
Are You Leaning on Your Own Understanding?
Cindy shares three signs that you might be depending too heavily on yourself.
Cindy shares three signs that you might be depending too heavily on yourself.
Cindy shares three signs that you might be depending too heavily on yourself.
I can do it. No, I can’t. Yes, I can. No, I can’t. Have you ever had that conversation with yourself? You feel like God is calling you to reach out to someone, start a new venture, teach a Bible study, write a book, share a story about your past that you’ve never shared before. But then your fear shouts at your faith to keep quiet. Read more...
I’m a museum guy. I’ve written about this before, but while others go to the beach, I go to a museum. (Beaches aren’t air conditioned.) I love history, and I like learning. So there. When it comes …
Actions and words have power to create spiritual growth, or they have power for destruction. Therefore, the heart must be kept with all diligence and close attention paid to the three gateways to t…
DALLAS -- Movie director Jon Erwin is someone who has had great success over the years. From October Baby way back in 2011 to Jesus Revolution and back to I Can Only Imagine, the Birmingham, Alabama native has always had a knack for finding and telling stories that resonate with...
Shows like "House of David" and "The Chosen" do not completely stay true to Scripture? Let's talk about it.
Self-esteem is a fragile thing, especially when we don’t base it on what God’s Word says about us. In the past, I based my self-worth on what I did (or didn’t) accomplish or what others thought of me. My relentless need to be loved and accepted drove me to unhealthy relationships, which left emotional scars.
NOTE: This is the third in a series where I consider some of the faith and arts issues surrounding artificial intelligence. Click here to read Part 1: The Issue of Virtuosity or Part 2: The Is…
Before America can have a spiritual awakening, we need church revival. The first step of a spiritual awakening is personal revival.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.-James 1:2-4 When we don’t feel good, when we’re...
You can't have your cake and eat it, too. Every decision has tradeoffs and consequences, whether you are aware of them or not. Here's how to choose wisely.
By Elizabeth Prata Previous entries in the series: Little Known Bible Characters #6: King ChedorlaomerLittle Known Bible Characters #5: Harbonah the EunuchLittle Known Bible Characters #4: Eut…
God's promises in the Bible about comfort. God promises to comfort you, even if He allows difficulties and discipline in your life. God always does what He promises
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4Please Pray:Father, the hurt and pain...
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4When we don’t feel good, when...
A woman is engrossed in reading a "Love Story" by artist C A Lenoir. Illustration published in 1889. Original edition is from my own archives. Copyright has ex
Hello, beautiful sisters in Christ! My heart is overflowing with joy as I welcome you to Lily of the Valley Women. In this space, we can come together, share our journeys, and find encouragement in the unwavering love of Jesus. I’ve been praying for this space and am excited to...
Most of these memes are so old they've become 95% invisible on my site. So I'm bringing them out of the shadows once again.
When I married her son, Bernadean might have felt there were things about my life to concern her. She may have wondered if I was the best girl for him. Her perception was warranted, but we hadn’t had much time to get to know each other yet.And that wouldn’t change...
Joel Barnes, who created the audio version of The Rogue Christian, returns to BG Radio, this time calling in from the Ukraine where he is on a missionary trip helping kids. Not long after Joel arrived in the Ukraine a building was hit. Joel provides Read More
The calling which we have all received is the calling to belong to Jesus Christ. The idea behind the language of “belonging” goes back to how he introduces himself in verse 1, as a “slave of Christ Jesus.” If you think about it, the idea of a person actually belonging to someone else is very foreign and shocking to us. However, in ancient Rome, where the recipients of this letter lived, one in every three people were owned by someone else. Across the whole of the Roman empire, the proportion of slaves may have been around one in every five people. So the idea of belonging to someone else in a literal was a very common notion back then.
The kind of hope that God offers is not cotton candy hope. Not on your life. It’s not full of empty promises. It’s stronger than the roof over your head that you trust to protect you from the rain, wind, and hail.And this is no empty hope, for God himself...
Jesus said, “I am the life.” In John 6 this life is presented as the bread of life. “He who eats this bread shall live forever” (John 6:58).In Revelation 22 this life is sho…
Does loving always think of the practical needs of others?
by Elizabeth Prata I made that collage above shortly after I was saved. I was reading Philippians, which famously says, And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hear…
Genesis 5 is a new family story, in contrast to the community of Chapter 4 who went out from God’s presence and built a city dedicated to human honour and ingenuity, relying on violent superheroes …
“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at...
“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at...
Following God’s Word & Finding Christ’s Joy.
There’s a reason there are so many tee-shirts, throw pillows and refrigerator magnets emblazoned with John 10:10. However, current reality begs a critical question: if Christianity is all about an…
Many people have wrong ideas of where obedience comes from. I used to be one of those people. I thought that obedience came from being more disciplined in doing the right things. I t’s like saying that obedience comes from obedience, which doesn’t make sense. Indeed, I discovered that the more I focused on doing fewer wrong things and more right things, the less obedient I became. It was a strange situation to be in. Now I know it’s not uncommon.
"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." - James 1:19-20Please Pray:Lord, as I step into this day, slow my heart to match Your pace. When impatience rises, remind me of Your endless grace. When...
"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." - James 1:19-20I made my stage debut at the age of five with a short but meaningful (to me) solo at my family's church. I don’t remember...
As a result of the resurrection of the Son of God, we receive grace. When we receive grace, it is always followed by a calling. This calling is always a calling to call others to experience the same grace. That is how the Kingdom of God grows.
By Elizabeth Prata The dome was built between 1420 and 1436 to a plan by Filippo Brunelleschi, and is still the largest masonry vault in the world. There are curious mysteries in the world that hav…
In Disney’s latest attempt to remake a classic, they have introduced a woke Snow White. But Disney used to promote better values.
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” -- Romans 12:3“Close your eyes,” said the sweet...
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” -- Romans 12:3Please Pray:Father, forgive us when we...
It is not a sin to ask questions! The Bible is full of them, and even Jesus Himself asked them. Listen to today's episode to receive the answer to one of Scripture's supreme questions.
Image generated via A.I. Have you ever had a friend who seems to do everything right? You’re in need, and they are right there with you, and they have what you need. They seem invaluable to you and…
The first thing Paul tells us about the Gospel is that it is about Jesus. He then tells us that as to his earthly life he was a descendant of David. This means not only that he came to be among us as a real human being, but also that he was qualified, in terms of his ancestry, to be the Messiah, God’s anointed Saviour. Now Paul gets to the heart of the Gospel when he writes that Jesus was “appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead”. Paul is saying that something wonderful happened at the resurrection of Jesus. He was appointed “the Son of God in power.”
Next month we will release the Road to Grace Video Series. This is a 6-part series on freedom and healing from porn and sex addiction with content for men, wives, and youth. The video series was recorded in the UK last fall at Monkeynut Studios Read More
Revelation 22:1 presents the river of life and 22:2 continues “and on this side and on that side of the river was the tree of life…” The fact that the one tree of life grows on th…
We don't measure our faith by its size. Jesus said faith the size of a mustard seed works. We measure it by its strength. The Apostle Peter enlightened us on ho
This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14) Andrew Bonar: “I have been endeavoring to keep up prayer…ever…
Tragically, Cain’s sin divides the world. The Lord still reigns over the whole earth, but Cain’s mob are separated from those who live in the Lord’s presence. They construct another culture, based …
“But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money” (Acts 8:20)! In Acts 8, Peter and John were sent to Samaria to pray…
"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way." – Psalm 25:9Toddlers are stubborn human beings. Once toddlers discover their little hands and feet, the world becomes a playing field of discovery, regardless of danger. Pots and pans, cabinets with noisy things, giant stairways, shiny objects,...
"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way." – Psalm 25:9Please Pray:Heavenly Father,We want to be people who choose you first and always. When we’re tempted to take matters into our own hands, help us remember that your way is better. When facing difficult decisions,...
Following God’s Word & Finding Christ’s Joy.
You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street! (Ecclesiastes 10: 3 NLT)
God is for us! We know He loves us and stands with us because the Bible is full of HIs promises. Read 12 ways to be certain God is for us.
The apostle Paul is describing the Gospel, and he just told us that the Gospel is about Jesus. Now he goes on to tell us what is most important for us to know about Jesus. The first thing Paul tells us here is “as to his earthly life.” This directly implies that Jesus had another life apart from his “earthly life.” He did indeed. He had a heavenly life as the eternally pre-existent, divine Son of God. Then Paul goes on to tell us that “as to his earthly life” Jesus was a descendant of David. Why is that important for us to know? Because our God keeps his promises, and he had promised many hundreds of years before the coming of Jesus into the world that the Messiah would be David’s descendant (e.g. Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5–6).
What if we took a deeper look into what is going on and decided to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in covering them with wisdom?
C.S. Lewis's book The Horse and His Boy is more than just an adventure story. It is a lesson in our humanity. There are limits to how much we can understand of our infinite God and his ways. This is a good thing! When I run into those limits, I know I am being challenged to be content with what God
If Lent hasn't felt meaningful or you're looking for fresh ideas, it’s not too late. Explore practical ways—like devotionals, Scripture memorization, and prayer—to make this Lent deeply personal. Find encouragement through honest reflection, confronting your struggles, and experiencing greater depen
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Matthew 14:27 NIV Adding our family to the tiny congregation doubled attendance. These sweet senior church members had been praying for a pastor to lead and grow their church. They couldn't give up. On our end, we had prayed for a church who'd
Newsflash. If a snake bites you, do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go straight to the hospital. You’d think a snake expert would do that. But noooo. Karl P. Schmidt was a world-renown herpetolog…
Since the recent rains, I see all the weeds in my yard that have grown and are waiting to be pulled. My yard is filled with drought-tolerant plants and rocks surrounding them. Standing on the rocks while pulling weeds is not an easy task. Frequently, I move a rock or two to get to the weed. Rocks c
By Elizabeth Prata The LORD told Jeremiah to tell the people that their sacrifices of incense were not going to be received, because of their sin. He was going to send judgment instead. There is a …
“nor as being Lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (I Peter 5:3). For the purpose of this teaching, I will write two instalments on the subject of charismatic wi…
“He has shown you, O Man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8Please Pray:Father God, Thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace. Thank You for the perfect example...
“He has shown you, O Man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8Being a Christ-follower is not easy. Just ask Paul the Apostle. According to the Bible, he was...
Following God’s Word & Finding Christ’s Joy.
When it feels like the dice are not rolling in your favor, remember the cross.
What makes a great song? The music? The melody? The ability to sing along? Or dance along?For me, it's the words. My favorite song ever is DC Talk's Jesus Freak. Some of the lyrics (written by TobyMac and Mark Heimermann) are colorful:I saw a man with a tat on his...
"Tap Into The Power of My Father s Word"—Jesus
The centre is Jesus, although it’s deceptively nice to think that you are at the centre of the universe.
When my husband and I started dating, we were seniors in high school. He was a pastor’s son who was serious about his faith, and on our first date asked me to go to church with him the very n…
As we pray and follow God in our lives, what should we expect in terms of blessings. What about difficulties that we might occur? What should our attitude b ...
Colossians proclaims “in Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (2:9) and “Christ our life” (3:4). John 1:4 declares “in Him was life.” Thro…
No matter how much you’ve sinned, God’s grace is greater. The prodigal son thought he had lost everything, but his father ran to meet him with open arms. This is exactly how God feels about you.
Like Christ in His solitary journey to the cross, finding wonder in the wilderness redeems our own Lenten journeys.
By Elizabeth Prata Beth Moore’s “aw shucks, li’l ole me, I’m here to serve you” demeanor is a lie. It’s actually purposeful disingenuousness. I remember that tim…
Abba Father,As the new dawning is ready to unfold, Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, for you delight in our footsteps that you have set upon the path laid before us.As we walk together in the coolness of the day, let Your...
Genesis 4:8 (NIV) Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Death is the ultimate destruction of o…
When we face rejection, sometimes it’s an indication to turn around. Sometimes it’s an invitation to push through to grow in the next season.
"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." -- Proverbs 16:18Please Pray:Dear Lord,When I struggle with pride, help me to remember one of the Jewish blessings, "Blessed are you, oh Lord our God, King of the Universe, owner of earth and sky." You own everything; we own nothing....
"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." -- Proverbs 16:18What's your favorite pie?Mine is pecan followed by butterscotch cream pie. I'm an expert at eating those and also one called humble pie. I'd like to think six decades of life along with 15 years of care managing...
Someday soon God's people are going to get carried away! The next great event in the last days is the coming of Christ for His church. What the Bible Says About the End Times.
Some of the things you need to know about Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries. He is arguably one of the most impactful Pastors today. Related: Profiles of 10 Christian ministries in Nigeria What you need to know about Pastor David Ibiyeomie David Ibiyeomie is the Senior Pastor of Salvation Ministries. He is one […]
I learned a huge lesson a few years back, after having foot surgery, about balance, stability, intent, and purpose - in every area of my life. After keeping the foot in a cast for 6 weeks, I had to retrain myself to walk correctly, especially when the steps were already...
April and I like to try a different restaurant whenever we can. Picking one that April has never been to so she can get a taste of American establishments and also so she can make suggestions if ou…
The law says “Pay me what thou owe.” The Gospel says, “I freely forgive you everything”. That's why The Gospel Is Better Than Law!
God has provided a way for every believer to help: pray for the grieving. Here are 20 Bible Prayers for the grieving to help you begin:
I, too, can get caught up in past wrongs. The enemy loves to parade them before me, tempting me to dwell on them like an irresistible offer. But then I remember the ultimate injustice—what Jesus su…
Scripture often contains statements that are counterintuitive to how we think in our human nature. For example: • Life begins when we die (Philippians 1:21). • We are called to do good to those who sin against us (Matthew 5:44). • Salvation is not of works, but of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). God does not see things as we do (Isaiah 55:8-9). And when we understand how these promises and commands benefit us as Christians, perhaps our perspective will shift from one of possible bewilderment to one o
A Note from Carol: One of the greatest joys of my ministry is celebrating voices that share God’s hope and truth with boldness and grace. Today, I’m honored to share the blog space with my dear friend, Rachael Adams.
By Elizabeth Prata We’re human beings. We’re living on this planet, in a city or town, in a neighborhood. We have jobs, many of us, where we engage daily with corporate politics, person…
I watched my friend, Patricia, struggle through more than twenty years of a difficult marriage. Her husband left three times during the two decades—once before their three children were born, and twice after. They lived through nineteen different homes in multiple cities, revolving jobs, rumored affairs, cycles of financial plenty followed by financial deficiency. Eventually, after twenty-three years, Rodney packed his bags for the last time and left. Read more...
“If music be the food of love, then play on” William Shakespeare I remember once listening to the song by Bisa Kdei “Mansa” and at the beginning, someone can be heard saying…
There are many of God's promises in the Bible about fear. God tell us not to be afraid 365 times in the Bible. God's promises are guarantees due to His perfect faithfulness
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 139:23-24Please Pray:Lord Jesus, reveal any sin that so easily entangles me. You know me and understand my thoughts....
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 139:23-24“It’s not a competition.” I’ve heard those words from trustworthy sources concerning my input during conversations twice this...
What happens when you give up shopping for one full year? For Erin Davis, it led to unexpected freedom.
“But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:31 NKJV) What a joy to receive praise for your work! Especially when it comes from someone imp…
This year the focus in our 4-min devotions is the teaching given by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters 5 – 7.
Martin Kuhrt is the senior pastor and Vicar of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Aylesbury, in the United Kingdom. Recently, his church hosted one of our From Porn to Grace conferences. Martin discusses the opposition he went through from persons in his church Read More
Hope Has a Name is the latest Christian single from MrR, featuring Mike Walker & Larry Holiday. Uplifting and faith-filled!
“A river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of [New Jerusalem’s] street. (Rev. 22:1) The flow is the Triune God as li…
I am an expert when it comes to boats. Well, except for cruise ships. Or speed boats. Or actually any boat with a motor. Come to think of it, kayaks are not in my area of expertise either. But a ca…
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. -- John 13:15 If you would like to know humility, take a temperamental and overly tired toddler out in public. They’re God’s gift to...
The third qualification by which Paul introduces himself is that he has been “set apart for the gospel.” As with his “calling,” the distinction that Paul is making here is that he didn’t set himself apart, but it was God’s doing. For the apostle Paul, everything is by the will and the grace of God. Paul sees himself as having a special purpose in life. He has been “separated” from other people, for the purpose of the Gospel.
“But I DID burn his evening meal,” says battered wife. What happens when your Cheater does actually touch on a real complaint about you? Most of us are rather introspective individuals as faithful spouses. We are probably painfully aware of our own faults and failures. So, it is especially disorienting in this time when your … Continue reading "But I did burn his evening meal…"