bible study (406)
Remember sitcom ‘Family Matters’ character Steve Urkle?
How could we forget?
Trouble was his middle name.
‘Did I do that?’
Most of us have asked ourselves that same question.
We don’t want to sin; yet, we are prone to repeat the same sins over and over.
Grumbling is my besetting sin. I might not complain out loud but discontent is in my mind.
‘Did I do that?’
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us la
What a great opportunity and privilege to have received God’s hand on your life. There are many blessings attached to the life of those who dwell in God’s hand. One of such blessing is that the righteous is wise in their decision.
“For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this that, the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God” as recorded in Ecc.9:9.
God’s hand is always on those who stay and are connected to him. God’s hand can be on you for many reaso
‘Listen.’
You’ve heard the command from parents and teachers; as a plea, it may have been spoken by a troubled spouse, child or friend.
‘Listen to me’…
If you, (like me) have watched or listened to ‘In Touch’ on TV or radio; you admire Dr. Charles Stanley. He preaches under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. Getting his points across, he repeatedly says, listen!
How closely do you listen; how do I?
Are we attentive?
Do we listen for God’s voice,
In this journey of life, you need to learn to not force things because God has already made a plan for things to go a particular way.
When you have to travel the difficult roads of life, do you let go of the wheel, give it to God and let Him navigate the way as well or do you try to maintain control on your own? Giving all our trials and worries in life to God and trusting Him in those difficult times is often easier said than done! In fact, it is downright frightening at times.
Most of us ha
by Jerry Ousley
Exodus 3:1-4 “Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of the bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, ‘I will now turn aside and see this great site, why the bush does not burn.’ So when the Lord s
by Jerry Ousley
3/11/2022 / Devotionals
When We Need Another
Ecclesiastes 4:12 – “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Did you ever have one of those days?
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
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
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
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
- 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
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
by Jerry Ousley
The Great Conflict
Part 2 – The First Three Battles
Genesis 4, 6, 11
We are addressing the Great Conflict, which is the greatest of all conflicts this world has ever witnessed. We have had conflicts between man (which are ultimately parts of the great conflict as well) that have been considered to be great and terrible wars. But the conflict, or war, between God and Satan is much greater in magnitude than any conflict man could ever have because it just does
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
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. --Psalm 147:3, NIV
Why does my heart hurt? I've asked myself many times through the years. Really, though, I was asking that of God.
Gradually, as I learned more through the years of what the Word of God says, and continued to seek out true Bible-based teaching in churches and online and in books, I realized that my heart hurt because there was so much junk in it--bitterness, unforgiveness, strife, jealousy, fear, doubt, unbelief, sin-consc
Every man is known for something,either good or bad. Our father,Abraham, was and is still known as the Father of faith, we know King David as a man who loved God and was always ready to do God's will, Jesus Christ is known as the man who delivered Man from the power of darkness, Apostle Paul is known as the man who preached the gospel everywhere he went and wrote most of the epistle books. You are also known for something and if you aren't currently known for something, it's only a matter o