I wrote this three years ago and wanted to post it today. It was three years ago this week when my friend and spiritual father, Art Katz, passed away. I wanted to remember him today and again thank the Lord for the role he played in my life and the life of my family. Enjoy… Thank God For Spiritual Fathers My Tribute to Art Katz As many of you know, my dear friend and spiritual father, Art Katz, went home... Read more

By now most of us realize that we live in times of both great challenges, and Kingdom advancement. I have never been pregnant, (thankfully), but I hear that labor pains feel a lot like dying. Yet it is not death that is coming forth, but new life. For many of us, we look at our nation and the world around us, and it looks like death to so much of what we once thought of as foundations. I believe it... Read more

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The Spirit of God is arousing us within and birthing destinies. These barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance and the increasing manifestation of sons and daughters of His glory. That is why waiting does not diminish us any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting with joyful expectancy. Read more

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Have you ever prayed something like this: “Lord, I know what you must be thinking about me right now,” and then began to tell Him what you were actually thinking about yourself? We all do this. We condemn ourselves for the mistakes we have made and resolve within ourselves that it must be what the Lord thinks of us. But, this is a wrong thing to do! We... Read more

Sunday, July 4, 2010 Pregnant With His Glory by Robert Ricciardelli All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The Spirit of God is arousing us within and birthing destinies. These barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance and the increasing manifestation of sons and daughters of His glory. That is why waiting does not diminish us any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting with joyful expectancy. Posted by Robert Ricciardelli... Read more

As long as I’ve been a Christian, I’ve noted two spiritual pillars that are incredibly difficult to keep in mind. They are all-too easy to forget. One is to rejoice in our suffering. The other is to put ourselves in the shoes of another person whenever we’re dealing on the level of human relationships. I will confess that I’ve had a hard time remembering these two things. And I’m in need of constant reminding of them. And so is every... Read more

Do you trust God’s timing? The path to spiritual maturity requires us to surrender our selfish deadlines. When Mary and Martha sent news to Jesus that their brother, Lazarus, was about to die, Jesus didn’t respond the way his friends expected. He actually snubbed their request. The Bible says when Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, “He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was” (John 11:6, NASB). For Mary and Martha, those were two very long... Read more

Why would a popular Jewish leader like Nicodemus risk his temple rank and his position and provision in society to sneak through the shadows to speak with the One who challenged every aspect of his world? Why would a simple, struggling monk like Martin Luther risk his life to publicly provoke his church-his very livelihood and known salvation–and expose centuries-long errors and doctrinal presuppositions? Why would a respected theologian like Dietrich Bonhoeffer place himself in the middle of Nazi Germany... Read more

Jesus was free in the freedom of knowing Himself to be the beloved Son of God. He knew that He and the Father were one, and that he was sent into the world to proclaim God’s love. He was free to speak and act in ways that pleased the Father with no regards to having to please man or the religious leaders around Him. We are also free, and empowered to respond to people’s pains with the healing love of... Read more

When we have found our way home to the Father, it is the beginning of growing up to be like Him. As we mature we become like Him to others, as sons become fathers and daughters become mothers. We are God’s eternal children desiring to be perfect as He is perfect; perfect in love, compassion, and grace. We become available and empowered to welcome home brothers and sisters, the way the Father welcomed us home. Read more