Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) Choosing Praise Despite Circumstances Billy Taylor remembers sitting in his office …
Praise to Jesus (Part 1)
Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations. Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come into His courts. (Psalm 96:7-8) What Does Ascribe Mean? “Ascribe” is an old Middle English word that means attributing praise to God for the excellence He already has. We worship …
Christian Thanksgiving
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:17) Let’s Not Forget A woman complained to her pastor about repetition in his sermons. The preacher said, “I keep reminding, because people keep forgetting.” We forget things due to the passage of …
Blessed Are God’s Sons and Daughters
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!.. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him …
Getting God’s Guidance (Part 6)
Jesus said: Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The One who enters by the gate is the Shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for Him, and the sheep listen to His voice. He …
Getting God’s Guidance (Part 5)
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity… Plans are established by seeking advice. So if you [undertake important things], obtain guidance… A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way? (Proverbs 11:3; 20:18,24) Pastor Octavius Winslow (1808-1878) warns, “Beware practical atheism which excludes God from …
Getting God’s Guidance (Part 4)
Hear my cry, O God. Listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I… Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should …
Getting God’s Guidance (Part 3)
Lead me, Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies. Make Your way straight before me… I will praise the Lord, who counsels me. Even at night, my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 5:8, 16:7-8) We continue our studies, building on my …
Savior with Four Names
When people ask about Jesus the Son of God’s First Coming, here’s a favorite Scripture I use: To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of His government and peace, there will …
Grace Focused Optimism (Part 1)
I will make an everlasting covenant with them. I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear and respect Me, so that they will never turn away from Me. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all My heart and soul. (Jeremiah 32:40-41) Note: This …