For a long time growing up, I had very little connection to the Bible. Since the only real Bible we had was a King James version, as a child my reading plan always fell apart by the time I got to the Tower of Babel. And a children’s picture book of Old Testament stories could only take me so far. My knowledge was…vague at best. I could maybe recite a few key points regarding events of the Old Testament– often confusing Jonah with Noah. Regarding Abraham, I knew he had a son named Isaac…or was it Jacob? Or was he the one with twelve sons?
Continue reading “A Closer Look: Abraham, the Father of Faith”Spirit or Flesh – Which is More Important?
Have you ever thought about how much our society focuses on tangible, physical, and surface level things? Whether it be social media platforms, your favorite sports team, a trending video game, or the viral recipe circulating the internet – there’s always something new that needs to be seen. The world does anything it can to grab our attention, and you know what? It works.
We’ve become so focused on finding happiness on the outside, that we tend to forget about what’s on the inside. Don’t get me wrong, taking care of ourselves and physical needs are important. But how are you doing on the inside?
Continue reading “Spirit or Flesh – Which is More Important?”What to Expect for the Second Coming of Jesus
One of the hottest topics within Christianity is the second coming of Jesus.
Ideas and speculations of how Jesus’s return will take place have been circulating for thousands of years now. Everyone seems to have their own understanding and expectations of it.
Continue reading “What to Expect for the Second Coming of Jesus”What Are You Sacrificing for Your Life of Faith?
How much would you say you’re sacrificing for your life of faith on a day-to-day basis?
This probably isn’t a typical discussion question with friends or family, because for many, it’s not a very comfortable conversation. Growing up, I used to think that being a Christian required a lot of sacrifice. As someone who’s definitely not a morning person, getting up early every Sunday morning for church required tons of effort. That was a sacrifice, right? Plus, I spent lots of time at countless volunteering activities and outreaches.
Continue reading “What Are You Sacrificing for Your Life of Faith?”Why Can’t I See God? How to Believe in the One You Can’t See
At one point or another, most people have spent time considering the existence of God. It comes up in good times and bad, while we’re surrounded by other people in conversation or alone with our own thoughts. This thought, in some shape or form, has probably crossed everyone’s mind: Why can’t I see God? It would be so much easier to believe if He just came down and let me see Him.
I’ve lied awake waiting for that spiritual experience, a sign–anything. But I never saw God. They say that “seeing is believing” but perhaps that phrase needs some revision.
Continue reading “Why Can’t I See God? How to Believe in the One You Can’t See”How to Worship God According to the Bible
If you’ve been around to many churches like me, you’ll know that every church has its own way of conducting worship. I’ve been to ‘hip’ churches for young college students that had a rotating roster of seven bands to fit everyone’s tastes. I’ve been to churches that share music from YouTube instead of having a live band. And I’ve been to churches where the congregation members speak in tongues and collapse in tears as the music hits its emotional peak. It seems as though Christianity is all over the board when it comes to worshiping God. And while we all want to worship God in the way we feel is best, let’s take a moment to consider what worship actually is and if we’re doing it according to the Bible.
Continue reading “How to Worship God According to the Bible”Are You Living Up to God’s Standards?
If we think about relationships, do you think it’s possible to have a successful relationship without having any standards? Maybe in a romantic relationship, you want to be with someone who lives a certain lifestyle that matches yours. Maybe in a friendship, you make an effort to keep friends who are positive and encouraging instead of gossipy or cynical.
Even if we don’t want to admit it, we all have standards and expectations for our relationships. And we should. Having standards is a way of ensuring you can trust the other person while also protecting your own heart. But let’s also think about when you have clear or set standards in a relationship, but the other party constantly breaks or ignores them. How would you react? Even when you sincerely love a person, you set standards that you hold them to and usually they do the same for us. For any of us who say we’re in a relationship with God, should we expect God to be any different?
Continue reading “Are You Living Up to God’s Standards?”…And God Will Wipe Away Every Tear
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:4
God will wipe away all of our tears. Hopefully this gives you hope and comfort. Especially considering the way the world is now, with wars, death, and suffering at every turn. Is this a world that we want to live in and are content with the way it is? For certain, it’s not for me. I’m pretty sure, none of us are content with the current state of the world. But, although we may be in the midst of endless miseries, please take heart. Because God promised a time when all of those things would come to an end. He made a promise to wipe the tears from our eyes, to create a world where there would be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.
Continue reading “…And God Will Wipe Away Every Tear”We Talk About the Bible At Church…So Why Can’t I Understand It?
As believers, we should consider from time to time, what’s the purpose of going to church? What’s the purpose of learning God’s word? Is it for community? Is it to understand the Bible and God more?
It’s good to take time to reflect on our current lives of faith. Are we content with them? And if we’re not, then what should we do? When we go to church and talk about God or the Bible, do we understand everything we learn?
Continue reading “We Talk About the Bible At Church…So Why Can’t I Understand It?”Have You Heard God’s Voice Lately?
I always had many different ideas and questions about God. I would often wonder what it would be like if God spoke to me. Or, if I had a chance to meet with God, what would I want to ask? However, as I pondered more about these things, I began to seriously wonder how God communicates with us today. There are many people around the world who claim to receive visions from God or hear God’s voice through dreams. But I didn’t want to believe anything until it could be verified as true. So, I turned to the Bible for help.
Continue reading “Have You Heard God’s Voice Lately?”