By His Word “… he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.” — Acts 11:23 (NIV) I wonder what Barnabas expected to find when he reached Antioch. Word had come to Jerusalem that people there were turning to the Lord, and the church sent him toContinue reading “When Grace Takes Us by Surprise”
Tag Archives: Christian encouragement
The Fact That Changes Tomorrow
DID YOU KNOW “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” —1 Corinthians 15:20, NIV. Did you know that Paul makes the resurrection essential to the Christian faith? In 1 Corinthians 15:17–20, Paul asks his readers to consider what would follow if Jesus had remained dead. His answer is unsettling: their faith wouldContinue reading “The Fact That Changes Tomorrow”
Death Will Not Have the Last Word
By His Word “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” —1 Corinthians 15:50, NIV. Some mornings, our bodies remind us of truths we would rather forget. A knee complains before our feet reach the floor. Our energy disappears sooner than it once did. A familiar faceContinue reading “Death Will Not Have the Last Word”
Waiting for the One We Love
As the Day Ends “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:16, NIV (Bible Gateway) As the day grows quiet, it can be good to remember why Paul wrote about Christ’s return. The Thessalonian believers were grieving people who had died, and Paul wanted them to know that those whoContinue reading “Waiting for the One We Love”
When Presence Helps More Than Answers
On Second Thought “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” — Isaiah 40:1 When someone we care about is hurting, our natural instinct is to search for a solution. We want to stop the pain, correct the problem, or offer advice that will move the person toward a better outcome. This desire often comes fromContinue reading “When Presence Helps More Than Answers”
Fully Alive in the Light
On Second Thought “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” —1 Thessalonians 5:5 What does it mean to live life to the fullest? The phrase often brings to mind travel, adventure, financial security, good health, fulfilled ambitions, or finally havingContinue reading “Fully Alive in the Light”
When the Soul Stops Rehearsing Its Pain
On Second Thought “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” — Psalm 27:1 There are days when discouragement feels almost reasonable. The problems are real, the pressure is heavy, and the future seems uncertain. A rainyContinue reading “When the Soul Stops Rehearsing Its Pain”
When Praise Changes the View
On Second Thought Psalm 150 closes the book of Psalms with an explosion of praise. Every instrument, every voice, every breath is called to glorify God. Yet tucked within that celebration is a truth that many believers overlook during difficult seasons. Praise is not merely a response to favorable circumstances; it is a declaration ofContinue reading “When Praise Changes the View”
When the Clouds Refuse to Leave
The Bible in a Year “Men see not the bright light which is in the clouds; but the wind passes, and cleanses them.” — Job 37:21 One of the hardest lessons in the Christian life is learning that clouds are not always signs of God’s absence. Job understood what it meant to live beneath darkContinue reading “When the Clouds Refuse to Leave”
Strengthening Hearts Through Encouragement
DID YOU KNOW Did You Know? Encouragement is one of the quiet ways God multiplies His work through ordinary people. King Josiah’s leadership during the Passover in 2 Chronicles 35 reveals something many believers overlook: spiritual renewal often grows where encouragement is present. Josiah did not merely restore religious activity; he inspired people to serveContinue reading “Strengthening Hearts Through Encouragement”