One of the greatest keys for personal transformation is for us to stop leveraging our past experiences, our past affiliations to various groups, and to simply start over at the beginning, with God alone as our treasure. What really matters most in our lives? What we are doing now will always be superior to what we ever did, or what we might want to do in the future. Most importantly, it is not about what we are doing, it is... Read more
The relationship between us and God is something far beyond our comprehension. Yet, because we are made in the image of God, God has given us a hint of what that relationship means. He made us so that we could experience our own human relationships. In fact, we can’t live without relationships. The life and death of Christ brought forth to the world the greatest love of all, and for all. It seems like our very humanness, our weakness, our... Read more
We must ask the Lord of all creation to create in us a new rhythm of life. This life must be divinely aligned, and a life that is advancing yet remaining in the rest of God. The rhythm of God gives us days that deliver rather than destroy, and sustainable days of joy and peace in the midst of trials. Seek after the cadence of your God which is eternally exemplified through the life of Christ, the Way of authentic... Read more
Out of the thousands of thoughts that cross your mind each day, you make the choice as to what thoughts you choose to harbor. It is God within you that empowers you to renew your mind daily and conform your thoughts to be aligned with His divine mind. Thoughts lead to action, and thoughts can empower you or disable you from activities of providence and design. Pray or worry, but do not do both as fear will try to subdue... Read more
Dualism remains a problem for many Christ followers. They compartmentalize their lives and miss the presence and light of God in every moment, breath, and context of life. Here are some scriptural truths on the matter: Matthew 5:14 – You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Proverbs 4:18 – The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. John 8:12 – When Jesus... Read more
“A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce.” (2 Timothy 2:4-6, The Message). Metaphors have a way of opening and expanding our understanding to a richer and fuller insight. Paul uses three separate metaphors at the same time to help young Timothy prepare himself for being faithful... Read more
Click here to watch video teaching. Rom. 5:16-17: For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reignedthrough that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in lifethrough the one man, Jesus Christ. (NIV) To reign in life: what a perception! Can you truly rule and reign over your circumstances of life? When you look at this verse, you see that either “death” will reign or “life”... Read more
(En Español) Just because we walk and talk does not mean we are truly awake. Zechariah was not sleeping when an angel roused him “as a man who is awakened from his sleep” (Zech. 4:1). Perhaps we too need to be shaken from our slumber to possess the promises of God! Amazingly, in spite of all the signs, wonders, and warnings announcing that we are truly in the last days, Jesus said there will also be a mysterious drowsiness that... Read more
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Psalms 127:1a (ESV) God is a builder. We are created in his image and thus are builders by design. Everyone is building a house with the materials he or she has been given. The house is relational rather than physical. It is made up of “children” as descendants. Of course this means more than biological children. It includes all those who are in our sphere of influence... Read more
The Bible tells men to treat their wives as equals. But in a machismo culture, this is easier said than done. Whenever I travel to Latin America I usually carry a pair of handcuffs in my suitcase. I use them as a visual aid when I’m preaching about the machismo attitude that is so prevalent in that region. I remind everyone in the audience that esposa, the word for wife in Spanish, is the same word used for handcuffs. Esposas. Why would the word for wife be the... Read more
Robert Ricciardelli
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