"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." - Matthew 5:44   Yesterday, we talked about “adding to your spiritual bag”—the idea that we should always be growing spiritually, expanding our hearts, and developing attributes that don’t come naturally to us. If you missed it, the message was simple: God doesn’t want us to stay where we are; He wants us to keep growing a...  Read More

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."- 2 Peter 3:18   There is a trendy phrase young basketball players have started to use when a player masters a new move. The phrase “he’s in his bag” or “I’ve added that to my bag” is commonly used when players pull out new moves that others haven’t seen them use before. It’s a way...  Read More

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."- James 1:2-4   When you find yourself in the middle of a trial, the instinct is often to just survive. You grit your teeth, hang on, and wait for...  Read More

"But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."- 2 Corinthians 12:9   When life feels overwhelming, and the trials you’re facing seem insurmountable, it’s easy to wonder if you’ll ever make it through. But here’s the truth: God never gives you ...  Read More

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope."- Romans 5:3-4   When you're going through a tough time, it’s natural to want the trial to end as quickly as possible. But have you ever considered that God might be allowing the trial to be prolonged because He’s building something essential i...  Read More

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."- James 1:2-4   Trials are something we often wish we could avoid. They can be painful, challenging, and uncomfortable. But what if these trials are actually t...  Read More