I pledge my allegiance to a pastor, bishop, preacher, minister, father so and so. No! Jesus Christ alone is our savior and King. Check out what Paul had to say to the people of Corinth who were infighting, picking favorite apostles, and missing the message of Jesus Christ. 10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,…
Author: Cortney
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV Thank you, Jesus, for your presence in my life and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. I can imagine Paul…
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV Joyful in hope, yes Lord, I am all in, but patience is not a strong skill of mine, and the idea of being patient in affliction feels heavy on me. When affliction comes, either physical, spiritual or emotional, the last thing I…
6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6 NIV When I read this verse, I immediately understand the words, but do I fully comprehend the message Paul is sharing? He is talking about salvation, the free gift of salvation that is…
My family went blackberry picking this weekend on our neighbors’ property near the irrigation canal. I have always been mesmerized by blackberry plants they seem perfectly designed to protect their fruit and unlike other plants with thorns, blackberries have the uncanny ability to repel with sharp barbs while simultaneously pulling you in with the same…
It is a jump right in kind of day, so join me in Romans, Chapter 5 verse 7-8 I’ll wait, while you grab your coffee, tea, or a refreshing glass of water. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his…
Following the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit-filled apostles went out and taught the gospel. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. Acts 2:43 NIV The believers ate together and gathered with glad and sincere hearts (v46). Oh, how I treasure that description, with glad…
When I was in elementary school there was this game of sort, when you were walking you would try to avoid cracks on the ground. Why? Because if you stepped on a crack, you would break your mother’s back. How do kids come up with things like this, it’s troubling! When your eyes are down…
Paul wrote First Timothy to his son in the faith, Timothy. I never grow tired of Paul’s writing style, but I find his fatherly warmth and humility in this letter particularly engaging. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst….
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1 NIV We are in God’s family; our self-worth comes from knowing we are…