Comfort

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God Uses Opposition!

Recently, a spirit of great discouragement seems to permeate many churches. It’s as if God’s people believe this is the only time of difficulty believers have ever faced. But a...
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Christians You Should Know: Richard Wurmbrand

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” –...
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Christians You Should Know: George Müller

“I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” – Psalm 81:10 A Snapshot of...
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Christians You Should Know: John Newton

“And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.” –...
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Christians You Should Know: Fanny Crosby

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like...
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Christians You Should Know: Corrie ten Boom

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” – Psalm 91:1 A Snapshot of the Life of Corrie ten...
Jesus I am Resting, Resting

Hymn History: Jesus I Am Resting, Resting

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at...
Count your Blessings

Hymn History: Count Your Blessings

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” - Psalm...
Near to the Heart of God

Hymn History: Near to the Heart of God

"The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth." - Psalm 145:18 We are thrilled to share a series of brief...
'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Hymn History: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

"For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth." - Psalm 71:5 We are thrilled to share a series of brief accounts of how...
Hymn History My Savior First of All

Hymn History: My Savior First of All

"As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." - Psalm 17:15 We are thrilled to share a series of...
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Hymn History: Now Thank We All Our God

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 We are thrilled to share a series of brief...
abide with me.

Hymn History: Abide With Me

"But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.” – Luke 24:29...
NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD

Hymn History: Near to the Heart of God

“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.“ – Psalm 145:18 We are thrilled to share a series of brief...
Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know

Hymn History: Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:“ – Philippians 2:9 We are thrilled to share a series of brief accounts of...
Saved By Grace

Hymn History: Saved By Grace

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.“ – Ephesians 2:8-9 We...
I Will Sing of My Redeemer

Hymn History: I Will Sing of My Redeemer

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." – Titus 2:14 We are thrilled to share...
safe in the arms

Hymn History: Safe in the Arms of Jesus

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”  – Deuteronomy 33:27...
Rock of Ages

Hymn History: Rock of Ages

“Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.”  – Psalm...
He Keeps Me Singing

Hymn History: He Keeps Me Singing

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." - Job 13:15 We are thrilled to share a series of...
Hymn Histories - Day By Day

Hymn History: Day By Day

"Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be."  - Deuteronomy 33:25 We are thrilled to share a series of brief accounts of...
Hymn Histories Blessed Assurance

Hymn History: Blessed Assurance

" Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."  - Hebrews...
What A Friend We Have In Jesus

Hymn History: What A Friend We Have In Jesus

" A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 We are thrilled to share a series of...
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A Single Moment

Many years ago the Lord providentially brought across my path a young man by the name of Micah Hendry. Little did I know that he would become a key part...
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“Just Use My Name.”

In times of need it is wonderful to know someone who has abundant resources. A friend may send you to another with the instructions: "Just use my name." They mean...
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Light for Dark Days

We all know that this year has been particularly challenging. Clouds of doubt and a fog of uncertainty have come into a world that was already dark with sin. It...
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5 Books To Read When You Are Having A Hard Time

Someone once said that everybody is having a hard time with something. The longer I live the more I think they were right. We are sinners living with other sinners...
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Still Worshipping Together

Today a precious friend, a faithful preacher, a man of prayer went home to be with Jesus. He walked with God and, in the last few hours, like Enoch, "he...
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Dealing With Fear

What is ahead? As I write these words the news is filled with stories related to the Coronavirus that is sweeping the globe and the downturn of financial markets. Mix...
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A New Book On An Eternal Truth

Do you have a difficult time loving some people? Do you struggle to express love to others? Does it seem that even with those you love that your love falls...
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How Sensitive Are You?

It is ironic that we are living in a world where people are easily offended by others and yet so often hardened to the needs of others around them. Such...
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Life’s Delays

Delayed. One of the most dreaded words in air travel. It glares in yellow letters from the airport monitors. The very word sounds like what it represents - a long...
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3 Times Jesus Wept And What We Learn From His Tears

Several months ago, I preached a message on the tears of Jesus. Our Savior was a "man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:5). This is more than mere...
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Reflections On The Death Of My Childhood Friend

Last night I was asked to share a few thoughts at a memorial service for one of my childhood friends. Ramie and I attended kindergarten through high school together. He...
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GUEST POST: “The Pastor Is Not Supposed To Cry”

Pastors have their own hurts as they seek to help hurting people. A minister who cannot grieve does not have the heart of the Chief Shepherd. I thank the Lord...
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What To Do When You Are “In A Lull”

Call it what you will. We all have those times when things seem just a little off the normal pace. The schedule may be the same or even heavier than...
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What I Do When I Don’t Feel Like Praying

People imagine that preachers jump out of bed every day with a strong urge to pray. Nothing could be further from the truth! We all battle flesh and flesh doesn't...
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An Epidemic Of Loneliness

Recently NBC aired a special news report on the increase of loneliness in people around the world. The British government has now instituted a "minister for loneliness." This new undersecretary...
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GUEST POST: Your Attitude Comes Back to You!

Evangelist Byron Foxx has been a tremendous encouragement to me. He is a happy Christian and his enthusiasm is contagious! You may learn more about his ministry at BibleTruthMusic.com. I...
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Announcing New Guest Blog Posts!

Last year we provided a free resource each month to encourage and equip believers. In 2018 I would like to make available a different type of resource. Each month a...
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Taken For Granted

We take family for granted…until they are gone. We take health for granted…until it is broken. We take sleep for granted…until it refuses to come. We take children for granted…until...
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A Post By My 17 Year Old Daughter

Tammy and I thank the Lord for our children. Like every parent we pray that they will desire to follow Christ. More and more I understand the words of John,...
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The Power of One Kind Word

The other day I wrote a short post about how the devil loves to use our words to tear others down. Permit me to share the positive side of this truth:...
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What to Do with Your Emotions

Emotions are a gift from God. They are also marred with the sin nature of Adam. When they are under God's reign they feel as He feels, but when they...
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What to Do When Everything Changes

This past year has been a year of change in my life. Our home has changed. My work has changed. Schedules, routines, and so much that had been familiar was...
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3 Truths to Remember When You Are Disappointed

Life in a fallen world is full of disappointments. Situations don't always turn out the way you hope. The best people let you down. Your own intentions fail to become...
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Dealing with Disappointment – Part 2

Have you faced any disappointment in the last week? The last 24 hours? The last 10 minutes? It is inevitable. Disappointments come. In the last post I shared with you...
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Dealing with Disappointment – Part I

We all have them. Disappointments are a part of life in an imperfect world. Every day we face the possibility of disappointment with circumstances, people, and even ourselves. It may...
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A Better Way to Say Goodbye

Over the last few months several of my dearest friends have said goodbye to loved ones and watched them slip away to Heaven. Moments like these remind us all that...
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Traveling

Another trip.  I am sitting in a hotel room in Fort Worth, Texas tonight.  Tomorrow we host an Open House at Crown Southwest and begin a Regional Youth Congress.  I...
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Great Expectations

Charles Dickens' classic novel Great Expectations is on my Kindle.  I must confess that I have read...and stopped reading the story several times through the years.  It is a strange book....
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Ebb and Flow: Dealing with Changing Tides

There are few things as refreshing to me as standing on the shore and watching the ocean waves.  I have always loved it.  In Scripture the sea represents change.  It...
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What I Learned at the Dead Sea

My dad and I had the privilege to be part of training several Iraqi pastors a number of years ago.  For over a week we taught a group of men...