prosperity

A Prayer to Understand God’s Plan for Your Suffering By Joni Eareckson Tada “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.“ Genesis 50:20 (NLT) You may not be a quadriplegic like I am, but I bet you resonate with the word helpless. When suffering hits you or your family broadside, we can quickly ask: Where is God? Why is He letting this happen? It’s why I draw inspiration from the biblical story of Joseph. Although he was never paralyzed, several things happened to him that could be construed as accidents. He was tossed into a pit by his envious brothers and almost left to die, and eventually, he was wrongly put in prison in a foreign land. Joseph could have become ...

The coming of the Messiah has been predicted by the prophet Isaiah around 700 BC. His prophecies recorded in the Bible referring to Jesus are quoted worldwide, especially during Christmas every year: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) There was declared the various roles of Jesus: a child, a son, a government, a counselor, God, father, and a prince. Despite being mentioned at last, this attribute is not the least – in fact, it is of great significance: Prince of Peace. Without peace, the continuity of life would not be possible. That is why the Son of God, King of kings has come into the world He created. Jesus Christ is the o...

August 23, 2018When the Hurt Is HorribleGwen Smith Today’s Truth I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8) Friend to Friend Danita experienced a tragic loss. Her husband Dave was a military officer stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. An avid runner, he was the picture of good health. Over six feet tall, his tanned, athletic build never failed to take Danita’s breath away. Like every other married couple they had their issues, but strived to live together as one. Early on their household was surrendered to the Lord. Faith, friendship, and fun were the foundations of their home and the cement that held them together during difficult times. In October 2003, Dave had been wrestling with some issues of spiritual surrender about the...

The Bible affirms the necessity of meditation numerous times, but does biblical meditation differ from Buddhist meditation? Buddhist meditation often involves mantras which edify the gods of either Buddhism or Hinduism. Meditating on and chanting a word or phrase praising or seeking a false deity is contrary to the principles of Christianity. Meditation in the Bible Meditation Verses in the Old Testament “[Isaac] went out to the field one evening to meditate…” (Genesis 24:63). “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). Meditation Verses in the Psalms The book of Psalms contains many references to meditation about the believer’s desire for a...

In just a few weeks, the fifth annual Church & Culture Conference will take place at Mecklenburg Community Church (Meck) in Charlotte, NC. If you have not attended before, you may be wondering what the vision is for this event. Heaven knows the Christian world doesn’t need another conference that is just like every other conference. You know the drill: the same eight or 10 speakers currently hot on the circuit, the same talks that are not-so-thinly veiled book promotions, the same “pep rally” atmosphere. Yes, they serve a purpose, but we have them in ready supply. In its earlier years, Meck offered what we called the “New Work Conference.” It was for church planters and we served countless numbers. We stopped after a while because we had grown distant from our own church planting days ...

“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:15-16 (NIV) Several years ago, my then-teenage son came to me and asked if he could take his brother and sisters to go get ice cream. How fun! How thoughtful! “Sure,” I said, “Let me grab my keys and we’ll go.” “No, Mom — we sort of want to go just us kids,” he quickly replied. “Oh,” and that’s about all I could get my mouth to say as my brain started racing and reeling. In my mind, pictures started flashing of a terrible accident, a phone call from the police, planning a...

Other than Jesus, Moses might be the most well-known character from the Bible. He played multiple roles throughout his life and I’ll touch on a few. It’s easy to glamourize Biblical characters who accomplish great things, but they were people just like us. Let’s look at eight things about Moses – who he was in the Bible and some details regarding his life. 1. Moses was a Hebrew. He was born to Jochebed and Amram, both from the tribe of Levi, when the children of Israel lived in Egypt as slaves. He was the youngest of three children, with a sister named Miriam and a brother named Aaron. 2. Moses was a special baby. The Pharaoh was afraid of the Israelite slaves because there were so many of them and ordered all the boy babies to be killed. Moses mother protected him. “She saw that he was a ...

The Karate Kid by Ryan Duncan But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. – Matthew 5:39  When it comes to old movies, there’s really no beating the 1984 Karate Kid. It’s the classic coming-of-age story of a young boy who finds his potential with the help of a wise, old man. Of course, back then all I cared about were the awesome fight scenes. The first time I saw the movie I must have spent a week doing “Crane kicks” around the house like an inebriated flamingo. Those same action sequences haven’t aged well, and these days The Karate Kid looks downright corny, but the film still contains some valuable lessons for people who listen. At one point in the movie Daniel grows frustrated with his tr...

“With God all things are possible” Verse in Scripture The Story Matthew 19 recounts how a rich man asked “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Jesus told him to keep the commandments. (vs.16,17). The rich man claimed he had kept these, but wondered what more he needed to do. Jesus answered “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (v.21). Jesus’ standard of perfection was startling, even for his disciples who overheard this conversation. When they asked about it, he said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,” (Matthew 19:26). Perfection is impossible for anyone but Christ “for none is righteous; no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Riding a camel through ...

A friend once told me about a professor he knew who was so absent-minded that he drove to a city for a meeting and then grabbed a cab to the airport when the meeting was over, forgetting he had come by car. Another time, while standing next to his car in a college parking lot with an armload of books and a puzzled look on his face, the professor hailed a student, saying, “Excuse me. I wonder if you could you tell me—am I coming or am I going?” When it comes to our spiritual lives, some of us are similarly challenged. We don’t really know whether we are coming or going. Caught up in everyday events, we fail to remember not only that we are headed somewhere but that we are traveling a path with Someone. Staying close to that Someone—to God our Father—is vital to living a life of peace. Other...

A Prayer for the OverwhelmedBy Jennifer Rothschild “From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety.” Psalm 61:2 (NLT) Sometimes we can’t change all the stuff in our lives that feels bigger than we can handle. But, whatever feels bigger than you is still puny compared to the Rock that is higher than you! When I feel flat-out overwhelmed and under-qualified and out-of-sorts, I’m learning not to run away from my stress. I am also learning not to run to a bag of chocolate! Instead, I’m learning to run to God — to His Word — in the overwhelming middle of my stress! When I run to God’s Word, even just one verse, I find that God is my “refuge and strength, an ever-present help in of trouble” (Psalm 46:1, N...

History, literature, and science tell many stories of heroic yet not always successful quests, struggles, and searches. The Bible also tells many stories of these quests. Without question, the greatest quest is seeking God. Individuals, families, communities, and even nations have sought God different ways for various reasons. Throughout the Bible, we see people seeking God through prayer, sacrifices, and ultimately, through Jesus Christ. 4 Ways Men and Women Seek God in the Bible 1. Men and women have sought God by praying. After their son, Cain, killed his brother and “went out from the LORD’s,” (Genesis 4:16), Matthew Henrysaid, “God gave Adam and Eve to see the revival of religion in their family.” Adam and Eve’s grandson Enosh was born, and “at that time people began to call on the na...