1 Chronicles 16:11 (NLT) Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him.   Slump Lesson #1 – Tell a Friend   My first step out of the slump was naming the season and telling my group.   I was wandering around my pity party all alone, not knowing where I was or why. …

Psalm 39:4,8 (NLT) Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.  Remind me that my days are numbered – how fleeting my life is.  Rescue me from my rebellion.   God did it again.  He sent an undeniable message.  As these occurrences add up, the sum proves that God is faithful.  …

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT) For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.   Yesterday, one of my groups discussed a sermon by Bill Hybels on the seasons of life – why we’re in the current season, what lessons we’re learning and, alas, when it’s time to move on.  I had an…

2 Corinthians 5:19 (NLT) For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.  And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.   Remember Jesus’ command to love others as He loved them?  When Jesus gave His life for us, He reconciled us with God.  In His…

Romans 3:22-24 (NLT) We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.  And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous.  He did this through…

John 8:31-33,35 (NLT) Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said.  “We have never been slaves to anyone.  What do you…

1 Corinthians 15:12-20 (MSG) Now, let me ask you something profound yet troubling…  If there’s no resurrection, there’s no living Christ.  And face it – if there’s no resurrection for Christ, everything we’ve told you is smoke and mirrors, and everything you’ve staked your life on is smoke and mirrors.   Let me pose a…

Hebrews 6:9-10 (NLT) We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.  For God is not unjust.  He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love to Him by caring for other believers, as you still do.   I imagine…

Matthew 27:50-51 (NLT) Then Jesus shouted out again, and He released his spirit.  At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  The earth shook, rocks split apart.   From noon until 3pm, as Jesus hung on the cross, the earth was dark “for the…

John 13:34 (NLT) So now I am giving you a new commandment:  Love each other.  Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.   Maundy Thursday.  The name comes from the Latin ‘commandment’ – this new commandment of love that Jesus illustrated in the washing of the disciples feet.  While knowing suffering…