"Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." — Hebrews 12:14-15 (NIV)“An ancient Roman story goes: the soldiers of Caesar became dissatisfied with their regimen and rations. They could not complain to Caesar, so th...  Read More

"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." — Matthew 6:14-15Unforgiveness weighs us down in ways we often don’t realize. It consumes our thoughts, drains our energy, and holds us captive to the pain of the past. While the other person may have moved on,...  Read More

"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." — Ephesians 4:32Bitterness is like holding onto a rattlesnake. Letting go might free the snake, but it also spares you from its venom. Forgiveness may feel like it benefits the other person, but in reality, it’s the one holding on to bitterness who suffers the most.Forgiveness isn't about forgetting o...  Read More

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice." — Ephesians 4:31A preacher once shared a story about golfing with a deacon who marveled at the preacher’s calm demeanor during their games. The deacon said, “Preacher, you’re the most even-handed person I’ve ever seen. You always smile, no matter what happens. When I hit my ball in the wate...  Read More

"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." — Hebrews 12:15David Jeremiah, in his book Slaying the Giants in Your Life, shares the tragic story of Leonard Holt, a man who seemed to embody everything good about community life. Leonard was a hard-working company man employed at a paper mill in Pennsylvania. Outside of work, he wa...  Read More

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." – Galatians 6:2Life feels lighter when we share the load. God designed us for community, and He never intended for us to carry our burdens alone. When we walk alongside others, or let them walk with us, our burdens become lighter.Henry Cloud, a Christian psychologist, shared a fascinating study about stress. In this ...  Read More

"He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul." – Psalm 23:2-3Even Jesus, the Son of God, took time to rest. He withdrew to quiet places to pray and refocus. Yet, many of us resist rest, thinking it’s unproductive. But rest isn’t laziness—it’s wisdom. Without it, we lose our strength and eventually break under the pressure.The Apostle John understoo...  Read More

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." – Isaiah 40:31Life has a way of stretching us. Like a rubber band, we’re designed to expand and contract to meet the demands of life. But when we’re stretched too far for too long, we lose our elasticity. We become brittle and frag...  Read More

"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken." – Psalm 55:22Stress isn’t always bad. Like a chair designed to hold a specific amount of weight, we’re capable of handling certain responsibilities and challenges. But problems arise when we overload ourselves with more than we’re built to carry. A chair can hold its weight limit for years, but if you...  Read More

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." – Matthew 11:28 (NIV)There’s a story about a truck driver hauling a big box truck, and at every red light, he would stop, jump out of the truck, grab a big two-by-four, and start banging on the sides of the truck. He did this at every stoplight—bang, bang, bang—then hopped back in and drove off.A pastor driving behind him ...  Read More

"Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still." — Psalm 4:4 (NKJV)Anger is something we all experience. Sometimes it flares up like a fire, hot and explosive, and other times it simmers, quietly burning beneath the surface. Whether it’s a sudden burst or a slow boil, anger is an emotion that can easily take control of us if we’re not careful. But what does God say...  Read More

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." — 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJV)Emotions are a gift from God, but they can also be difficult to navigate. Feelings like anger, fear, anxiety, loneliness, and frustration can overwhelm us if we aren't careful. Yet the Bible teaches us that...  Read More