Don’t Build Your Life Around Applause John 12:43“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”Approval feels good. Being noticed feels good. Hearing people affirm what you do can be e...  Read More

Stop Feeding the Rumor Proverbs 26:20“Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.”Every fire needs fuel. Gossip works the same way. A story cannot keep ...  Read More

Don’t Let What’s Missing Blind You 2 Kings 4:2“Tell me, what do you have in the house?”When the widow came to Elisha, she immediately described what she did not have. Debt was overwhelming her. Her re...  Read More

Bring Somebody With YouJohn 1:46"Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'"Philip did not have a complicated evangelism strategy. He simply invited Nathanael to encounter Jesus for himself: Come and see.Som...  Read More

Don't Confuse Privacy with SecrecyProverbs 28:13"He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."Privacy is healthy. Secrecy that protects destructive...  Read More

Don't Let the Gift Become the God1 Samuel 1:27, 28"For this child I prayed, Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord"Hannah prayed desperately for Samuel. Yet when God answered, she refused to allow...  Read More

Don't assume the WorstProverbs 18:17"The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him."One side of a story can sound completely convincing until you hear the oth...  Read More

Become Your MasterPsalm 39:4"Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am."Your calendar reveals what you value. We say family matters, health matte...  Read More

Don't Make Your Age Your ExcuseJoshua 14:11"As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me.Caleb was eighty-five when he asked for his mountain. He did not spend his later years talki...  Read More

Don't Let What You Can't Do Stop What You CanMark 14:8"She has done what she could."Jesus' words about the woman who anointed Him are wonderfully freeing. He did not say she did everything. He said sh...  Read More

Psalm 42:5"Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God.Some Sundays you arrive ready to shout. Other Sundays you arrive carrying something heavy. Scripture make...  Read More

Don't Carry What Belongs to Somebody ElseGalatians 6:5"For each one shall bear his own load."Compassion does not require you to take responsibility for everybody else's choices.You can love people, pr...  Read More