Seth Watkins We all face temptations in varying degrees. We might struggle with pride, lust, or anger. We might be ashamed to share our struggles, presenting our lives as put together. However, God doesn’t want us to hide our struggles from him, he wants us to humbly present ourselves before him. After all, God knows the number of hairs on our heads. God sees our hearts even when we desire to hide...  Read More

Bill Miller Among short stories by Ernest Hemmingway, Edger Allen Poe, and O. Henry in the anthology of American literature used in my public high school was a selection from Jonathan Edwards’ sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” The sermon, based on Deuteronomy 32:35, focused on God’s vengeance upon wicked unbelievers. For impressionable teenagers, the response was not the conversion E...  Read More

Cheryl Miller “As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee." How many times have I stood in a church service singing these words with a heart of worship? But it was not until I read all of Psalm 42 that I realized the psalmist expressed these words from a heart of despair. David had come to a point in his life where he felt keen loss and longed for “yesterday”. He urgently nee...  Read More

The Braatz FamilyWhen Darby was a toddler, she would often walk up to Brady, hold up her arms, and say, “Daddy, hold you?” While she may not have been old enough to choose the appropriate pronoun, her desire was clear - she wanted her daddy to hold her so that she could feel loved and secure. Each of us, regardless of age, longs for our Father to meet our needs.We begin our Lenten journey remember...  Read More

1 Timothy 2:1-2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. Scripture Insights In Paul’s first recorded letter to Timothy, a young leader appointed to give guidance to the Ephesian church, Paul offers Timothy advice for his con...  Read More

Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Scripture Insights Psalm 145 is a powerful psalm of praise written by David. The first stanzas declare the greatness of a God who is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. This God is mighty, and his kingdom is everlasting; it will endure through the end of time, from generation to genera...  Read More

Matthew 9:37-38 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Scripture Insights Everyone loves seeing the harvest, and at times God provides glimpses of the harvest to encourage us. However, we are not the “Lord of the harvest.” God is! Certainly the harvest happens in many sea...  Read More

Psalm 116:1-2 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. Scripture Insights One of my favorite songs, written by my friend Dr. Terry Toler, is titled “He Still Speaks.” What a great thought: God speaks to us; we can know his voice. But what is equally amazing is that God listens. The psalmist powerfully ...  Read More

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Scripture Insights As the apostle Paul concludes his prayer, he shifts his focus to the one to whom he is praying. He declares that God is capable not onl...  Read More

Psalm 115:1 Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Scripture Insights When I was fifteen years old, the walls and shelves of my bedroom displayed my glory. I had trophies, ribbons, and awards. Today, our social media walls are filled with photos of accomplishments, opinions, and selfies to highlight our glory. This seems harmless, but big p...  Read More

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Scripture Insights Scripture optimistically calls us to the best in the middle of difficult circumstances: Hope is great, but joy in hope is greater; surviving affliction is great, but patience in affliction is greater; occasional prayer is helpful, but faithfulness in prayer is greater. Qualifiers make the difference: “joy...  Read More

Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Scripture Insights Paul is reminding us of the wonderful gift the Holy Spirit i...  Read More