Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Matthew 4:19 (NLT) When I was a radio host in my youth, I had an interesting and insightful audience. Everything I said held great importance in their eyes. And when the time came to open the lines to listeners, the switchboard would light up: so many people would call in to ask me questions. One day, after a show dedicated to setting goals and identifying priorities, a young boy asked me

I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, And restore comforts to him and to his mourners. Isaiah 57:18 (NKJV) In the Book of Ecclesiastes, the author teaches us that there is a time to rejoice and a time to weep. It is a passage that brings comfort to many people and offers them hope. Even when we feel like giving up and sinking into despair, we continue to hope. Sometimes, as we traverse the valley of despair—and as the wait for the time of rejoicing se

A Prayer for Haiti Our God, our Father, we entrust the nation of Haiti to Your divine will, holding its people close in our thoughts and prayers. In these times of profound challenges, social crises, and uncertainty, we pray that You extend Your mantle of protection, peace, and comfort over every corner of this land. This people has suffered for decades. They have known neither peace of mind nor economic stability. Grant them resilience, strength, and unwavering hope. Comfort

A Prayer for Those Who Serve in the Healthcare System. Holy Father, we entrust to You the men and women who labor on the front lines of the healthcare system. Grant them the strength, wisdom, and compassion they need to carry out their vital work each day. When their shifts are long and their bodies are weary, renew their physical energy. Be their rock and their source of endurance when they feel they have nothing left to give. Grant them sharp focus, clear judgment, and wisd

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me. Revelation 3:20 (NIV) It is not always easy to make a sensible decision based solely on emotion, or on the strength of a vague and unfounded promise made by another. When we make a decision based on emotion, we run the risk of wanting to turn back. When we make a decision based on someone else’s promise, we risk regretting it—for, i

The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken! Haggai 2:9 (NLT) Most often, when we see no way out—because we are trapped in a situation over which we have lost all control—we become so discouraged that we lose hope, to the point of wanting to give it all up and simply wait for the inevitable to occur. We often fall prey to the illusion th

They will console you, when you see their ways and their doings; and you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, says the Lord God. Ezekiel 14:23 (RSV) In this passage, we see God addressing Ezekiel, declaring to him that if He were to decide to raise His hand against a land—even if Noah (for his righteousness), Daniel (for his faithfulness), and Job (for his perseverance) were present within it—all three combined would be unable to save a si

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. 1 Corinthians 12:1 (NASB) Some of our readers have shared with us the difficulty they experience in understanding the use of spiritual gifts and their manifestation. This is a glaring reality within our churches. We live in a deeply "spiritual" world—and yet, often, a deeply confused one. We observe this through trends such as being "spiritual but not religious," or the quest for supernatur

To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Isaiah 40:25 (NIV) Some might wonder why God poses this question: Does He harbor doubts regarding His own identity? This inquiry does not stem from a need for information, but rather constitutes a declaration of absolute uniqueness. In a world prone to creating substitutes for the Divine, God asserts His position as "The Holy One"—a title signifying that He is set apart unto Himself. He is not merely a super

Prayer for Parents Our Father, seated upon the throne of the heavens—You who bless couples by granting them children—we come before You with deep gratitude for the parents and guardians within our community. We thank You for the essential role they play in raising the coming generation, as well as for the love, sacrifice, and commitment they demonstrate every day. We lift them up before You, imploring Your grace to sustain them at every step of their parenting journey. Lord,

Prayer for the Youth Dear Father, our Lord and Savior, we come before You today with hearts filled with gratitude, to entrust to You the youth of our Church. We thank You for their energy, their vision, and the unique light they bring to our community. We pray that You extend Your protective and benevolent hand over them as they navigate the challenges unique to this generation. May they cultivate a deep intimacy with You through prayer and the study of Your Word. May their f

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3 (ESV) One of the most widespread controversies within the Christian community concerns spiritual gifts. While some traditions maintain that these gifts still exist and play a vital role in the edification of the Church, others believe that the gifts of the Spirit ceased with the death of th

For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT) We all feel the need to be saved—to be spared from the coming judgment. Even those who refuse to acknowledge and accept the existence of God nevertheless feel this need to have their past faults erased, so that they may walk in a new life. At the very least, they desire to be forgiven by those again

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8 (HCSB) I began hearing about the Garden of Eden in my childhood—at school, at church on Sundays, and at summer camps. All I understood of it was that Eden was the name of a garden where God had placed man to cultivate it, and where He could meet with him to discuss the affairs of

Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matthew 13:30 (NASB) In elementary school, a young boy used to sit in the front row. Even if he arrived late, he always managed to avoid ending up any further back than the third row. Yet, his best friend always sat in the last two rows. One day, when his teacher asked him