-
·
After the Fall
God tells us in 1Corinthians 4:20 (NLT), “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.” Heavenly Father has to remind us of a few things in His Word, because sometimes we allow life to get in the way. We forget that He’s given us access…
-
·
The Source of Our Strength
2 Chronicles 16:9(NLT) tells us, “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” This scripture in the Old Testament speaks to the vacillating hearts of men and women when it comes to their commitment to God. King Asa was the third King…
-
·
No Point in the Look-Back
I was going through some of my old emails over the weekend and came across a few that made me chuckle and reminisce about the old days. In one of them, a classmate had forwarded a picture he kept from our high school days. Here it is, over twenty-five years later, and he still has…
-
·
Watch out for Mind and Body Manipulation
In 1Corinthians 6:12(NLT), through the Apostle Paul the Lord tells us, “You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.” It’s clear in this verse that, as it pertains to how we live…
-
·
Return to Sender!
If you were to receive a letter or package in the mail that doesn’t belong to you, normally, the postal service will allow you to write “return to sender” on it; they will return it to the original sender at no cost. This is an antidote for life. When it comes to receiving anything that…
-
·
A Woman with Standards
Proverbs 31:10(NLT) says, “A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.” We might be tempted to overlook this jewel because so much has changed in modern times, but then again, so much has remained the same. It should never be lost on us that men are just as concerned about…
-
·
Desire Is What You Need
Isaiah 57:10 (NLT) “You grew weary in your search, but you never gave up. Desire gave you renewed strength and you did not grow weary.” How many Christians do you know today that are tired of life and are constantly feeling like there’s no good left in the world? I know quite a few of…
-
·
Right Shoe, Wrong Fit
They’ve got videos now that supposedly teach you how to walk in five and six inch heels. Every time I hear about one of them, I chuckle to myself. Used to be that I could cut a stride with the best of ‘em back in the day, but now…what? Staying vertical is extremely important, and…
-
·
He Will Do the Rest
A couple of weeks ago, I was coming out of the grocery store on the way to my car when a homeless man approached me and asked if I could give him anything to get food. Like most folks, I’m extremely careful whenever I’m approached, but it was in a well-lit area, lots of folks…
-
·
Foolish Decisions that Look Smart
“Common sense is not so common.” I chuckle to myself every time I hear this wise old saying. There is so much truth in those words. Common sense is the good sound judgment that is presumed most people will possess. Each of us come to the table with our own uniqueness, and our brains might…
-
·
Down on One Knee
When a man decides to go down on one knee and ask a woman to be his wife, it means he’s seen something within her that has touched his heart profoundly. He’s determined that his search is over, because he’s discovered in her what could not be found in others. This is a choice that…
-
·
Ouch…This Hurts Too Much
From sun up to sun down, you can tell a person all day long that you love them, but if your actions don’t prove your love, it will be difficult for them to believe what you say. I had an up close and personal view of this when I saw my friend, Josh, the other…
-
·
Training in Godliness
Like many others, I have been glued to the television watching athletes from around the world compete for the gold in the Olympics. I happened to see a segment the other day on what it takes to be an Olympian. Three female athletes were interviewed. They explained the grueling, yet rewarding, preparation and training for…
-
·
God’s Contagious, Ever-Abiding Love
I’m sure you’ve heard people make the statement, “You can’t help who you love” or “The heart does what it wants to do.” It’s true that the heart can be untamed in its desires, but God has given us something called free-will. He has also given us the responsibility to exercise the gift of free-will…
-
·
Not Mine, But Your Will Be Done!
Whether we witness it now or later, there will soon come a time in all our lives when we’ll face a crucial decision. It will either solidify the foundation on which the rest of our lives will be firmly anchored in Christ, or it will send us spiraling down into the camouflaged darkness that the…
-
·
When Heaven over Our Heads is Brass
In 2Corinthians 4:18 (NIV), through the Apostle Paul, God gives us an incredible piece of wisdom that is fundamental to living a life of abundance and peace. This verse says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen…
-
·
Everyone Had Just Enough
When the Children of Israel were in the wilderness, God fed them manna from heaven. It nourished them to such an extent that none fell to sickness or disease during the entire season of which they ate it. Exodus 16:16-18 says, “16 These are the LORD’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it…
-
·
Lesson #5, Never Look Back!
In Genesis 19, we learn more about the biblical record of Abraham’s nephew, Lot. After the death of Lot’s father, he went to live with his uncle, and Abraham loved him tremendously. Lot became prosperous just like Abraham, and when the Lord commanded Abraham to move to Bethel, Lot tagged along; but their households were…
-
·
A Strong and Stable Union
Call me old fashion, but I still believe that adhering to the virtuous standards God has set in His Word are the absolute best chance any of us have for a successful relationship. Staples like good communication, mutual respect, and a willingness to be vulnerable are necessary, but there’s one particular standard that is an…
-
·
The Greater the Challenge, The Greater the Reward
One of the commitments that we made to Heavenly Father when we started this ministry many years ago for our exquisite sisters in Christ was to continually put those reminders out there about the dangers of sexual sin. It can be tough business to do this. Some think we’re off our rockers to expect that,…
-
·
When God Reroutes You
The other day, I woke up early to go pick up a new table that I’d been wanting for a while. Since it was Saturday, I figured if I got up early enough I could beat the weekend traffic to the stores. Got on the road and was making good time until I saw flashing…
-
·
Dangling A Low Hanging Fruit
When a relationship is at a point where it’s held together by a thread, often the woman on the other end of it is holding on for dear life. The man, on the other hand, is dangling it before her. It’s a string without a meaningful commitment attached to it. At one time, he might…
-
·
The Pay-Off of Sacrifice
One of the things that we learn very early in Christian life is that we can’t just do anything we like. There are disciplines to the faith, and there are sacrifices that we need to make in the present that are required for our long-term benefit. In other words, we most definitely have to…
-
·
A Little Something for Yourself
A friend of mine told me a story about something funny that happened with her over the holidays. She moved to New England some years ago, but her roots are in the south, and she typically ships gifts to her family there. Admittedly, shopping during the holidays can be a little hectic, but mailing gifts…
-
·
‘RING’ in the New Year?
Some of the urban vernacular we hear these days is so cryptic that it could literally become a second language. Words like ‘ratchet’, ‘shade’, ‘filthy’, ‘lit’, and ‘baddie’ meant something completely different just a short time ago. Today they’ve taken on a whole new meaning. I have a feeling that ten years from now, they’ll…
-
·
She’s Rich, But Can’t Find a Man
Celeste is a very independent and fierce woman. She’s built her career on being labeled ‘the first’. She was the first woman to hold the position she had in a large construction company; she was the first African American to be promoted to a senior level management position, and she is the first woman in…
-
·
Are You Ready to Hit the Reset Button?
The countdown is on! We have only a few more days before we all bring in a new year. Some of us are seriously excited. Others of us…not so much. That’s not exactly the mindset God wants us to have. If you give it some thought, you’ll see that Heavenly Father has woven a few…
-
·
Shine Bright This Holiday Season!
Matthew 5:14 (NLT) “You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” Yep! We’ve officially commercialized the…
-
·
Did You Make it Disappear?
1 John 3:16-17 (MSG) “This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about…
-
·
Saying the Right Words Can Save Our Relationships
Proverbs 13:3 (NLT) “Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.” We can never underestimate the power of the words we speak. Proverb 13:3 is one example of how God wakes us up to the damage that can be done by what we say. It’s why I…