“Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle” (Ps 144:1). One of the best-selling American books of all time is a fiction series that focuses on the end times called Left Behind. It deals with the rapture of Christians from the earth before the final end-times

“When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi” (Matt 2:16-17). Any leader who is not secure in

“Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things” (Titus 2:9-10 NKJV). The island of Crete was known for its corruption and many false gods.

“Where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands? Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among

“These are the names of David’s mighty men…” (2 Sam 23:8). David and Jesus pulled together two teams that were the most unlikely groups to accomplish what they achieved. David’s small army of men became known as “David’s Mighty Men” because of their extraordinary exploits. However, they were the rejects of society. Jesus’ team was

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:9-11). There is a Kingdom principle I find few others really understand. The principle is this: When you focus on serving others, your need is often met through God’s supernatural law of serving.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph 4:29-30). The way you interact with fellow employees at work can often determine whether you will be the leaven for Christ in your

“So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. He stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay that way all that day and night. This is why people say, ‘Is Saul also among

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3-4). During my career in advertising I worked with many well known companies such as American Express and Steinway Pianos. We also created direct response TV

“Tell Archippus: ‘see to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.’” (Col 4:17). Have you ever driven by a construction project that was half finished but was now abandoned? It is a lasting testimony of something that had a vision, often with significant money invested, but something happened that killed

“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘this is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel’” (2 Samuel 7:8). David was nearing the end of his life. The prophet Nathan was responding to David’s idea to build a temple where

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Heb 10:36-37). How do you know when God has placed obstacles in your path to protect you or that Satan is hindering God’s purposes in your affairs? I was in California traveling four hours

“That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies…. ” (Joshua 7:12). Battle commanders want to know the vulnerabilities of their enemies. Companies want to know the vulnerabilities of their competition. We also need to know our spiritual vulnerability. This is the message God told Joshua when he attempted to go against a small

“He erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz” (Chron 3:15-17). In 2003, I took my first trip to Israel. I visited the Wailing Wall, the only thing left of

“The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights” (Hab 3:19). The book of Habakkuk inspired Martin Luther’s reformation and the book “Hinds Feet on High Places” by Hannah Hunnard. Habakkuk encourages us to question what God is doing in

“…Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah …” (1 Samuel 22:5). David and his fighting men had been hiding in the cave of Adullam. He was fleeing Saul. Many of life’s down-and-out had come and joined David’s army. David was content to stay in the stronghold of safety. Then, God’s

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13). Oswald Chambers struggled to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in his life. It is good for us to

“Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus” (Galatians 1:17). The apostle Paul clearly understood the call Jesus placed on his life at his conversion. He did not have to consult other men about this calling.

“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:15). Bill had a partner in business who took advantage of their relationship and embezzled money from his firm. He was caught and convicted. However, Bill decided to drop the

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil” (Matt 4:1-2). After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist He was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to be temped by the devil. Jesus was being tempted as a man, not as God. Jesus came to

“But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him (2 Chron 10:8). Age and wisdom do not always equate to one another, but they often do. Rehoboam was the son of Solomon. It appears that Solomon had become heavy-handed in

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). God always knows what we need before we even ask. I recall a few years ago when God was allowing my

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:16,17). Jonathon was a twenty-five year old son of a pastor who was working in his local Christian bookstore. He started seminary but was unable to finish

“So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant” (Josh 24:13). I live on a golf course. Golf has been a part of my life since I was eleven

“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor” (1 Cor 12:21-23).

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Cor 12:9). If there is one thing that is consistent throughout scripture, it is this: God calls people when they are not ready. God will never call you into service when you think you are

“But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy’” (2 Kings 5:11-12). Naaman was an army general who needed healing from Leprosy. A

“…while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, ‘Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding’” (Dan 9:21-22). There are times in our lives

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26). Martha has been unfairly criticized in the history of the Church. Mary and Martha were entertaining Jesus in their home when Martha complained to Jesus about Mary simply sitting at the feet of Jesus rather than assisting her with

This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9-10). What would your workplace look like if this prayer were answered today where you work? “Transformation” is a powerful word. Just hearing it, you

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13-14). “I can’t believe you think that,” I complained. “I was simply trying to explain that I don’t have the same feelings about that issue as you do.” The