“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord." Isaiah 54:17 OBSERVATION Reading this verse we can be assured...
God created friendship.God CREATED friendship. He knew when He first created people that we would need friends. And when Jesus came to live here on Earth, He showed us what the very BEST kind of friendship looks like. Jesus is the greatest friend we could ever have....
Nothing challenges our view of God like challenges. Maybe, lately, you feel like you’ve had your share of obstacles and hardships. When we’re pressured with difficulties, our idea of a good God can end up on the chopping block. How can God be good when evil exists and...
I Didn't Sign Up For ThisI have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33 hen we moved to Carroll County almost six years...
When a Loved One is StrugglingWe are blessed to live in a time and society where conversations about mental health are not only accepted but supported. The open conversations in our culture surrounding mental health have created an environment in society where people...
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 OBSERVATION I know we have heard or said this verse probably hundreds of times. Have you ever actually thought...
Point others to God.You and I can be salt and light! Just like salt makes food taste better, we can make people’s lives better. We can shine the light of God’s love when we treat others with love and kindness. We can use our creativity to point others to God. We can...
There is no greater influence a child has than their parents. Our Family Life ministries come alongside parents to partner with them in influencing kids and students to find and follow Jesus. During this special NextGen weekend we’ll hear from our LPKids, LPStudents...
Numbering Our DaysTeach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalms 90:12 oth of my little boys lost a tooth last month and in an instant, their smiles were different. When it happened, each held their tiny tooth in their...
When to Seek Professional Help A counselor I know once described therapy like this: There are the things about ourselves that we know we know. How much sleep we need to be able to function in the morning or what foods will make us sick. There are also things...
"Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs form the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched our lips; Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged." Also I heard the...
God made us in His image.God made us in His image. He made us to do His work in this world and show love to the people around us. With His help, we can join forces and find ways to lend a hand. There are so many ways we can use our creativity...
God reminds us in the Bible that He gave an Old Covenant and a New Covenant. Confuse the two and you’re in for a confusing and inconsistent attempt at living for Jesus. It’s not an exaggeration to suggest that the church across the world is mired in legalistic...
Pulling Back the Curtain I'm bursting with God-news; I'm dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened--I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten... Luke 1:46-49...
What We Can Learn From Loneliness hen I feel lonely, I usually want that feeling to go away as quickly as possible. I might get coffee with a friend, binge watch Parks & Rec on Netflix, or do anything else that will distract me from the...
"... I saw the Lord high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one with six wings: with two they covered their face, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And they cried to one another and said:...
His plans are always good!God always has a plan for our lives—and His plans are always good! He had a purpose for His Son, too. He sent Jesus to save the entire world. Because Jesus came to be our Savior, we can have a relationship with God that will last FOREVER....
When we find ourselves moving in a certain direction and focused on our goals, it can be jarring to feel like God suddenly is taking us in a new direction. It's hard to consider that what we are currently building is no longer necessary or worse, futile all along. We...
With Hope His Love has the first and last word in everything I do. 2 Corinthians 5:13 was stopping for coffee one morning and pulled into the drive through line. It was a busy morning and the cars waiting in line spilled out into a very busy road,...
There's a story in Daniel, chapter 3, about three young boys, Sadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo, who are thrown into a fiery furnace for daring to honor God by not bowing to a golden image. But there was another in that fire with them. Many believe it was God Himself,...
Lament: The Freedom to Feel e are wired to avoid physical pain. Just watch any toddler touch a hot candle after being told not to. Chances are, he won’t be in a hurry to do it again. Yet physical pain serves a purpose, helping us to focus on...