Mark 11:14 "And Jesus answered and said unto it, no man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And His disciples heard it." "Is that your final answer?" is a phrase made famous from an American television game quiz show that first aired in 1999 called Who Wants to be a Millionaire. The show made television history as being...
Read MoreTo Obey is Better Than ________
1 Samuel 15:22 - "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." Have you ever had something in your heart that you know you were supposed to do, but you tried to substitute anything and everything else instead of doing what the Lord has told you to do?...
Read MoreA Bug's Life - Living Abund-ANT"
Proverbs 6:6 "Go to the ant...consider her ways and be wise”. In the classic 1998 Disney film, A Bug’s Life, a story is told of an incredible journey with one little ANT as he searches for a brave band of warriors to help him battle against the grasshoppers who threaten his home. I enjoyed this story because...
Bright Future Ahead
Proverbs 4:18 - But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. I just heard someone say, "In God, your future is so bright, you have to squint to see it". Don’t you love it!? I instantly thought of today's verse, which has blessed me countless times. That’s why I never have issues with...
Read MoreDrive a Stake Into the Ground
Luke 19:13 "And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said occupy till I come". When I was real young, some of the greatest times I remember are when my dad and me would go camping...
Read MoreMarinate Day and Night
Joshua 1: 8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but thou shalt meditate therin day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success". When I married my wife Natalie, I "obtained favor with the Lord" (Prov 18:22). I really got blessed with her love for God, her character, integrity, her sense of humor, and…
Read MoreExhale
Genesis 12:2 (Amplified Bible) - “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you {with an abundant increase of favors} and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing {dispensing good to others}”. There's a really great song that says it all for me about grace, it's called Exhale by Plumb. Listen to these powerful lyrics...
Read MoreNo Sweat
Matthew 11:28-30 (Message Bible) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” I love that, the unforced rhythms of grace. When it comes to exercise, I know that I’ve done an exceptional workout when...
Read MoreAll in the Family
Genesis 12:3 (Amplified Bible) - "And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses {or} uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families {and} kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves]." If you are over 50 years old, you may remember the 1970's hit TV comedy, All in the Family, depicting a so-called typical blue collar family from New York City. Who can forget the head of the house, Archie Bunker, extremely...
Read MoreGood to Great
Genesis 12:2 - "And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous {and} distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others]." If you haven't already, you have got to hear this story about Nate Boyer. He describes himself in his earlier years as very average, non-descript, "rudderless", without direction. Then, as a young man just out of high school, while sitting on his couch in his living room, he saw a program on TV about...
Read MoreThe New Adams Family
Colossians 3:3 – “For you died, and your new life is hidden with Christ in God”. Some of you might be old enough to remember the 1964 TV series, The Addams Family, about a rather different, shall we say, type of family...
Read MoreError Message
Romans 2:4 – “…the goodness of God leads you to repentance”. For so long, Satan has trapped people into a sin consciousness, always thinking about what’s “wrong”, a performance based system of measuring our worth, accusing us of every little thing. That’s a lousy way to live, but so clever on his part. Why? He knows if he can...
Read MoreAdding Fuel to the Fire
1 Corinthians 15:56 – “The strength of sin is the law”. Recently in the news was a story of a man that accidentally set fire to three cars while trying to get rid of bed bugs! The New Yorker was hospitalized after dousing the interior of his rental car with...
Read MoreC.S.I. - Christ Scene Investigation
John 20:6-7 (21st Century King James Version) "Then came Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher and saw the linen cloths as they lay and the napkin that had been about His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but wrapped together in a place by itself." The hit show C.S.I. has been around for a long time, and although I am not a fan, I am fascinated by...
Read MoreSix Powerful Words
Acts 13:43 “When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.” If you are ever asked to share your faith with a group of people and you are stuck for ideas...
Read MoreOnce Shaved, Always Shaved
1 Corinthians 1:8-9 – “Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” I know that beards are making quite the comeback these days, but every day, no matter what, like most men, I shave...
Read MoreBobo's Back!
Matthew 6:9 “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed by thy name”. Some of you may remember me talking about Bobo in recent years, a dog in my neighborhood where I grew up. He was chained up in the yard at his house, all day long, rain or shine, near the softball field where we played. Bobo was a huge black dog with matted fur and very large teeth, and barked nonstop. Unfortunately...
Read MoreStickability
Ephesians 6:18 - “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Stickability. Stick with it. Persevere. Press through until the end. Keep praying until you pray through. So many times, if something doesn’t happen as quickly as we think...
Read More"Thanks-given"
2 Peter 1:3 "According as his divine power has "given" unto us all things..." My favorite holiday to celebrate has always been Thanksgiving. As a child, I have great memories of our family going to the big rivalry football game on Thanksgiving morning and then...
Read MoreGet on the "Say-Saw"
Gen 1:3-4 (Amplified Bible) “And God said, Let there be light; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good (suitable, pleasant) {and} He approved it; and God separated the light from the darkness.” When I was younger, I basically spent my entire spring and summer at the...
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