Isaiah 7.9 warns, unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.
When God says He cant, He means He wont. God cant do something because it violates either His character or His commands.
Without faith God warns, it is impossible to please Him therefore those who come to Him must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Our faith is integral to God’s work and presence in and through our lives. (more…)
Exodus 1.21 explains, because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.
What was God’s response to some pro-lifers who defied their king? Bless them with children. What was God’s response to His people who were suffering immense hardship in slavery? Bless them with children.
God’s greatest blessings are children. (more…)
Matthew 21.22 promises, you can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it. 
This verse makes many Christians nervous because on the surface it appears God is promising us anything we ask for in prayer. This is what we want His words to mean for there are many things we wish we had but don’t have but if having them was only a matter of asking for them then that would be awesome.
Our experience however tells us this is not what He meant for we have all asked God for things in prayer and did not receive them. So what does this verse mean? (more…)
John 8.11 records God saying, ‘neither do I condemn you.’ ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’
The story of God recorded in the Bible is fairly simple and incredibly gracious. God creates but creation rebels. Rebellious creation needs restoration, a Savior, so God comes not in anger or judgment but with compassion.
God came as a man not to condemn the world but to save the world by demonstrating His love for the world through the taking upon Himself the consequence of their rebellion against Him. (more…)
Matthew 5:3 proclaims blessed are the…
Most likely there is no one on the planet who doesn’t want to be blessed by God. There is an entire Christian industry claiming wealth and health to all those who know God and have faith in Him (and give generously to His messengers).
The thinking we associate with blessing is always around money, influence and power, not the things God identifies as blessing when He lived among us in the Man, Jesus. God has told us what it means to be blessed by Him.. (more…)
Luke 16.11 observes if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?
What are the true riches of heaven? Knowing God deeply and enjoying Him forever is certainly first. God is about relationship not about stuff making the true riches deep joyful relationships.
After we have accumulated a bunch of stuff and put money into our bank accounts we too realize that life is not about what we possess but about the people we love and who love us. (more…)
1 Chronicles 4:10 records he prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that You would wonderfully bless me and help me in my work; please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all evil and disaster!” And God granted him his request.
A few years ago a book was written about making this prayer a normal part of the Christian life because it affirms the notion that God wants us blessed and successful as long as He receives the glory. We have often been deceived with this idea that our success leads to God’s greater glory.
If He just gives us all that we want we will make sure to tell others about Him so they can get what they want too because God wants people to want Him and He wants to bless them.
Interestingly, when God lived among us and had His very best opportunity to demonstrate such a life He chose the very opposite of such a successful life. (more…)
Ezekiel 18:32 observes I do not enjoy seeing you die,” the Lord God says. “Turn, turn and live! Repeatedly those who ignore God question the existence of God because of…
Deuteronomy 14:23 teaches the purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives. God doesn't need my money, most of us have heard, said…
Psalm 96.10 commands we speak to the nations the Lord reigns. The Bible declares there is only one God, one Lord, one Creator and Ruler of all that is and…
