Gratitude is the gateway to the miraculous. We can learn to give thanks before our miracle by applying the lessons in thanksgiving modeled by Jesus. Thank God for Providing “He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds” (Matthew 15:36, ESV). Jesus and the disciples were confronted with an overwhelming need. Both Matthew and Mark describe two different feedings of the multitude who had followed them for an extended length of time with no access to food. Jesus was conscious of…
Conflict, fighting, division, harsh words—reveal something deeper than personality differences or circumstances. Scripture reminds us that unrest is evidence of a heart out of step with God. A broken world is watching closely, longing to see a different way of living. God calls His people to be that witness to embody harmony, humility, and peace in a divided age. Peacemaking does not come naturally. It is a spiritual discipline, formed as we walk daily with Christ. As we submit our hearts to Him, He trains us to reflect His peace in our homes, churches, workplaces, and communities. Consider these four principles for growing as a peacemaker. Peacemakers Love Like God Am I motivated by love? James offers a searching question: “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?” (James 4:1, ESV) Conflict always begins in the heart. Before we attempt to resolve outward tension, we must first examine our inward posture toward God. Jesus made it unmistakably clear that love is the greatest commandment—and that love for God cannot be separated from love for others (Matthew 22:36–40). Only the love of God, actively shaping our hearts, can…
“Be the light,” a young mother said as she sent her children off to school. “Be what you are! You are light—now walk that way!” It’s a simple charge, yet it reaches into every corner of life. In an age where relative truth and moral confusion pull the world deeper into spiritual darkness, the call to live as children of light has never been more urgent. In Ephesians 5, the apostle Paul shows us what it looks like to walk in a way that reflects who we are in Christ. Walk in Love Read: Ephesians 5:1–2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” The Greek word for imitators is mimētēs, where we get the word mime. A mime communicates without words, drawing attention not to themselves, but to the story being told. In the same way, our lives are meant to silently—but powerfully—tell the story of Christ. Jesus said the world would recognize His followers by their love for one another (John 13:34–35). Walking in love means choosing self-sacrifice over self-indulgence. While the world promotes lust and self-gratification,…
God invites us to participate in the process of discovering and developing the dreams He has placed within our hearts. If you sense God stirring holy desires in you, consider walking through these four phases on the path to possibility. Seek “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV). God gave you His capacity to dream. When He created you in His image, He placed within you a reflection of His own ability to imagine, create, and bring life from possibility. The inspiration,…
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16 This week, we have been talking about choices. We have considered different stories from the Bible where decisions had to be made and the lessons we can learn from them. It is important to remember that Jesus chose us first. Ephesians 1:4 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” He loved us when we did not deserve His love. He looked beyond our faults and failures and saw what we could be. His blood cleanses us from all sin. His Holy Spirit abides in our hearts. His Word gives us strength and guidance in the right paths. What a privilege it is to know Him and to serve Him. In a world filled…
“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43 hThree crosses on the hillside. Jesus, the one on the middle cross, was innocent. Those who had falsely accused him did not realize who He was. He had all the power of Heaven behind Him. He could have called for angels to come and deliver Him. He willingly suffered because of His love for the world He had created. The men who hung on the crosses on either side of Jesus were guilty of murder and insurrection. They deserved to die. One of them joined in with the jeers of the crowd, crying out: “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” But the other one made a different…