“Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete” Acts 27:21   We often find ourselves in a storm because someone else made a bad decision. That’s because every choice has a ripple effect. It can be especially frustrating when your advice and warnings[...]

“Cease striving and know that I am God…I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10   Some of life’s troubles are harder to deal with than others. At times, it seems like the world is collapsing in on us. And our response can actually intensify the adversity. We act[...]

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” Psalm 46:1   It’s easy to raise our hands and praise the Lord when all is well, but what about in times of trouble? What you believe about God is directly linked to your sense of security. Today’s[...]

“And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’” Mark 4:40   When was the last time you experienced fear, worry, or anxiety? It’s probably more recent and more often than most of us care to admit. When life’s troubles disrupt our peace, we need to consider the[...]

“And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up” Mark 4:37   Some situations feel like being in a storm at sea with your boat taking on water. And when things seem out of[...]

“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.” Matthew 7:25   The storms of life often come without warning. These are situations that disturb us physically, financially, or emotionally. And because[...]

“For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass” 1 Thessalonians 3:4   The Bible never says that life gets easier after salvation. In fact, it says quite the opposite. Paul told the Thessalonian Christians to[...]

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20   Joseph was in a true dilemma. He must have felt hurt and betrayed to discover Mary was pregnant. You can feel[...]

“every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2   Pruning is the most crucial thing that happens in a vineyard. Healthy grapes cannot grow without it. In fact, a lack of sufficient pruning can cause a vineyard to fail completely. The pruning process is no[...]