Category: Christian Faith & Life
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God Gives the Proof We Need
The minor festivals of the church year highlight the faith and lives of believers throughout the history of the Christian church. These believers, by God’s grace, had their eyes fixed on their Savior Jesus. Their lives reflected that, and as we reflect on what God’s Word says about such believers, we see our Savior and…
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Just as He Promised
When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:2-3). I recently attended a webinar where the speaker offered the attendees a special promotion: Rate his podcast and receive…
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How Can I Be Full of Joy and Peace?
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). I don’t know about you, but joy and peace sometimes seem out of my reach. Stress, anxiety, fear, and worry hold me…
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While You Wait
“Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready,…
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Jesus, Remember Me
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43) A pastor once told me that he preferred preaching for a funeral rather than a wedding. Does that surprise you? If given the choice, I think most people would…
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How to Keep God’s Mercy From Feeling Routine
“Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him” (Psalm 98:1). The psalm quoted above reminds me so much of an answer to the questions in King David’s heartfelt psalm: “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How…
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No More Curse and No More Tears
“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:3-4) The awful effects of sin have been present since humankind’s fall in the Garden…
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Should I Expect Persecution as a Christian?
Should I expect to be persecuted as a Christian? The honest answer that God gives in his Word is yes. God doesn’t hide that blunt answer in the Bible with fine print or invisible ink. He doesn’t bury it in the proverbial terms and conditions of being a Christian, hoping that his followers will just…