I can’t remember how I first found the site theversesproject.com, but in my opinion it is one of the best websites for Christian devotion. Ran by three friends who are worship pastors is Colorado and Oklahoma, they have one primary goal: help people learn and memorize scripture through the use of music. They have an extensive library of offerings in various musical styles. The lyrics of each song are word-for-word verses taken from the ESV. The page for each song also contains a short devotional reading on the verses as well as artwork that can be used for backgrounds on smartphones, … [Read more...] about The Verses Project: Perhaps one of the best sites on the web
Devotional Posts
Speak Evil of No One
While recently memorizing Paul’s letter to Titus, one verse in particular hit me hard. It occurred at the same time that my church was having difficulty with a company we had hired for some work, and there weren’t too many nice thoughts that I could muster about them. Yet in the final chapter to young Titus, we read: Remind them…to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people (3:1-2). Oh, the sins of the tongue… The Bible says a lot about the words we use. Probably because life is so defined by words. Words were the means … [Read more...] about Speak Evil of No One
Lending to God
The title of this post should cause you to pause. Lending to God—isn’t that saying there might be a time that God needs something and so we are to let him borrow it? But God is self-sufficient and self-sustaining, indeed the One who gives sustenance to others (Acts 17:24-25). So how can we lend to God? Solomon wrote in Proverbs 19:17: Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deeds. To be generous is to freely give of our own resources to another, expecting nothing in return. Again and again the Bible calls us to generosity, even using an apt … [Read more...] about Lending to God
Life-Giving Fountains
The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain. ~Proverbs 10:11 When you read through Proverbs you will find many statements that contrast the words of the godly or the wise with the words of the unrighteous or the foolish. Why such an emphasis on words? Because words matter. They can build up and they can tear down. They can make someone’s day or they can ruin a person’s week (or worse). The Bible speaks so much about the things we say because the tongue is notoriously hard for a person to control. James even went so far to call it “a fire, a world of unrighteousness…set on fire by … [Read more...] about Life-Giving Fountains
How I Memorize Scripture
You probably know the verse. You may have it memorized as well, and if not then you still might recognize it. The eleventh verse from the longest psalm reads: “I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). It’s the scripture memorizer’s mantra. Reading the Bible isn’t enough for deep transformation into Christ-likeness. No, you need to meditate on it, to think deeply (Psalm 1), and one of the ways to do that is to get it stored in your heart and mind so you can ponder it throughout your day. I mentioned in another post how me and some other guys … [Read more...] about How I Memorize Scripture
Finding Daily Delight in God (by Dr. Kevin Blackwell)
Dr. Kevin Blackwell is director of Samford University's Ministry Training Institute. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4. One of the greatest tragedies of our lives is to let a day go by without finding delight in our relationship with God. We have the power of the Holy Spirit within us, the intercession of the Son for us and the daily love of the Father surrounding us. As believers in Christ we live in perpetual blessing as the whole trinity works in perfect union to fit us ready for heaven’s glory. Yet, most days we miss it. … [Read more...] about Finding Daily Delight in God (by Dr. Kevin Blackwell)
What Child Is This? (an advent meditation)
Christmas in our culture seems a mix of the sacred and the secular. As much as some people lament the idea of a “holiday tree” being sold in stores they frequent, let’s not forget that Santa Claus, songs that have nothing to do with Jesus’ birth, and Christmas movies about family get togethers and little else have been around for decades if not centuries. No Christian should get uptight when the world fails to see the meaning of Christmas. Instead, our love and our grace, and our return of the greeting Happy Holidays with a Thank you should help others see the greater reality. Quite simply, … [Read more...] about What Child Is This? (an advent meditation)
Mutual Joy—the aim of pastoring
I’ve been reading Pastoral Letters of Robert Murray M’Cheyne—it’s a short book that I could probably down in a couple of hours, but I’ve been limiting myself to a letter per day to have a chance to absorb what he communicated as pastor on sick-leave to his congregation. Letter three, dated February 13, 1839, included the following in its opening paragraph: Believe me, it is the foremost desire of my heart that Christ may be glorified in you, both now and at his coming; that you may be a happy and a holy people, blessed and made a blessing. As I pondered his words it reminded me much of … [Read more...] about Mutual Joy—the aim of pastoring
Better Than the Angels
After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. ~ Hebrews 1:3-4 Our culture has a very eclectic view of angels. In popular shows on tv they appear as warriors who view humanity as an annoyance or wage war against mankind and each other for control of the world. Around Christmastime with cartoons and pageants, angels are often presented as cute children with wings and halos crooning over baby Jesus. These angels wouldn’t hurt a fly. Some people pray to … [Read more...] about Better Than the Angels
The second most important thing about the return of Jesus (a meditation on a life lived in expectancy)
“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware like a trap.” ~ Jesus, Luke 21:34 A good way to start a debate or even an argument among Christians: bring up Jesus’ return. For centuries many godly people have disagreed about the details of Jesus’ second coming. You find people from all types of Christian backgrounds who are post-, pre-, mid-, or a- when it comes to topics like the millennial reign of Jesus and the church’s place in the “great tribulation.” And a lot of it has to do with how people … [Read more...] about The second most important thing about the return of Jesus (a meditation on a life lived in expectancy)