The Lion Who Believed He Was a Sheep – (A children’s story or is it?) One day a farmer was walking back from the forest. He came across a little lion cub.He brought the lion cub back home, gave it milk, water, and some food. He didn’t know what to do with it, so he […]
During this last week Bruce and I were traveling across Alabama, from Albertville to Tuscaloosa to Birmingham and then home again. Many of you know we work with Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, a mission training course and I am an instructor. Perspectives isn’t a course solely about world missions. It’s a study program rooted […]
Let’s face it. Life in the Spirit can feel ordinary at times. And yet, my friends, take note, this really is one of Satan’s greatest feats used to destroy us. If Satan cannot keep God from breaking in and saving our soul, he will do what he can to downplay what has happened. He’ll seed thorns […]
In Luke 15:11–32 (please take a moment and read these verses) the parable of the prodigal son, or one might say, the parable of the prodigal sons (plural) is a famous story about a father — a blameless father — and his two sons, who are anything but blameless. Each of the sons are entrapped […]
Dick Brogden is a long-time missionary to the Middle East and North Africa. He currently serves as the Global leader for Live Dead, a missions movement aimed at planting churches among unreached people groups. His devotional book, “Live/Dead Joy” is one of my very favorites. In one of his devotionals, Brogden describes how to defeat […]
What is a looming threat in our culture today? Anxiety! It’s been said that “Anxiety is the soundtrack humming beneath modern life.” Paul’s instructions to the church at Philippi speak clearly in response (Phil. 4:5-7): “The Lord is near, do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests […]
Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai: “Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:5). He urged them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their fading spirituality in light of what God had told them. The beginning of […]
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” paints the picture of a sleepy, unassuming town that serves as the setting for the unprecedented act of God entering the world as a human being. There was no doubt many people living in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth had no idea that an anointed young woman was […]
Imagine what was going through Mary’s mind as the angel Gabriel told her she was going to give birth to the Messiah. How she responded is a lesson for us all. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in […]
In 1 Samuel 4:1-3 we read that Israel has been defeated in an initial battle with the Philistines, suffering the cost of 4,000 lives. The Israelites were stunned at the outcome. How could God allow them such a defeat? Although defeated by the Philistines, instead of seeking and humbling themselves before God, the Israelites concluded, “Let us […]