Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. "You of little faith," He said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:31 NIV

I don't mean to sound ireverent, but please allow me to answer Jesus' question as to why Peter doubted. Peter saw the wind, that's why! The wind was real. Peter was familiar with storms that came upon the water. He knew a

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2Cor 12:9 NIV

Let me tell you some things about myself. I am weak! That's right, I don't have any strength. I can't do anything for myself. You might

Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me... Ephesians 3:8 NIV

Paul understood God's grace. As a persecutor of God's precious children, Paul stood and watched the stoning of Christian martyr Stephen. He had made his goal to keep people away from learning of the gospel of Christ. Now, as Paul writes to the

The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

Are you feeling a little down lately? Is the world tossing you harder stuff than you can stand up against? Do you feel inadequate, unloved, or overwhelmed? Has life

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Luke 10:1-2 NIV

I've been thinking a lot lately about

Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Luke 10:3 NIV

Recently my wife and I were in a restaurant. It was a Sunday night; a church night for some in the restaurant. There was one large table of couples who had obviously just come from church. (I actually knew some of them.) They were giving the waitress a hard time. It was obvious

"Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.'" Luke 10:4-5 NIV

It starts with peace. Even when we try to reach people who are hostile to the Gospel; it starts with peace. I'm learning it doesn't start with standing against things. It doesn't start with

If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. Luke 10:6-7 NIV

One of the first times I was on the mission field in Brazil I heard the term "man of peace". I knew

"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is

Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty. Exodus 23:6-7 NIV

So many times in my life I have watched as an innocent person was "put to death". I'm not talking about capital punishment. I'm talking about

"This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work whether native-born or an alien living among you because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Leviticus 16:29-30 NIV

Sometimes I work too hard to read my Bible. I know; I'm a pastor, how

Anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off from his people. Leviticus 23:29-30 NIV

Have you ever denied yourself anything; even something you could have if you wanted it? You can afford it; it's readily available; it's not sinful even; but you just decide to deny yourself. I'm not saying you have to do this or that it's even

I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity. Job 27:5 NIV

Do you have the kind of integrity others cannot deny? Job had that kind of reputation with outsiders and with himself. He knew he was faithful to God; faithful to serve others, and that there was nothing anyone could say about his character. His

"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. Acts 4:16 NIV

I have a man in my church people still can't believe is there. He serves. He gives. His life has changed beyond anything I could have dreamed of, but still, I almost would have

Jonathon said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few. 1 Samuel 14:6 NIV

Jonathon was not afraid to go forward, because he had confidence in the one who had sent him!

We know from the

But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. Revelation 10:7 NIV

Every commentary I read on this verse of God's perfect word says the "mystery of God" is the fact that He would accept sinners into Heaven, by the forgiveness of sin,

You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. Acts 2:28 NIV

In the presence of God, there is joy! I don't know about you, but joy sounds pretty good today!

You and I know that this world is not our home. We keep reminding ourselves of that fact as the bills come that we cannot pay; as the doctor says he

When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why do you just keep looking at each other?" He continued, "I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. God down there and buy some or us, so that we may live and not die." Genesis 42:1-2 NIV

Who would have imagined that the pagan, Godless nation of Egypt would be the saving

The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward; each helps the other and says to his brother, "Be strong!" Isaiah 41:5-6 NIV

A free word of advice: The best thing to do is to get on board!

Today's verse is referring to the wrath and power of God. God controls the nations, He crushes them with the

On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.

Genesis 22:4 NIV

Why did God pick a mountain three days away? Think about it. Abraham was called to sacrifice his only son Isaac on an altar. God told him to go to the mountain He would show Abraham. We saw yesterday that perhaps Abraham got up early because he hadn't had

He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." Genesis 22:5 NIV

God tested Abraham. He was called to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. He had finished his three plus day journey to the mountain, and now he tells his servants to stay behind, because he and

Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. Genesis 22:3 NIV

As I study this passage of Scripture, where Abraham was called upon by God to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, I