Pulled From the Depths by God’s Grace

He ran away from God’s call on his life — disobeyed God’s command. He tried to hide, tried to flee, but the storm pressed in on him. His disobedience affected others, threatened their lives. So he was tossed into the sea. Imagine the guilt Jonah felt as he was tossed overboard, sinking into the depths […]

Building Blocks of Faith

What makes us fruitful for God’s Kingdom? 2 Peter 1:5-7 shows us the building blocks of an active faith in Jesus that produces fruit: “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence: in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, […]

Blessings That Spur a Fear of the Lord

The blessings that God bestowed on Israel were not for their own enjoyment, rather it was so that other nations would know God and his salvation. As the last verse of the Psalm 67 states, “May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.”

The Discipline of Trauma

When I reflect back on so many traumatic events in my life, I recall the pain and hurt. In the middle of those events, sometimes I wondered what God was doing. Yet when I look at my life today, I know those events helped to shape who I am. My faith is deeper for having […]

Do Gooders

It’s not hard to see the results of sin in the world. The news is filled with many of its consequences. Galatians 5:19-21 tells us: “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and […]

Your Story of Faith

What is your story of faith? When we think of the people in the Bible like David and Moses, we know their story; how they struggled in life; their fervent prayers to God; their faithfulness even in distress; and their failures. We can read how they struggled yet remained true to God. Do people know […]

Seeking God

Earthly gain is a powerful force that can draw us away from God. In the Old Testament, Solomon provides a good example. Initially he was devoted to God, serving as an example to others of living for God, but that did not last. His wealth was immense, so much so that silver was not considered […]

Overtaken by Trauma

The wave of trauma rises up before me, towering higher and higher. I cannot stop it from crashing over me, engulfing me in a torrent of many waters. The current of grief whisks me away. I am helpless. I cannot stop its force. The suffering twists my body, embroiling me in a sea of grief. […]

Seeking God’s Advice

He is overwhelmed by the task before him. Solomon has just become king and has consolidated the kingdom under his rule. When God appears to him in a dream, we learn about Solomon’s heart. God tests him by asking, “Ask what you wish Me to give you (1 Kings 3:5).” When we are overwhelmed by […]

Weak and Not Persuasive

It’s not usually the way it works in this world. If someone is trying to build interest in a speaker, they would not say, “He’s weak, scared and not very persuasive.” Usually they use words like bold, dynamic and powerful — words that encourage you not to miss hearing the speaker. Words that point to […]