God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. It is an incredible privilege to have the Bible in our language and readily accessible.* We have a responsibility as Christ-followers to read the Bible, understand it, and put its truths into practice in our lives. God will help you. Reading and studying the Bible is … Continue reading How to Read & Study the Bible
Author: Derek Spain
To Live is Christ, to Die is Gain
In the the first century AD, a man named Paul wrote these stunning words about his faith in Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:21 (HCSB) 21 For me, living is Christ and dying is gain. Galatians 2:20 (NIV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life … Continue reading To Live is Christ, to Die is Gain
Lessons Learned from Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Martyred by the Nazis in 1945 at the young age of 39, German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer impacted lives in his own generation, and through his legacy and his writings has continued to impact lives every since. I am grateful to a friend who encouraged me to read Eric Metaxas' biography of him entitled … Continue reading Lessons Learned from Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Do you believe that the Lord is good?
The Lord is good. The Lord is very good. The Lord is always good. Even when people do evil things, the Lord is still good. In the midst of tragedy, of brokenness, it may be hard to find any goodness. But there is hope. Because there is God. And He is good. He helps us to pick … Continue reading Do you believe that the Lord is good?
What Does Christmas Mean To You?
Take a quick survey in your city or town, and here are some of the answers you may hear: "Spending time with family and friends" "PRESENTS!!!!" "Traveling hundreds of miles to be with the ones I love" "Missing loved ones who are not here this year" "FOOD!!!" "Christmas parties!!" "Christmas lights" "SNOW!!" "Great Christmas music" … Continue reading What Does Christmas Mean To You?
Emmanuel — “God With Us”
Through YouVersion, one of the devotions I am reading this December is entitled "Carols: A Christmas Devotional." It is produced by LifeChurch.tv. Today's devotion was very good, so I wanted to share it with you: O Come, O Come Emmanuel Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, Shall come to thee, O Israel. Time after time, the Israelites found themselves … Continue reading Emmanuel — “God With Us”
Christmas: What We Learn from Mary’s Song
Mary was just a teenager when God revealed to her that she would be the mother of the promised Messiah. God sent an angel to deliver this news, and Mary was overwhelmed. She knew that it was physically impossible for her to conceive a child. But the angel assured Mary that nothing is impossible with … Continue reading Christmas: What We Learn from Mary’s Song
One Big Reason to Give Thanks
During this time of year, we often pause to give thanks. But giving thanks is not always easy. For some people, the holiday season can be filled with mixed emotions. For people who have recently lost loved ones, the holidays can be difficult and lonely. For others, this time of year can be challenging for … Continue reading One Big Reason to Give Thanks
Praying for the People of the Middle East
A few years ago, Kim and I had the privilege of traveling to Israel as part of a tour group, visiting the towns, cities, lakes, mountains, rivers, and other sites where important events from the Bible took place. We literally walked on the same streets where Jesus walked. We visited the Sea of Galilee, the … Continue reading Praying for the People of the Middle East
Classics: Andrew Murray “Walk Before Me and Be Perfect”
We can learn a lot from the dead guys. Andrew Murray (1828-1917) was a South African writer, pastor and teacher. He had a passion for missions, a passion for prayer, and a passion for walking with God. He had incredible faith in Christ. If you haven't read any of his writings, check them out. You … Continue reading Classics: Andrew Murray “Walk Before Me and Be Perfect”