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Empty Mangers
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest. – Proverbs 14:4 When Jesus came into this world, He chose to be born in a most unusual place-a manger. It was no more than a livery stable with goats, oxen, and other livestock animals.
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Listening to the Father’s Heart
Son, real strength comes in weakness. I know you get tired of hearing that. You feel like this is where you live most of your time. You look around and see people who appear to be happy. But you are looking at what you think you don’t have, rather than at what you do have.
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Being Chosen
“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’” At once they left their nets and followed him (Matt 4:19-20). Do you recall how good it felt when you were chosen to be on a team? It makes one feel special to be preferred over another. During the time of Jesus
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Deep Things
“He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light” (Job 12:22). One of the great mysteries of the Kingdom is how God uses the darkest times in our lives to reveal greater depths of understanding of His ways. The only way we can receive these deeper things is to be
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Listening to the Father’s Heart
Son, there is a lot of bad news going on all around you. However, my true sons will not be afraid of evil tidings because their hearts are steadfast, trusting in Me. If you live as an orphan you will respond to bad news by seeking to protect yourself and insulate yourself from any possible
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Giving Him the Key
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 A friend of mine tells the story of an encounter he had with a very important government official – the head of
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Listening to the Father’s Heart
Son, I created you to create. I made you in my own image. I am the great creator. My Son was a creator as well. “For by Him all things were created, through Him and for Him. And He is before all things and in Him all things consist” (Col. 1:16, 17). Work was created
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A Talking Donkey
The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day?” – Numbers 22:30 Most workplace believers I know tend to be task – oriented, motivated visionaries. And they will do just about anything to make their projects successful. This great strength can, if not properly bridled
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Manifest vs. Market
“Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water” (Num 20:7-8). The Bible says that Moses had a unique walk with God. God said Moses was the most humble man on earth and He spoke with him
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Sacrificing At What Cost
…”I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” – 2 Samuel 24:24 One day I was having lunch with a man who had a certain amount of notoriety in his life. After a time of getting to know each other, he said, “How can I help you?” Those
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Listening to the Father’s Heart
Son, I have placed in every son and daughter the need to be affirmed with words. You recently noticed in your study that I very infrequently spoke audibly to my children. Moses was one of the few that I spoke to face to face (Dt. 5:4). However, on three occasions I spoke to my Son.
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Creating a Memory
“The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matt 23:11). Ken Blanchard, the author of the One Minute Manager, once shared a story about what can happen when individuals in a company model servant leadership, no matter where they are on the totem pole. A business consultant was training more than 3000 employees of a
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Greater Works Shall You Do
“Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.” (Acts 2:22) Jesus did all of His miracles as a man, not as God. Let that sink in. This is a profound truth that has major implications for
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A Call To Worship
…but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage. – Exodus 6:9 It is very difficult to lead when those you are leading believe they have been mistreated and have lost all hope. Such was the case when God called Moses to bring the people of Israel out of Egypt.
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Listening to the Father’s Heart
Son, I want you to learn from my son David. In some ways I see similarities in your life and his. David had some wounds early in his life. This was due to his being conceived in iniquity (Ps 51:5).It wasn’t his fault, but it created some issues that caused him great pain. He failed
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Why Work?
“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus
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In The Zone
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. – Joshua 1:7 In sports, there is a term known as “in the zone.” It is a description
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Listening to the Father’s Heart
Son, I want to explain the covenant promise I have made to you and my other sons and daughters. One thing you should know is the difference between a covenant and a contract. Covenant means I will fulfill my part no matter what you do. When I said I would never leave you nor forsake
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Forgiving Ourselves
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) The murderer was condemned to life in prison. Then one day something amazing happened. The guard came and opened the jail cell. “You are free to go. Someone else is
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Placing Trust in Our Strength
So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead. – 1 Chronicles 21:14 When was the last time your overconfidence cost the lives of 70,000 men? That is exactly what happened to David. David made what might appear to be an innocent request of his general, Joab. But
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Listening to the Father’s Heart
I long so much for my kids to know my true nature and love for them. Many years ago I had become so distraught with the condition of man that I regretted ever creating him. “And the Lord was sorry He had made man and was grieved in his heart” (Gen. 6:6). You must know
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Father, Son and Holy Scriptures?
“Jesus answered: Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?’” (John 14:9). The disciples had been with Jesus for three years. They’d seen miracles – dead men came back to life, the sick were healed, and water was turned to wine. These were but a few of
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Seeing the Works of God
Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord…. – Psalm 107:23-24a When you were a child, perhaps you may have gone to the ocean for a vacation. I recall wading out until the waves began crashing on my knees. As long
