The deep is where you’ll find the greatest of treasures. You won’t find them near the shore in shallow waters, but must launch out into the deep, away from the comfort of the shoreline. God wants you to break away from your comfort zone and step out in faith in what He has put in your heart to do. It may be something simple, or something in which you have had vision for but have never done. God has heavenly... Read more
People’s dependency to their own way of thinking can be very destructive. We all think that our own patterns of thought are normal, logical, and true, even when truth and reason are nowhere to be found. We keep doing the same thing over and over again, even if it is not working for us. These mind games spiral towards self-destruction as we become what we think, and by determining thoughts as absolute truth it takes us further from reality life.... Read more
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9). Partnership. It is often the single most determining factor in the difference between success and failure. Jesus illustrated the power of partnership when He “called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits” (Mark.6:7). The Lord understands our need for support, and the inherent difficulties and dangers of being alone in ministry. In... Read more
It is time for the church in Africa—and throughout the world—to address abuse and injustice against women and girls. After spending last week in the city of Masindi, Uganda, I traveled to Uganda’s capital, Kampala, to address a women’s conference. After my first session a woman named Florence grabbed me and began to tell her painful story. She had given birth to five girls during her marriage. But when her girls were small, her husband decided to leave Florence because... Read more
Some people walk, some people race Some people vary in their pace But God can use what you can give Within the mystery of His ways Don’t underestimate… One thing I know Everybody’s got a seed to sow let your heart of hearts Take you down the road Everybody’s got a seed to sow “Michael W. Smith” Every Human being was born with an eternal seed… God’s nature! Everybody who was born was created in His image. By the grace... Read more
The Kingdom of God opposes most prevailing worldviews. Christ brings hope for every outcast, and the forgotten and diminished become known and significant. He represents radical relational social patterns like the first will be last and the last will be first, and what may impress people may not impress God. People who think they are at the top are often, in God’s eyes, at the bottom, and those who may think they are at the bottom, are often at the... Read more
Hope Ambassadors Theme verse: I Corinthians 13:13a (NASB): “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three…” In a time of great uncertainty, it is a necessity that we be people of hope. In recent years, we have had a good deal of teaching on faith and some on love, but the missing commodity in the Church is an understanding of HOPE. It behooves us to look to the Lord in these days and call forth solutions to life’s problems. We must focus... Read more
Love can come when control and manipulation stops. When you care more about the other people’s needs than about their reactions in serving your needs. When you dare to reveal yourself fully and become vulnerable in your service to others, you make room for Love to come. People are often so ready to yield to the desires of the moment that they will follow a leader, and unfortunately sometimes, any one who leads. Blessed are those who lead as a... Read more
We are woven as one because of the Son, the prize is within us, so we have already won! He picks us up when we struggle to get through, then shows us the way, and makes our life new. Renewing of the mind is no small matter, and when we embrace His thoughts, it will change our chatter. Striving is not living, and it can never be, abiding in Him gives us life for the whole world to see. Obedience... Read more
Ps 44:3 They did not conquer by their own strength and skill, but by your mighty power and because you smiled upon them and favored them. (TLB) Can we really have the favor of God upon our lives? Can we walk in divine favor from heaven? I believe we can. King David was just a man, a man like you and me. Some days he seemed to be a saint and other days a sinner. Have you ever felt like... Read more
Robert Ricciardelli
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