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Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash James 1 calls us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to grow angry.” So why should we do that? More importantly, HOW do we do that? Scripture:        Isaiah, chapters 29-31; James, chapter 1 James 1:19-27 (CEB): Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry. This is because an […]

Photo by Matt Howard on Unsplash Earthly rulers and spiritual leaders – what’s the difference? How should we view them? Which is more important? Scripture:        Isaiah, chapters 25-28; Hebrews, chapter 13 Hebrews 13:1-8 (CEB): Keep loving each other like family. Don’t neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it. Remember prisoners as if you were in prison […]

Photo by William Warby on Unsplash “Extra baggage” weighs us down and hinders spiritual growth. Spiritual pride is the worst kind of “extra baggage.” How can we recognize it and throw it off? Scripture:        Isaiah, chapters 22-24; Hebrews, chapter 12 Hebrews 12:1-2 (CEB): So then let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s […]

Photo by Kiwihug on Unsplash Every day, voices tells us to be terrified – “what if this happens?” “How will we survive that?” Listen to God: “Don’t walk in the way of this people. Don’t be terrified!” Scripture:        Isaiah, chapters 8-10; Hebrews, chapter 8 Isaiah 8:11-15 (CEB): The Lord spoke to me, taking hold of me and warning me not to walk in the way of this people: “Don’t call […]

Photo by Ronak Valobobhai on Unsplash Our world tells us to “grab for all you can get.” God calls us to grasp the hope of his promise, “which is a safe and secure anchor for our whole being” (Hebrews 6:19)! Scripture:        Micah, chapters 1-4; Hebrews, chapter 6 Hebrews 6:13-20 (CEB): When God gave Abraham his promise, he swore by himself since he couldn’t swear by anyone greater. He said, “I […]

Photo by Artem Sapegin on Unsplash Our world is marked by division, conflict, and strife. Where do we find encouragement? The psalmist tells us: “Know that the Lord is God!” Scripture:        Hosea, chapters 13-14; Psalms 100, 102; Hebrews, chapter 5 Psalm 100 (CEB): Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with celebration! Come before him with shouts of joy! Know that the Lord is God – […]

Photo by Pete Alexopoulos on Unsplash “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely.” How can we guard against the temptations of power? Scripture: 2 Chronicles, chapters 26-27; Isaiah, chapters 6-7; Philemon 2 Chronicles 26:3-5 (CEB): Uzziah was 16 years old when he became king, and he ruled for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right […]

Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash “Right is right, even if no one does it; wrong is wrong, even if everyone does it.” There is a slippery slope when we start calling evil good! Scripture:        Isaiah, chapters 4-5; Psalms 115 and 116; Jude Isaiah 5:18-24 (CEB): Doom to those who drag guilt along with cords of fraud, and haul sin as if with cart ropes, who say, “God should hurry […]

Photo by Muhammad Daudy on Unsplash Many people – both believers and unbelievers – are fascinated by the topic of “the day of the Lord.” What will happen, and how do we prepare for it? Scripture:        Isaiah, chapters 1-3; Titus, chapter 3 Isaiah 2:12-18 (CEB): The Lord of heavenly forces has planned a day: against all that is prideful and haughty; against all that is lofty, and it will be […]