risingwiththeson

Hope for the Hopeless

The LORD showed me all around, and everywhere I looked I saw bones that were dried out. He said, “Ezekiel, son of man, can these bones come back to life?” I replied, “LORD God, only you can answer that.” He then told me to say: Dry bones, listen to what the LORD is saying toContinueContinue reading “Hope for the Hopeless”

The Need for Solitude

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” (Mark 1:35-37 NLT) Going off to my room to spend time alone with God in prayer andContinueContinue reading “The Need for Solitude”

God Has a Gift for You!

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. (1 Corinthians 12:1 NIV) I’m grateful that I discovered my spiritual gift when I did. I had been studying the topic of spiritual gifts and praying, when God showed me what my gift was. Afterwards, I beganContinueContinue reading “God Has a Gift for You!”

Endless Talk

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. (Luke 6:12 NIV) Last night, I was touched by the sight of my brother and his best friend sitting on our front porch talking for hours. Over breakfast this morning, he told me that his friendContinueContinue reading “Endless Talk”

Finding Favor With Men

“Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.(Nehemiah 1:11 NIV) Nehemiah served as a cupbearer toContinueContinue reading “Finding Favor With Men”

Be Filled with the Spirit

After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31 NLT) “Filled with the Spirit” is a phrase that occurs often in the book of Acts, which is not only apt for a book that features the actsContinueContinue reading “Be Filled with the Spirit”

Stay Full

Be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18 NIV) I don’t know about you, but I can’t drive a car with a gas tank half-full, let alone a gas tank below half-full! But my father and brother are of a different opinion. They both agree that a gas tank half-full can still take you places, andContinueContinue reading “Stay Full”

Rise Up!

A story is told of two women who were in desperate need of prayer while sick in the hospital. One said that her pastor never showed up, but he let her know he was praying for her; while the other said her pastor came, anointed her with oil, said a quick prayer and was goneContinueContinue reading “Rise Up!”

What Would You Ask For?

“Here’s what I’m saying: Ask and you’ll get; Seek and you’ll find; Knock and the door will open.” (Luke 11:9 MSG) For years I read the above promise and claimed it during prayer, as if it was some sort of magic formula (no wonder my prayers didn’t reach further than the ceiling!). I would presentContinueContinue reading “What Would You Ask For?”

Follow the Way

But this I confess to you, however, that in accordance with the Way [of the Lord], which they call a [heretical, division-producing] sect, I worship (serve) the God of our fathers, still persuaded of the truth of and believing in and placing full confidence in everything laid down in the Law [of Moses] or writtenContinueContinue reading “Follow the Way”