“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12 NIV)The day my boss informed me I’d been chosen as our school district's Teacher of the Year, excitement overwhelmed me. I couldn’t believe I’d been selected for such an honor! Each year, the Teacher of the Year award was announced at the end-of-semester district luncheon, surrounded by lots of fanfare. This was certain to be a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
One of the nation's top biblical scholars says he hopes a new, groundbreaking documentary series about the Bible helps spark a "revival" of the mind among Christians, leading them to want to learn more.
In a culture that screams we need to honor the flesh, we as believers need to rein our hearts back to the truth of what God says about honoring, loving, and submitting to Him above all else. We serve a good God that desires good things for His children. While those "good" things are often laced with hard things, He lovingly sees us and stewards us through it all. He deserves our honor and praise.
“Mrs. Cooper was a real gentlewoman, refined, cultured, and lovable-a character who lived and radiated her religion. Her home, church, husband, and children were the most important things in her life, for she was a person who always putfirst things first."I found this description of my great-great-grandmother a few years ago, and while there are many special women in my family line, she was the matriarch. Her painting hangs in my dining room, and I was told about her for as long as I can remember. This is the most beautiful description of her I've heard, though ..."she was a person who always put first things first." I wish the same could be said of me, but I know that wouldn't always be true.
With tear-soaked eyes, I said, “When God gets us through this, I want to be able to say that we believed He would, and not regret how much I worried.” Too many times I had regretfully said the latter to my husband after God had proved Himself faithful. Too often, I had hung my head in shame, apologizing to God for not just believing Him and worrying instead of trusting Him. When was I going to learn my lesson?
Fans of the faith-based film genre who also enjoy superhero movies saw a familiar face on the big screen toward the end of the new blockbuster hit Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3.Karen Abercrombie, the Christian actress who starred in such popular faith-based titles as 2015’s War Room and the 2023 movieHeaven Sent(now on home video), portrays Grandma Quill in the final minutes of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3.Grandma Quill is the wife of Grandpa Quill, the grandfather of Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt).
Truth and grace are two words that can cause much tension in the world, and they should. Truth and grace are not of this world. They stem from the heart of our holy, perfect, righteous God and because of that, they pierce the hearts of those who have turned to Him.
"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…" -2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV
Heavenly Father, we humbly come before you and ask for forgiveness for the many times we have failed to proclaim the Gospel. Help us as we navigate our days to share the message of salvation. We know that you are long-suffering with your people and that your love, mercy, and grace are abundant. Thank you.
I consider it a great blessing to have grown up in a Christian home. My parents were intent on making God and the Bible an intricate part of our lives. My parents were real about their faith and their need for God. Life was hard at times, but I always knew that together, as a family, we would get through anything because their dependence on God was real.
Paul knew society was influencing the Colossians, just as it affects us today. We may be more modern, but the basic temptation to look back and get stuck in our old lives is the same.
Years ago, my family and I decided to make a bold move and follow God’s call to be church planters. It was exciting to build a team of believers to win souls in our local community. With so few church options in our town, we were enthusiastic about how God could build His church from the ground up. Yet, we realized very quickly that none of this could be done without finances.
“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” -Jude 1:3 NIV
“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” -Psalm 30:5 NLT
“And the Lord answered me: ‘Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end — it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.’” -Habakkuk 2:2-3
“Be joyful always.”1 Thessalonians 5:16WHACK.The crack echoed from one ear to the other as my head smacked up against the wall. It hurt … so bad. Stopped dead in my tracks, I felt my forehead for a split and a drip of blood and was relieved to find neither. With frozen veggies applied to the place of impact, I went back to survey how I missed a literal wall. I walked into it full force. Ever since my family moved, I continually make wrong turns in the new house, because the daily paths I walked at the old house had become so automatic. Every time I get to the top of the staircase, I turn to the right …but turning to the right no longer leads me to my room …it’s a left-hand turn now. I wish I could say my collision with the wall that day was the only casualty to my adjustment to all the directional changes in my daily path.
