God is the Light by Lane Jordan Burday
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. I John 1:5 I have had the great privilege of serving on three church staffs, one of which was with Pastor Dr. Charles Stanley. He was among the most humble and Godly men I have ever met. I felt that, through the Holy Spirit in my life I could find another church just as filled with the Holy Spirit as that one when we moved. It was about ten years ago when we were drawn to…
Rejoice Anyway by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 Hardships often come in waves, and if we are not careful, they can take us down if we do not focus on the promises of God rather than our problems. Best-Selling Author Robert J. Morgan said, “Rejoice in the Lord, not in your load!” When Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always,” he was in chains, imprisoned in either Rome or Ephesus, and his fate was unsure. However, Paul trusted in God during the worst of times. If this scenario resulted in death, he was okay with…
Ego or Authority by Mayada Naami
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you. John 16:13-15 NIV I recently was blessed with a regional position that I have…
The Nest by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Matthew 6:26–27 There’s a mama bird who built a nest above our backyard pergola and is sitting patiently on her eggs. I have watched her with amazement, entranced with how still she is as she prepares for the birth of her chicks. As far as I can tell, she never leaves the nest. It is my understanding that she relies on the male bird to bring her food as she remains in her perch. A…
Deadly Hot Potato! by Lane Jordan Burday
After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! Samuel 5:2 Have you ever wanted something so much, but by the time you got it, all you wanted to do was get rid of it? That’s what happened to the Philistines. They believed the Israelites won their battles because they had the Ark of…
It’s Okay to Cry by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5 I was on a flight from Dallas to San Diego and I could not stop the flood of tears. I apologized to the man sitting next to me because I could not stop crying. I was hurt, and the tears flowed out of the wound in my heart. We’ve all been there. Issues of the heart seem to be connected with the tear ducts in our eyes, and crying is a relief valve that God gave us when he formed us in the womb. The first thing…
A Very Scary Verse by Lane Jordan Burday
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from you, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23 Our God is a God of great love, so this verse has always seemed harsh or even scary to me. But Jesus’s purpose…
Love is a Command by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4:11). Have you ever felt like your love tank is empty? Perhaps a variety of circumstances—betrayal, rejection, or disappointment—has depleted your supply of love. When this happens, you must go to your Heavenly Father for refueling. For Christians, loving others is not a suggestion. It is a command. John 13:34–35 says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Romans 12:10 states, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” There are always…
The Fragrance of Christ by Lane Jordan Burday
But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). Around the world, different plants emit such beautiful aromas that when you walk by them, the scent stays with you. Such is the shrub that grows in Sargodha, India, where…
Disarming Disappointment by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
Everyone faces disappointment in life, but how are we supposed to handle it when it happens? How do we address the emotions we are feeling as we wait for resolution or restoration? We may shift between shock, hurt, confusion, forgiveness or unforgiveness. We may feel stuck—not sure if we should stay put or move on. Is that you right now? The great news is that we have a Counselor in the Holy Spirit. He can guide our steps through God’s Word, through impressions on our spirit, or through dreams. God often speaks to me through dreams. At one time I…
The Bible’s Anxiety Plan by Lane Jordan Burday
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-8 This verse holds a special place in my heart. It was one of the first I learned after becoming a Christian, and it’s become one of my favorites. Why? Because I know what it’s like to live with anxiety taking over my life. I’ve been there and am here to tell you there’s hope. There’s hope because God…
Peace in the Tube by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
“This is your panic button, but I warn you, if you push it there will be five minutes added onto the procedure.” Then the MRI Technologist rolled me into the tube and as soon as the scanning bed slid to a stop, panic set in. I do not like close spaces, so my heart began to race, and I wanted to escape. Don’t push the panic button, I thought. It will prolong this five more minutes. So what should we do when panic tries to overcome us? We should pray. I prayed my favorite go-to verse, Philippians 4:13 where Paul…
Kingdom Builder by Mayada Naami
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 NIV Last week, I attended a conference in Las Vegas called Kingdom Summit where 800 believers came together to hear speakers like Ed Mylett and Rory Vaden talk about leading with a purpose in a marketplace that is often at odds with Christian values. What does it mean to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness in the marketplace? Many leaders today struggle with belonging in a world that seeks personal success or wealth first. Then Jesus said to his…
More Than That by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:20–21). Did you know that our God is a God of more—not less? There is a story in 2 Chronicles 25 that demonstrates this principle. Amaziah became king of Judah, and according to the Bible, did what was right in the LORD’s eyes, but not wholeheartedly. He built up his military. He drafted three…
Do You Have Fear? by Lane Jordan Burday
Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified (I Samuel 17:10-11). In this world of chaos and wars, it’s very easy to be overcome by fear. But our level of fear can reveal our closeness to God. In general, the more you are afraid, the farther you are from God, and the less you are afraid, the closer you are to God. “Perfect love drives out fear” (I John 4:18) is a…
Drudgery or Delight? By Lisa Burkhardt Worley
After completing my doctoral coursework last month, there was not much time to celebrate. I had to begin work on a 140-page doctoral project, due at the end of 2024 to graduate. The process has gone slower than expected and it takes a day or two to finish five double-spaced pages. However, I realize the key to completing this paper is like any other worthwhile project. It takes discipline and dedicated time. We often speak about the things God created. He created the Heavens and the Earth. He created male and female. He created love; but he also created work—from…
Timing is Everything by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 My father died two months before I was born, but I just found his obituary online this week. I had never seen it before and through it I learned something about my dad that I did not know. My dad was a physician who graduated from Northwestern University Medical School. While that was not new news, from his obituary write up I discovered that he was also a Professor of Pathology at Northwestern for many years. Why is the revelation significant? After…
How to Be a Leader by Lane Jordan Burday
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. John 1:22 We were fortunate to witness some world-renowned speakers at our church conference this weekend, Gateway’s Accelerate Conference: Accelerate the Growth of Your Life and Career. Among them was the legendary John Maxwell, whose words left a lasting impact. He had just written a book, High Road Leaders, which teaches the best attributes a leader should strive for. I’d love to share some of these life-changing points. During his talk, John Maxwell emphasized the need for our country to return to its original value…
Winning the Race by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24). I spent many years in competitive athletics, playing volleyball and basketball in high school, and basketball in college. When competing in a volleyball match or basketball game, I had a strong desire to win, and the will to win continued into decades of playing league racquetball, tennis and now golf. The Bible talks about a different kind of winning—winning the race in our Christian journey. It is not an easy one…
A New Thing by Mayada Naami
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV) This Scripture reminds us that God is a God of new things; to let go of the past and look forward to the new opportunities that He is bringing in our lives. I was reminded of new beginnings when I arrived in Toronto, Canada yesterday to visit my family and saw the most beautiful tulips in full bloom….