Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:16-17 NIV) How many times have you heard a well-intentioned person claim that something is the will of God when the evidenceContinueContinue reading “The Giver of Every Good and Perfect Gift”
Author Archives: risingwiththeson
How Do You Use Your Title?
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.” (Matthew 23:8-10 NIV) God isn’tContinueContinue reading “How Do You Use Your Title?”
I am Happy to Be Me
Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! (Psalm 139:13-14 MSG) I know someone whose goal in life right now is to have a celeb-inspired body. “You doContinueContinue reading “I am Happy to Be Me”
Old and Grey
A few years ago, I was sitting in the mall enjoying my freshly squeezed drink when something suddenly caught my attention and I was greatly disturbed. A young man passed by rolling an old man on a wheelchair. He rolled the wheelchair to the side of the bench and sat down to look at hisContinueContinue reading “Old and Grey”
Enjoy His Love
Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8 NIV) In the opening chapter of the book of First Samuel, we’re introduced to Hannah, the soon-to-be mother of the book’s main character,ContinueContinue reading “Enjoy His Love”
The Father’s House
“‘I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.”‘ (Luke 15:18-20 NIV) The youngerContinueContinue reading “The Father’s House”
Accept Discipline
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained inContinueContinue reading “Accept Discipline”
Baba
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. (Isaiah 64:8 NIV) My mother once told me that my first words as a baby were dad or “baba,” to be more precise. When I became a Christian, I also learned to call God my Baba. A Sunday school student, who used to hang on to my every word,ContinueContinue reading “Baba”
Abba, Father
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”(Romans 8:15 NIV) I know someone who always begins their prayers with “Abba,” a word that I’ve adopted in my own prayersContinueContinue reading “Abba, Father”
Our Father in Heaven
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…”’ (Matthew 6:9 NIV) I grew up in a culture where it’s inappropriate to address an adult using his or her first name, unless you are invited to do so. I referred to others as “aunt,” “uncle,” “sir” or “madam” forContinueContinue reading “Our Father in Heaven”
Rising with the Son 