Every Remembrance of You
Although Paul was in prison, he never neglected the practice of praise. Research shows that people who frequently write down things they are grateful for reap many benefits, including increased physical health and happiness. Could it be that remembrance and thankfulness go hand in hand?
Why Gratitude is the Key to a Stronger Faith
When life seems to be falling apart, gratitude can strengthen our faith. It is not always easy to be grateful. Sometimes it can be one of the most challenging things to do, even for Christians, especially when things are going wrong and we do not understand why they are happening.
5 Easy Steps to Write a Book Review of a Christian Author
As a Christian, you know that reading the Bible and Christian literature is essential for your spiritual growth. But did you know that writing reviews of those same books can be just as beneficial? Learn how!
Put On The New
We often hold onto our old self when we forget that God has made us new. In the novel, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, author Robert Louis Stevenson explores the duality of human nature.
Lead Me to The Rock
Have you ever faced something that seemed insurmountable? On Wednesday, July 19, 1989, Mark Wellman began his ascent up the 3,000 vertical feet of El Capitan, a sheer rock granite in Yosemite National Park. A few rock climbers have successfully scaled El Capitan, but this time was different.
Love Divine
You cannot be near to God without being affected by His divine love. Born in 1707, Charles Wesley, wrote ten poetic lines each day for 50 years; no wonder he is called the greatest hymn writer of all time. Ten lines each day may not sound like much, but it quickly adds up.
God’s Best Plans
When we treasure God’s purposes, we can trust His plans. In 1981, one of the most unfortunate structural catastrophes took place in Kansas City at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. During the first year of the hotel’s grand opening, an extravagant tea dance was held in the atrium.
“Even If” Faith
Do not be surprised if a trial is kindled while you are in the midst of trusting in God. In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar tests the faith of three Hebrew young adults. The King commands Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to bow down to his golden image or pay the ultimate price and be thrown into the fire.
Rescue Me, O God
Praying in times of pain is as important as praising God in times of deliverance. In her book Troubled Minds, Amy Simpson reveals the following highlights from her survey about dealing with mental illness in the church.
You Will Rise
Sometimes how well we rise after we fall makes the most significant difference in our lives. On April 13, 2015, men’s steeplechase race runner, Tanguy Pepiot from Oregon University thought he had the win in the bag.
A Better Resurrection
Through Christ the grave was not simply postponed, it was put away. In their book, The God Conversation, Moreland and Muehlhoff illustrate the universal desire for a story to end on a happy note.
This One Thing
When everything seems to be falling apart, focus on the one thing. On a frosty February evening, Diane Van Deren made history as the first woman to complete the Yukon Arctic Ultra.
Clothe Yourself
This week students, faculty and staff at Southern Adventist University have been gathering each night for Student Week of Prayer. From the heartfelt responses of students, the presence of the Holy Spirit has been evident as students have led in song, prayer and preaching centered around the theme of clothing ourselves with the character of Christ based on Colossians 3:12.
Agape Love
Love is tested by our ability to show it without seeking anything in return. On September 16, 1962, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached one of the greatest sermons on counter-cultural love at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. The sermon is titled, “Levels of Love” whereby he sets a thesis on one of the most misunderstood expressions today, love. Dr. King preached that the highest form of love both displayed and described in the Bible is agape.
New Year, Same God
Life moves in the direction of our deepest attention. When a popular phone app decided to analyze user behavior right after New Year’s celebrations, they sought to answer the question, how long does it take for the average person to break their New Year’s resolution? Answer, February 4th (at least that is the date they came up with).
God’s Guiding Light
You can walk through the darkest night when God is your guiding light. My wife Christina recently told me a story of being a student at Southern during Christmas. To make things more festive in her dorm room, she would get some empty boxes and wrap them with Christmas-themed wrapping paper topped with a bow.
No Turning Back
In life’s battles, our level of commitment is determined by our measure of remembrance. During a church worship service, a three-year-old girl displayed one of the most innocent acts of dedication. As the offering plate was being passed around, she took the plate out of her father’s hand and put it on the floor.
The Gap
God gave us the Holy Spirit to fill the gaps in our lives through His love. In his book The Brand Gap, Marty Neumeier presents ways companies seek to protect their brands. He states, “Brands are the little gods of modern life, each ruling a different need, activity, mood, or situation. Yet you're in control.
The Power of Gratitude
God does not ask us to be thankful for everything, but He calls us to be thankful in everything. In his book, The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Anchor sites a one-week study in which participants were asked to take five minutes to write down three things they were thankful for each day.