“… always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20). “All around us is fuel for the fire of thanks if we will but notice.” ––Jon Bloom “It is one thing to be grateful. It’s another to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do.” ––Tim Keller. “The way of seeing our Father in everything makes life one long thanksgiving and gives a rest of heart, and, more than that, a gayety of spirit, that

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). “When your sin is exposed, you will run toward confession and forgiveness or self-righteousness and self-justification.” ––Paul David Tripp Thomas struggles with sinful anger. There are many “triggers” that set him off. At times his anger has been volcanic. He has had the habit of justifying his hurtful anger by blaming the “triggers,” whethe

Grace: Our Forever Home "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public specticle of them, triumphing ove them by the cross" (Colosians 2:13-15). Edith has been in the church all he

Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy” (Lev 19:2). “… you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites”(Ex 19:6). “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life” (1 Thes 4:7). “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). John was raised in th

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1). “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mat 11:29–30). Choose Your Yoke Wisely The Yoke of Slavery: the treadmill of graceless law-keeping; personal faith but unable to grasp inner peace; professing saving f

“You who answer prayer, to you all people will come” (Ps 65:2). “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Mat 7:7-8). “Prayer is the exercise of drawing on the grace of God.” ––Oswald Chambers. O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God

“It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption (1 Cor 1:30). Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ––Oscar Wilde The world will ask who you are, and if you do not know the answer, the world will tell you.” Carl Jung “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free” ––Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man “This above all: to thine own self be true” ––Willaim Shakespeare, Hamlet, Scene

“You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf” (Col 1:7). “There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests gets together to work toward the same goals.” ––Idowu Koyenikan “If everyone helps hold up the sky, then one person does not become tired.” ––Askhari Johnson Hodari, Lifelines: the Black Book of Proverbs “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” ––A

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God” (Acts 18:9-11). “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.” ––John Newton How does the work of God

“… the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace” (Col 1:5-6). What power in the universe can free us from our self-destruction? Is there a hope for humanity for a better futu

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Gal 5:6 NIV). What is urgent for you? What is it that seizes and controls your daily imaginations? What do you long for––the basis of your satisfaction and your meaning in life? What motivates you and pushes the right button? What is the main thing you really deep down inside want? What can you not live without in order to be happ

“If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Mat 6:23b). Have you ever been spiritually abused? Are you suffering from the effects of that abuse? Are you wondering how to move forward? Unfortunately, there are many who can identify with your suffering, including myself. It is a great burden to bear when someone’s perceived help becomes an abuse. Perceiving themselves to be helping, false care givers, wittily or unwittily, injure others. Devoid

“… and has made known to us your love in the Spirit” (Colossians 1:18). “… and he has taught us with what love the Spirit animates you.” (translation from the French Bible NEG 1979) Have you ever known a person who always seemed to be full of life? Was it just too much coffee or did they have a hidden secret? Paul is describing a life of grace that is surrounded by and saturated with the love of the Holy Spirit. Love is the gracious gift of God whereby the Lord animate

In the atmosphere of the grace of the cross, Paul saw that there was an inseparable joining of faith and love. In the presence of abundant grace faith always works in love (Gal 5:6). The apostle had a simple formula: a living faith produces a sincere love as grace is breathed into our souls. Love authenticates the reality of a living, vibrant faith. Where there is no love there is no faith. Where there is the gift of vital faith love flourishes. Faith in the “ultimat

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” Romans 15:1-3 Paul continually moves Christ into the center of Christian fellowship. For Paul, decisions concerning life and ministry are to be made based on the reality of the living Savior wh

Prayer is the enactment of grace. In prayer the soul is infused with refreshing mercy and grace, spurring us on towards fruitfulness through a Christ-honoring life. As we pray we connect with the divine and that vital connection renews us, experiencing joy and peace. Through prayer our soul lays hold of the grace of the cross which empowers us unto childlike faith and obedience. The apostle exhorts us to pray continually as a necessity. He gives us a command to be obeyed. O

Grace gives birth to glory. In the atmosphere of eternal grace the glory of heaven comes down and becomes our prized possession. By finding our share in the realm of grace through the gospel we taste of the powers of the world to come (Heb 6:5) as we obtain heavenly glory. The glorious risen Lord imparts his own glory to his children (Amazing!). It is in the atmosphere of the gospel of grace we ‘share in,’ ‘possess’ (GK: G4348 peripoiēsis: a laying up, keeping, an acquiring

“There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is a beauty which God grants when by His grace men are born again. That kind of beauty never vanishes but blooms eternally.” Abraham Kuyper “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Moses “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Paul, an apostle God created the heavens and the ea

“…we had boldness in our God…”. (1 Thessalonians 2:2, ESV) “…we waxed bold in our God..” (ASV) “…we have gained confidence in our God...” Translated from (NEG 1979) As Paul lived in the shadow of God’s uplifting grace, he found the foundation of life and ministry—placing his full confidence in the faithfulness of God. Through God’s grace, Paul was prudent enough to know that leaning on the creature rather than the Creator was not wise. He built his life on an

“So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens” (1 Thessalonians 3 :1) Paul never felt it compelling to labor alone. He saw it as a great sacrifice to send Timothy and be left in Athens alone. He loved and trusted his companions and fellow laborers in the faith. He did not want to part their company. Their loving presence gave him strength and encouragement to continue on and fight the good fight of faith. The grace at w