When God's Plan Doesn't Make SenseBayless ConleyIn Joshua 6:1-5 we find one of the most bizarre battle plans, but one with an important lesson for you and me,Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. And the LORD said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. You shall march around the cit...  Read More

Life is Short... How Do I Make it Count?By Jeanne DoyonI will praise the Lord while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I still have my being. - Psalm 146:2I don't know how many years I have left to live and love. Life is short and the older I get, the clearer that is to me. The fact is, none of us know. Life is short, so I think I should live each day with that in mind.The meaning of this...  Read More

Faithful with Little, Given MuchDaily DisciplesToday's Reading: 2 Samuel 12; Luke 16"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, ...  Read More

Sweet Ebenezers – Alistair BeggNow, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.” ...  Read More

The Power and Mystery of Obedience Alistair BeggThe Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons” … Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem.  1 Samuel 16:1, 1 Samuel 16:4Samuel stands ou...  Read More

A Prayer about the Power of PrayerBy Jessica Van Roekel“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and what is the immeasurable greatness ...  Read More

What Really Matters Most TodayBy Keri EichbergerShe had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was continually listening to His teaching. But Martha was very busy and distracted with all of her serving responsibilities; and she approached Him and said, “Lord, is it of no concern to You that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part.”...  Read More

Faith Needed in the StormBy: Betsy St. Amant HaddoxAnd he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of...  Read More

Living Plan B: A Lesson from ExodusBy Ray PritchardBIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. - Exodus 13:17-18Some time ago I heard the follow...  Read More

Gracious Words Flow from a Gracious HeartBy Jessica Van Roekel“The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction. Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:23-24, NIV.Many years ago, I made a bad first impression because of the way I spoke to someone. My speech was the opposite of gracious. At the time, the words spe...  Read More

Gratitude Changes EverythingSharon Jaynes“Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV).Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and so I’ve been thinking about gratitude a lot lately. What is it? When should we show it? What does God say about it?Paul wrote the Thessalonians, “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Most read that verse and think it rather nice. So...  Read More

How Does God’s Word “Light Our Path”?By Sarah E. FrazerYour word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. - Psalm 119:105 (NIV)Every night, I do the same thing. My husband and I work together on what we call “closing up shop.” What we mean is we put the dog out to the yard one more time before putting her in the garage for the night. We make coffee for the morning. Usually, I wipe the counters a...  Read More