In today's "Our Daily Bread", Proverbs 16 is highlighted in today's message. It is a great reminder that we can choose to make our own decisions for our life or choose to follow God's plans for ourselves. The latter is a much better choice. Choosing our ways can only lead to great heartache and sometimes destruction to ourselves and to others. Our "free-will", that God has given to us, can be a blessing or a curse. The choice is ours to choose. Proverbs 16: 3-4, 7, 9 (NKJV) C

In today's Our Daily Bread, the commentary deals with the dynamics of "power walking". As stated in this article: "Power walking involves an intentional restraint, a reining in of the body’s natural inclination to run. Although it doesn’t look like it, there is just as much energy, focus, and power involved as in running or jogging. But it’s under control". The writer continues to state: "Power under control—that’s the key. Biblical humility, like power walking, is often view

In today's Our Daily Bread, in the 6th chapter of the Book of John, Jesus is speaking to the people about what is important for their lives. Jesus had just fed the five thousand the previous day and the people continually seek Him to be fed again. John 6: 26-27 (NKJV) 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for

In Chapter 2, in the Book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul is speaking to the people of Philippi about the position of Christ in our lives...That Jesus' name is above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, those on earth and those under the earth and that one day, every tongue will confess Jesus Christ is "Lord", to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2: 9-11 (NKJV) Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name, which is

At the beginning of our "Christian conversion", our salvation, we have the joy of the Lord in our heart, we begin to run the race and fight the battle of living a good Christian life. But after a while, disappointments and trials seem to get the better of us and eventually we give up and settle into a defeated Christian lifestyle. Why do you think most Christians face these continual disappointments, and what do you think we can do to overcome this defeating cycle? Andrew Mur

In previous postings, we have spoken about Chapter 7 of Romans and what the wretchedness of sin does to us in our lives. In choosing to follow our fleshly desires and self-will, can only bring about disaster and hardship into our lives. But where Romans Chapter 7 ends with great condemnation, Chapter 8 of Romans begins the "end of the condemnation of sin" for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8: 1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus

As we live our everyday lives in this world, we will come upon battles in our lives, either created by other people or by uncontrolled circumstances. But the most important thing we must remember, many of these battles are being created by the "spiritual forces and darkness" all around us that we do not see. The Apostle Paul describes these battles to the people of Ephesus in the Book of Ephesians. Please read the follow: Ephesians 6: 12-13 For we do not wrestle against flesh

In the Book of Philippians of chapter 3, the Apostle Paul describes to the Philippians the importance of getting to know our Lord, Jesus. It is in our knowing our Lord that we gain eternity through his death on the cross. It is through our faith that we recognize that all that we may have gained in this world should mean nothing to us, it is all garbage, compared to what we have waiting for us in eternity with our Lord. Philippians 3: 8-9 What is more, I consider everything a

In the Book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul is trying to define for the people is Ephesus the riches they have in their Jesus. He referred to this mystery when he prayed that the Holy Spirit would strengthen the believers in Ephesus so that Christ would “dwell in [their] hearts through faith.” Ephesians 3: 14-24 (NKJV) "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in y

When I was first proposed this question many years ago, I immediately said, "Yes, salvation is free". But over the years since I have begun to study God's word and understand the meaning of "salvation" in one's life, God gives us a clear understanding of what comes by being saved by God's grace. In the following verses, read and meditate on what our Lord is saying to those who are looking for eternal life and/or heaven. Matthew 16: 24 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to His disciples,

In the Book of Luke, in chapter 20, Jesus is sharing a parable of the "Tenants". This parable describes the story of a rich man who planted a vineyard and then rented it out to tenants. Read the following to see what happens: Luke 20: 9-12 9 He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. B

In today's "Our Daily Bread", the Apostle Paul is addressing his letter to the Ephesians regarding their conduct with others. He states that if they truly follow Christ and have been taught by Him, then they must: "put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind". Read the following in Ephesians 4: Ephesians 4: 20-24 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have he

In the Book of Luke, Jesus is explaining to His disciples the day of His return after His rejection and suffering He must first receive from the current generation. The time is coming when we will long for our Lord's return. Many will say that He has come and to "'Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them". Luke 17: 22-25 Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not se

In the Book of Luke, the story of Peter's denial has been shared many times in church messages. But I would like to look a little deeper into the Apostle Peter's denial of his Lord. Think of that very moment when Peter’s eyes caught Jesus’ eyes from across the courtyard. Luke 22: 61-62 (NKJV) And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went ou

In the Book of Isaiah, the prophet speaks of drawing closer to the Lord while there is still time. He speaks about "our ways" are not God's ways. Isaiah 55: 6-7 Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Verses: 8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your wa

Do you find your relationship with God like a rollercoaster at times? One day you feel at peace with everything around you and your prayers with God are fulfilling and then the next day you feel out-of-step with God? Many Christians go through this similar rollercoaster ride with God. But the question is: What causes this to happen? The simple answer is: Our sinful nature within ourselves. As long as we are alive in this sinful body of ours, we will continually struggle with

This past week has been a reminder of how easy it for us to fall back into our "old selfish nature" and make choices that are not "Christ centered". I think about the Apostle Peter who did this while walking with Jesus. When Christ asked His disciples: "Whom do ye say that I am?" Peter was able to answer: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Christ said: “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is i

As we our lives daily basis and try to be ready for the unforeseen bad circumstances that may come our way, our plans do not consider the accidents or surprises that do come. Although planning helps us avoid the financial, health and minor surprises that come, even the best thought our strategies cannot eliminate all the problems from our lives. We live in a fallen world...a world full of selfish people seeking their own wants and desires. Only through God's help can we find

Today's topic in "Our Daily Bread", entitled: "Through Thick and Thin", addresses the relationship of the people of Israel and God. Since their exodus from Egypt, God had made Himself known to them in many ways. God had performed signs and wonders prior to their leaving Egypt by the many plagues God brought upon Pharaoh and the people of Egypt. After their departure of Egypt, the Israelites experienced God presence daily in either a pillar of cloud by day or a pillar of fire

In Chapter 4 of the book, Absolute Surrender, written by Andrew Murray, entitled "Peter's Repentance", this chapter deals with the repentance of the Apostle Peter. Over the Easter holiday, I am sure we all saw movies highlighting the life of Christ. The one part that always gets to me is the part when the apostle Peter had to recognize his own "strong self-will" when he came to deny his Lord after Jesus's arrest. It was at that moment upon his third denial of his Lord in the