Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places. This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to his downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.   I Kings 13:33-34 God gives us second chances so that we can repent and m...  Read More

Now there was a certain old prophet living in Bethel, whose sons came and told him all that the man of God had done there that day. They also told their father what he had said to the king. Their father asked them, "Which way did he go?" And his sons showed him which road the man of God from Judah had taken. So he said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me."  . . . and rode after the man of God....  Read More

By the word of the LORD a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. By the word of the LORD he cried out against the altar: "Altar, altar! This is what the LORD says, 'A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.' "...  Read More

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,Or stand around with sinners, Or join in with mockers.But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit in season.Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.                                                                             ...  Read More

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."  A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the...  Read More

"My food . . . is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work." John 4:34 One of the reasons why Jesus was such a successful leader was because He was the greatest of all visionaries. His goal was to win the world for God and He focused on that vision passionately.To Jesus, accomplishing His purpose on earth was the very food which energized Him. Jesus took twelve uneducated people an...  Read More

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future."   Jeremiah 29:11 This is one of the most comforting and reassuring passages of Scripture. This is definite divine assurance that God has a purpose and plan for our individual lives. That plan is meant to bring us prosperity and hope. A prosperous person is simp...  Read More

Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.  . . . Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.    Psalm 90:10-12 God created you for a purpose. You can only live a meaningful and fulfilling life if you discover that purpose. Outside of that purpose, life will be...  Read More

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?  Matthew 16:24-26 Watching events unfo...  Read More

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put Him!"So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running b...  Read More

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore...  Read More

Then Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there.  . . . Jeroboam thought to himself, "The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam, king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam."After seeking advi...  Read More