“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 […]

“For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ.     Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate.       Can’t you see […]

“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 […]

“Here’s how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ—the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood person—comes from God and belongs to God.    And everyone who refuses to confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God.”1 John 4:2, 3 MSG […]

Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”    “Oh? Tell me.”     “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?”     […]

“Jesus didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. “I took on the troubles of the troubled,” is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us.    God wants the combination of his […]

“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 […]

“Jesus didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. “I took on the troubles of the troubled,” is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us.    God wants the combination of his […]

“By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus.    And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already […]

“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, right […]