The Living Water of Jesus

“Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’”  (Jn. 4:39) We’ll never entirely know what happened during the conversation between Jesus and the woman at the well in Samaria. He asked her for water, and before she had a chance to put …

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Living Into God’s Purpose For Your Life

“Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”    (Matthew 5:37) If we’re going to have a meaningful life, we must learn how and when to clearly say yes and how and when to clearly say no. So many people find it difficult to be …

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The Lord God is Always With You

“I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.”    (Josh. 1:9) Once I was asked to give a graduation address to some men who, after leaving prison, had joined an intensive program to change their lives. Before giving …

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A Wise Counsel of Elders

“The king answered the people harshly. He disregarded the advice that the older men had given him and spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, ‘My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”  …

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Embrace Living Into God’s Will

“This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.” (John 6:40) Sometimes we can make it sound like living into God’s will is a difficult duty or a terrible burden. We can …

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Entering the Kingdom of God

Jesus said, “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell…”    (Mark 9:43) Jesus says these bracing and brutal words because He wants nothing to get in the way of our entering the Kingdom of …

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Jesus is at Our Side

“If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness will undo great offenses.” (Ecclesiastes 10:4) Today’s scripture can directly apply to our lives. In the first line, instead of reading “ruler,” substitute the important people in your life. So, if your spouse or kids or boss or employees …

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Jesus Spoke with Common Sense

“Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all.”   (John 6:10) Jesus had common sense. Although saying Jesus had common sense may seem to somehow diminish Him, that isn’t my intent. In today’s scripture, Jesus was looking …

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Our Home Is With God

“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, ‘Jesus, son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’” (John 1:45-46) Jesus came from a small town. Nazareth had no recognized academy, no noteworthy buildings, …

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