And lead us not into temptation  trials … —Matt. 6:13  How do we view the inevitable trials that come our way? Instead of whining, and perhaps “wining” our way through them, we can embrace them, and use them to produce […]

And lead us not into temptation  trials … —Matt. 6:13  I have found that trials and tests typically bring me closer to Jesus and my Heavenly Father. That is, when I embrace them for this purpose, as opposed to running […]

And lead us not into temptation  trials … —Matt. 6:13  Last week we concluded with the apostle Paul’s summary of why and how tests and trials can be used to our advantage: Therefore I will boast all the more gladly […]

The Lightweight Life? Part 2 of our Tests & Trials series And lead us not into temptation  trials … —Matt. 6:13  When Jesus states in the Disciples’ Prayer, “And lead us not into temptation,” he is actually saying, “And lead […]

And lead us not into temptation  trials. . .—Matt. 6:13  When Jesus states in the Disciples’ Prayer, “And lead us not into temptation,” what is he saying? Does God tempt us? Or … is it significant that the Greek word for […]

“ …for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”—Matt. 6:8 When we hear Jesus say that God knows what we need, we typically think in terms of, “What I need, not what I want.” I believe Jesus […]

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.—Matt. 6:7-8 When Jesus […]

Today let’s look at Jesus’ introduction to his prayer. Here it is in whole: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen […]

You probably think you have free will. You might even be proud of your witty and clever free will. You might fancy yourself to be a smart person. You might see yourself as a free-spirited, avant-garde, advanced human. “I am […]

Gratitude must be constantly fed. Resentment feeds on itself.  Unknown I want us to keep thinking about Easter, and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Instead of just the ‘week of,’ let us keep contemplating his sacrifice for each of us. […]

Easter is all about Self. Actually the entire Biblical story is about Self: the battle of our Self against God. Oh, you may think it is about the battle between Satan and God, but Satan long ago realized his best […]