“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 NKJV

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Galatians 5:16-17 NKJV (more…)

Through life, I have learned that all of us experience hardships in one form or another. We all have been insulted, injured or rejected by others. Problems come in many forms such as tension in marriage, disappointments with friends, hardships with children, job frustrations, financial difficulties or destructive habits. Problems are an everyday fact of life. Jesus told us so very plainly, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33).

It is not a matter of if, but when. If you are not experiencing some sort of trial today, one is waiting for you tomorrow. Jesus’ words are not meant to discourage us, but to help us see what the world is really like. (more…)

I often ask groups, “Where did you learn the most valuable lessons about life?” Without exception people respond, “Through falling flat on my face.” Going through trials is often how we grow! The Bible says, “tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character” (Romans 5:3,4 NASB).

What we learn through trials and tribulation is exactly what John the Baptist declared after his witness to Jesus as Messiah: “He must increase; but I must decrease” (John 3:30 NASB). (more…)

Jean’s Story
The most forceful, life-changing power in existence is the message of God’s unconditional love and acceptance in Jesus Christ. An unforgettable example of this is the story of Jean, a woman who had struggled all of her adult life.

Married to a career military man driven by ambition, Jean lived in many parts of the world. (more…)

In my early days as a Christian, I was like a brand-new twig on the grapevine. I wasn’t very big or very mature, and I couldn’t support much fruit, but I was totally full of the life of the vine – the love of Christ. Then I began to grow. But that growth was characterized by things like knowledge, experience, and conformity to the Christians around me. To others, I appeared more mature, but the fruit wasn’t there. It was apparent that I had become filled with knowledge instead of Christ. (more…)