No Condemnation in Christ: The Life-Changing Power of Romans 8:1-2

The Sparkling point of the jewel

Do you know and love these marvelous words? Has your soul overflowed with praise that in Christ, you no longer face condemnation? Martin Luther once famously likened the Bible to a ring, the epistle of Romans to its diamond, and chapter eight, the sparkling point of the jewel. This is the beginning of a new […]

20 Bible Verses About Walking in the Spirit 

Keep in Step

The other day, my 22-year-old son and I took a walk to a bookstore. He’s at least six inches taller than I am, and while he casually walked down the street, I was at a half-sprint to keep up. Keeping in step with him was challenging, and when my pride and legs could take it […]

20 Bible Verses About the Presence of God

Lo, I am with you always

When you think of heaven, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Do you imagine it’s golden streets, ever-fruitful trees, and crystal rivers? Are you most looking forward to being reunited with loved ones or experiencing no more death, sin, or suffering? The Bible tells us we can expect these things in our heavenly […]

20 Bible Verses About Spiritual Fruitfulness

Grow in fruitfulness

Fruit is universally appealing. Our eyes behold its beauty, and our mouths enjoy its natural sweetness and varied flavors. Just as our mouths water for physical fruit, our souls long for the spiritual kind. Spiritual fruitfulness is a metaphor used throughout Scripture to describe the visible outcome of a life that remains connected to Christ. […]

Have Yourself a Blessed Little Christmas

Merry Christmas

In the mid-1940s, the Hollywood Canteen was the hottest and most unusual nightclub in town. The Western-themed club didn’t serve alcohol, but that didn’t prevent Hollywood A-listers from showing up en masse. Everyone wanted to go there, and you might expect it would cost a fortune to get in, but the admission, food, and entertainment […]

20 Bible Verses About Peace

Jesus is our Shalom

This summer, we took our family to the beach for vacation. We stayed right on the water, and each morning we picked up bagels and lattes from a nearby café and ate our breakfast overlooking the water. The morning light cast hues of pink and orange across the sky, and we watched as pods of […]

20 Bible Verses for Overcoming Depression

Put your hope in God

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” (Ps. 42:5) Have you ever felt that way, or asked yourself that question? Perhaps you’re not sure why you’re so sad or depressed, but you feel a weight, a burden, and an unsettledness in your heart. Your malaise may […]

20 Bible Verses About Giving Thanks

In all things Give Thanks

Imagine for a moment that you were desperate for a miracle. Your whole life hinged on this one thing happening, and unless God intervened, you would die in isolation and misery. So you begged God loudly for his mercy–and then, one day, he answered. He healed you. Instantly. Completely. If that were your story, how […]

20 Bible Verses on Friendship

What? You too? I thought I was the only one!

C.S. Lewis wrote that often the opening expression of friendship is, “What? You too? I thought I was the only one.” Have you ever had that experience? Something that you once thought was unique to you is shared with someone else, and you instantly feel like you’ve found a kindred spirit—someone else who shares your […]

Faith, Family, and the Beatles: The Stories That Shape Us

Faith, Family, and the Beatles

In every family, there’s that story—the one everyone knows by heart, and still makes us laugh. In my family, one such story resurfaces whenever someone mentions the Beatles. We all look at Mom, who smiles, and gets a faraway look in her eyes. We know what she’s thinking—she’s going back to August 26, 1964.       That […]