How to Live Wisely
Ephesians 5:15 says, “Therefore consider carefully how you live–not as unwise but as wise.” Why are we to live as wise people? Paul tells us in verse 16, “because the days are evil.” There was a lot of evil during the time of Esther just like there is today. Esther...
How to Live Wisely
Ephesians 5:15 says, “Therefore consider carefully how you live–not as unwise but as wise.” Why are we to live as wise people? Paul tells us in verse 16, “because the days are evil.” There was a lot of evil during the time of Esther just like there is today. Esther...
The Importance of Prayer Translations
The Importance of Prayer study journal is currently available in 24 languages, with more in process! The Importance of Prayer for Kids is available in 8 languages! Help us spread our translations around the world by sending this information to your missions pastor,...
Materials Now Available!
We are one week away from our next study, The Importance of Prayer! We begin The Importance of Prayer Bible study on Monday, January 9, 2023, and we couldn’t be more excited to dig into God’s Word with you! We can’t wait to study together the ways prayer shapes our...
Even While Waiting
God brought about His grand plan of redemption by describing the announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. God did not choose someone of power and standing to be the mother of the Son of God, but instead, a faithful young girl. We don’t know...
The Wonder of it All
I wonder what raced through Mary’s mind and heart when an angel appeared to her out of nowhere, with no warning, suddenly standing before her with a towering presence and a greeting that shook her to her core. Did she let out a gasp at his voice? Did she jump at the...
Our Shepherd King
“He will assume his post and shepherd the people by the Lord’s strength, by the sovereign authority of the Lᴏʀᴅ his God. They will live securely, for at that time he will be honored even in the distant regions of the earth.” – Micah 5:4 I wonder, like me, do you...
Broken and Healing
At times, I feel as if there is no hope for a better tomorrow. There is so much that is broken, and there are so many who are hurting. Usually, in these moments, I end up with more questions than answers. In these moments, I feel what it means to be human. One of the...
Joy of the Lord
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John. Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of...
God Restores
“O Lᴏʀᴅ, restore our well-being, just as the streams in the arid south are replenished. Those who shed tears as they plant will shout for joy when they reap the harvest. The one who weeps as he walks along, carrying his bag of seed, will certainly come in with a shout...
The Coming Glory
There is an old hymn that, to me, captures the very heart of Advent and today’s passage: The hymn’s first verse says: Come, Thou long expected Jesus Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee. Israel's strength...
The One Who Won’t Leave
Psalm 94:14 says, “Certainly the Lᴏʀᴅ does not forsake his people.” Other translations say He won’t reject His people, won’t cast them off, or won’t walk away. I love how Charles Spurgeon, an acclaimed English preacher from the 1800s, put it: “‘The Lord will...
Announcing Our Next Study!
From Adam and Eve to the Apostle John, prayer is found throughout God’s Word. Most of us know prayer is important, yet we find ourselves struggling to make it a priority. “Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find...
Cry for Help
“How long, Lᴏʀᴅ, must I cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, “Violence!” But you do not intervene! Why do you force me to witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must...
See the Signs and Celebrate
I answered a call on my cell, and the voice on the line sounded distressed. “Is it raining there? Are you home right now?” It was my mom. As she has grown older, her fear of impending doom has grown larger. She wanted to make sure I was indoors and safe from all...
Our Promised, Perfect King
“At that time a root from Jesse will stand like a signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to Him for guidance, and His residence will be majestic.” – Isaiah 11:10 Despair. Division. Hopelessness. As we look around at the circumstances of the world right...
God’s Work
Growing up in China, like many others of my generation, I was the only child of my parents. At a young age, the protagonists in Chinese historical fiction captured my imagination. I was drawn to their strong sense of right and wrong, the heroism on display, and the...
All His Promises
Advent is a season of waiting. We know the Christ-child has come to us, that the Messiah has already overcome sin and death. But we wait for His return, His second Advent, when all will be restored and made new. When we celebrate the birth of Christ during Advent and...
Introduction
We have all experienced a season of waiting. Whether we’re in one currently or we’ve experienced one in the past, we know there will be more seasons of waiting to come. While we wait and anticipate things on this earth, we also know that we are waiting for something...
Materials Now Available!
We are one week away from our next study, The God Who Restores! We begin The God Who Restores on Monday, November 28, and we couldn’t be more excited to dig into God’s Word with you! We're thrilled you've joined us this Advent season to study the faithfulness of the...
The God Who Restores Translations
The God Who Restores study journal is currently available in 18 languages, with more in process! The God Who Restores for Kids is available for download in 12 languages! Help us spread our translations around the world by sending this information to...
Announcing Our Next Study!
What are you waiting for today? What do you hope God will do for you? What desires or longings in your life are you trying to meet through your own strength? We are all waiting for or hoping for something. We live in a broken world, and our longings remind us...
The Power of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is really hard. As fallen humans, it is not our natural response when we are hurt by others. But without forgiveness, bitterness, hatred, and a desire for revenge can arise within us, and they are heavy burdens to carry. While forgiving others is...
God Sees
“Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence.” – Psalm 139:16 In Genesis 49, we see Jacob at the end of his life speaking words over his sons’ lives. These words...
Beautiful Restoration
I was mindlessly scrolling through Facebook the other day when I stopped on a video a friend had posted. She was telling a story about a time when she made the mistake of trying to clean her solid wood dining room table with a steam cleaner. To be honest, I had...
Comfort and Conviction
Today’s verses bring me both comfort and conviction. This segment of Genesis details how God brought Jacob and his family to the land of Egypt. It allows us to connect back to Genesis 15 when God told Jacob’s grandfather, Abram (Abraham), “Know for certain that your...