Scripture & Thought Luke 18:1 (MSG) “Pray consistently and never quit.” As young person and a new Christian, I remember someone quoting Paul from his first letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, chapter 5, verse 17: “Pray without ceasing.” I had no idea what that meant, but it seemed to me to be a strange instruction. How […]
Scripture & Thought Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Abraham Lincoln said, “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I […]
Scripture & Thought Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” These […]
Scripture & Thought John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” When it comes to amateur and professional sports, almost everyone wants to be “Number One.” Second place is okay in some circles, but few people ever remember who […]
Scripture & Thought Ephesians 5:16 “Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Question: In your work or in your play (or whatever you do), are you counting the minutes, or are you making the minutes count? There is a difference. If you are “counting the minutes,” you are probably bored with […]
Scripture & Thought Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Last month the Discovery Channel broadcasted live the historic two-phase, tightrope walk of Nik Wallenda between two skyscrapers in downtown Chicago, […]
Scripture & Thought Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” “To err is human, to forgive, divine,” said Alexander Pope, a British poet. Most of us can identify with the humanity of the fellow who knelt to pray and said, “I’ve done […]
Scripture & Thought Proverbs 24:16 (NIV) “For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…” Last Sunday, I referenced a sermon by Tony Campolo, “It’s Friday, But Sunday’s Comin’!” We all have “Fridays” that we would like to forget, but not the Friday before Easter! And it doesn’t need to stop there. Why? […]
Scripture & Thought Deuteronomy 14:2 “The Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.” This week I read in the four Gospels of the suffering of Christ surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion and wrote down the many ways He suffered shame. The soldiers bound Him and led him away. Some spit at Him, blindfolded Him and […]
Scripture & Thought Jeremiah 33:3 (The Message) “This is God’s message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting; known everywhere as God: ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wonderful things that you could never figure out on your own.’” You’ve heard the saying, I’m […]
Scripture & Thought Philippians 4:12 (NLT) “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. Years ago there used to be advertisements of a major Dairy company that announced […]
Scripture & Thought Thought to Ponder. . . In a sermon by Robert Kopp, I came across this affirmation. In 1980, a young pastor in Rwanda was forced by his tribe to either renounce Christ or face martyrdom. He refused to renounce Christ, and he was executed. The night before, he had written a testimony […]
Scripture & Thought Romans 8:9-11 (NLT) “Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, […]
Scripture & Thought Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this; you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and […]
Scripture & Thought Mark 4:39-40 (NLT) “When He woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the water, Quiet down!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. And He asked them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in Me?’” Luke 8:25 (NLT) “And they were […]
Scripture & Thought 2 Corinthians 7:4 “I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.” Joy is one of the distinctive marks of those who are “in Christ” – even when in difficulties. Paul exclaimed in 2 Corinthians 7:4 – “In all our troubles my joy knows no bounds!” “Happiness” comes […]
Scripture & Thought Psalm 130:5 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.” I once heard a story about Watchman Nee and 19 men who were staying in a home with inadequate bathing facilities. So every day they would go swimming. One day Watchman saw […]
Scripture & Thought 2 Corinthians 4:9 (J.B. Phillips) We may be knocked down but we are never knocked out! Legendary coach Vince Lombardi was famous for the inspirational speeches he gave to his players prior to the beginning of games in the National Football League during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Here is one […]
Scripture & Thought Psalm 150: 1, 2, 6 (NLT) Praise the Lord! Praise God in his heavenly dwelling; Praise Him in His mighty heaven! Praise Him for His mighty works; Praise His unequaled greatness!… Let everything that lives sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord! William Dyrness in his book, Themes of Old Testament […]
Scripture & Thought Isaiah 49: 15-16 (NIV) “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Evangelist Billy Sunday once said, “What we see as we […]