Titus 3:8-11 warns us against quarrels and debates that lead nowhere. In other words, the Titus 3:9 meaning is clear: Christians should avoid foolish debates and foolish controversies in daily life. Today, let us reflect on how Christians can prioritize faith, peace, goodwill, and Christian unity. Paul’s letter to Titus emphasizes sound teaching, responsible church […] Foolish Arguments: Avoid Them

Dear friends and followers, today marks a beautiful, special occasion—my 75th birthday! As I celebrate 75 years of life, my heart is full of gratitude. I have faced difficult years, but the good years have outweighed the bad. This birthday testimony proclaims one enduring truth: through it all, God has stayed with me. When I say God has stayed with me through it all, I mean He has made His presence known throughout my life.

I sometimes live as though I control my life. When I have experience, a plan, and the right skills, I can easily trust myself. As a result, I often forget that God gave me those abilities. However, Peter’s experience in Luke 5 speaks to me. It shows me what trusting God with your skills looks like when hard work produces empty nets.

Zechariah’s Myrtle Trees vision remind us that God is near, even when we feel hidden, overlooked, or weighed down by hardship. This nighttime vision from the prophet still offers a hopeful message for the church today: Even in obscure times, God sees His people, dwells among them, and faithfully sustains their life and witness. Understanding the Myrtle Trees in Zechariah 1…

Do you struggle with unforgiveness and find it hard to forgive someone who hurt, betrayed, disappointed, or mistreated you? This prayer for unforgiveness can help you bring that burden before God. Unforgiveness can disturb your peace, strain your relationships, and weaken your spiritual well-being. Therefore, bring your pain honestly to God. Ask Him for the grace to release resentment…

A personal reminder that death stings This past weekend, I attended my brother-in-law’s homegoing celebration. In that moment, I was reminded in a deeply personal way that death stings, but Christ has removed its stinger. Grief after the death of a loved one brings us face to face with a reality we often try to avoid. As I reflected on loss, sorrow, and the finality of death, the words of the…

When Worry Feels Too Heavy How much time have you spent trying to stop worrying about what you cannot control? Maybe you replay possibilities in your mind, trying to solve outcomes that haven’t happened yet, and carry weight you were never meant to carry. You may find yourself wondering what tomorrow will bring, what someone else might do, or whether your situation will ever change.

What if you are richer than you realize? That question can change the way you see your life. Ephesians 1:3 reminds us that our greatest riches are not earthly possessions, but spiritual blessings in Christ. Every Spiritual Blessing Comes Through Christ Ephesians 1:3 CEV says, “Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven!”

Christ broke the curse when He went to the cross. He redeems everyone who accepts Him as Lord and Savior from the curse of sin and death. As the Book of Galatians explains, Christ brings freedom from the law’s curse and forms a new people through faith. Because Christ won that victory, we should pray according to Scripture and walk in the freedom He provides.

If sickness or disease has touched your life, lift your heart in faith and pray this powerful prayer for physical healing, trusting God to bring comfort, strength, and restoration. Note: Some Scripture passages have been personalized. Heavenly Father, I come to you in the Name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I ask You to heal me of all sickness…

Jesus heals the sick. In Mark 1:40–45, we see His compassion and authority. First, a man with leprosy came to Jesus and knelt before Him. Then he pleaded, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” In response, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” Immediately, the leprosy left the man, and he was cleansed.

On August 29, 2026, New Orleans marks 21 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. The Category 3 hurricane overwhelmed the city’s flood-protection system, flooded roughly 80% of New Orleans, and changed its communities and culture forever. A Lower Ninth Ward Reflection For me, reflecting on Hurricane Katrina 21 years later is more than a historical exercise. August 29 is the line between the Lower Ninth Ward I knew and the community we are still fighting to rebuild.

When I look at everything happening in the world—violence, injustice, suffering, and loss—I sometimes wonder, “Why does God delay judgment?” If God is holy and sees every wrong, why does He let evil continue? Why does evil seem to thrive while the godly and the innocent suffer? These are hard questions. They can make God feel silent, and justice seem far away.

A Question We All Ask Have you ever asked yourself, Can the Bible help me know my purpose? Why am I here? What am I supposed to do with my life? Does my life really matter? You should know that you’re not alone. I have wrestled with these questions too. We ask these questions during seasons of change, disappointment, or uncertainty.

Yesterday, I was standing in a crowded supermarket aisle when I met a man whose face and voice carried unmistakable rage. Someone close to him had deeply wronged him. He wanted to know how to forgive someone who hurt you when the pain still feels raw. The weight of that betrayal poured out in every sentence. I listened as he vented the anger he had been holding inside.

Few questions test our faith more deeply than this: How can a loving God allow hell? The question is not merely theological. It reaches into our deepest grief, our longing for justice, and our hope that evil will not have the last word. For me, the question became painfully personal when my son was murdered, and his killer was never found.

Before going to the cross, Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17. During the prayer, Jesus declared, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world” (John 17:6). The Bible uses many names and titles for God. Each one reveals something about His nature, character, authority, or care for His people.

Recognizing God’s Faithfulness in Fall Seasons After the fruitfulness of summer, fall invites us to slow down and notice how God has carried us. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us that there is a season for everything, and fall seasons in the life of the believer reflect harvest, change, release, and trust. As this series, “Seasons in the Life of the Believer,” closes, I look back with thankfulness.

In Isaiah 6, the prophet Isaiah sees a vision of God’s throne in heaven. The chapter opens with these words: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord.” That sentence does more than date the event. The year King Uzziah died frames the whole vision. King Uzziah ruled Judah for more than 50 years. His reign brought strength, prosperity…

I have often wondered how the Rapture relates to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In discussions with other believers, the Rapture vs. Second Coming question usually comes down to this: are they two names for the same event, or does the Bible present them as related but distinct moments in God’s prophetic plan? Or does Scripture present them as related but distinct moments in God’s prophetic plan?

When Life Feels Hard I have asked this question myself: “If God is for me, why is life so difficult?” Maybe you have asked it too—in quiet moments of pressure, disappointment, grief, or delay. Romans 8:31 is for the believer who wants to keep trusting God when life feels heavy. If you’ve ever asked this question, don’t feel ashamed. It is an honest question, not a sign of weak faith.

Having paused after spring to consider how God meets us in the in-between, we now move into spiritual summer—a season of fruitfulness, abiding, and steady growth in faith. In nature, summer brings longer days, fuller fields, and growth that can finally be seen. In the life of the believer, this summer season of faith describes a time when God’s work becomes more visible.

We live in a world where sermons are available on demand. Worship music is always within reach. Christian teaching is only a search away. So, it is fair to ask an honest question: Do Christians still need church? For some, the question is about convenience. For others, it comes from church hurt, disappointment, or exhaustion. Many people love Jesus but wonder whether gathering with a local church is still necessary when private faith feels easier and less complicated.

The 4th of July is a meaningful day to pause, celebrate, and give thanks. As Christians keep God first on the 4th of July, we can receive this holiday with gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy. We can also give thanks for those who have sacrificed in service and for the blessing of worshiping, gathering, speaking, and serving openly. But even in celebration, we should first desire to honor the Lord.

After reflecting on winter and spring in the life of the believer, I wanted to pause before moving toward summer and learn to trust God in the in-between. Winter reminds us that God is present in waiting, weakness, and hidden work. Spring shows us that the Lord can renew what has grown weary and bring life where barrenness once seemed to remain.

Father’s Day inspiration often begins by honoring fathers. They lead, love, sacrifice, provide, protect, mentor, and encourage the next generation. It is also a meaningful time to remember that godly fatherhood has never been about perfection. It has always been about faithfulness. As I look back over my life of fatherhood, I know I made many mistakes. Some still weigh on my heart.

In the previous reflection, Seasons in the Life of the Believer: Winter, we considered how winter can be a season of waiting, weakness, and quiet trust in God. But winter is not the end of the story. In God’s timing, spiritual spring begins to appear. What once seemed still and barren slowly comes to life again. In our walk with the Lord, there are seasons when He gently renews what has felt weary, fragile, or hidden.

What if one of the most powerful ways to share your faith is simply telling the truth about what God has done in your life? Every believer has a story of grace—sometimes dramatic, sometimes quiet, but always meaningful. Sharing your faith through testimony helps people see that God still works in real lives today. I learned that deeply when the Lord delivered me from a serious…

We all recognize the changing seasons in the world around us. Scripture reminds us, “as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Genesis 8:22). These rhythms are part of God’s faithful design. They are steady reminders of His sustaining care and unchanging order in creation. Moreover, they also give us a gentle picture of the life of faith.

What It Means to Trust God in the Middle of Hurt If you are wondering how to trust God while you still hurt, you are not alone. Many believers hold tightly to God’s promises, pray for healing, and still wake up each day carrying pain. You may know what Scripture says, believe that God is faithful, and yet struggle to understand why the hurt remains.

“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,My glory , and the One who lifts my head.” — Psalm 3:3 Some mornings the heart feels light and steady; others begin with a burden before the day has even started. Many people know what it is like to wake up carrying a heaviness they cannot fully explain. In moments like that, Psalm 3:3 offers more than comfort.

Unanswered prayers can leave your soul feeling weary. They can cast a shadow over your heart and fill the quiet with questions. You cry out to God, wait for Him to answer, and wonder why He has not answered you. In such times, it’s easy to ask whether God is even listening, and why He seems hidden from you. If you are walking through the sorrow of unanswered prayers, you are not alone.

Introduction Questions about God, Jesus, and suffering reach into the deepest parts of human life. In this post, I offer a clear, biblically grounded overview of what Christians believe and why those beliefs continue to shape faith, hope, and meaning. Who Is God in the Bible? The Bible teaches that God is eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and the loving Creator of all things.

Learning how to say no as a Christian without guilt can feel harder than it should. There is a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from saying yes when your spirit is worn down. You want to be helpful. You want to be loving and dependable. But when generosity is stretched too far, it can slowly turn into pressure, resentment, and quiet overwhelm.

When I was growing up, I sometimes wondered if Christ was Jesus’ last name. But the more I read Scripture, the more I realized how sacred that name truly is. Christ is not a last name at all—it is a glorious title that means the Anointed One, the promised Messiah sent by God. Jesus is not only a teacher, rabbi, or prophet; He is the Son of God, the King of kings, and the Savior of the world.

Gentle steps to help you move forward You want to be closer to God. Yet lately, He feels so far away. The parts of your spiritual life that once felt steady and life-giving now feel quiet, slow, and unusually difficult. Prayer doesn’t come as easily. Scripture feels quiet and less alive than it once did. The rhythms that once brought comfort feel heavy.

There were days when I felt like 5 quiet minutes was all I could realistically offer God. My house was loud with the kids getting ready for school, my schedule was full, and my mind was already racing before the day even started. If you’ve encountered moments like these, they could lead you to believe spending meaningful time with God is only for people with slower mornings and fewer responsibilities.

If you are looking for comfort in anxious moments, these Bible verses can help soothe your anxiety and stress. Anxiety can affect anyone, and it does not always look the same. Sometimes it is loud and overwhelming. Other times, it is quiet and easy to hide. It may come in the middle of the night, before a hard conversation, or in a rush of thoughts you cannot seem to slow down.

Your identity in Christ can be at risk when you visit social media sites. Sometimes, all it takes is a few minutes of scrolling to feel like something inside you has shifted. You were fine, and then suddenly you feel overlooked, less beautiful, less purposeful, or less certain of who you are. Social media can do that quietly. It does not announce itself as a problem.

When God Feels Hidden in Suffering When suffering and injustice fill the world, many people ask why God seems hidden. If God is loving, powerful, and near, why can He seem silent in our deepest pain? Questions like these arise naturally in seasons of grief, loss, and confusion, and believers have wrestled with them for generations. For many, the struggle is not only that suffering exists, but that God’s presence is difficult to sense within it.

In the Valley of Elah, two armies faced one another across a stretch of ground ruled by fear, silence, and the threat of war. The battle is recorded in 1 Samuel 16–17:54. On one side stood Israel; on the other, the Philistines, certain that intimidation alone would secure victory. Then Goliath stepped forward. For forty days, the Philistine champion filled the valley with threats, contempt, and spectacle.

Even in Solitude, the Lord is Near "For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? “— Deuteronomy 4:7 Our Identity as Believers As followers of Christ, we belong to a family that stretches across the world and throughout history.

Balancing Spiritual Commitment and Political Allegiance “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” — Joshua 24:15 In his last address to the children of Israel, Joshua asked them to choose whom they would serve. He stressed that God would not force anyone to follow Him. He highlighted the importance of choice in faith and emphasized how each person must decide for themselves.

The Command to Share Hope If you are a believer, you should know that the Lord Jesus Christ instructed you to give hope to the hopeless. It is not a suggestion, but a command. In Mark 16:15, Jesus commanded believers to go into all the world and preach and teach the gospel. This instruction is not limited to the clergy.

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes Imagine a sturdy tree, its branches heavy with ripe, colorful fruit. Now, picture an earthquake shaking that tree. The diseased fruit falls to the ground. This vivid picture reveals how God tests our faith through shaking when life's quakes shake our hearts and lives. The tree symbolizes our lives. Its fruit indicates our faith. The earthquake represents the trials and hardships we encounter.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes Have you ever wondered why Christian denominations are not more united? Well, I certainly have, and I’ve found that this question is both challenging and complex. In a previous post, I discussed what it means to be a Christian. I emphasized that Christians should strive to reflect the character of Christ. Yet, when we look at the global Christian community, it’s clear that unity is often lacking.