All Articles 2014 Archives

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The Best New Year Ever

How would you like to have the best New Year ever? Jesus can make it happen.

Pay off my biggest debt, restore my most important relationship, and find real meaning and purpose for my life. Now that would be the best New Year ever.

Finding Jesus: Experiencing Jesus as Immanuel

Are we wiling to open up the door and invite him in?

Phil Ware brings to close his series on experiencing the presence of Jesus in our lives.

A Prayer about Things We Cannot Change

Sometimes life is not fair with us, so what are we going to do about it?

Rubel Shelly shares an important reality about dealing with the hand we are dealt and living life recognizing that there are many things we cannot change but have to do the best we can with.

The Parable of the Birds

This white Christmas revels more than a snowman.

Phillip Morrison talks about the incarnation of God in human flesh in Jesus and the parable of the birds to explain why God had to do it.

Good News for Christmas

In the dark night of the soul or caught in the foggy haze of confusion, is there good news for me?

Rick Brown writes a beautiful story on the background of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and a reminder that Jesus came for all of us misfits so we could know we fit in.

The Reason

The season has a reason

Centuries ago, in a small unimportant town, our salvation began with a baby's cry. We continue to search and hope for: Peace, goodwill toward men.

The Weather when Jesus Came

What will the weather be this Christmas?

Phil Ware reminds us of the weather when Jesus came, filled with the fresh wind and heavenly breezes of heaven brought by the Holy Spirit.

Christmas is about...

So what is supposed to be going on here, anyway?

Rubel Shelly reminds us of the real reason for the season and that we must not forget Jesus in all the holiday trappings and mess and reindeer and Santa.

The Scent of Myrrh

Have you wondered how long Mary remembered the aroma of myrrh?

Stacy Voss is trying to prepare our hearts for advent and the coming of Jesus by asking us to gather in pungent and hard to smell things.

God With Us

If Jesus wasn't Immanuel, who was?

So a little boy was born, named Immanuel. He was a living sign from God, a reminder that God is with his people. Because Ahaz wouldn't listen and wouldn't put his trust in God, his nation would suffer defeat. But he had in this young boy the constant remi

Finding Jesus: O Living Word

Can Jesus really be experienced at Christmas?

Phil Ware continues his Christmas series on finding Jesus and emphasizes Jesus' promise to be real to us and near us and in us if we seek him and ask him.

Remembering What Really Matters

So where are you investing your time, your moments, your days?

Rubel Shelly reminds us to focus and live based on what lasts and is important and endures into eternity.

The Gift We Really Need

So watcha asking for this Christmas?

Cathy Messecar reminds us what we need most at Christmas and that only God can give us what humanity and our broken world cannot give.

Baby Jesus Grew Up... and then He Died

The real message of Christmas is not baby Jesus.

The Christmas message is not just that God's Son was born. It is that the baby grew up to die and save us from our sins.

Finding Jesus: Be Born in Me!

Can I really know Jesus as someone who is real in my life?

Phil Ware writes a two part series on Finding Jesus at Christmas and this one focuses on spending time with Jesus in the Gospels.

What's Most Important?

So how do I find out this key to life?

Tom Norvell reminds us about our life's purpose, mission, goal, target and what gives our lives meaning and significance and eternal life.

The Choirboys Led the Charge

When singers led the army into battle

It had to be hard to sing praises while marching against a more powerful enemy. It had to be hard to trust that God would fight the battle. It's easier to depend on ourselves, to trust in our strength, to put our faith in what we see and know. But fait

'... and thankful!'

Give thanks for this?

Phil Ware finishes his November series of giving thanks and focuses on our mission or call from God.

Your Invitation to a Year with Jesus

Spend a year journeying through the New Testament with Jesus.

Phil Ware shares the beginning of A Year with Jesus and an invitation to join the free daily devotional and get to know Jesus more fully during the course of the year as you journey together through the New Testament.

Walk This Way

Nik Wallenda walking a tightrope in Chicago was not the most inspirational walk I have seen.

Watching an old man cross the street with his walker taught me about following Jesus in this world.

'...and thankful!'

That passion to pursue Jesus must never die!

Phil Ware continues his series tied to Thanksgiving called "...and thankful" and this week he is thankful for the longing to move toward Jesus and pursue the things of God.

God's Grace in a Pumpkin

How can a pumpkin possibly mean so much?

Phil Ware writes part of a monthly series on his Compassion visit to Chiang Mai Thailand as Heartlight.org and Verseoftheday.com move closer to 1,000 sponsored children.

The Scorned Virtue

Why do we see this as weakness?

Rubel Shelly reminds us of the Christian virtue of humility, which is not thinking less of ourself, but thinking of ourself less.

Be Strong and Courageous

Now is the time for courage

As evil further envelopes this world, with wars, rumors of wars, beheading and horrors, the words said to Joshua resound for us today. Be strong and courageous.

'...and thankful!'

So we are supposed to give thanks for this?

Phil Ware continues his 4 part series on Thanksgiving and how important it is for churches to leverage change and growth in in their church families.