Category Archives: Grace

Meet the citizens of heaven

Posted on March 13, 2018 by

It might surprise some to meet the true citizens of heaven. Many religious leaders “shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces” (Matthew 23:13). Jesus said of them,  “You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. ….You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are” (Matthew 23:14-15). Jesus said to these religious leaders, “religious leaders “shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces” (Matthew 23:13). Jesus said,  “You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. …Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you” (Matthew 21:31). Continue reading →

Posted in Afraid to die, Afterlife, Assurance, Atheism, Atheists, Belief, Blessed by God, Born again?, Christian worldview, Christianity, Cliches, Comfort, Cross of Christ, Cross of Jesus, Crucifixion, Death of Christ, Depravity, Disciple-making, Elentics, Eternal life, Eternal security, Evangelism, Faith, Fear of death, God's Heart, God's Love, Godly sorrow, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Grace, Greatness, Heaven, Human depravity, Humility, Jesus Christ, Justification, Legalism, Main problem, Matthew 7:1-6, Meekness, New Creation, Pharisees, Poor in spirit, Proud, Reconciliation, Regeneration, Religion, Religion-not the answer, Repentance, Salvation, Searching, Security of salvation, Seeker Services, Seeking God, Selfishness, Sin, Spiritual inventory, Teaching of Jesus, The cross of Christ, Unbelief, Walking with God, Witness, Worldly sorrow | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

7 resources for spiritual maturity

Posted on November 7, 2017 by

Spiritual growth requires looking ahead and looking back. Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Character, Christian life, Church growth, Counseling, Following Christ, Gospel-centered, Grace, Holy Spirit, Hope?, Image of God, Judgment seat of Christ, Mission statement, New Christian, New Creation, Parenting, Pastors, Personal devotions, Purity, Quiet Time, Salvation, Sanctification, Scripture, Spirit filled, Spiritual Detox, Spiritual disciplines, Spiritual growth, Spiritual inventory, Spiritual transformation, Trials, Victory, Walking with God, Will of God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Discontentment can sneak up on you

Posted on May 18, 2016 by

Diminished hope easily leads to a deflated spirit of resignation that gradually becomes justified pessimism or even dark cynicism. Here’s a timely call to extravagant gratitude. Continue reading →

Posted in Calling, Complaceny, Complaining, God's Will, Grace, Gratitude, Love, Meaning in life, Meaning of life, purpose, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, Walking with God, Will of God, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A perpetual dialogue of gratitude

Posted on November 27, 2014 by

The Christian life cannot be lived as God intended apart from a perpetual dialogue of gratitude toward God and others. Initiate an intentional dialogue of thankfulness today. What if God made you live today on only those things you thanked Him for yesterday? Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Complaceny, Complaining, Contentment, Depression, Despair, Discouragement, Encouragement, God's Love, God's Will, Gospel-centered, Grace, Gratitude, Love, Spirit filled, Spiritual growth, Spiritual inventory, Spiritual transformation, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, Walking with God, Will of God | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Expect the unexpected with God

Posted on November 7, 2014 by

Here is an occasion when people say, “It can’t be done” or “He’s too far gone.” But remember to expect the unexpected with God! Don’t be surprised when the predictable gives way to the unpredictable! Stand in humble awe at the ways of God! Continue reading →

Posted in Apostle Paul, Christian life, Christianity, Glorify God, God, God's Patience, God's Heart, God's Love, God's Will, Gospel, Grace, Mercy, Salvation, Wisdom | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The unexpected ways of God

Posted on October 28, 2014 by

We easily drift into a discouraged and disillusioned state when we misunderstand the ways of God Newton described here. Continue reading →

Posted in Grace, Spiritual Detox, Spiritual growth, Spiritual transformation, Suffering, Trials | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

God of the vulnerable

Posted on October 8, 2014 by

“What a contrast. We see God, the most potent and self-sufficient Power imaginable, continually expressing profound concern for the least potent and self-sufficient — the orphan in distress.” Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Adoption, Anthropology, Apologetics, Atheism, Atheists, Belief, Call to ministry, Christian life, Christian worldview, Christianity, Comfort, Common Good, Common grace, Ethics, Evangelicals, Evil in the world, God, God's Heart, God's Love, God's power, God's Protection, God's Will, Grace, Holistic ministry, Love, Mercy, Missions, Orphans, Prison Ministry, Radical love, Religion-not the answer, Seeing God, Seeking God, Social work, Theodicy, Vision | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment