Problems v Promises

I don’t know what you’ve heard, but the truth is... "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 6:10-12

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" Ah, that classic question. Parents and relatives used to love hitting us with that one, usually while we were still trying to master long division or debating the mysteries of our own belly buttons. Today, the real sweat comes from the stress on our minds, the fear in our hearts. Our jobs churn out anger in our guts, and corruption drips from our very souls. And yet, we still hear that old warning: "Don't ever let 'em see you sweat!"

Well, it seems Jesus laid out a pretty straightforward job description for us, and it's not a desk job. It's more like a "get your hands dirty" kind of gig. He basically said, "Stop standing around and start serving." He wants us to get busy helping our fellow man, which means a little less talking about love and a little more showing it. We need to be a little like spiritual first responders: healing the hurting, helping the lost find their way, and picking up those who hav

Man carries his beliefs around like three coins in his pocket. One coin might have immense value, while another might be completely worthless and counterfeit—a fugazi! The denominations for the coins are experiential, influential, and intuitive. The easiest way to determine their value and express it is what we “know,” what we “think,” and what we “feel.”

A feather’s touch to the tips of our ears with a breeze’s whisper, an exuberant scramble of a forest cascade, an early morning greeting from a distant seabird—these sounds convey tranquility and peace. Explosions of breakers against cliffs, fits and flare-ups of hurricane surge, detonations of earsplitting thunder—these sounds all carry the omen of panic and dread. Sound provides another dimension to Man’s existence. Along with our other senses, it’s another protective elemen

The Problem: Fear Remember when we were young. (I’ll wait as some of you rewind the ol’ memory banks.) We were fearless. We would take dares and accept challenges to do some really dumb and dangerous stuff, without any thought. That was the problem; we never stopped to think. If we hesitated, our friends would think we were “chicken.” We would have an imaginary yellow stripe superimposed down our back, a fate worse than death. “What’s the matter, Vitalle, are you too scared

The Problem: Loneliness ~ 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God's own possession, that...

~ Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and...

Here’s the wild thing about prayer: it has an effect, even if the person praying is on the fence about it. An increased level of belief you bring to the table appears to amplify the results. So, what's the takeaway? Go looking for God's Kingdom. Pray for His plan in your life, not just your own wish list. Then, wait for His answer, just as you would expect a package that you know is on the truck for delivery.

As a unique individual, you have a special place in the kingdom of God. You, as a Christian, are on display in God’s live-action museum. You are included in His portfolio, His Proud Body of Work. Please, display yourself in the best light! We are His poems, His songs, His symphonies We are His works of art, His paintings, His sculptures The Creator of the Universe has made us the centerpiece in the gallery of His creation

If you reread the above Scripture, you might discover that the most critical part of this promise is the small but mighty word "through." We are not meant to perish in the valley, but to journey through it. And we should remember this fact: valleys are where life thrives. The soil there is richer, the ground more fertile. It is in these very places of trial that God cultivates character, growing us into people far bigger than our fears and producing a bumper crop of wisdom to

Here is a heavenly paradox: This "Amazing Grace" is not fully realized in our lives until we begin to give it away. It is a divine concept, designed to let God's love flow through His children to His children. It is a truth that must be embraced personally and shared universally.

Over the centuries, we’ve developed negotiation into an art form. Those proficient in this art are masters of communication; they understand their audience's interests, anticipate their positions, and find creative solutions. We call them mediators, intercessors, peacemakers. They earn these noble titles when society weighs the results of their efforts and finds them balanced. Is it a win-win? If the answer is yes, we can all rise from the table with a sigh of relief. Thank y

Trust is the invisible thread that holds our world together. It’s the foundation of every healthy relationship, allowing us to rely on each other, communicate openly, and work toward common goals. It is built slowly through consistent, dependable actions, yet it can be shattered in an instant by a single act of deceit or betrayal.

Are you ready to sing a new song, or are you still humming that old, sad country refrain? It’s time to change the lyrics. You can find better ones written for you in the Finer Print of God's Word.

People admire and respect others who set goals for themselves. They are said to have ambition. There’s nothing wrong with setting an objective, whether it's a bullseye, a deadline, or a diploma. Goals help define our purpose and sharpen our focus on accomplishing them. Aspiring to become someone of substance concentrates our conviction.

"Barely enough" or "greedy," many miss God's "give more, get more" solution. Generosity brings overflowing blessings and breaks the cycle of poverty and avarice.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked...

~ Romans 8:38-39 I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any...

“Extra! Extra! It doesn’t matter what any of us look like!” Short or tall; skinny or fat (excuse me, “slender,” or “gravitationally challenged”); black, white, brown, or magenta. Whatever! The exterior appearance of our corporal tent has absolutely no bearing on who we are in God’s eyes.