A Cry from the Heart
God’s merciful love is always revealed in response to a cry from the heart. The Bible has a lot to say about that humble cry for deliverance. “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; he heard my voice from his temple, and my cry came before him, even…
Rise and Walk with Christ
“Jesus said to him, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’” (John 5:8 NKJV). The crippled man at the Pool of Bethesda had likely heard some of the stories about a man named Jesus healing people throughout the region. What he didn’t know was that Jesus knew about him too. He came to this poor…
The Wind of the Spirit
The men and women who were headed for the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost (see Acts 1 and 2) loved Jesus dearly. They had been taught in the school of Christ by the Lord himself. Some had performed miracles, healed the sick and cast out demons. They were compassionate and soul-loving, but they…
Prodigal Children Overcoming Addiction — Part 3
In the last of this three-part series, Gary and Kelly Wilkerson share what they have learned about God’s faithfulness and the power of prayer during times of family crisis. Author Elizabeth Stone says about parenting, “The decision to have a child – it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go…
An Otherworldly Compassion
Paul faced a choice when he found himself in the midst of a storm. He was most likely chained in the bottom of the ship, as was the common practice for transporting prisoners. When he warned the people not to undertake this journey, he was scoffed at and scorned. The voice of truth is constantly…
The Foundation of Faith
The only time God’s patience with us runs out is when we refuse again and again to accept how much he loves us. Many Christians today have been turned back into a wilderness of their own making. They have no joy, no victory. Looking at them, you’d think God had forsaken them years ago. No.…
You Are God’s Treasure
The Bible gives us a vivid illustration of the key to Christian victory in Numbers 13 and 14. Israel had sent twelve spies to search out the Promised Land. When the spies returned after forty days, ten of them planted three lies in the hearts of God’s people: 1) “There are too many people in…
A Relationship Like No Other
I will never forget the pain I endured when one of my teenage children came to me and confessed, “Dad, I’ve never once felt as if I’ve pleased you. I’ve never felt worthy of your love. I feel like I’ve let you down my whole life. You must be really disappointed in me.” No words…
You Are Precious to God
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV). If you lived to be 500 years old, you would not live long enough to please God by your own works. It doesn’t matter how…
Prodigal Children Overcoming Addiction — Part 2
In part one , Gary and Kelly share their heartbreak in learning that two of their children have fallen prey to drug and alcohol addiction. Their story continues. We were brought to our knees, literally and figuratively, as Elliot’s and Evan’s lives spiraled out of control. There was the guilt of having failed our children,…