Two of my teenage years were spent carrying a tuba in my high school marching band. Not necessarily what you’d describe as a call from God, but it wasn’t a wasted experience either. I learned some facts about harmony that I’ll pass on to you. Would you attend a concert of a hundred tubas? Probably not. But what band would be a band without a tuba? Or a flute? Or a trumpet? Or a steady drum? Get the idea? The operative word is need. They need each other. By themselves they make music. But together, they make magic. What I saw … Listen Now
Suppose you give me a gift. Let’s say you present me with a new tie. I take it out of the box, examine it and say thank you, and then reach for my wallet. “Now, how much do I owe you?” I ask. You think I’m kidding. “It’s a gift,” you say, “you don’t need to pay me.” “I understand,” I respond, but show I really don’t by asking, “Could I write you a check?” In trying to buy your gift, I’ve degraded your grace. I’ve robbed you of the joy of giving. How often we rob God. Have you considered … Listen Now
It was a tense deacon’s meeting. Apparently there was more agitation than agreement, and after a lengthy discussion someone suggested, “Why don’t we pray about it?” To which another questioned, “Has it come to that?” What causes us to think of prayer as the last option rather than the first? I can think of two reasons: feelings of independence and feelings of insignificance. We think, God doesn’t want to hear my problems. He’s got famine and the Mafia to deal with. I don’t want to trouble him with my mess. The last thing you should worry about is being a nuisance to God. If that’s your … Listen Now
God is more patient with us than we are with ourselves. We assume if we fall, we aren’t born again. If we have the old desires, we must not be a new creation. If you’re anxious please remember what Paul said in Philippians 1:6, “God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.” In many ways your new birth is like your first. In your new birth God provides what you need; someone else feels the pain, and someone else does the work. And … Listen Now
I had planned to nap during my trip. But the fellow next to me had other ideas! Knowing I couldn’t sleep, I opened my Bible. “What ya’ studying there, buddy?” I told him, but he never heard. “The church is lost,” he declared. “Hellbound and heartsick. Christians are asleep. They don’t pray. They don’t love. They don’t care.” And with that he began listing all the woes and weaknesses of the church. I shouldn’t have let it bug me, but it did. God’s faithfulness has never depended on the faithfulness of his children. He is faithful even when we are … Listen Now
Sheep aren’t smart. They tend to wander into running creeks for water, then their wool grows heavy and they drown. They have no sense of direction. They need a shepherd to lead them to calm water. So do we! We, like sheep, tend to be swept away by waters we should have avoided. We have no defense against the evil lion who prowls about seeking whom he might devour. Isaiah 53:6 reminds us, “We all have wandered away like sheep; each of us has gone his own way.” We need a shepherd to care for us and to guide us. And … Listen Now
If I were to ask you to describe your heavenly Father, you’d give me a response. If I were to ask you to tell me what Jesus did for you, you’d likely give a cogent answer. But if I were to ask about the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. . .? Eyes would duck. Throats would be cleared. John 14:17 says, “The world cannot accept him, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he lives with you and he will be in you.” What does the Spirit do? Scripture says He … Listen Now
I’ve often thought it curious how few people Jesus raised from the dead. He healed hundreds, fed thousands, but as far as we know He only raised three: the daughter of Jairus, the boy near Nain, and Lazarus. Why so few? Could it be because He knew He’d be doing them no favors? Could it be because He couldn’t get any volunteers? Could it be that once someone is there, the last place they want to return to is here? Isaiah said: “The good men perish; the godly die before their time and no one seems to care or wonder … Listen Now
The promises of God work. They work! Search until you find covenants that address your needs. Clutch them as the precious pearls they are. And when the enemy comes with his lies of doubt and fear, produce the pearl. Satan will be quickly silenced. He has no reply for truth. Russell Kelso Carter committed himself to believe the promises of God in the Bible. His decision to trust God in the midst of great difficulty gave birth to a hymn that’s still sung today. My favorite stanza says: “Standing on the promises that cannot fail, when the howling storms of … Listen Now
Jesus encouraged his followers to “always pray and never lose hope” (Luke 18:1). Never lose hope? Never be fainthearted? Never feel overwhelmed? Never get sucked into the sewer of despair? Can you imagine? No day lost to anguish. No decision driven by fear. This is God’s will for you and me. He wants us to “abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).” Abound…what an extraordinary verb to use with hope. For about half an hour recently, the sky above me became a waterfall. I had to pull my car off the road. Windshield wipers stood no … Listen Now
