“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37,38). From 1994 to 2001, I went through what I call my “Joseph Pit” experience.

“David asked the men standing near him, ‘What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel?’” (1 Sam 17:26). Every entrepreneur must determine the risk and reward before entering a venture. This is not the only consideration. We must determine if God is leading us after we

“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 seek him” (Heb 11:5-6). How is your faith quotient? On a scale of 1 to 10 where would you rank yourself? Everyday, I marvel at the faith most

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Back in the 1970’s, Tom Watson was the up and coming golfer on the PGA Tour. But time after time, when Tom led

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Back in the 1970’s, Tom Watson was the up and coming golfer on the PGA Tour. But time after time, when Tom led

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous” ( Prov 13:22 NKJV). As a student in 1971, Berthold Becker was converted from being a socialist activist to a disciple of the Lord Jesus. Shortly after completing his university education, Berthold decided

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Cor 1:3-4). I was 14 years old

“Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her” (Hosea 2:14). An ancient Arabian fable tells of three merchants who crossed the desert. In the daytime, they would pitch tents for shelter from the desert sun. When the stars came out, they would ride

“At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure’” (Matt 11:25-26). It was a typical Sunday morning church service. Twelve-year old Jordan was deaf. She

“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves” (Ps 127:2). One of the paradigm shifts every believer must learn once they make Jesus lord of their lives is how to move from receiving by sweating and toiling to receiving by

“All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked” (Luke 4:22). Jesus was more qualified to be a carpenter than the Son of God in the view of religious leaders and the common people of his day. He was also becoming

“After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it” (Luke 2:43). Bob and Janice had five kids. When they go on any trip, Benjamin, the youngest, always sleeps under the seat in their mini van. In the rush of preparing

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13). I’ve observed a principle: The pathway to leadership almost always

“She said to the king, ‘the report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I

“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us” (Luke 11:4). “I’m sorry for speaking to you harshly last night,” I said. Then the Holy Spirit reminded me to add the second and most important part of my admission. “Will you forgive me?” Without this request we have only partially repented

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not,

“If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God” (Ps.

“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 9:1). Billy Graham, the great evangelist, shared

“On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, ‘No! He is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘there is no one among your relatives who has that name.’” (Luke 1:59-61). Have you ever

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:5). Have you ever argued with God? One of the first sermons Jesus ever gave was from a boat. It was Simon Peter’s boat. Jesus used a businessman’s business to preach

“I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matt 11:11-12). John the Baptist did no miracles. Elijah performed miracle after miracle. Daniel interpreted dreams for kings and he and

“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isa 64:8). The Father, Son and Holy Spirit make up three distinct aspects of the God-head. Each of these persons form the trinity and contribute to the overall work of God. The

“The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD” (1 Sam 3:19-20). When I was 14 years old I was an exceptional junior golfer. This is

“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal 2:20). It took three nails to crucify our Savior to the cross. God says that if we are to allow Christ to live through us then the old man must be crucified. We can each voluntarily crucify our

“Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them” (Matt 21:2-3). In Bible times, donkeys were a primary means for distributing goods

“Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him” (1 Samuel 3:7). Charis, my sixteen-year-old daughter at the time, was now driving age. She had saved her hard-earned money to match her father’s contribution to buy her first car. It was time to begin

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). James Rutz, author of MegaShift, tells a wonderful story of God’s supernatural hand in answering prayer. “I have a good friend named Barclay Tait who sells vacation real estate in Niceville, Florida. Back in 1977, he was a 36-year-old Florida basketball coach. That

“LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; youhave made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me inpleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance” (Ps 16:5-6). Most of us will have many jobs over our lifetime. As I look back over my past, I’ve had quite a varied history

“When the Philistines heard that David had been crowned king of Israel, they tried to capture him; but David was told that they were coming and went into the stronghold. The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. Then David asked the Lord, ‘shall I go out and fight against them? Will

“O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD” (Ps

“This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). I have always found the above verse very intimidating. It says that if we are truly living in Christ, we must walk as Jesus did. How did Jesus walk? He healed the