought their children for Jesus to bless. Matthew records the disciples rebuking the parents and trying to send the families away, but Jesus showed them kindness. Matthew 19:13-15 says:

“13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 15 And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.”

Jesus was not Proud

As he was approaching the time on the cross, Jesus and his disciples were in the upper room having a meal, but the disciples forgot to wash their feet. This was a dirty job, and it was usually reserved for the lowest servant in the home. Seeing the need, Jesus took it upon himself to wash the disciples’ feet. He was humble enough to perform this task. He did not consider himself to good to do it.

Jesus was not Easily Angered

According to the NIV Jesus Bible, “Jesus was not easily angered, either. The careful reader might immediately think of the Lord driving out the moneychangers in the temple. Clearly, these people angered the Lord. However, Jesus’ anger was not an easily triggered rage over something insignificant. Instead, love for his Father’s house consumed him (Jn 2:17).”

Jesus Delighted in the Truth

John 18:37 says, “37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?”

Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

Jesus Never Gave Up and was Always Hopeful

Jesus continued following God’s path even though, for him, it became unimaginably hard. He knew the Father could raise him from the grave, so he laid his own interests aside to take up the interests of the world. He truly demonstrated love.

Jesus’ Perseverance

“Scorning the shame, he endured the cross for his people (Heb 12:2). This patient, kind, truth-rejoicing, protecting, trusting and persevering love kept no record of wrongs (1Co 13:5). Because of Jesus’ death, the amassed wrongs committed by the people of God were forgiven. The love demonstrated on the cross will forever remain unmatched (1Jn 4:10),” states the NIV Jesus Bible.

Is this the type of love you are imitating?

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Recipe for Life

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Every good chef knows recipes have to be followed. Cooking a complicated dish involves following the instructions of the recipe. In Jeremiah 33:3, we find a recipe for navigating our complicated lives.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know,” Says the Lord in Jeremiah 33:3.

The recipe for getting through life is CALL ON THE LORD.

“Call to me,” The Lord invites when we are tired and weary.

“Call to me,” the Lord invites when we don’t know how we are going to make it through the day.

“Call to me,” the Lord invites when we’re needing wisdom.

Whatever the situation, wherever we find ourselves, the invitation to call the Lord is there. We’re promised an answer; we’re promised help. CALL TO THE LORD is the recipe for finding our way through the complications of life.

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