“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” - John 10:11   When you think of the word “good,” what comes to mind? Maybe it’s a movie you enjoyed or a meal you found satisfying. We use the word a lot in our everyday language, "good" often means something that’s okay, pleasant, or just acceptable. But when Jesus calls Himself the “Good Shepherd,” He means something ...  Read More

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” - James 1:2-4   Have you ever wondered how to become more like Christ, especially in the area of patience? It’s one thing to grow a little thro...  Read More

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” - 2 Corinthians 12:9   Patience isn’t exactly my strong suit. Can you relate? I’ve spent a lot of time outdoors, claiming to love fishing and hunting. But if I’m honest, it’s not the waiting that excites me, it’s the catching and shooting. Waiting is tough for me, whether it’s sitting in traffic or sta...  Read More

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” - Galatians 5:22-23    When I was a child, I found it odd that the Bible refers to the qualities produced by the Holy Spirit as “fruit.” But the choice of this metaphor makes perfect sense. Fruit has a unique way of revealing the truth about a tree, just as the fruit of the ...  Read More

“I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.” - Galatians 5:16   In Galatians chapter 5, Paul draws a sharp contrast between two kinds of lives—those driven by the works of the flesh and those characterized by the fruit of the Spirit. He’s not merely presenting two sets of behaviors, he’s describing two entirely different ways of living, each leadi...  Read More

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” - Matthew 25:40  On his first Sunday at a church of 10,000, a pastor decided to dress as a homeless man. His aim was to see how the congregation would respond to someone who appeared to be in need.  As he walked around the church’s perimeter, only three people out...  Read More

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” - Galatians 5:22-23   When you put on Christ, it’s more than a change in behavior, it’s a transformation of your entire being. This isn’t about adopting new habits or following a set of rules, it’s about experiencing a profound change within that shifts the way you see and i...  Read More

“Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.” - Luke 6:31   Did you know that Jesus’ teaching on kindness wasn’t entirely original? Long before Jesus walked the earth, similar principles were spoken by various thinkers and religious leaders. Confucius, for instance, advised, “Do not unto others what you would not wish done to yourself.”  The Buddhists taught, “Putting oneself in t...  Read More

“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another.” - Colossians 3:12   The word “good” in the Bible is often synonymous with “kindness”—a concept that’s central to the Fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5. This connection reve...  Read More

“God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.” - Romans 2:4   I’ll never forget my basketball coach, Edgar Fowler. To say he was intense would be an understatement. From the moment he woke up until he went to bed, he yelled and screamed. He cussed like a sailor, and remember, his team was just a group of 8- and 9-year-old boys who only wanted to play basketball. I watched Coach Fowler pic...  Read More

 “God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” - Psalm 51:10   It’s important to understand that being kind won’t make you a Christian but being a Christian will make you kind. Do you see the difference? You can’t be good enough to earn the title of a child of God. Jesus didn’t instruct us to “be” good first; He called us to “believe.” It’s through belief that we becom...  Read More

“Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” - John 3:3   Do you realize that your salvation involves more than just a ticket to Heaven? Many of us grew up with the belief that once we invited Jesus into our hearts, our main reward was the promise of eternal life.  While that’s true, there’s so much more to it. In God’s view, eternal life sta...  Read More