NOV. 5, 2025 The traits of a champion . "For I know the plans I have for you... plans for good...to give you a future and a hope."  Jer 29:11 TLB Sports psychologists have identified six recurring traits that are common to Olympic gold medalist athletes. These traits of a champion apply to both men and women, but they are also dominant factors in the lives of those who succeed in non-athletic vocations as well. Let's look carefully at each trait and see what we can learn.  (1

NOV. 4, 2025 Always do your best . "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."  Ecc 9:10 NIV A series of illustrations in a popular magazine once depicted the life story of a "one-note musician." From frame to frame, the tale revealed how the woman followed her daily routine of eating and sleeping until the time came for the evening concert. She carefully inspected her violin, took her seat, arranged her music, and tuned her instrument.  First the conductor s

NOV. 3, 2025 Trust in Christ alone! "Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." Jas 2:10 NKJV Paul writes,   "By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God "  (Eph 2:8 NKJV). Why did Paul say we are saved through grace alone? Because trying to obtain salvation by keeping the law sets you up for failure. "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of

NOV. 2, 2025 Sacred reminders . "David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent."  1Sa 17:54 NKJV Each time David saw Goliath's armor hanging in his tent, it was a sacred reminder of God's faithfulness to him and of God's power that was available to him. The word remember recurs almost 250 times in Scripture. And there is a reason why.  We tend to remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember.   That's w

NOV. 1, 2025 Use what God gave you. "Saul clothed David with his armor." 1Sa 17:38 NKJV The Bible says: " Saul clothed David with his armor...and David said to Saul, 'I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them! So David took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook...and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine'"  (vv. 38-40 NKJV).  David had to make a choice; one that would determi

OCT. 31, 2025 Learn to delegate . "The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone." Ex 18:18 NIV The Bible says: "The people...stood around him from morning till evening...Moses' father-in-law replied, 'What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone'"  (vV. 13, 17-18 NIV).  You may have noticed on the back of tractor-trailer rigs a sign that communicates t

OCT. 30, 2025 Give your children confidence . "May our sons flourish... May our daughters be...graceful."  Ps 144:12 NLT Constantly tell your child that they're loved, valuable, and capable. Otherwise, their self-evaluation will be based on their worst qualities and perceptions rather than their best ones.  Psychologists say that some of the world's most successful people suffer from "the imposter phenomenon." When interviewed, these people often express deep self-doubt, sayi

OCT. 29, 2025 Quitters never win, winners never quit. "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Ro 8:37 NKJV In some of the world's greatest success stories, you will find chapters of failure and discouragement.  Dr. Seuss's first children's book was turned down by twenty-seven different publishers.  The twenty-eighth publisher sold six hundred million copies, and Dr. Seuss's perseverance resulted in helping millions of children learn to

OCT. 28, 2025 Are you confused about your calling? (2) "Faithful is He Who is calling you...and He will... [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]."  1Th 5:24 AMPC When it comes to your life's calling, here are two more myths that can sabotage you:  (1) Making the wrong choice can somehow thwart God's will .  You don't have to worry on this score because the Bible tells us that the God "Who is calling you...will fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]." It's al

OCT. 27, 2025 Are you confused about your calling? (1). "God's gifts and His call are irrevocable..." Ro 11:29 AMPC If you're questioning your calling, author Diane Paddison identifies two thought patterns that may be sabotaging your thinking.  (1) It's all about you.  Your calling isn't about self-fulfillment; it's about submission to God's will for your life. Many people experience satisfaction from exercising their God-given gifts. But it's a result of being in God's will,

OCT. 26, 2025 Let your life make a difference . "I WIll...show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."  Jer 33:3 nKJV Dr. Ernest Sachs wanted to make a difference in the world. And he did. Years ago most brain tumors were fatal. Sachs heard a surgeon predict that someday a cure would be discovered that could save all those lives, and he determined to be that surgeon. At the time, the leading expert on the anatomy of the brain was Sir Victor Horsley. Sachs receive

OCT. 25, 2025 Be content . "May I never forget the good things he does for me." Ps 103:2 NLT A newspaper cartoon was drawn of two fields divided by a wire fence. Both were the same size, each with plenty of lush, green grass. Each field had a mule whose head stuck through the wire fence, eating grass from the other's pasture. Although each mule was surrounded by grass, the neighboring field seemed more desirable-even though it was harder to reach. In the process the mules' he

OCT. 24, 2025 How to pray for your children. "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord...Jesus Christ."  2Pe 3:18 NKJV The Bible says,  "In the last days will come... times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]"  (2Ti 3:1 AMPC).  We don't have to look far to see that Scripture fulfilled.  It's why we need to pray for the physical and spiritual safety of our children; that they may "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord...Jesus Christ."  Hea

OCT. 23, 2025 Sittin' pretty in Jesus! "God, who is rich in mercy... raised us up...and made us sit together in... heavenly places in Christ Jesus."  Eph 2:4, 6 NKJV For many years Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse pastored Philadelphia's Tenth Presbyterian Church. One Sunday morning a twelve-year-old boy in the balcony was transfixed after hearing him speak about the length and breadth and depth of God's amazing grace. Barnhouse closed his sermon by summarizing many of the great pro

OCT. 22, 2025 You are loved and highly valued by God. "We are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."  Eph 2:10 NLT Psychologists say our self-worth is based upon what we believe the most important people in our lives think of us.  For children, that would likely be their parents.  For adults, that could be a spouse, a boss, a friend, or mentor.  The problem is that people disappoint us.  They can do

OCT. 21, 2025 God can accelerate His plan for your life. "You have kept the good wine until now!" Jn 2:10 NKJV Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding reception. There were six waterpots, each capable of holding thirty gallons.  First , He said, "Fill those pots with water."  Next , He said, "Take some out and bring it to the host of the party."  When the host tasted it, he told the groom, "This is amazing. Everyone serves the best wine first, and after

OCT. 20, 2025 Angels watch over you . "He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go."  Ps 91:11 NLT A college professor once took a group of students to China for a field trip. Several days into the journey, the professor experienced unimaginable stomach pain and was rushed by ambulance to a local clinic. It was a tiny town and the medical staffer in charge of the clinic observed that the professor's appendix had ruptured. Poison was spreading all through his body,

OCT. 19, 2025 Your new resurrection body (2) "It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory."   1Co 15:43 NKJV We could precisely translate the word glory as "brilliance." Our new bodies may have a shiny quality to them.  Recorded in Exodus 34:29, Moses spent time with the Lord and something uncommon happened to him-his face became luminous and began to shine. A similar thing happened to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (See Lk 9:28-29).  In Revelation 21:23, we read tha

OCT. 18, 2025 Your new resurrection body (1) "But God gives it a body as he has determined." 1Co 15:38 NIV Benjamin Franklin, who was a printer, wrote an epitaph for his grave. And even though it never ended up on his tombstone, it has been passed down in history for its cleverness and wisdom. "The body of Benjamin Franklin, printer; (like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out, and script [stripped] of its lettering and gilding), lies here, food for worms. But the w

OCT. 17, 2025 Think about your heavenly home "I go to prepare a place for you."  Jn 14:2 NKJV The Bible talks about heaven over five hundred times, with details about our eternal home. Shortly before He returned to heaven, Jesus comforted His disciples by saying, "In My Father's house are many mansions...l go to prepare a place for you. And...I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also"  (vv. 2-3 NKJV). The Greek term translated "place"