risingwiththeson

Tried and True

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8 NIV) Have you ever tried something and discovered that it’s actually as good as it promises to be? How did you feel? What did you do about it? I’m sure you didn’t keep it a secretContinueContinue reading “Tried and True”

Live at Peace

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18 NLT) Even the great apostle realized that in a world of strife it’s not always easy to live at peace. Nevertheless, he encourages us to make it our goal. Jesus pronounced a blessing on peacemakers, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they willContinueContinue reading “Live at Peace”

Be Happy with Your Portion

LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. (Psalm 16:5 NLT) I believe that God has assigned each of us our portion in life and if we believe that we’ll lead contented lives. We’ll quit trying to be like someone else because we’d realize that we wereContinueContinue reading “Be Happy with Your Portion”

Giving and Receiving

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10 NIV) DidContinueContinue reading “Giving and Receiving”

Be a Blessing

Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. (Matthew 19:21-22 NLT) I once heardContinueContinue reading “Be a Blessing”

Fight for Your Blessing

Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:26 NIV) Jacob spent most of his life competing with his twin brother, Esau. First, he wanted Esau’s birthright, then he wanted his blessing. And although Jacob got what heContinueContinue reading “Fight for Your Blessing”

The Test of a True Prophet

As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. (1 Samuel 3:19 NLT) I also love the NIV translation of this verse, “The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.” In Scripture, we’re told thatContinueContinue reading “The Test of a True Prophet”

Was It Really God?

Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.” (1 Samuel 23:7 NIV) Perceiving David as a threat to the throne, King Saul began to pursue him. When Saul discovered David’s hidingContinueContinue reading “Was It Really God?”

True Beauty

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV) The world is drawn to good-looking people, butContinueContinue reading “True Beauty”

Set an Example

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. (1 Samuel 8:1-3 NIV)ContinueContinue reading “Set an Example”