“Teach me how to live to please you, because you’re my God. Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland.” Psalm‬ ‭143‬:‭10‬ MSG Do you know how to live to please God? I mean, that almost sounds impossible, doesn’t it? That’s why David, the Psalmist, is crying out to God…”teach me how.” […]

“Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity.    Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in […]

“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, […]

“GOD makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet.    GOD is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love. He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever.    He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. […]

“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 […]

“Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced.    But Jesus’ priesthood is permanent. He’s there from now to eternity to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them.” Hebrews 7:23-25 MSG An advocate is someone who is on […]

“Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the […]

“Mortals make elaborate plans, but GOD has the last word. We plan the way we want to live, but only GOD makes us able to live it.” Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭1, 9‬ MSG Are you a planner? Love to keep everything under control? Nothing’s wrong with planning ahead. In fact, many of our daily activities require some […]

“Here’s how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments.    If someone claims, “I know him well!” but doesn’t keep his commandments, he’s obviously a liar. His life doesn’t match his words.    But the one who keeps God’s word is the person in whom we see […]

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.    Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and […]