When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. Mark 16:9 NIV It’s hard to imagine the torment Mary endured having been home to seven demons! Her erratic behavior and display of insanity, no …
The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Luke 22:61-62 NIV I can’t image the pain Peter felt as he heard …
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in …
Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter replied, “Even …
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 1 Peter 2:24 NLT Jesus completely understands the weight of sin, far better than you and I ever will. …
“…All our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” Isaiah 64:6 NIV Some of us enjoy dressing up in formal attire and some of us prefer comfortable, casual clothes, but no one wants to wear filthy rags! Isaiah reminds us that all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. We may …
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said …
In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9 NIV Ever wonder if God sees your pain? Is He focused on …
I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Romans 15:30 NIV God has designed it so no one battles the enemy alone. Paul understood that, so he petitioned …
Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” “What did Moses command you?” he replied. They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses …
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20 NIV I can’t help but wonder if God gave us two ears and just …
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! Psalm 139:17-18 NLT Do you ever wonder how often God thinks about you? He thinks about you all the time! Next time you are on the …
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 NIV We can’t see into the heavenly realms, and honestly, I’m glad we can’t; …
Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:15 NIV One can make a comparison between sin, and the earth’s gravitational pull; just like gravity pulls us toward the earth, sin pulls us toward the world. As …
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV Faith is the understanding that everything God’s word says is true and that all we hope for in Christ Jesus is more than just hope, it’s a fixed certainty that …
It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom, and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss. Then this …