Why go through a season of waiting if God can just give you the blessing without hesitation?
How do you embrace the season where you have to be in training and learn to wait on God for the things you really want?
Perhaps this is why the Bible talks so much about waiting. God wants us to know that waiting is far from a passive activity in which we do nothing. In fact, Scripture teaches us that God wants us to actively participate in the work he desires to accomplish. Waiting strategically can
Studies (970)
I’ve always been a bit unsettled by Jesus’ reference to the Canaanite woman as a “dog.” I’ve heard all the explanations given and none of them seemed all that satisfactory. They seemed like an attempt to get around the very offensive thing that Jesus said to this woman. But I noticed something a few nights ago when our associate pastor was teaching on this passage. I’d never noticed this thread before and I think it’s actually the key to understanding the passage.
First, to unde
We are introduced to two men.
Read between the lines. (Luke 16:19-31)
One was rich and lived lavishly. He found no place for God in his heart or life.
In contrast, the other man (Lazarus) was poor and diseased.
God saw his heart as open to salvation.
Both men died.
The first experienced Hell's torment.
Lazarus was carried by angels into Abraham’s arms.
Desperate for help the rich man begged for water.
"And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me an
by Tonja Taylor
…8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.--Matthew 5:8-9, Berean Study Bible
The LORD our God is the living Word (John 1), and all right thoughts and words come from Him.
Since I was 10 or so, writing stories, and letters and more has come easily to me. It is one of my strongest gifts. However, years ago when I served as a supervisor over several other people, I found one letter very hard
The Book Of Proverbs: God's wisdom For Righteous Living
When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall.
We need to understand that there is a season for everything. We have good times, and we have bad times, but in every season, we must praise The Lord and thank him for His Grace and Mercy.
When there are times of trouble, our praise should be lifted up to the one who can save us and give us peace in our hearts, becau
Sometimes, it's difficult to have faith. Our journey as followers of Christ can sometimes be tumultuous. It can sometimes be difficult and even dangerous for us to stand out and declare what we believe. Much like Christ, the early apostles walked difficult journeys. Sometimes having to ask for and receive the impossible to survive.
Even today, if you are a Christian there will be parts of your journey that are impossible to walk alone. Where nothing truly makes any sense, we struggle to stay afl
This is an insert from a book I just dropped, Love The Great Commandment - Executive Summary. Download it free here Love The Great Commandment - Executive Summary.pdf
- Paul’s famous discourse on love found in 1 Corinthians 13 teaches us so much about this overused word. It teaches us that love is patient and kind with a host of other virtuous characteristics.
- Human love cannot live up to this definition. This profound passage is read at weddings and printed on Valentine cards, but even the
Valentine’s Day came on Monday.
It ended at midnight.
Love never ends.
“If I speak human or angelic languages
but do not have love,
I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy
and understand all mysteries
and all knowledge,
and if I have all faith
so that I can move mountains
but do not have love, I am nothing.
And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor,
and if I give my body in order to boast
but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is
by Tonja Taylor
For years, I filled journals with words of things that had hurt and harmed me. Then I carried them--literally--with me when I moved to new places. The LORD finally showed me to trash them--literally--and that promoted my healing and freedom!
It's been a process, but just that act of throwing the "it is written" acts that others (the devil through them) had done to me and against me, was a physical and a spirtual act; the burden started lifting.
I also started pressing in to
This is an insert from a book I just dropped, Love The Great Commandment - Executive Summary. Download it free here Love The Great Commandment - Executive Summary.pdf
- Yeshua is our example of love. Being the sinless Son of God, he loved both God and people perfectly in His time on earth.
- Yeshua met a woman drawing water at a well and met her with love. We can learn much about how Jesus loved people from this profound interaction found in John Chapter 4.
- Yeshua didn’t shy away from peop
This is an insert from a book I just dropped, Love The Great Commandment - Executive Summary. Download it free here Love The Great Commandment - Executive Summary.pdf
- From the command to love God flows the command to love others. We cannot love Yahweh without also loving His people. The two commands are not to be separated.
- All people are created in God’s image and therefore worthy of His love and ours. We don’t love because people deserve it or have earned it, but because we have the lo
This is an insert from a book I just dropped, Love The Great Commandment - Executive Summary. Download it free here Love The Great Commandment - Executive Summary.pdf
- We know that Yahweh loves us through His words and actions. God expects us to love Him in return with a love flowing from the greatest love, His undeserving, unconditional, sacrificial love for us.
- In the same way, we can show our love for God through our words and actions. He commands us to love Him because He knows we need
Then they will know... “And they shall know that I am the Lord their God (Exodus 29:46a NKJV).”
Nebuchadnezzar was a slow learner.
“King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He choos
by Tonja Taylor
"I'm going to take a bath and go to bed early!" I declared out loud, after a potentially-stressful hour of having to deal with trouble about my mother's insurance not paying for her recent nursing home stay, while having to decide quickly whether to rush over and get her out--with no help in place for her, and all shut down at her house because of immediately incoming ice-storm type weather, etc.
Through the years, the LORD has used a plain old hot bath (up to my neck, wit
This is an insert from a book I just dropped, Love The Great Commandment - Executive Summary. Download it free here Love The Great Commandment - Executive Summary.pdf
- In order to follow the two greatest commandments, loving God and loving others, we must first understand God’s love for us. John tells us in his first letter that, “We love him, because he first loved us.”
- The love God has for us is hard to fathom since we are so undeserving of it. Yahweh’s “agape” for us is so undeserving th
I make positive decisions automatic by incorporating them into my daily routines.
I eat nutritious foods. I get most of my calories from vegetables and fruits, lean proteins, healthy fats, and whole grains. I eat a hearty and nutritious breakfast. My first meal gives me the energy I need to prepare for a busy day. I fill up on eggs and smoothies so I can resist donuts and bacon.
I enjoy the morning light. My brain feels alert without excess caffeine. I help my body find its natural rhythm so
This is an insert from a book I just dropped, Love The Great Commandment - Executive Summary. Download it free here Love The Great Commandment - Executive Summary.pdf
- The word love is found all throughout the Bible and represents a foundational truth of the Christian faith. Yahweh is a God of love, and as people created in His image, we are to be people characterized by love.
- While the English language has only one word for love, the original Hebrew and Greek of the Bible utilized several
by Toni Babcock 
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him,” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).
There is a distinction between slavish fear and saving faith, and prideful effort and gospel rest. A fear-based approach to God says “What good thing must I do to please God, and avoid judgment?” A faith-based approach says “I can’t do anything good without God, but I trust the gospel of Jesus Ch
In the words of President Ronald Reagan…
‘Tear down this wall!’ [June 12,1987]
Jesus has removed the walls of separatism and favoritism.
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; for the same Lord is Lord over all [of us], and [He is] abounding in riches (blessings) for all who call on Him [in faith and prayer].
For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord [in prayer] will be saved.’
But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will
