“Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.” -Psalm 96:9
“Am I good enough for God?” For some, it’s not a question of salvation or love. You believe the sentiment behind the children’s song “Jesus Loves Me,” you can quote John 3:16 from memory and, when asked about your salvation, can answer with a definite “Yes, I’m going to heaven… Read More »How Do I Know if I Am Acceptable to God?
Speaking to the teen who is reading this: What is the one thing you want most? A new car? The latest iPhone? A boyfriend or girlfriend? How about independence? These are the years when you finally start spreading your wings. You get your driver’s license, a job, perhaps a later… Read More »How to Be Independent Yet Fully Rely on God
On a recent visit to Walmart’s Christmas card section, I found quite an array of mailable holiday greetings. Singing cards, pop-up cards, 3-D cards (which, admittedly, are kind of cool), cards with jokes, money-holder cards, and politically correct “Happy Holidays” cards. But Christmas cards with any type of meaningful Biblical… Read More »How to Observe Advent Like a Christian: Tips for Teens
It’s one of those buzz phrases Christians love: “heart of praise.” You can’t help imagining a room full of people with their hands in the air, bodies swaying, faces plastered with euphoria. Christian YA fiction books (particularly from 10+ years ago) are loaded with worship scenes like this. This is… Read More »From Silence to Song: How to Find Your Heart of Praise
Let me start by saying there are many Bible stories that show the astonishing love of Jesus. The whole Bible is all about Jesus’ love, in fact. So to say that I sifted through and found only six stories on this topic would be a lie. In truth, everything God… Read More »6 Bible Stories that Show the Astonishing Love of Jesus
Why does God allow suffering? Tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis, famine, epidemics, drought, war, terrorism, political corruption… Sometimes it seems like evil reigns supreme. Yet the Bible clearly states—multiple times—that God is firmly in control and nothing happens that isn’t allowed by him. Therefore, if one is to actually believe the Bible,… Read More »Faith Over Fear: “I Am NOT Afraid of Bad News”
Do you know how to love God? How many people never, ever ponder that question? Some assume believing in Jesus is enough. Combine that with a prayer of thanks every now and then, and you’re good to go, right? Bonus points for going to church on Christmas and Easter or… Read More »How to Love God: What is God’s Love Language?
Have you ever glanced around church on a Sunday morning and wondered, “Where are all the people my age?” If you’re a teen or twenty-something, the unfortunate answer is, among your generation, real Christian faith has become less and less popular. The reasons are long and varied, but for those… Read More »8 Ways to Encourage Your Friends In Their Faith