"Gentle words are a tree of life. A deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." - Proverbs 15:4Our words have incredible power - they can either build up or tear down, heal or hurt. In our digital age, it's easy to forget the impact our words can have, whether spoken face-to-face or typed online. God calls us to use our words as instruments of kindness, speaking life and encouragement into others' lives...  Read More

Revelation 10:8–11 (NKJV) 8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”9 So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”10 The...  Read More

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is… self-controlPhysical exercise has clear benefits - stronger muscles, better health, increased energy. But spiritual exercise? Its benefits extend far beyond this life and into eternity. When we practice self-control, we're not just developing a character trait; we're preparing ourselves for eternal purposes. Each small act of self-control - controll...  Read More

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is… patienceWe all face irritations, struggles, and frustrations. I was reminded of a story about a group of soldiers during the Korean War who hired a local boy to assist them with domestic tasks. They noticed that he had an incredibly positive attitude, regardless of what he was doing. As a joke, they decided to play some pranks on him. For instance, ...  Read More

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is… peaceWNBA player, Caitlin Clark, has just been named “Athlete of the Year” by Time Magazine.[1] She is a remarkable basketball player, and she has elevated the interest in women’s basketball to new heights. Last year, when she was still playing college basketball, interest in her tournament games exceeded that of the men’s tournament. The women’s ch...  Read More

In 1 Peter 3, we see God’s guidance for how this relationship works. Someone once described marriage as being like a dance. In a dance, there is a leader and a follower. The leader guides and sets the direction, and the follower complements that leadership, creating beauty and harmony in motion. There was a story about a championship dance team—a man and a woman—who were asked about their roles du...  Read More

Christians today are living in a culture that is moving in a completely different direction than the one God calls us to. The culture says to go one way, but we, as God’s people, live under the lordship of Jesus Christ, following the truths found in His Word. If Jesus Christ is truly Lord, that truth should be demonstrated in how we treat His Word and how we live our lives. As Christians, we are g...  Read More

We know the nativity story—Jesus, the babe born in Bethlehem; the manger; the wise men; the shepherds. But it’s vital to move beyond the imagery and recognize the truth: God came in human form. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” These verses are clearly proclaiming that Jesus...  Read More

1 Peter 2:21–25 (NKJV) 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own bo...  Read More

1 Peter 2:21-25 immediately follows what Peter has already been writing about. He’s discussing how to respond when facing a government opposed to Christian convictions, as long as it does not require disobedience to God. Peter says, “Respect them, obey them, and honor the king.” This was written when Nero, one of the most godless men in history, was Caesar, or king. Yet, Peter still says, “honor t...  Read More

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is… joyRichard Dawkins, a well-known atheist, has decried the fact that the cultural Christian influence that once existed in England has been disintegrating over the years, and in its place is a militant Islam that continues to spread throughout Europe and especially England. But he really is saddened by the cultural Christian influences that seem to b...  Read More

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love…In our journey through the series "Empowered Living," we delve into what it means to live a Spirit-filled life. This week, we focus on the love as described in 1 Corinthians 13. This chapter, often referred to as the "love chapter," provides a picture of the kind of love that God wants for us to express. God’s love in us should be more than just...  Read More