The “fear of the Lord” is mentioned all throughout the Bible. It is a critical part of our relationship with God. It enables us to have a more profound revelation of His presence. It also is the key to unlocking rich treasures such as wisdom, knowledge and salvation. (Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10, Isaiah 33:6) Now that we know some of the great benefits of fearing God, let’s define what it is to “fear the Lord”. To fear the Lord is not to be afraid of God. It is to have a heart posture of reverence, honor and respect toward Him. It is to honor God’s Word and ways above everything else. The fear ..read more

Do you remember as a child playing that classic game hide and seek? It was a mad dash to find a suitable hiding spot as the seeker counted until they finally exclaimed that all too familiar phrase, “Ready or not, here I come!” Now it was time to get as quiet as possible. No moving. No laughing. Silence. If your hiding spot was more obscure, you might be in the same place for a while. But eventually, you would be found. This game is so innocent, usually full of incessant laughter. But what about when we are the ones hiding from God? We aren’t always so giddy. We don’t want to be sought. We ..read more

Today I want to share what I believe to be one of the most important aspects of the life of a believer—intimacy with the Holy Spirit. Now, you might be thinking - I’ve heard of the Holy Spirit, but I don’t know much about it…or Him? - What or who is the Holy Spirit? Who is Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is sometimes referred to as an “it”. He is sometimes misunderstood to be some sort of mystical power or influence that proceeds from God. However, it is critical to understand that Holy Spirit is God. He is the third Person of the Trinity—He is as much God as the Father and the Son. He has a mind ..read more

If you are a believer, I’m sure you have heard the word disciple several times in sermons or throughout the Bible. But what does it mean to be a disciple? What does it look like? How will the world know that we are Jesus’ disciples? The word disciple simply means a follower. In other words, a disciple of Jesus is one who follows the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus. How will the world recognize that we are disciples of Christ? Jesus states: This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:8 The world will know that we are disciples of Chr ..read more

Here are 5 books that have helped strengthen my relationship with God. Please note: this list is not prioritized in order of recommendation. I have read many other excellent books, but these are my favorites. Drawing Near: A Life of Intimacy with God Author: John Bevere I have reread this book several times and I would recommend it to anyone who desires to have a deeper personal relationship with God. I read it for the first time a couple of years ago when I began to seriously pursue my relationship with the Lord. This book has rich depth and gives a solid foundation that will enable you to ..read more

It is so easy to get caught up in our circumstances. It can seem like everything is falling apart and the chaos is too great. Fear and anxiety cripple us and hope is a distant memory. However, this does not have to be the case even when we encounter difficult situations. It all comes down to focus. One of the enemy’s greatest weapons is distraction. If he can get us more focused on what we can see than on God, who we cannot see, he will be able to prevent us from living out all that God has for us. It is our job to be vigilant against the devil’s schemes (1 Peter 5:8), so that we will be able ..read more

Who we surround ourselves with will affect our behavior and future. This is why it is essential that we hang out with people that will point us toward God rather than away from Him. Let us look into what the Bible says about cultivating healthy friendships. Friends Determine Future Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. (Proverbs 13:20) Bad company corrupts good character. (1 Corinthians 15:33) The popular quote, “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future” is very true and even aligns with Scripture. The character of those we surround ourselves with ..read more

When the race is won And the work is done When the Church is one And there is endless fun We will each get our crown And reign on Your throne As we dwell in our eternal home We will shout in victory For it is finished The fruit of Your grace will never be diminished We will serve one another and You forever For You alone are our Pleasure and Treasure We will walk on the streets of gold And gaze upon the beauty of the City of Old Chilling by the Consuming Fire we will never be cold We will drink from the water of life We will see Your Face and be filled with delight And o ..read more

I am currently in a season of waiting. I am going into my senior year of high school and at this time, I do not know where I will attend college or what my future has in store. I like the waiting process and the mystery of not knowing what is next because it teaches me to trust in the Lord and submit to His leading. I want to encourage you with some verses that can calm the pressure of a waiting season and reassure you that the future is in God’s hands. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will direct your paths ..read more

Recently, I've had some experiences that caused me to step into a greater level of freedom. This freedom is found in not being afraid of the hurt that others can cause me. I am not a slave to the emotional pain of intentional or unintentional remarks. Sometimes, when I am out in public, people see that I walk with my cane and they do or say things that are well-intended but not executed properly. I can choose to let their actions and comments take root in my identity and ruin my day, or I can choose to live in the freedom of submitting the situation into the Lord’s hands. I do not want to li ..read more