Biblia

FEARING HEIGHTS

Topics: Awe; Divine Power; Experiencing God; Fear; God’s Glory; God’s Wrath; Wonder; Worship References: Deuteronomy 6:13; Psalm 11:4–6; 19:1–6; 24; 33:6–19; Isaiah 8:13; Matthew 10:28; Revelation 1:8; 4:1–11 A few summers ago we took a family vacation to Toronto. We’d never been there, but all the guidebooks said, “You have to go up the CN … Continue reading “FEARING
HEIGHTS”

INTERRUPTING LIFE TO HEAR GOD

Topics: Contentment; Desires; Freedom; Money; Needs; Perspective; Possessions; Poverty; Prosperity; Riches; Sacrifice; Simplicity; Stewardship References: Proverbs 15:16; Matthew 16:26; Philippians 4:11–12; 1 Timothy 6:6; Hebrews 13:5 “I’ve become more convinced than ever that God finds ways to communicate with those who truly seek him, especially when we lower the volume of the surrounding static,” says … Continue reading “INTERRUPTING
LIFE TO HEAR GOD”

COCKPIT BATTLE FOR CONTROL

Topics: Bondage; Choices; Depravity; God’s Will; Human Condition; Self-control; Self-discipline; Sin; Sinful Nature References: Romans 7:14–25; 12:1–2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:22–24 On October 31, 1999, a full airplane took off from JFK International Airport in New York on a routine flight to Cairo, Egypt. Shortly after takeoff, the relief first officer waited for the … Continue reading “COCKPIT
BATTLE FOR CONTROL”

STRETCHING TOO HIGH

Topics: Child Rearing; Children; Discouragement; Encouragement; Fathers; Growth; Parenting References: Ephesians 6:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13; 10:24 My ten-year-old son was “helping” me paint the laundry room. I brushed; he rolled. When he disappeared to get a Coke, I rerolled where he’d painted. I didn’t mind this. But I did mind his repeated efforts … Continue reading “STRETCHING
TOO HIGH”

WHEN I WAS A PHARISEE

Topics: Attitudes; Convictions; Entertainment; Faultfinding; Holiness; Humility; Hypocrisy; Judging Others; Legalism; Lifestyle; Presumption; Respect; Self-righteousness; Tolerance References: Isaiah 65:5; Matthew 7:3, 13–14; 23:1–3; Romans 2:1; 8:33; 1 Corinthians 11:28–32; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 1:16 When our children were young, my husband and I decided we wouldn’t watch R-rated movies. We made this decision in … Continue reading “WHEN
I WAS A PHARISEE”

A LESSON IN SHEEP CALLING

Topics: Christ as Shepherd; Hearing God; Influence; Leadership; Listening; Preaching; Responsibility; Spiritual Growth; Teaching References: Ezekiel 3:16–21; John 10:2–4, 27; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17; James 3:1; 5:19–20 Bill Donahue tells of a lesson he learned while visiting a farm where two of his students lived. When their father, Tom, asked if Bill would help call … Continue reading “A
LESSON IN SHEEP CALLING”

HURRY NOT

Topics: Busyness; Mentoring; Rest; Spiritual Disciplines; Spirituality; Time; Work References: 2 Corinthians 7:1; Galatians 5:22–23; 1 Timothy 4:7; Hebrews 4:1–11 Not long after moving to the Chicago area to serve as teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, John Ortberg called a friend to ask for spiritual direction. “I described the pace of life in … Continue reading “HURRY
NOT”

RUNNING RED LIGHTS

Topics: Blindness; Conscience; Danger; Disobedience; Lawlessness; Sin; Will References: Romans 1:28–32; 1 Timothy 1:19; 4:1–2 During my college years, I decided it made no sense to stop at red traffic lights when there was no traffic around. So I began to stop briefly, just long enough to check for cars, and then proceed. My stops … Continue reading “RUNNING
RED LIGHTS”