“We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us.   As it turned […]

“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 […]

“Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest.   The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds!   But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do […]

“At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got.   But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence.   You […]

“But now, God’s Message, the God who made you in the first place, the One who got you started: “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine.   When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between […]

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, […]

Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed!Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society.   Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.   Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you […]

“What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving.   Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.   Give your entire attention to what God […]

“So we’re not giving up. How could we!Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared […]

“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 […]