"You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3 NIV

Is there anything in your life that has come between you and your relationship with God? Don't look at me that way. This is a fair question. No, I'm not asking if you use a Ouija board to predict and plan your life. I'm not wondering if you worship your car or bow down to your TV. It is

"You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name." Exodus 20:7 NIV

What's in a name? Did you ever ask your parents why they called you what they did? My middle name is that of my great grandfather's. It is a rather unusual name, so when I was in school, I never wanted anyone to

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29 NIV

Play along with me for a minute. You are a loan officer at your hometown bank. (Give yourself a good salary.) You are working one day, an average day (let's say Thursday), when someone comes in to ask for a loan. Let's look at the dialogue. It goes something like

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from there wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

I know you join with me in saying that this is one of the greatest verses ever written. We share it often as a call to prayer, a call to repentence,

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in Heaven always see the face of my Father in Heaven." Matthew 18:10 NIV

Jesus wasn't kidding. He was being very serious when He told the disciples and others to watch after the "little ones". He had already said that it would be better for one to have a

Then the Lord said, "Call him Lo-Ammi (not my people), for you are not my people, and I am not your God." Hosea 1:9

Uh-Oh!

I ususally try to give encouragement through these devotionals and I usually take the light-hearted approach. Today may not seem quite as encouraging, but I think it's a necessary devotional just the same.

If you reject

As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said was wise and helpful. 1 Samuel 3:19 NCV

Lord, help me today to be like Samuel!

Do you ever wish you could grab back something you said? You didn't mean it quite the way it came out at the time. You meant to say .....

well...you get the idea.

I'll never forget the time I told

So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 1 Samuel 3:9 NIV

Has God been trying to get your attention lately? Is God trying to tell you something? Are you having a hard time hearing?

Samuel was in training to be a great man of God. He was

O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. 2 Chronicles 20:12 NIV

Sometimes things happen in life that we cannot explain. There are times that seem to make no sense. We can try to add reason to them, but it is of no use. Logic just

The Creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Romans 8:19 NIV

My wife and I took a walk through the neighborhood recently. What a glorious day the Lord had made! The sun was shining bright through what started as a cloudy day. There seemed to be an inexpressible joy bursting out of each ray of light. God was so

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. Hebrews 11:1-2 NIV

Today we begin a series exploring the Biblical definition of faith. We don't have to wonder what faith is. Hebrews 11:1 very plainly explains it to us. Many times, however, I think we don't fully

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3 NIV

Yesterday we looked at the definition to faith as found in the Bible. Today, we expand upon that definition with an illustration of faith from God's Word. In verse 1 and 2, we learn that faith is

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. Hebrews 11:4 NIV

What if I sent my wife some flowers this week? It just might make her day, you think? What if, however, she found out that I really

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Hebrews 11:7 NIV

It hadn't rained. Prior to the flood of Noah's day, the earth had never experienced rain. I have heard that all my life and I fully

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40 NIV

We have looked for several days at the issue of what faith is. The entire eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews deals with this one

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 2 Corinthians 5:16 NIV

If Christ died for us, and if we now live for Him, then our view of others has to change. No longer do we see people through the world's eyes, but since Christ now lives within us, we see others

When He had finished praying, Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and He and His disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some

When He had finished praying, Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and He and His disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some

When He had finished praying, Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and He and His disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some

When He had finished praying, Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and He and His disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some