BIG IDEA Being let down is devastating. When someone we depended on disappoints us or our circumstances turn out differently than we hoped, we can feel out of control. Suddenly, nothing is as we expected and we do not know what to do. The prophet, Isaiah, knew what it was like to feel let down...
Continue ReadingBIG IDEA Before a person gets married, they often think through what characteristics they would want in a future spouse. Most lists, whether written or unwritten, probably look similar: kind, smart, good-looking, and a follower of Jesus. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself "What are the...
Continue ReadingBIG IDEA After losing four of his daughters in a shipwreck, Horatio Spafford penned the famous words: "When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul." This kind of peace that...
Continue ReadingBIG IDEA Every day we are surrounded by temptation. You might be tempted to shade or stretch the truth, to cut corners at work or school, or to not engage with your family. Temptation is relentless. For example, just walk in to your local Costco. They have huge fans in the bakery to blow the...
Continue ReadingBIG IDEA Some researchers say that most people today have the average attention span of a goldfish. With so many things fighting for our attention and affection, this should not come as a shock. We have the newest technology, friends and family, career goals, our daily to-do lists, and so many...
Continue ReadingBIG IDEA In this Forgotten War, God has given us a weapon to advance His kingdom. The weapon is the Bible. When we open the pages of God's Word, we find truths about what is right and wrong. We also learn how to live the abundant life that Jesus promised. Not only is the Bible beneficial for...
Continue ReadingBIG IDEA Have you ever had a song that got stuck in your head? Whether it is a catchy tune that you heard on the radio or a song that was played at just the right moment, we rarely forget things that we sing. In this Forgotten War, sometimes we miss the value of the things that enter our minds...
Continue ReadingBIG IDEA What do you rely on for protection? You can depend on your own strength and plan for difficulties by taking out insurance policies for your car, your house, or even for your very life. You can trust in your family who will bail you out when you are in trouble. You can find security by...
Continue ReadingBIG IDEA God wants to protect your heart from the evil one. In this Forgotten War, we often miss how Satan goes after our most sensitive spots and our peace. We find our security and footing not in our own efforts, but in what Jesus did on the cross. Through the blood of Jesus, God won and...
Continue ReadingBIG IDEA When you were a kid, and you got caught doing something you weren't supposed to be doing, did you ever use the phrase, "The Devil made me do it?" This phrase became a way of passing the buck when caught in a lie. If it was the Devil that caused the action, who are we to stand against...
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