What Are the Different Kinds of Blessings and How Do We Bless Others?By Michelle Lazurek“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26Last month, I attended a memorial service for a former college professor. Many people gave touching tributes and testimonies to the man's life. But...  Read More

Is God Your Source of Encouragement?By Victoria RiollanoBe strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6En·cour·age- to give support, confidence, or hope to someone.Many of us are looking to be encouraged or supported.We look to family.We look to pastors.We look to our friends.We l...  Read More

Today's Thoughts: God means for GoodDaily DisciplesToday's Reading: Genesis 49; Matthew 13:31-58When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him." So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying, 'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please for...  Read More

The Workings of God – Chuck SwindollThe workings of God are not related to our clocks; they are related to our crises. That's why God doesn't care if this is the last day you can buy that car on sale. It doesn't bother God that it is the first day of summer or high noon or a quarter after seven or ten minutes to one in the morning. His timing is unrelated to Planet Earth's clock time. So while wai...  Read More

Who Am I? – Chuck SwindollGod does not call everybody to build temples. He calls some people to be soldiers. He calls some people to do the gutsy work in the trenches. He calls some people to compose and conduct music. God has all kinds of creative ways to use us—ways we can't even imagine and certainly can't see up there around the next bend in the road. One of the hardest things to hear is that ...  Read More

The Ride of Your Life – Chuck SwindollQueen Esther replied, “If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request, I ask that my life and the lives of my people will be spared. For my people and I have been sold to those who would kill, slaughter, and annihilate us. If we had merely been sold as slaves, I could remain quiet, for that would be too trivial a matter to ...  Read More

The Fog Is Lifting – Chuck SwindollSo the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet. On this second occasion, while they were drinking wine, the king again said to Esther, “Tell me what you want, Queen Esther. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!” (Esther 7:1-2)Imagine swimming in a vast lake and getting three or four hundred yards offshore when suddenly...  Read More

An Answer to Prayer – Daily DisciplesToday's Reading: Judges 4; Luke 4:31-44Then he said, "O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let down your pitcher that I ma...  Read More

The Beauty of a New DayBy Aaron D’Anthony Brown“Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!” (Lamentations 3:22-23, CSB)I can attest to the relief that comes with waking in the morning with fresh anticipation for what the day has in store. The same relief that says goodbye to the anguish of yesterday and h...  Read More

Patience – Daily DisciplesToday's Reading: Exodus 19; Matthew 18:21-35Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. James 5:7I always cringe just a little (if not a lot) when I see the words "be patient." Not long ago we spoke at an event that had an i...  Read More

God Notices – Chuck SwindollThat night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him. In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king’s private quarters. They had plotted to assassinate King Xerxes. “What rew...  Read More

Daily Disciples: Move MountainsToday's Reading: Exodus 14; Matthew 17So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. - Matthew 17:20The word "faith" has numerous definitions and interpretations. From the intellectual...  Read More