When we lived in Guinea, West Africa, we witnessed the beauty of hospitality. There's even a proverb that states: "An unexpected visitor is like an unexpected rain." . We lived through two seasons each year: six months of rainy season, and six months of dry season. We always loved the “mango rains”—the rare, unexpected downpours [...]

One of my favorite Bible passages is Psalm 19. David, the psalmist, illustrates how God is a master communicator. This psalm has three parts: . 1) God speaks through creation; . 2) God speaks through His Word; and . 3) David's response to both. . First, we see that God speaks through His work of [...]

Have you ever heard such wonderful phrases as these? "You are precious to me." "I love you." "I am with you." "Do not fear." Do you know anyone who would speak so tenderly to you? This is how the God of heaven speaks over His people. And even more. He says: "I have created you." [...]

On a rainy African day, we flew in a small plane from the city of Monrovia, Liberia, to a small airstrip in the northern part of the country. This ninety- minute flight saved us two days of travel on muddy, washed-out roads. The most amazing part was rising above the rain clouds and emerging into [...]

When Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem with the newborn Jesus, there were shepherds in a nearby field. Suddenly an angel appeared and told them about the baby Jesus—the Savior they had all been waiting for had come! The shepherds ran down to the village to see this sight. Immediately after they had seen Jesus, [...]

When I was asked to give a devotional message to a group of high school students, I started my presentation by reading from the Bible about light and darkness. Then, I held up a large, empty cardboard box and said, “There is nothing in this box, but there is something. What is it?” After a [...]

1 John 1 is about walking in the light. It talks about following Jesus and confessing our sins to Him. Today, I want us to think more about 1 John 1:9. It's a verse that is so simple, yet so easily misunderstood. It says, “If we confess our sins, He [Jesus] is faithful and just [...]

Nicodemus was a religious leader who came to visit Jesus one night. Jesus reminded him of an old story in Israel's history about a time when the Israelites sinned against God, so God sent venomous snakes among them. Many people were bitten. Many died. Those still alive came to Moses, acknowledging they had sinned against [...]