"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me" 2 Corinthians 12:9.Crash!My stomach lurched as I sprinted into the bedroom where my 14-month-old daughter greeted me with a toothy grin. There on the littered floor, she played among a fallen lamp ...  Read More

Gideon is first introduced in Scripture as hiding from the Midianites in a wine press (Judges 6:11). That is not his only display of weakness, however.Not fully believing that he would save Israel, Gideon immediately asked God for a sign that what he was witnessing was Him. God was patient and granted that to Gideon, who led 10 men to take down Baal's altar (Judges 6:14-28). Then Gideon did it aga...  Read More

Last Friday I left the house to start the day.  I made the usual turns.  First a right on Highway 64: then a left on Main Street; finally a turn on to Church Street straight for the HBC building.  Then it hit me, I was going the wrong way.  I had to be in Bolivar for a meeting not in Hornsby.  My morning was controlled by habits.  This trip was the one I normally took.  I am a creature of habit an...  Read More

1 Corinthians 2:6-16Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lor...  Read More

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved" Ephesians 2:4-5.The postcard came in the mail with a promise. Just show up, listen to a brief sales presentation and receive a free $25 gift card.My husband and I were newly married and short on money. So, the promise of $25 felt...  Read More

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in His commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. 2 Chronicles 17:3-5At thirty-five y...  Read More

How do we explain the evil of Christian persecution?  What is the reason that a believer in Egypt is arrested and jailed for posting a message on social mediate that offended his Muslim neighbors?  How do we understand when missionaries are kidnapped in South Niger?  How do we account for a 13-year-old Christian girl who is forced to convert to Islam in Pakistan (persecution.org)?  How do we make ...  Read More

1 Corinthians 1:17-31For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.  For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE...  Read More

Romans 14:23But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith;for whatever is not from faith is sin.The writer of Hebrews reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God ( Heb. 11-16). Whenever God reveals something, He expects us to believe Him and adjust our lives accordingly. What does this mean? It means we trust Him implicitly for all of our needs, bec...  Read More

"Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and He was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them." Mark 6:47-48aHave you ever walked through something so difficult, so terrifying, that you have caught yourself asking, "Jesus, where are You?"Sometimes when life gets overwhelmingly hard or confusing, it can feel like our Messiah has g...  Read More

Conversations of giftedness draw our minds to natural abilities.  Some people a great with words.  Others run fast or can fix a car or excel in baking cookies or have the gift of gab.   Theses types of talents fall to everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike.Spiritual gifts are different.  They are only for those who live with the presence of the Holy Spirit.  These attributes serve the purpo...  Read More

1 Corinthians 1:10-17Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.  For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you.  Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and ...  Read More