Steve's Blog
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)
Throughout the ages, it was not customary for subjects of a king or other authority to approach with boldness. Notable exceptions would be the children of monarchs who could come up to the throne boldly and approach the king.
We are children of the King of kings, and he is extended an invitation to us to come before him with bol...
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I am resolved to obey your statutes to the very end. Psalm 119:112 (CSB)
It is the time of year when people make New Year’s resolutions, or more accurately, New Year’s good intentions. We joke that we forget most declarations by the middle of January. Many New Year’s resolutions involve diet or exercise; even though we make commitments with the best intentions, the temptation is always present.
Making resolutions is easy; keeping them is hard. Sometimes, even immediate goals prove difficult...
Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. Deuteronomy 34:7 (NLT)
Last week, I went to see the optometrist. As I expected, I needed a stronger prescription. When we were young, many of us most likely took our eyesight for granted. I don’t think I spent much time appreciating the gift of sight. But as I grow older and now need assistance reading the text or the computer screen, I value the gift of seeing even more.
However, even if we have...
I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. Philippians 4:11 (NLT)
Contentment can be elusive. Despite the tenth commandment, or maybe because of it, contentment can be challenging to achieve. Even if we are content right now, we will soon be put to the test. Contentment is not natural. Paul said that he learned how to be content.
Discontent is a prevalent human trait, but if that weren’t enough, there are forces at work to ensure that we do not stay content for very long. Capita...
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Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” Hosea 6:3 (NLT)
For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. Hebrews 10:36 (CSB)
In the great hymn Amazing Grace, John Newton gave us these words: “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”...
Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! Ezekiel 37:3–4 (NLT)
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones,
Hear the word of the Lord.
A Situation Beyond Hope?
We know that God is our healer. We believe tha...
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Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. Proverbs 31:8–9 (NLT)
Is there anything complicated in understanding the meaning of these verses? I favor the NLT “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,” but another good translation (CEB) gives us, “Speak out on behalf of the voiceless.” But speaking out or speaking up is not enough. It goes on to say, “ensure j...
We have the same faithful spirit as what is written in scripture: I had faith, and so I spoke. We also have faith, and so we also speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13 (CEB)
There is a strong connection between faith and speaking. It is not speech that merely fills the air with sounds; when we speak in faith, seas will part, and God will move mountains. Many people misunderstand faith, and as a result, it is misused and abused. Faith is a gift, but it can also grow.
There is no question regarding the i...
Let every word you speak be drenched with grace and tempered with truth and clarity. Colossians 4:6 (TPT)
It does not take a genius to observe a lack of grace demonstrated in our world today. Speech in all segments of politics, education, science, society, and even sports is intentionally polarizing. There is minimal effort to find common ground.
Against this background, Paul’s words to us that our “speech always be seasoned with grace” should resonate among God’s people as we remember ou...
The godly speak wise words and promote justice. The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip. Psalm 37:30–31 (NET)
All wisdom is not the same. Or, stated differently, the wisdom that comes from God far exceeds any so-called wisdom that this world has to offer. The challenge that we face is in the discernment of wisdom. There is a lot of noise today, and many people claim to be showing us wisdom, but how can anyone know for sure?
Before we can speak wise words, we mus...
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)
Have you ever heard someone say, “Everyone has their own truth?” What exactly does that mean? Logically, if that were true, the case could be made that there is no truth, no objective standard to anything. The opinion is confused with truth. Everyone may be entitled to their own opinion, but that does not make it true. When someone advocates t...
And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the Name of Jesus. Acts 4:18 (NET)
The Name of Jesus is beautiful. It is a mighty name. But it is also a controversial name. Tyrants and dictators have tried to stamp out the Name of Jesus without success. In the Name of Jesus, demons tremble. We see people healed in the Name of Jesus. And perhaps the greatest miracle of all, salvation, is offered through the Name of Jesus. The song says it well: “There’s Something About...
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 (NLT)
David wrote Psalm 63 out of his experience in the wilderness. The wilderness was a barren, desolate place where he was deprived of the comforts of home and exposed to bad weather and hostile enemies. He focused on the things that matter. Or should I say, he focused on God, the only thing that matters.
God is not afra...
A drought will strike her water supply, causing it to dry up. And why? Because the whole land is filled with idols, and the people are madly in love with them. Jeremiah 50:38 (NLT)
California is once again facing drought conditions. The solution to a drought crisis is obviously water. Even in the best of times, there is not enough rainfall to supply all the needs in Southern California. We depend upon rivers and aqueducts to bring the water to us.
I doubt that many of our government leaders...
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Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 (CSB)
Our commitment to graciousness is sometimes inversely related to the importance of the situation. It is easier to be gracious when the stakes are low. That is when the issue does not matter significantly to us. However, when something that is dear to our hearts is under attack, graciousness might be the last thing that comes to mind.
In some parts of society, graciousness is considered a weakness. Synonyms f...
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So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe. For our God is indeed a devouring fire. Hebrews 12:28–29 (NET)
Earthquakes Everywhere
Natural earthquakes can cause significant damage with great loss, both lives, and property. You might be asking yourselves, why am I writing about earthquakes and great shaking?
Here is what Jesus said about the last days: People will be terrified at what they s...
Have you ever considered the difference between praise and worship? Is there a difference? It is not uncommon to hear the words praise and worship used in tandem and even interchangeably, but do they mean the same thing? On one level, they may seem the same, but there are significant differences.
There are numerous Hebrew and Greek words for both praise and worship as translated into English. The most prevalent Greek word for praise indicates esteem and honor, a recognition of God’s glory. The...
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My dear family, when you find yourselves tumbling into various trials and tribulations, learn to look at it with complete joy, because you know that, when your faith is put to the test, what comes out is patience. What’s more, you must let patience have its complete effect, so that you may be complete and whole, not falling short in anything. James 1:2–4 (The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation)
Very few “normal” people look forward to difficult trials and tribulations in their lives. In fa...
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Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. John 17:18 (NLT)
Last week, we began to examine our options as we confront the forces of evil comprised of the world, Satan, our adversary, and our fleshly nature. In last week’s article, Resistance Is Not Futile , we learned that our choices include assimilation, that is, conforming to the ways of this world. Or do we attempt to isolate ourselves from the world? Or finally, we can choose to stand firm and resist th...
I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. John 17:14–18 (NLT)
The question of how we as followers of Christ interact and eng...
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Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19–20 (NIV)
Jesus spoke these words just before His ascension to describe the church’s primary mission. Mark’s gospel is a little different: He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15 (NIV). Finally, in both his gospel and Acts, Luke emphasized wait...
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He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. Ezekiel 47:5–6 (NIV)
Ezekiel presents us with a vision. There is a life-giving river flowing from the temple. In essence, it is the blessing of God coming from his presence. We see a river over 2 miles wide. For those with a desire to...
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The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:5 (NLT)
In 1907, Wesleyan preacher William Watkinson published a sermon, “The Invincible Strategy.” He made the point that “evil is not overcome by denunciation.” He said that although it is easier to speak against evil than to engage in good works, it is not the best strategy. At this point, Watkinson said, “yet it is far better to light the candle than to curse the darkness.”
We may be dismayed and tro...
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Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Risk aversion is the term most frequently associated with finances and investing. According to the website Investopedia, “The term risk-averse describes the investor who chooses the preservation of capital over the potential for a higher-than-average return… Low-risk means stability.” [1]
People with high-risk aversion...
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Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us! 2 Corinthians 6:11–13 (NLT)
The apostle Paul had a complicated relationship with the people of Corinth. They were, in many ways, free-spirited. They bristled at the discipline administered by Paul. At times they took things too far. Rea...
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