All Articles 2015 Archives

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My Three-in-One New Year's Resolution

I just wanted to focus on one thing this next year. So here are three.

I stole the idea from the apostle Paul: three ways to focus on Jesus next year.

New Wine and Old Skins

Can we keep growing, or do we have to stop just because we age?

Phil Ware shares an insight on older people in the Bible and today who kept growing and changing through the years because they wanted to be more like Jesus.

The Baby Changed Everything

How does something like this happen?

Rubel Shelly tells a story about Tommy Luck and the baby that transformed a rough mining town and then reminds us Jesus did the same thing with the world.

King of the Jews

Some palaces aren't good enough for a king

The Herodium lies in ruins today. Herod is long dead and almost forgotten. But the baby that was born in a stable in the little town of Bethlehem is remembered, loved, and worshiped.

Hidden Treasures

Where can you find history's greatest treasures?

Phil Ware reflects on Mary treasuring the memories of Jesus' birth in her heart and finds reason not to sweat the small stuff, not miss the moments of grace in Christmas, and not lose the opportunity to lock away treasures in our own hearts this time of y

A Plea to Fellow Believers

If you could ask your fellow believers one thing, what would that be?

Tom Norvell makes a plea to fellow believers to think before speaking and acting and try to line up both with our example of how Jesus spoke and acted toward others.

'Bah, Humbug', and 'Joy to the World'

Christians have a different perspective on many things... including Christmas.

Christmas is very difficult for many people. Is it really possible to find joy, peace, hope, and love this year.

Hope of the World

What can this old story powerfully say to our geopolitical messes of today?

Phil Ware shares his series for December 2015 on welcoming Jesus and focuses on the Magi from the gospel of Matthew and lets that story remind us our need to reach out to the lost and foreigner and alien and refugee among us.

Thankful in ALL Circumstances

Caught between Thanksgiving and Christmas and in a life full of challenges and pains, what do we do?

Brian McCutchen reminds us to trust God and learn that our current circumstances aren't forever and that God can lead us to a new place.

The Memory Tree

What are your favorite memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Holidays are a time for remembering family events and remembering what God did for us by sending His Son.

Christ: The Center

Are we really willing to make Jesus the center of our life.

Phil Ware reminds us that Jesus is the center of everything, our salvation, our time, our hope, but will we make Jesus the center of our lives?

Faith's Impact on Normal Life

Doesn't our faith have to impact the way we live our daily lives?

Rubel Shelly reminds us that our faith must make a difference in our normal lives or it matters little.

Thunder and Lightning

Does your life back up your words?

He was called Basil the Great. Bishop of Caesarea in the fourth century, he was a staunch defender of the idea of the Trinity. He stood his ground against all opponents, even when the Emperor tried to exile him for his beliefs. Basil may have been bett

Live Beyond

I want to invite you to join me in living beyond the horizon of our children's faith!

Phil Ware writes about leaving a legacy with his children and grandchildren to pass on faith and be passionate disciples of Jesus.

Nativity Set

You can find Christmas in the most surprising of places!

If we are willing, we can find Jesus in the most down to earth of places.

We Thank God for You!

We want to tell you how thankful we are for you with words that are greater than our ability to express!

heartlight.org, verseoftheday.com, ayearwithjesus.com all want to say thank you in the words of Scripture for your prayers, love, support, and encouragement.

Thanks, but No Thanks

Some people have a hard time being thankful. Christians do not.

There are reasons some people have difficulty giving thanks. We Christians see things differently.

'yada, yada, yada'

How do you cope with a world gone crazy and violent and depressing in the time you are supposed to give thanks?

Ann Voskamp reminds us of the yada in Thanksgiving and redefines it to fit the truth of God.

A Little Light Please

Sometimes a little light can make a world of difference!

Rubel Shelly reminds us of the powerful quality of a simple flashlight to dispel darkness.

Accent

Where are you from?

They had a heavenly accent. They spoke in such a way that everybody knew they were on a journey, one that would end in heaven. They knew, as the old hymn says, "This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through." They were on their way to the city God

Heartbroken!

In the middle of our grief, loss, and brokenness, we must remember that we are not alone in our brokenness.

Phli Ware reminds us that God shares our pain in our worst moments of grief and loss, God is heartbroken with us.

A Caution about Criticism

Some criticism isn't helpful, it is withering, so how do we deal with it?

Rubel Shelly reminds us that unfair criticism is a part of life so we need to rely on our relationship with God to overcome it and we need to not ever become one of those kinds of criticizers.

Running the Wrong Way

People sometimes run the wrong way at my gym. The same thing happens in life.

People choose the wrong direction for life. It may be they do not know the right way, or they try an easier shortcut, or they just want to do it their way.

Blessed: Gracious Servant

Sometimes we look God's greatest blessings in the face and miss them!

Phil Ware takes a moment to remind us of the importance of serving those who are caregivers and holding them up as heroes and recognizing that these people are considered precious in God's Kingdom.

Getting Our Lives on Track

Life is full of ups and downs, but God goes with us through it all!

Bill Sherrill reminds us that life is full of ups and downs, good things and bad, so we need to find the good and not the bad.