When given an assignment by the Lord that shows just how valuable our faith is, Abraham didn't waver, even though he may not have understood why. He told his son that the Lord would provide the lamb for the sacrifice. It is a powerful advance picture of Jesus Christ, and proves that God not only knows and provides what we need in advance, but also …

After one bad decision had far-reaching consequences on history and on Hagar, she was left alone in a desperate situation, likely feeling very marginalized like so many do now. But she quickly learned that the Lord saw her situation and was there to minister to her, learning that it was an opportunity to learn to depend on the Lord. Video of this s…

At Judah's lowest point--in captivity, having offended the Lord for centuries--He sends the prophet Ezekiel to tell them He hasn't forgotten them, and has a future plan to restore them in the New Jerusalem, which will be called, "The God Who Is There". The Lord proves that amazing truth to us in 5 distinctive ways in our lives, and that ministry is…

To develop the discipline of trusting the Lord, we have to accept Him as our Shepherd--at all times, in every way. As sheep, we are stubborn and inclined to wander, but His leadership not only supplies what we need personally, but He also repairs our soul, prods us when we need to move and corrects us when we're wrong. But He does so in order to bl…

The Lord had miraculously and faithfully proven His Personal provision to Israel, but after the Red Sea, they started to complain and doubt Him. When the Amalekites attacked them, Moses relied on God's power to give them victory, utilizing the support of others. When Israel won because of the Lord's help, Moses built an altar called "The Lord is my…

After miraculously surviving what should have been a fatal car accident in his teens, Jamie Tuinstra shares how it the experience was unexpectedly repeated 30 years later when his nephew endured a similar accident. In both cases, the goodness and mercy of God was on full display, changing perspectives and giving a deeper sense of gratitude to the L…

For centuries, Judah had been defiant toward God, even though He had made Himself known to them and given them His Law--a situation that is very similar to the world in 2024. Knowing that we need righteousness but can't secure it, God chose to show mercy and become our righteousness through Jesus Christ. In response, it is vital that we consecrate …

In Genesis, Abraham was called away from his home and family and certainty to obey God, simply trusting in God's Word and leading. He was confident in God as El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty, Who is All-Sufficient. This 3 meaning of this Name all provide a beautiful picture of the God Who gives life, is our comfort and strength, our safety, and su…

When God met Moses at the burning bush, and Moses asked Who was sending Him to Egypt, God called Himself "I AM". This indicated that He is the essence of all existence, and the Only God, Who is over everyone and all things. This Name--THE Name of God--is YHWH, which we pronounce Yehova, and is so sacred that the Jews won't say or write it. In a tim…

When the Pharisees brought a woman who had sinned to Jesus to try to trap Him into being either too lenient or too harsh, He put the focus back on their own hypocrisy. But He didn't overlook the woman's sin, because like all of us, she was guilty. He showed He's willing to forgive and cleanse us, while also calling us to stop sinning. His mercy als…

Paul's letter to the Ephesians teaches powerful truths: That we are only saved through Christ, Who then gives us full access to the Father and makes us part of HIs "house". He calls us to build up our personal temple, and for the Church to be strong in Him. So we have to look at the current state of our spiritual house, assess Who and what we are u…

Just like the prophet Jeremiah, we live in a time when truth is opposed and altered. For him, it was false prophets who convinced the people that his message from the Lord was false, and that they wouldn't face discipline for their calloused rebellion. For us, we have to resist the narcissistic thinking that God should tolerate sin and do everythin…

To help us evaluate the genuineness of our faith and relationship with the Lord, He gives us a distinctive contrast in Jeremiah 17 regarding the source of our trust. Those who trust in mankind and themselves--the lie culture gives us--not only ultimately fail, but they are cursed because pride and man's plans are unstable and futile. But trusting i…

Because the enemy is constantly trying to breed instability in our lives, it is vital we develop consistent, foundational pillars to help offset that. Being faithful and dependable is undervalued in our culture, but spiritually, it is vital for our faith and is blessed by the Lord. When we are confident in our Biblical convictions, it prevents comp…

It is a remarkable concept that the God of the universe, Who we offended with our sin, would even think about us, let alone "long to be gracious" to us and "wait to have compassion" on us. But that's the reality of HIs mercy. And it should cause us to long for Him, not just because there is no one and nothing that compares to Him, but because He pr…

When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he urged them to have a nonconformist mindset by looking at Jesus' example of humility and sacrifice. He summed it all up in one phrase: "For me, to live is Christ". When the purpose of our lives as believers is to have Him at the center, it will be unmistakably obvious to those around us and they will be drawn t…

When a woman with a rough past came and worshipped Jesus in a unique way, some were appalled, but Jesus commended her for her sacrifice. Her actions reflected Paul's words in Philippians 3, when he described all his personal and spiritual accomplishments as rubbish compared to knowing Christ. Keeping an acute awareness of what Jesus has done for us…

Knowing we need wisdom more than anything, we still have important needs in our life. In the case of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar in Jericho, it was to receive his sight. But his desperate cry to Jesus for mercy reveals that he recognized Jesus first as Messiah, and also that he was asking with bold, active faith. The fact that Jesus stopped and help…

Money, relationships, jobs, health--they all cause stress and worry. But the Bible tells us that the answer is not more resources or relief from these issues--it is wisdom...which is a full understanding of God's heart, commands and leading. That seems odd because wisdom isn't tangible, but the Lord promises it will bring security, confidence and p…

We live in a time of pervasive and intrusive technology that "knows" everything about us. Rather than panic or give in to this, we need to be reminded that the Lord truly knows us--and especially His children--far more than a camera. He knows our thoughts and scrutinizes our lives to give us strength and encourage us to trust and take refuge in His…

After the fall of man, there was a group of people who "began to call on the Name of the Lord". This has always been the true heritage of God's people, and yet, especially the American Church in 2024 shows little interest or practice or prayer. We may think it makes no difference, or feel embarrassed, but a lack of prayer will only limit us from ex…

When we go through very difficult times, it is easy to wonder why the Lord is allowing it, or to even question His faithfulness--even when there has been abundant evidence of His kindness and help before. When Israel was "trapped" between the Red Sea and Egyptian armies, the Lord called them to move ahead in faith. It's a reminder that He defends u…

As we walk intentionally in this new life in Christ, we must not only "walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in every way", but we also must be encouraging each other to do the same. Even while in jail, the apostle Paul had co-labourers who stepped up to faithfully serve in simple ways, with the mindset of a bondservant. This greatly encouraged Pau…

Two of our high school graduates who are called by the Lord powerfully share what the Lord has been teaching them. Matthew Rhoads shares from James 1 about trusting the Lord at all times, even in trials, and as the passage says, "taking control of your joy". Nicolas Lopez talks from Acts 4 about the need to disciple others in the fullness of God an…

Often, we can become "frustrated" with the Lord when we face unhappiness or difficulty. We may see Him as unfair, simply because we don't understand or agree with His will. So the apostle Paul gives us 5 basic instructions at the start of Colossians 4, designed to keep us in the right mindset and also equip us for evangelism and discipling others. …