“All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel!    He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there […]

“And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They’ve refused for so long to deal with God that they’ve lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can’t think straight anymore…    But that’s no life for you. […]

“People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit. Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.”Isaiah 26:2-4 MSG There are two certainties in life: death and taxes. That statement has been […]

“Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm.    Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.    Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here’s what […]

“The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.    Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.”1 […]

The Master said: “These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren’t in it. Because they act like they’re worshiping me but don’t mean it, I’m going to step in and shock them awake, astonish them, stand them on their ears.     You pretend to have the inside track. […]

“Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons,  loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.”James 1:12 MSG I love rewards! I actually love rewarding myself… like when I have finished a project, or have hit a goal that I […]

“If you start thinking to yourselves, “I did all this. And all by myself. I’m rich. It’s all mine!”—well, think again. Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today.”Deuteronomy 8:17, 18 MSG “Have you […]

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.      You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.      Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, […]

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!     He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.        Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the […]