"So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another" (Rom 14:19).
Pride and Envy: The Terrible Twins
"If the foot says, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,' it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,' it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body... And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'; or again the head to the feet, 'I have not need of you'" (1 Cor 12:15-16, 21)
Why Are Christians So Divided?
"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace" (Eph 4:1-3).
Lessons From The One Talent Man
"But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents... Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth'" (Matt 25:26-30)
Overcoming Frustration
"Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God" (Psalm 42:11).
Seeing God In Creation
"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands" (Psalm 19:1).
Seeking Correction
"I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself, Nor is it in man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O LORD, but with justice; Not with Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing" (Jeremiah 10:23-24)
Deborah - A Woman of Faith
"Deborah said to Barak, 'Arise! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hands; behold, the LORD has gone out before you.' So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. The LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot" (Judges 4:14-15)
The Power of Expectations
"But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way" (Heb 6:9).
God is Certainly Among You
"But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you" (1 Cor 14:24-25)
They Shall Be Satisfied
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matt 5:6)
So Far As Depends On You
"If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men" (Rom 12:18)
When We Are Strong
"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor 12:9-10).
What Did Jesus Do?
"For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps" (1 Peter 2:21).
Approaching Those With Whom We Differ
"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person" (Col 4:5-6).
Self Image: A Biblical Perspective
We live in a self-obsessed culture. We plaster the internet with selfies and have social network pages dedicated to ourselves, where we can create our own self-image, self-promote, self-assert, and do just about anything but exercise self-control. The bookstore offers an ever-growing self-help section where we are encouraged to develop strong self-worth, self-respect, and pursue self-acceptance. We are urged to be self-reliant, self-sufficient, and self-confident. Commercials and advertisements play on our own self-interests and encourage us to seek self-gratification and self-indulgence. Yet, in the midst of all of this, most of us are still searching for ourselves. We are often self-deceived, self-centered, or self-righteousness. But instead of finding ourselves, our society is on a road to self-destruct.
Do Not Worry
"And He said to His disciples, 'For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing" (Luke 12:22-23)
Living With Regret
"I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).
Got Integrity?
"Guard my soul and deliver me; Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You" (Psalm 25:20-21).
Knit Together in Love
"For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:1-3)