I love this simple promise from God: “I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go” (Jeremiah 45:5). It is when we abandon our own plans and dreams for God’s plans and dreams that we find glorious freedom. Abandonment means to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any…
The prophet asked, “Do you seek great things for yourself?” (Jeremiah 45:5). I suspect all of us would answer this question with a resounding “yes.” But true happiness does not come from seeking things. It comes from seeking God. Oswald Chambers said, “There is nothing easier than getting into the right relationship with God, unless…
The record for sobriety is 24 hours. Sobriety is attained one day at a time. That means you have the opportunity in front of you to tie the all-time record for sobriety. You can do it today. Is it long term sobriety that you want? Well, let me share a little secret with you. The…
A friend in recovery recently told me, “I thought I hit rock bottom, but it was the Rock of Ages.” For many of us, it was when we hit bottom that we found God. James said it like this: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:10). No matter how deep…
Two politicians had locked themselves out of their car, with important papers inside. They needed those papers for a meeting, which was to start in a few minutes. One said, “Let’s open the door lock with a coat hanger.” The other replied, “We can’t do that; it will look like we are breaking into someone’s…
One of my favorite singing groups was The Carpenters, whose easy listening style filled the air waves at a time when heavy rock ‘n roll was taking over the world of music. Their signature song sat atop the charts for seven straight weeks in 1970. Karen and Richard Carpenter are still singing it in my…
Charles Fuller was born to a furniture merchant in 1888. Until the age of 35, he was a fruit packer. That all changed in 1917, when he stepped into the Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles to hear the preaching of Paul Rader. That night, Fuller committed his life to Christ. He and…
For those living in America, today is Independence Day, which marks the birth of the nation. When I celebrate today, two thoughts come to mind. “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). “What the people want is very simple – they want an America as good as its promise” (Barbara Jordan). We have daily readers…
A man loved to play golf. But one Saturday, he returned home from a game with a friend much earlier than expected. His wife asked him why his game ended so soon. The man answered, “Would you want to play with someone who whines about every shot, complains constantly about the course, and makes obnoxious…
“Be instant in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). Those were Paul’s words to his closest disciple, in the final chapter of his final letter. He was telling young Timothy to do the right thing, whether he felt like it or not. Oswald Chambers wrote, “If we do only what we feel inclined…