"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." - Proverbs 29:25   Fear can be a powerful force in our lives, especially when it comes to the opinions and actions of other people. But as followers of God, we're called to a different standard—one of courage and trust in Him, rather than fear of others. Daniel's life provides a powerful example of what it means t...  Read More

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31   The fear of missing out—it's something that plagues us all at one point or another, isn't it? We look around at the world, at what others are doing, and we wonder if we're somehow missing out on something better. In Daniel Chapter 1, we see a young man faced with a similar dilemma. Dani...  Read More

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." - Daniel 3:17-18   Courage isn't just a one-time decision; it's a commitment. It's a steadfast resolve to stay true to ...  Read More

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9   Courage is a word that stirs something deep within us, isn't it? It's not just about grand acts performed by historical figures like Harriet Tubman or Martin Luther King, Jr. It's about the everyday moments where we find ourselves fac...  Read More

"But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'" - 1 Samuel 16:7   I want to encourage you into a personal reflection today. Spend some time thinking through this question: What does Jesus see when He gazes into your hea...  Read More

"But Jesus said to him, 'Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?'" - Luke 22:48   In a moment where Jesus confronts Judas with the stark reality of his actions, piercing through the facade of friendship to expose the betrayal within him, we see something that is true of not just Judas but many “believers” today. Imagine the weight of Jesus' words as He looked upon Judas, one whom He h...  Read More

"Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: 'The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.'" - Matthew 26:48   I want you to take a minute and think about the disciples and the crowds who fervently believed in Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of David. They witnessed His miracles, heard His teachings, and acknowledged His fulfillment of prophecies. They understood the significance of His ...  Read More

"Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.' When he had said this, he breathed his last." - Luke 23:46   As Jesus hung on the cross, bearing the weight of humanity's sin, His final words echoed with complete trust and surrender to the Father. With a loud voice, He declared, "Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit," before breathing His last breath. In t...  Read More

"Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.' A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." - John 19:28-30  I...  Read More

"About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' (which means 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?')." - Matthew 27:46   In the midst of His crucifixion, Jesus uttered a cry of anguish that resonates with the depths of human suffering. His words, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" reveal not only the intense physical pain He was experienc...  Read More

"When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, 'Woman, here is your son.'" - John 19:26   As Jesus hung on the cross, bearing the weight of the world's sins, His eyes fell upon His mother, Mary, and the disciple whom He loved. In the midst of His agony, He didn't forget His earthly responsibilities. Instead, He demonstrated profound compassion by ...  Read More

"Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." - Luke 23:43   Imagine the scene: Jesus, hanging on the cross between two criminals, one on each side. In the midst of His own suffering, He extends a promise of hope and salvation to one of them. "Today you will be with me in paradise," He declares. This interaction between Jesus and the repentant criminal is a powerful reminder of the bo...  Read More