“For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  -  1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)One person described all of us as an iceberg. Think about an iceberg floating in the ocean. The top part of the iceberg - the part you can see - is only about 15% of the whole. The other 85% is hidden below the surface of the water.This is a lot like our lives. ...  Read More

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” - Proverbs 10:9 (NIV)There was a man who was a well-known contractor, renowned for his exceptional craftsmanship and integrity. He built houses that people trusted to last a lifetime. Using only the finest materials, he never cut corners. His reputation for quality was unmatched.As he grew older, he dec...  Read More

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”  -  Ephesians 5:25In many action movies, there’s a pivotal moment in the story that stands out. The hero is in the heat of the battle - the mission is urgent, the stakes are high, and everything is on the line. Explosions are going off, the enemy is closing in, and time is running out. The hero is charging ...  Read More

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  -  Psalm 90:12A nationally known preacher once shared a powerful story about how busyness nearly overtook his life. He was a man in high demand, constantly receiving invitations to speak, preach, and lead events. He didn’t want to disappoint people, so he said “yes” to nearly every opportunity that came his way.One day, he visited...  Read More

“Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease!”  -  Proverbs 23:4Bill Walton, the co-founder of Holiday Inns, once shared a heart-wrenching regret about his life. He had built one of the most successful hotel chains in America. By the world’s standards, he was the epitome of success. But at a Bible study in Florida, Walton opened up about the cost of that success.He confess...  Read More

“If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”  -  1 Timothy 5:8There was a young man in his twenties who had recently gotten married. He worked for a street sign business owned by a man who expected total commitment from his employees. The business was successful, and the boss paid his workers generousl...  Read More

“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.”  -  Proverbs 15:16An MBA Harvard graduate was sent to Mexico for work and saw a fisherman docking his small boat at the port. The fisherman had just returned from the sea and had caught four incredible fish. The businessman was amazed and asked, “How long did it take you to catch these fish?”The fisherman replied, “O...  Read More

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8 (NKJV)I was thinking about Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, particularly Jean Valjean, who was essentially imprisoned for stealing bread to feed his family. After he was released, he tried to find an honest way to get food and shelter. Everyone turned him away. Eventually, he found his...  Read More

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)Picture a church where everyone is uniquely gifted by God for different purposes. Someone is gifted to work with homeless people and thinks everyone should work with homeless people. Meanwhile, others are uniquely gifted to teach children in Sunday...  Read More

"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'" - Isaiah 6:8 (NKJV)In Acts 9, we see Saul, a fierce persecutor of Christians, dramatically encountering Jesus on the Damascus road. After being struck down by a bright light, he heard Jesus' voice asking, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Saul's immediate response w...  Read More

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)There's a story about a man who imagined himself approaching the gates of heaven. As he came to the entrance, Peter was there and asked him, "Why should you be allowed into heaven?" The man confidently replied, "Because I read my Bible...  Read More

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)There's a powerful story about a poor little girl carrying a pitcher of milk home to her family. While walking, the pitcher slipped from her hands and shattered on the ground, milk spilling everywhere. She sobbed uncontrollably, knowing her mother w...  Read More