My wife and I enjoy watching true-to-life movies about English kings and queens. The royalty down through the centuries are prime examples of abuse of power, self-indulgence, pride and ultimate vanity. It proves that man, when left to his own resources, will self-destruct.

Doesn’t it seem logical to think that if you are a faithful follower of Jesus your life will go smoothly, except for a few bumps along the way? Besides, isn’t a trouble free life directly related to the decisions you make along the way?

Is it just me, or is everyone battling discouragement these days? It seems as if everyone I know has gone through a recent bout with discouragement. The fact is discouragement eventually affects everyone. Perhaps you are even experiencing discouragement at this very moment.

I once spoke in a church on the subject of Self-Condemnation. Before I spoke, I asked the congregation if anyone had experienced self-condemnation the preceding week. Most all raised their hand and admitted that they were in some way involved in self-condemnation. One lady even acknowledged that she was struggling with condemnation that very day.

If you have been a follower of Jesus for a while you have often heard how important it is to grow toward maturity. The Scripture has plenty to say about spiritual growth and its impact on our fellowship with the Lord.

“If only…” I suppose many of us could finish that sentence with a sad, angry or regretful story. The truth is most of us have a lifetime full of “what if”.

This week I would like to convey something practical, or as my daddy use to say, “some good ole horse sense”. Sometimes as believers we are guilty of spiritualizing every little event that happens in our life, attributing it to the devil or the Lord’s hand.

Hebrews 12:1-2 In Hebrews 12 the writer gives a sports analogy to convey the importance of keeping our eyes on Jesus. Reading through this passage reminded me of how contemporary the Scriptures are on today’s issues and problems.

One of the most difficult tasks a believer encounters is waiting on God. Our experience, knowledge and impatience seem to get in the way of waiting on God. Of course, we are not the only generation that has that problem.

As a committed follower of Christ, if I say, “I want to know God”, what do I really mean? What does it mean to “know God”? How do we get to know Him?

“Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6)

“He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:39 NAS) I recently read an illustration that was interesting. It made me think of a simple principle that we sometimes overlook, read below:

The subject of baptism is a basic Christian teaching that is not often dealt with in a typical devotional. During many years of public ministry, I have encountered numerous believers who have never been baptized. Many would give a clear testimony of their love and commitment to Christ but have never taken the time to […]

I have a hunch that most believers think that the devil’s primary task is to cause us to fall into sin.

I am not sure when I first heard the above quote or who I heard it from. Maybe I heard it when I was in the Air Force? But it’s one that I will never forget. This has been one of those quotes that has evolved over the years. It’s a universal truth that fits […]