Becoming Like Christ Scripture tells us that we who belong to Christ are now ambassadors for Christ. As ambassadors, we are tasked with two things: the mission of God and the character of Jesus. The goal this passage sets out for us sounds pretty simple: to become more and more like Jesus in

Choose Your Foundation Imagine standing next to the sea as waves crash at your feet, storm clouds swallow the sky, and the wind whips your face.   You know you need shelter—and that’s when you see a small hut nestled in the sand nearby, and one further away that’s firmly built into a rocky hi

Loving God’s Word When we want to learn a new skill, we try to absorb everything we can about that subject. Artists use different supplies and techniques to enhance their art. Musicians practice their music measure by measure, note by note, in order to memorize and perfect the song they are

God Still Speaks Have you ever asked God to speak to you? It can be tempting to think that we could have more faith if God would simply speak to us out loud. If God would just speak in a way that we want Him to, then we would know that He is real and exists. While at one time God spoke to and

The Best Word One of the most powerful verses in Scripture is found in John’s gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” ‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬ As you keep reading, it becomes abundantly clear that the author, inspired by the Holy Spirit, ide

God's Word Changes Us Scripture is one of the most important aspects of the Christian faith. God has revealed important and beautiful things about Himself through His creation and His Spirit, but one of the primary ways He's chosen to speak to us is through His Word. 2 Timothy 3:16

Praying Honestly Are you honest with God when you pray? Lots of people struggle with being completely honest with God. Instead, they pick and choose the things they pray about—the things they bring before Him. They hide certain sins and confess others that aren’t as embarrassing.  But Scri

Between Two Kingdoms Since the beginning of time, there's been a war between two kingdoms—the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. The kingdom of God, or the kingdom of light, is anywhere God has rule and reign over His people. Prior to having a relationship with Jesus, all of us

Cultivating Honest Conversations with God Prayer is one of the most important habits we can develop. Not only does Scripture command us to pray often, but there are tremendous benefits to building a life of prayer.  Prayer connects us relationally to God. We can thank God for who He is and wh

Walking Through Trials Let's start by debunking a myth: Nowhere in Scripture does God promise us a perfect life, free from troubles. In fact, many times in the Bible, Christ-followers find themselves persecuted, under attack, or facing trouble of all kinds. In a letter from James to first

God Is With You Have you ever asked God, “Where are you?” Some days it can feel like you’re walking alone through life. It can seem like God is not present or with you. Or maybe it feels like He has deserted you in a difficult time. The nation of Israel experienced many moments like this.

Selfish to Selfless Our default setting is selfishness. Don’t believe it? Try hanging out with a toddler for a day. Toddlers want what they want, and they want it now. Toddlers will fight (and sometimes bite) to maintain dominion over their prized possessions. Toddlers have little concern

Glory Revealed Before the telescope was invented, all that was known about the sky above was what could be seen with the naked eye. Now, thanks to advances in modern technology, we are aware of far-off galaxies, stunning nebulas, and mysterious black holes. Now, we realize that our knowledge

Commit to the Work It’s a complex dance—being faithful with the opportunities God gives you while also trusting Him with the variables that are out of your control. The writer of Proverbs, typically attributed to King Solomon, said this: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will b

A Testament of Loyalty and Commitment Ruth and Naomi, two women bound by grief and a shared history of loss, stood together under the sun-scorched fields of Moab. Famine and death had stricken their family, and Naomi had chosen to return to her homeland of Judah.  Before Ruth, a young Moabite

God of All Creation All of world history is characterized by periods of time when dominant nations ruled large portions of the earth. Intermixed with the various kingdoms and dynasties are notable wars and battles that have scarred the earth. Amidst the rise and fall of various earthly powers

Remembered by God People may forget your good deeds, but God never will. Maybe they never said thank you.  Maybe they never publicly honored your service.  Maybe they never remember what you did…  People may forget our good deeds, but God never will. Sometimes, we may wonder if our go

What Does Real Love Look Like? If you were to ask ten random people to define what love is, you would most likely receive ten different definitions. We often define love by what we value or enjoy the most. But with so many different definitions of love that are often contradictory, Jesus’ follow

Help is Near We weren’t created to go through life carrying heavy burdens that weigh us down. Thankfully, we don’t have to.  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you wil

Our Trustworthy God Have your plans been derailed? Have your dreams experienced a detour? Has your life taken an unforeseen turn? It’s been said that God works in mysterious ways, which is absolutely true. And how His sovereignty (His supreme power and authority) interplays with human choices