Are you born again? I remember when I did not understand what that meant. Sometimes, we can grow up hearing different words that describe what it means to be a Christian and not really know what these words or phrases mean. God’s plan of salvation has unfolded over history. History is His story of His salvation rolled out in a progressive revelatio…

When we are afflicted, we can lose perspective, and suffering can seem meaningless. But God does not waste our suffering. This past week, in the Bible Tribe, we caught a glimpse of God's purposes in something we would rather do without. This week's review of Genesis 41–44, Ruth, Isaiah 62–66, Psalms 25–27, Job 21–22, Mark 1–2, and 1 Corinthians 7–8…

How much are our troubles intensified because we just don't understand the heart of God? God's heart toward us is good. The heart of God is perfect, compassionate, kind, Holy, and good. God is the Lover of our souls, our friend, our Advocate, and our ever-present help in times of need. God is not in a box of our own making, and His character is not…

Relationships with others begin with our relationship with God. When we are not in a right relationship with God we cannot be in a right relationship with man. In Christ, our relationships with others can be defined by peace. Find out how in this week's summary episode of the Bible Tribe reading plan, where a common theme emerges of how to navigate…

How do you do with tests? Do you resent them? Do you doubt God’s character when they arise? Life's tests can be hard, but they reveal our trust in God and prove that God's purpose in the tests is ultimately to bless us. This week in the Bible Tribe reading plan, we learn that God is trustworthy and our security is in Him, not the blessings given by…

What are you expecting from this life? From God? Expectations can really let us down. Much of our life is spent longing for something we really hope for or believe in, and it still seems so out of reach. In all our readings this week, there is a stumbling block one must choose to step over as one waits on God. We forsake the peace that could be our…

Have you ever questioned God? Wondered why things are happening? Or felt like things were unfair or unjust? This week, the readings in the Bible Tribe reading plan have a common theme of God’s justice and sometimes a perceived lack of justice. God invites us to ask questions, come and see the big picture with Him, and delight in His justice. Listen…

How do you focus on Christ when chaos abounds all around you? Thinking higher than our own thoughts when the sky is falling feels impossible. But in our reading in Romans this week, Paul invites us to set our minds on the things of the Spirit rather than the things of the flesh through a word he uniquely uses. Listen in to hear the Scriptural backg…

Do we recognize how blessed we are? We are so blessed but often miss it because we are distracted by problems. But are problems the problem? When we see what God sees, our eyes are opened, and we understand how blessed we really are. Listen in as Denise discusses the Scriptures from the Bible reading plan in week 2: Genesis 5–8, Joshua 5–8, Isaiah …

Well, friends, how has your time been in the word of God this week? In the Bible Tribe FB group, I shared from our first reading in Genesis 1–4 what God saw (The Hebrew word, “Ra’ah”) and how that differed from what Eve or any of us see. Through the first five days of reading this week, this factor of what we see shapes our drive and our “why” for …

Good morning, friends! Welcome to 2024! What new things can you discover in reading God’s word this year? Today’s first reading from Genesis 1–4 was such a reminder to me that what we see shapes our mindset. Do you see things the way God does? Listen in and find out! God bless you guys as you begin reading God's word again this year! He is faithful…

Live loved. The first time I heard this phrase it felt like a hug from God. We will never be more loved than we already are. We are His beloved. But whether we live in that reality is up to us. Bible Reading: Jude Verse of the day: Jude 1:20, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep your…

Being persuasive is helpful when it comes to winning an argument but being persuasive for the sake of the Gospel is more than mere words. Bible Reading: Acts 27-28 Verse of the day: Acts 28:24, “Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.” Word of the day: Persuaded. It is the Greek word: πείθω (pi'-tho).…

We all desire to belong but belonging can be difficult in a world where relationships are fraught with sin. But there is one relationship where our desire to be loved will never fall short. Bible Reading: Songs 7-8 Verse of the day: Songs 7:10, "I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me."" Word of the day: Desire. It is the Hebrew word: תְּש…

We were made to praise God. True praise cannot come from those who do not have the Holy Spirit, and praise does not come from hearts that do not recognize all that their God has done for them. Bible Reading: Psalms 148-150 Verse of the day: Psalm 148:5, "Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded, and they were created." Word of the day…

God with us has been a reality that has held me together when life just seems so hard to navigate. But we look to the day when God will be with us as it was in the beginning. Bible Reading: Rev. 21-22 Verse of the day: Revelation 21:3, “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with t…

When we celebrate Christmas or Easter, it can be easy to have these holidays just be religious observances. But when we remember what Christ has done on our behalf, these holidays are not just days off work, but moments of worship and gratitude. Bible Reading: Esther 6-10 Verse of the day: Esther 9:27, “The Jews took it on themselves to establish t…

Those who are loved by God will follow Him. We cannot follow if we do not first know what or Who we are following. Bible Reading: Deut. 33-34 Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 33:3, “Indeed, He loves the people; All Your holy ones are in Your hand, And they followed in Your steps; Everyone receives of Your words.” Word of the day: Followed. It is the H…

Sometimes we can try to imitate others so we can fit in, but as we imitate Christ, we might not fit in with the world. Bible Reading: 3 John Verse of the day: 3 John 1:11, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.” Word of the day: Imitate. It is the Greek word:…

How we live out the message we carry can be a stumbling block or a compelling witness to others. Are we credible as we share the incredible story of Christ? Bible Reading: Acts 25-26 Verse of the day: Acts 26:8, "Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead?" Word of the day: Incredible. It is the Greek word: ἄπιστος …

Sometimes we are awake and yet asleep to what really matters in this life. Stay awake in your relationships and personal character. Be aware of others’ needs around you. Bible Reading: Songs 5-6 Verse of the day: Songs 5:2(a), “I was asleep but my heart was awake." Word of the day: Awake. It is the Hebrew word: עוּר (oor).…

Sometimes life hits us so hard we don’t think we can get back up, but those whom the LORD sustains will be raised up when they cry out to Him. Bible Reading: Psalms 145-147 Verse of the day: Psalm 145:14, “The LORD sustains all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down.” Word of the day: Sustains. It is the Hebrew word: סָמַךְ (saw-mak').…

Prophecy has always been about the progressive revelation of Jesus Christ which brings us to hope while we wait and wade through life’s seeming hopelessness. Bible Reading: Rev. 16-20 Verse of the day: Revelation 19:10 (b), "Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.” Word of the day: Prophecy. It is the Gre…

Our culture tells us to be silent about our faith while they boast about their own beliefs but for such a time as this God’s people must not be silent but be wise in how they communicate God’s word to an increasingly pagan people. Bible Reading: Esther 1-5 Verse of the day: Esther 4:14, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance…

Our courage will be tested in this life, but knowing God with us is the source of our courage. Bible Reading: Deut. 31-32 Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." Word of the day: Courageous. It is the…

What motivates you to live this Chrsitian life? To do all you do in this life? When our motivation is fixed on God’s glory, all we do has new purpose and meaning. Bible Reading: 2 John Verse of the day: 2 John 1:2, "Because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever." Word of the day: Sake. It is the Greek word: διά (dee-ah'). This is a prep…

Do you cherish the hope we have in Christ? Hope is not hope if we do not actively choose to renew our hope. Bible Reading: Acts 23-24 Verse of the day: Acts 24:15, "And I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." Word of the day: Cherish. It is the Greek word: πρ…

Beauty is an abstract term with many different definitions. Discovering beauty in those we love is a part of loving them. Bible Reading: Songs 3-4 Verse of the day: Songs 4:7, "You are altogether beautiful, my darling, And there is no blemish in you." Word of the day: Beautiful. It is the Hebrew word: יָפֶה (yaw-feh').…

Life is overwhelming. Can I get an amen? But we don’t have to stay there. When we are overwhelmed we do not have to be overcome but we can overcome through Christ. Bible Reading: Psalms 142-144 Verse of the day: Psalm 142:3(a), "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path . . ." Word of the day: Overwhelmed. It is the Hebrew word: עָ…

God’s Kingdom is already but not yet fully realized. Oh, what a moment it will be when the Kingdom of God is established on earth. Bible Reading: Rev. 11-15 Verse of the day: Revelation 11:15, "The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of…

Neglecting time with God and His word reveals a heart condition in need of renewal. Knowing God is not about following rules. It is about walking in His will and way because we love Him. Bible Reading: Neh. 10-13 Verse of the day: Nehemiah 10:39(b), "We will not neglect the house of our God.” Word of the day: Neglect. It is the Hebrew word: עָזַב (…

Knowing God’s word is one thing but keeping God’s word is another. Keep on keepin’ on with the word of God. Don’t grow comfortable or complacent. Bible Reading: Deut. 29-30 Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 29:9, “Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.” Word of the day: Keep. It is the Hebrew wor…

Being in the world but not of it is challenging but not impossible. Remembering our purpose and calling and immersing our mind in His word helps us to influence the world more than it influences us. Bible Reading: 1 John 4-5 Verse of the day: 1 John 4:5, “They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world lis…

Where there is a will there is a way but following God’s will is the best way! Bible Reading: Acts 21-22 Verse of the day: Acts 21:14, “When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’” Word of the day: Will. It is the Greek word: θέλημα (thel'-ay-mah). It means what one wishes to happen…

In a world that does not uphold marital values or fidelity, Christian marriage is a witness of God’s faithfulness. Bible Reading: Songs 1-2 Verse of the day: Songs 2:16(a), "My beloved is mine, and I am his." Word of the day: My beloved. It is the Hebrew word: דּוֹד (dode). It means lover,By Denise Pass

Our thoughts are vast, but only the thoughts focused on God’s purposes will last. Bible Reading: Psalms 139-141 Verse of the day: Psalm 139:2, "You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar." Word of the day: Thoughts. It is the Hebrew word: רֵעַ (ray'-ah).By Denise Pass

It is hard to stand firm when the ground beneath us seems uncertain. But Christ is able to make us stand. And when Christ returns, only God and His people will be able to stand. Bible Reading: Rev. 6-10 Verse of the day: Revelation 6:17, "For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" Word of the day: Stand. It is the Greek word: ἵσ…

We cannot be faithful to God’s word if we are not careful to apply it to our lives. Being careful with God’s word requires first being attentive to it so we can rightly apply it. Bible Reading: Neh. 7-9 Verse of the day: Nehemiah 8:3, "From early morning till noon, he read the Law of Moses to them, and they listened carefully." Word of the day: Car…

There is no getting around a word like “commandments”. God’s commands are a demand, not a suggestion. Bible Reading: Deut. 27-28 Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 27:1, "Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people, saying, “Keep all the commandments which I command you today." Word of the day: Commandments. It is the Hebrew word: מִצְוָה (mi…

A good relationship is not in word only but in deed. Practicing what we preach helps others to relate to us better and might even help them to begin a relationship with God. Bible Reading: 1 John 1-3 Verse of the day: 1 John 2:29, "If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him." Word of the…

Have you believed and been baptized? Baptism is not our salvation, but a mark of repentance and faith. Bible Reading: Acts 19-20 Verse of the day: Acts 19:4, "Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” Word of the day: Baptized. It is the Gr…

We cannot reap if we first do not sow, and if we do not sow, we will not grow. Bible Reading: Eccl. 11-12 Verse of the day: Ecclesiastes 11:6, "Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well." Word of the day: Sow. It is the …

This world tells us to do what we please, but that only leads us to enslavement to the flesh. God is the only One Who can truly do what He pleases. Bible Reading: Psalms 135-138 Verse of the day: Psalm 135:6, "The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths." Word of the day: Pleases. It is the …

Reading God’s word impacts us the most when we heed what we read. Bible Reading: Rev. 1-5 Verse of the day: Revelation 1:3, "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near." Word of the day: Heed. It is the Greek word: τηρέω (tay-reh'-o).…

When we serve God we will come under attack. But staying on guard helps us to press on and not give up. Bible Reading: Neh. 4-6 Verse of the day: Nehemiah 4:9, "But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat." Word of the day: Guard. It is the Hebrew word: מִשְׁמָר (mish-mawr').…

Our culture shames those who show emotions. But crying out can become our greatest strength. Bible Reading: Deut. 25-26 Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 26:7, “Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression.” Word of the day: Cried. It is the Hebrew word: צָעַק (tsaw-ak').…

The world never has enough of anything but we who are in Christ have more than enough because our God has given us everything. Bible Reading: 2 Peter Verse of the day: 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” Word of the day: Everything…

Ignorance is not bliss at all. What we don’t know can hurt us. We are still culpable for what we don’t know in a fallen world. Bible Reading: Acts 17-18 Verse of the day: Acts 17:30, "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." Word of the day: Ignorance. It is the Greek word: ἄγνοια (ag'-noy-ah)…

We can become jaded by life’s twists and turns and believe the lie that our troubles are destined to fate or karma, or that God does not see or care. But the human condition is in the hands of God, and He is always faithful. Bible Reading: Eccl. 9-10 Verse of the day: Ecclesiastes 9:2, “It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous an…

Worship is not a song. It is not a portion of a service. Worship is living our lives in awe of God, acknowledging Him in all of life. Bible Reading: Psalms 132-134 Verse of the day: Psalm 132:7, "Then we said, "Let's go to the throne of the LORD and worship at his feet." Word of the day: Worship. It is the Hebrew word: שָׁחָה (shaw-khaw').…