Gifts
The Gift – How Much More?
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?– Romans 8:31-32, NIV-1983 There are times I read scripture,…
Read MoreFanning Your Gift Into Flame
© 2019 Maik Garbade. All Rights Reserved. Unsplash.Used by permission. I took three semesters of New Testament Greek while studying at Harding University – School of Biblical Studies. One of my fondest memories is of a road trip I took with a brother in Christ, a drive from Arkansas to Kansas and back. I don’t…
Read MoreFive Gems of Salvation
My first year in full-time ministry, I worked with a small church in Ruston, Louisiana. I still recall one Sunday morning, walking into the church building and overhearing a lively discussion going on in one of the adult classrooms. With a loud slap of his hand on the table, a frustrated man shouted, “Dammit! I’m…
Read MoreThree Temperaments That Must Govern God’s Gifting
A few days ago, Alean and I were driving into town to purchase a couple of items needed to complete Christmas gifts for the grandchildren. As we made the drive, our conversation veered into a discussion of those times we speak truth, but do so in damaging ways. In such situations the content of our…
Read MoreIt is Grace Upon Grace
In the opening of the Gospel of John, we have a beautiful description of God incarnate, coming to “pitch his tent” among humanity. In the midst of that description is this beautiful, poetic line: “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” – John 1:16, ESV As though grace was not enough, we,…
Read MoreThree Truths About God’s Gifting
Darlene Zschech, the noted worship leader for Hillsong Church in Sydney Australia, tells a memorable story about a gentleman who encountered one of her worship leaders, Steve McPherson, at the airport. She relates how the man excitedly informed Steve that he was a great singer, that he was going to start coming to Hillsong Church,…
Read MoreRole Playing
What can we, as disciples of Christ, learn from the loss of a football game? A lot, actually, but let’s look at just one glaring lesson we can learn from the stunning play that secured the loss of Super Bowl XLIX. The Seattle Seahawks had it their hands – the first back-to-back Super Bowl wins…
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