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I’m thankful for the way the Lord teaches me about his character through the pitter patter of those little feet. Every morning, I roll over to find a tiny body lying between my husband and me. Sometimes I remember how he got there. Sometimes it’s as if he magically appeared. Some nights I'm...

Jesus > You + X (all your dos) + Y (all your dont's)!Dear Church People, I used to be a math teacher. You might think, based on this whole writing gig, I would have been an English or Reading teacher... neh eh. I just cannot grade all those essays with all those words. Me? I really like a...

Jesus also taught: "Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets." —Mark 12:38-39 NLT Key...

[Jesus continued talking about hypocritical religious teachers:] "Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished." —Mark 12:40 NLT Key Thought In the previous verses...

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more...

As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, "Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls." Jesus replied, "Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of...

Jesus replied, "Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!" Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, "Tell us...

Jesus replied, "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many." —Mark 13:5-6 NLT Key Thought False messiahs will be plentiful! That's Jesus' message. Even more frightening than counterfeit messiahs, many people will be...

Jesus replied, "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many." —Mark 13:5-6 NLT Key Thought Jesus was concerned that his precious followers could be led astray. He still is today. As Jesus' followers, it is not enough for...

Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. —2 Corinthians 9:11 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Why does God bless us with riches? So we can share those riches generously with those in need and so we can bring thanksgiving to God. My...

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. —Matthew 9:12 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Why did Jesus associate with sinners? Because we need him to associate with us! What's the most crucial part of that truth: Jesus'...

But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. —Luke 9:13 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... I love the way Jesus gets his disciples' attention. "You feed them, boys!" Of...

Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. —1 Corinthians 9:14 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... One of the great tragedies of our modern world is that while some who preach and teach the gospel are charlatans and cheats, the vast majority of...

But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. —1 Corinthians 9:15 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Paul was careful not to take support from the...

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. —Genesis 9:16 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... I don't know about you, but I'm a very visual person. I truly...

[Moses reminds the Israelites of his reaction to seeing the golden calf by saying] "And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes." —Deuteronomy 9:17 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Anger, frustration, disappointment, and loss of...

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to...

And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new...

[In his defense before the Sanhedrin, Stephen said,] "And you continue, so bullheaded! Calluses on your hearts, flaps on your ears! Deliberately ignoring the Holy Spirit, you're just like your ancestors. Was there ever a prophet who didn't get the same treatment? Your ancestors killed anyone who...

Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. —1 Thessalonians 4:8 NIV Key Thought Scripture is not a collection of nice sayings left for us to ponder and do with them as we wish. It claims to be the message...