“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. […]

“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 […]

“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 […]

“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.” That’s […]

“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 […]

“So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk.    You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God.”‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:1-3‬ ‭MSG‬‬ There’s something inviting, warm and refreshing when entering a clean […]

“Show me how you work, GOD; School me in your ways. Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth. You are my Savior, aren’t you?    Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, GOD; Rebuild the ancient landmarks!    Forget that I sowed wild oats; Mark me with your sign of love. […]

“Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God.    There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” Philippians 1:3, […]

“You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree.    You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words […]

“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 the central […]