The Bible said then what we know now:  Humans are slow to learn from their mistakes and even more so from the mistakes of history!  God does what he can to help you see, but any lesson that is not learned now will return if it still needs to be learned.

Ecclesiastes 3:15 (TLB)…

A welcoming person is valued everywhere. Rebekah fetched water for a lone traveler and his camels.  She offered her Father’s home for dinner and accommodations. While what Rebekah literally did may be risky today, there is always honor in hospitality and welcoming others.…

All of the Bible deals in improving how you think and act. The perception that it is a book of rules written by Middle Eastern men, relevant only in those times, is far from what it is. The Bible is for all time and people, but you must have ears to hear to learn from it.

2…

Paul is a perfect example of right attitude. Some of the most beautiful and inspirational passages in the Bible come from Paul, written in cold filthy jail cells or while under house arrest.  He was so grateful for God’s mercy and kindness, no matter where he was at the moment.…

Those who struggle to have children say they suffer greatly. The trajectory of building a family is a treasure of love, sacrifice and purpose brought to you by God himself. The price of passage is more than just conceiving, it is the ability to put service to another ahead of…

When you are “born again,” you switch from an ego based awareness and intelligence to an experience with the enormity of God’s love and the lessons of Jesus. You suddenly see that this is the true reality - not what is called reality on earth - but God’s true eternal reality.…

A good observation of people is that when they do things they have been warned against or know are wrong, they cover-up and hide. This is a guilty response and it is not a new phenomena:  Adam and Eve covered-up and hid from God in the Garden.

Genesis 3:6-11 (NIV) 6 When the…

Love means to respect.  God respects your freewill, children are respected for their differences, Jewish law required respect for foreigners and animals. Jesus respected all classes of people. Being law abiding means you respect right authority.  Evil, by definition, is LACK of…

There is a popular notion of “many paths to God.”  That means God can be, among other things, the Universe, Buddha, Allah or a pagan god. What the Bible says is that coming to the Father - by knowing who Jesus is, said and did - is exactly the one and only way to get there.

John…

There are many ways bad decisions are made, whether via the great locust, young locust, other locusts or great swarm locusts.  Because God loves justice so much, he promises he will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.

Joel 2:25 (NIV) “I will repay you for the years…

Nicodemus was a member of a group that always tried to get Jesus in a “Gotcha!” Nicodemus yearned for Truth so he went directly to Jesus at night to avoid being seen. Friends (or church traditions) may not always encourage it, but God loves an independent questioning mind.

John…

Once you experience the light of Christ, the contrast between light and dark can’t be more obvious. You begin to see dark habits in your life. Jesus will heal every bit of darkness that you bring to him. Bring your unrighteousness to him every single day and let him cleanse you.…

God was about to bring the hammer down in Judah when they asked what they could do to change his mind. 'Do you really think that you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and worship Baal…?' Even though they asked they really had no intention of changing these things and…

'Where is your flock … your beautiful flock he gave you to take care of?' Is there anything more devastating than knowing you blew everything - not someone else - but you? It may be a time of great personal loss but also a time when you can begin again and do it right with God.…

Good chooses his people. It is no coincidence or mistake when he chooses you. He is constantly knocking. You know it his him when you are able to sense and identify something profoundly bigger than yourself asking you to give him your ego and carnal identity.

Revelation 3:20…

Jesus prayed all the time. He asked God if he would “take away this cup of horror.”  He used his free will to accept what God wanted for him, as awful as it was in that moment. He knew his purpose, power and success came solely from the Father, not anything else.

2 Corinthians…

There are as many takes on God’s Word as there are people. No one knows it all. Seek Truth in every situation.  Learn to recognize when something is good or evil but be wary of creating divisions in the body of Christ. He is the arbiter of who is and who isn’t one of his.

Mark…

When Moses went to Pharoah, he told him God said to “Let my people go.”  Most only remember those words, but he said more:  “...for they must make a holy pilgrimage… to worship me…”  To step out of your personal slavery or any difficult situation, go first to God.

Exodus 5:1…

Having the proper attitude to meet your challenges makes all the difference.  As these verses say, be happy when you are tempted or in other difficulty. You want to work through your problems. God is always ready to use your problems to develop the very best in you.

James 1:2-4…

Naaman was a military hero, and a leper?  Leprosy is so contagious that lepers had to live in quarantine so something isn’t adding up in this verse. It is this: Every single person has a contagious and destructive sin, yet God will heal and make a hero anyone he chooses.…