Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."   I Kings 17:1 Israel had been in the throes of sin and idolatry for years. God's chosen people had neglected their covenant with God and turned to the worship of worthless idols created by the hands of man....  Read More

"But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."And the LORD said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail;...  Read More

Rehoboam son of Solomon was king in Judah . . . Judah did evil in the eyes of the LORD. By the sins they committed they stirred up His jealous anger more than those who were before them had done. They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in a...  Read More

"The LORD will raise up for Himself a king over Israel who will cut off the family of Jeroboam. Even now this is beginning to happen. And the LORD will strike Israel, so that it will be like a reed swaying in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that He gave to their ancestors and scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they aroused the LORD's anger by making Asherah poles...  Read More

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