“Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord” (Lamentations 2:19). Recently I was playing Bible Challenge, a Bible trivia game, with some friends. My partner and I got the question “Who is the author of Lamentations?” My partner shouted out “Jeremiah!” I thought it was someone else, but she spoke with

“So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, ‘Are you still

“For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith” (Heb 4:2-3). I run into anemic Christians everyday. They have a form of religion but fail to mix their belief

“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD” (Isa 31:1). It is human nature to want to

“On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners’” (Matt 9:12-13). Linda Rios Brook is a businesswoman who desires to impact the culture with

“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Rom. 5:2-4). Perseverance is the key to every great accomplishment because nothing of lasting value has ever been achieved without it. Industrialist

“All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied” (Eccl. 6:7 NKJV). How would you feel about yourself if your job was removed from you tomorrow? Let’s imagine that your income wouldn’t change, just what you did everyday. One of the schemes that Satan uses in the life

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Rom 1:19-20). Have you ever had someone say, “I don’t see any evidence of God. How can a person believe

“LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?” (Ps 15:1). In February 2001 Sales and Marketing magazine did a survey and found that among those surveyed: 58% cheat on expense reports 50% work a second job on company time 36% rush closed deals through accounting before they were really

“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