risingwiththeson

Come Home

If you return to the LORD, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.” (2 Chronicles 30:9 NIV) King Hezekiah ofContinueContinue reading “Come Home”

New Day, New Mercies

Then I remember something that fills me with hope. The LORD’s kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. The LORD can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. (Lamentations 3:21-23 CEV) God’s new mercies every day should fill us with hope as well. Despite yesterday’s failures andContinueContinue reading “New Day, New Mercies”

Gifts to the Poor

Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!” (Acts 10:4 NLT) In Acts chapter ten, we’re introduced to Cornelius, a captain of a group of soldiers called “The Italian Unit.”ContinueContinue reading “Gifts to the Poor”

Respect Your Husbands

Wives, respect and obey your husbands in the same way. Then the husbands who do not obey the word of God will want to know God. They will want to know God because their wives live good lives, even though they say nothing about God. They will see that you live holy lives and respectContinueContinue reading “Respect Your Husbands”

You Can!

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NLT) “Apart from me you can do nothing,” Jesus said. So years later, having experienced the truth of these words, Paul penned downContinueContinue reading “You Can!”

Facedown

But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, and the LORD said to Moses, “Get away from this assembly soContinueContinue reading “Facedown”

You’re Not Alone

At my first trial no one supported me [as an advocate] or stood with me, but they all deserted me. May it not be counted against them [by God]. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened and empowered me, so that through me the [gospel] message might be fully proclaimed, and that all theContinueContinue reading “You’re Not Alone”

God Will Give You the Desires of Your Heart

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. (Psalm 37:4 NLT) Driving by the airport one summer, I looked at the planes taking off and longed for a vacation. It had been a hectic year and I needed a break. Unbeknown to me, my family had planned to go awayContinueContinue reading “God Will Give You the Desires of Your Heart”

What Do You Value?

The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. (Revelation 21:21 NIV) In the twenty-first chapter of Revelation, we read about John’s grand depiction of the New Jerusalem that God is preparing for His people. John describesContinueContinue reading “What Do You Value?”

What Do You Think About?

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8 NLT) It amazes me how easily we let anything enter our mind, even though we wouldn’t easilyContinueContinue reading “What Do You Think About?”