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 […]

“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 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 […]

“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.” […]

“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my […]

“The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out.    But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things.     I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to […]

“Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all […]

“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, not deficient […]