The Lord gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who trust, wait, and hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be …
Think and Behave Lovingly
Jesus said: The Father Himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God….Think about and practice whatever is lovely, lovable and peaceable, kind, winsome and gracious. (John 16:27; Philippians 4:8-9, my paraphrase following AMP) This builds on Christ and GIGO (garbage in, garbage out); Jesus’ Noble Ones; and Righteous and Pure in Christ …
Righteous and Pure in Christ
Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6 NLT) This builds on Christ and GIGO …
Jesus’ Noble Ones
The Lord says of His holy people: They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight….We have happy memories of godly people, but the name of a wicked person rots away. (Psalm 16:3; Proverbs 10:7) This builds on Christ and GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) Royal People, Royal Behavior Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, the Scottish theologian, told a story …
Christ and GIGO (garbage in, garbage out)
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it….A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say and do flows from what is in your heart. (Proverbs 4:23; Luke 6:45) Input and Output I took …
The Best Optimism
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope….Put your hope in the Lord, for with Him is unfailing love and full redemption. God Himself will redeem us from all our sins. (Psalm 130:5-8) Christian Optimism Jesus’ followers navigate through God’s world with Christ-centered thinking and living. We must go through many …
True Optimism in Christ
God says: I will put enmity between you (the serpent) and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel….Christ’s reign (His kingly rule) will and must continue until every enemy has been conquered….And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, …
Optimism in Jesus
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23) By nature, some of us tend to focus on the hole instead of the doughnut. We might be labeled pessimists instead of optimists. But Scripture says: “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all …
Naomi: Hero of Faith
Return to your God, observe kindness and justice, and wait for your God continually….Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord….Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the …
Jesus-like Love (Part 6)
Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, evil, or injustice, but rejoices with the truth….I was overjoyed to find some of you walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us….Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (1 Cor 13:6; 2 John 4; Rom 12:9) Love was so important to Jesus that shortly …