There’s a story told of a cruise ship with passengers divided into first-class and second-class accommodations. After a few days at sea, the captain announced that from now on, everyone would be treated first-class, no matter what they paid. There would be lobster and fine cuisine for all. The people were excited and gorged themselves [...]
Just because we knew the Lord in a personal way in the past does not necessarily mean that we have a close relationship with Him today. I was making a point of this truth some years ago while speaking at a public high school. I asked the students, “Do any of you still know your [...]
As soon as you are born again by receiving Jesus as Lord of your life—a miracle happens inside of you. You become a brand new person—a new creation in Jesus Christ. An elephant becoming a butterfly would be no greater miracle! Hard to believe, but the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone [...]
God has an awesome plan for your life today. But you will never walk in the fullness of what the Lord has in store for you unless you give your entire being to the Lord! Suppose I offer to sell you my car but mention I want to keep the glove compartment. You say, “That’s [...]
Did you ever wonder where Ebola, terrorism, disease and poverty came from? God had a perfect plan for this world. His plan for the human race, starting with Adam and Eve, was that all of creation would be blessed. There would be no Ebola, terrorism, disease or poverty. There would be only beauty, health and [...]
Brother Lawrence, a monk from the seventeenth century, said, “We must know before we can love. In order to know God, we must often think of Him. And when we come to love Him, we shall then also think of Him often, for our heart will be with our treasure.” Brother Lawrence described this continuous [...]
I wanted to quit. While serving as the senior pastor of a mega church that had started with only twenty-five people ten years earlier, the unresolved conflict I was experiencing with some of my co-workers seemed more than I could handle. LaVerne and I knew we had clearly heard God’s voice to start this church, [...]
LaVerne and I meet many people experiencing disappointments from unmet expectations. These people desired and prayed for specific answers to requests, but God did not answer the way they expected. Sometimes their disappointments stem from expectations they have of spouses, children, other Christians or even of themselves. We understand the hurt and confusion resulting from unanswered [...]
At times when I desperately want to know what God wants me to do, He seems to be silent. I used to question whether or not God was hiding from me or if He was displeased or angry with me. A few weeks ago during my daily Bible reading and personal time with God, I [...]
When we first realized that our youngest daughter, Leticia, needed glasses, she was eight or nine years old. Although she stood only a few feet from the kitchen clock, she asked for the time. We responded, “Can’t you see the time? It is right in front of you!” She protested, “But, it’s blurry and unclear.” [...]