Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:24 NIV

Do you have any unbelief? Sure, you say, "Ron, I believe in God." "I even believe in Jesus." Some may say, "I believe Christ is my only way to Heaven" or "I believe what the Bible says about Creation." You, like this father have some belief,

So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayer. Ezra 8:23 NIV

Ezra, the great priest and teacher of the word of God, had been allowed by King Artaxerxes to take the Israelites to Jerusalem. Now, as you can imagine, there was much preparation in these days for such a journey. This would be a difficult task!

Ezra,

He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. Luke 21:2 NIV

Jesus saw the widow's offering! Isn't that great news?

Some people's generosity is hard to miss. They pay for great buildings that have their names on them. Scholarships are named for them. They sit at the head tables with their names on the program. They give the

But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. Genesis 33:4 NIV

What an awesome sight of restoration! Jacob expected a sword in his face by his brother Esau. Jacob had tricked his brother out of his birthright (his stake in the will). Esau was furious at the time. The powerful

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3 NIV

God is great! The Bible said so! And I fully agree!

Have you ever had a day that started out horrible, then ended up wonderful?

One night when I owned my own business I couldn't sleep. I was caught up with work and the problems facing me the next

The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. 1 Samuel 26:23a NIV

I know! I know! It seems like an endless battle some days, doesn't it? Why do you have to always be the "Mr. Nice Guy"? Why can't you tell the dirty jokes and participate in the office gambling? Why do you have to love your neighbor, even though he always

"And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord?" 2 Samuel 7:19 NIV

Not only did God create us and love us, in spite of who we are, but He promises a future that is secure in Him!

David was amazed at

"How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears." 2 Samuel 7:22 NIV

God loves us. He has planned a wonderful life for us, and guess why?

Because He's God!

We need to remember that always! You know, I don't know about you, but sometimes I take that fact for

Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck! Psalm 69:1

This is my favorite "in-case-of-emergency" verse! It is helpful always, but especially in emergency situations.

A friend of mine has just gone through a difficult stage in his life. He has completed his schooling and now needs to find a job. He has poured everything into his

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:5 NIV

What friends! The four friends had carried their paralytic friend to Jesus to be healed. Together, each holding a corner, they presented their faith before the Lord. And Heaven moved!

Jesus healed, instantly, first the spiritual soul of the man,

"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? I apologize if I'm stepping on some toes, but this is a fair question. No, I'm not asking if you use an Ouija board to predict and plan your life. I'm not wondering if you worship your car or bow

"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven or above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." Exodus 20:4 NIV

The second commandment, much like the first, is easily dismissed as a "not meant for me" type of verse. I want to caution you right now not to close your mind to the application. Most of us, if we

"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

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." Exodus 20:8 NIV

The Sabbath was a big deal to the Jewish people. It meant no work, absolutely none. It involved everyone. Rest was demanded; you had no choice. It was a statement of faith. If you loved God, you observed and honored the Sabbath.

What's changed? Has the word of God gone dull?

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12 NIV

To honor means to respect and to appreciate, but actually goes much deeper as well. It means to add reputation to or to increase another's value. When you are to honor your parents, it means so much more than to obey.

"You shall not murder." Exodus 20:13 NIV

A conversation with God:

"Finally, a commandment I can keep. I am so glad the sixth commandment is no problem. You know, one down and nine to go, I just might get somewhere. I'm not too bad after all. I'm Heaven bound! I know that I have never murdered anyone. I have barely killed a fly. I'm a

"You shall not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14 NIV

We, as a society, no longer place a value on life. I know I should have included this comment along with the "thoughts" on the sixth commandment of "do not murder," but it fits here as well. When you commit the sin of adultery, even adultery of the heart, you are de-valuing the other person and

"You shall not steal." Exodus 20:15 NIV

The eighth commandment is not about cheating on your taxes. Oh sure, that is a sin, and the commandment applies there, too, but if you limit God's instruction to theft of property, then you have diminished the word of God.

We are raising a generation of takers! We have developed into a society that

"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." Exodus 20:16 NIV

The Bible says that liars of the Truth will end up in Hell.

The ninth commandment is no joking matter. This one command is quite possibly the most broken, and one we tend to see as "minor" sin. But, you know our God, He does not qualify "good" and "bad" sin. Sin

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Exodus 20:17 NIV

God created us to crave; to want; to desire. God created us to have a deep yearning for something-- Him! At the fall of man, our "wanter" got a