maranatha

Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God (Mark 10:27, NLT). Dear Friends, Our Lord tells us, “All things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27, NIV). I have learned not to doubt what God might do to demonstrate His love and to fulfill the Great Commission. A few years ago, Paul Eshleman, the director of our worldwide JESUS Film Project ministry, documented one of the most amazing examples of God’s power and purposes that I have ever heard. The... Read Full Story

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and the godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3) I don’t know about you, but I can identify with the apostle Peter. He was my kind of guy. He was a very practical man and a leader. I prefer to be given specific and clear instructions of what to do so I can follow through rather than try to guess what I am supposed to do. In verse three of his second letter, Peter reminds us... Read Full Story

I will praise you, LORD, for you have rescued me (Psalm 30:1, NLT). Dear Friends, Their home on fire, a young boy was trapped upstairs. The grandmother attempted to rescue him, but she died in the horrible flames. A man who saw the fire climbed up an iron drainpipe to the lad’s window. With the boy clinging to his neck and with a firm grip on the drainpipe, he lowered himself and the boy to safety. Weeks later, a public hearing was held to determine who should be given custody of the... Read Full Story

Fighting Evangelism Fatigue Your brother is an atheist. Your neighbor is into New Age and Tarot cards. Your boss thinks Christianity is based on ancient mythology. The waiter at your favorite lunch spot is a Muslim. Your chiropractor is simply indifferent about God. And some days – if you’re really honest – you just don’t care very much. At least, not enough to initiate a spiritual conversation with them. Let me be the first to confess: there are times when I suffer from evangelism... Read Full Story

Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time (Galatians 6:9, NLT). Dear Friends, It was at Wheaton College in Illinois, a great Christian institution. We were holding a Lay Institute for Evangelism where we gave training in how to live a Spirit-filled life and how to share one’s faith in Christ. Part of the training was dedicated to an afternoon of actual witnessing, door to door in the local community. A good friend of mine, a... Read Full Story

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” (Joshua 5:13 NKJV) Joshua is out by Jericho and it seems that he is alone. All the Israelites have crossed over the Jordan and are now camped in the plains not far from Jericho and Joshua is the leader. The Bible isn’t clear on the time of day but based on... Read Full Story

Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near (Hebrews 10:25, NLT) . Dear Friends, Sometime ago, while on a flight to Chicago, I was witnessing to a fellow passenger. During the conversation, I pointedly asked, “Are you a Christian?” He replied casually and flippantly, saying he wasn’t very religious. Though he used to attend church, he said, he didn’t anymore, and he... Read Full Story

We can either love God and love others, or we can pursue things of which we have no control over. If we trust God with His given provisions for our lives, we can then love others and experience the peace and joy we seek. If we accept God’s all sufficient grace, we can then thank God for how things are right now. Can you say “God is enough and that is OK with me?” “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make... Read Full Story

When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere (Acts 1:8, NLT). Dear Friends, One day over 50 years ago, as a new Christian, I felt strongly impressed to visit a young businessman whom I had met in church a few Sundays before. I had never witnessed to anyone. I didn’t know how to witness. I was scared to death, but God impressed me again and again that I should contact this person and tell him about Jesus. I was fearful that he... Read Full Story

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For, if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Peter 1:5-8 Love is our goal, right? Peter gives us a very... Read Full Story