Sometimes, one of the best ways to wrap my mind around a scripture is to learn the meanings of the original words, then paraphrase the verse using those. When I…

We church folk do love the second part of this verse, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power…” There’s such hope in those words! But what about…

Paul had just written that believers who are strong must be considerate of those who are not. We’re not to live to please ourselves. Wait, what? Yeah, self doesn’t get…

I have never really had what we consider a “best friend.” My husband is my best friend, but outside him, nope. I do have close friends. Friends who challenge me,…

So much is packed into Paul’s concluding words of his first letter to the believers at Corinth! Be on guard.Stand firm in the faith.Be courageous.Be strong.Do everything with love. Isn’t…

Sin: that which an offense against a standard.The “standard” is God.Sin is an offense against God. Wages: payment, result, supportEvery choice has a consequence or result.Sin pays wages. Death: plague,…

James, the oldest half-brother of Jesus and author of the book of James in the Bible, is my kind of guy. A straight shooter. No wondering what he meant by…

How many times have you tried to do this whole Christian walk thing on your own, ticking off checkboxes and meeting expectations? How many times has that fallen apart? The…

Perfect peace. Who doesn’t want that? How wonderful would it be in any and every situation to feel a deep, penetrating peace? Not the head-in-the-sand peace of not recognizing the…

We all say foolish things at times. I’m the world’s worst for putting my foot in my mouth at funerals. I’ve learned to just remain silent in those moments, letting…

What drives you? What keeps you getting up day after day, pushing and striving? What is your ultimate goal? As a believer, the deepest answer should be “God’s kingdom and…