What Is Brave? For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. – Isaiah 41:13 NIV Brave. What is it? Truth is, there is no formula and there are no rules. There is the Bible, our guidebook for all things, but other than that, being brave is organic and spiritual and a unique journey for each person. I won’t be saying, “Here is exactly what courage looks like” or “If you want to really risk in a way that impacts the people around you, do these particular things.” I don’t think that works. I don’t think…

The Word of God is a lifeline for every Christian. Paul instructed his readers that the Word of God will teach us as well as provide encouragement and hope. The psalmist wrote, My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word. — Psalm 119:28NIV The Bible is the primary way God communicates with His people. As we read the Scriptures, we are taking in the message God intends to communicate (2 Timothy 3:16). He uses the Scriptures to increase our understanding, give us strength, correct us, and encourage us. As we approach the Scriptures, we will be wise to ask God to increase our understanding of His Word. Like…

When I was growing up, Madonna once said, “Jesus Christ was like a movie star, my favorite idol of all.”¹ Napoleon Bonaparte went further: “I know men, and I tell you Jesus Christ was not a man. Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and other religions the distance of infinity.”² And then there was novelist H. G. Wells: “I am an historian, I am not a believer. But, this penniless preacher from Galilee is irresistibly the centre of history.”³ There has never been a human quite like Jesus. He…

A note from the author: After another weekend of devastating mass shootings across America and the senseless loss of dozens of lives, our hearts go out to the victims’ families, and our minds ask “Why?” and “What can we do?” As for “Why?,” these things are happening because as more and more people reject God and His ways, the foundations of society are crumbling. When David found himself in such a situation, he asked, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). As for “What can we do?,” the first and most important thing Christians can do, as David did, is to remember that we have hope…

Most wisdom says, “Take time and think things through. Be thoughtful about your decision. Take it slow.” Yet, there is one time when you should throw caution to the wind: it’s when you know God is calling you to do something. The other night my husband and I, sat on our bed. Somewhat unintentionally we entered a difficult situation. The more we talked, the more we knew God was calling us to radically change some things. The more we thought things through the more we realized it would require a complete change of approach. The more we pressed into the details the more we realized that to sit around doing the same thing…

Editor’s Note: Baby Grace from Little House on the Prairie has written a beautiful devotional based upon the beloved TV show. Enjoy this excerpt. Wendi and her sister, Brenda Weatherby, on the set with “Pa” Ingalls, Michael Landon. (Photo: Jackie Juchniewicz) * Season 3, Episode 13, “Quarantine” “The worst part about being sick, I think, is how sad it makes other people.” — Laura Ingalls Sickness is difficult, not only for the person with the ailment, but also for the caregivers who are filled with worry. When Laura is suspected of having mountain fever, her parents are beside themselves. Seeing their daughter suffer from her sickness causes them tremendous heartache, and Laura feels bad…