Bible Discovery

There are three sides to this story — believers that are just going through the motions, nonbelievers, and the ones on fire for Jesus.

Where do you land?

With believers, you would think it is a more direct route to bring them together with the Word of God than nonbelievers. Not so much; they have become set in their ways.

What we are hoping for is the spark of the newly born-again Christians to linger in our blood. They tend to have that fire in their bones all of us desire but don’t always maintain.

Lackadaisical faith

Believers who know the truth…

Prayer Journey

How do we get to know God intimately?

You begin by listening to what He says about Himself in the Bible. Just like a Father teaching His child to speak, He says the words first for us to repeat; this is prayer.

He wants us to communicate with Him in this manner. We repeat back what he said to us and then personalize it. It touches His heart deeply when we take the time to gather our thoughts.

Jesus has created a burning desire within us to pursue Him. We must pray to maintain our closeness. Prayer is how you get there and stay focused on Jesus.

Prayer string creation

Here…

Names of God

How do we get to know God intimately?

As with any relationship, you begin by listening to what He says about Himself; in other words, you read the Bible. We must understand the names of God to know His heart.

Jesus has created a burning desire within us for Him. We must pray to maintain that closeness. Prayer is how you get close and talk to God.

Knowing God intimately by understanding His names is how we stay focused on Jesus.

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38, NIV).

One of the things I…

Bible Discovery

Psalms 18 and 1 Kings 3:5–15

I like to use this powerful Psalm and Kings in my custom prayer strings, some of which are in my focus studies using the title kickers Prayer discovery, Heart of God, Names of God, and this one called Bible Discovery.

These articles are intended for immersing in Bible reading pleasure and for reference.

Please look for links posted at the bottom, updated with new ones once articles are published.

So often, a single verse only will be referenced or allowed in even Christian publications. Even though I understand the need for brevity in such practice, much is lost.

It is…

NAMES OF GOD

How do we get closer to God?

We must know His heart.

Knowing God intimately by understanding His names is how we stay focused on Jesus.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, (Philippians 2:9, NIV)

As you know Jesus better, you cannot help but love Him more deeply.

In the Bible, knowing someone is the highest form of intimacy. Jesus wants us to seek Him as He does with us. It all starts by knowing His precious names.

Study guide

Each week I am going to focus on different names of God, with the meaning of each…

Heart of God

Christians know by faith

Faith is the foundation behind every Christian belief. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12, NKJV).

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6, ESV)

Faith is the quintessential difference between believers and nonbelievers.

Believers know the Holy Spirit inspired the Bible; nonbelievers assume men wrote it to justify their religion.

There are many teachings regarding the blood of Jesus, tongues, and Communion. Discern with an open heart and let the Holy Spirit…

NAMES OF GOD

How do we get and stay closer to God?

We must have a system.

Study along and discover a few ways to make that happen.

This article focuses on the many names that sprout from the Garden of Eden.

Knowing God and how He applies the garden metaphor is the foundation for many of His names. His vision of life is how we fixate on Jesus.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. (Philippians 2:9, NIV)

As you know Jesus better, you cannot help but fall in love with Him as He is the good soil we seek.

…

God’s Creative Gifts

A beautiful blanket

I love the snow scarves God creates on my fence. It is one of the many ways He reveals Himself to me.

His creations seem to say this is who I Am, and He beckons me to unleash the artist once again He deposited within me.

I have not always applied the gifts God has bestowed on me as He intended, and He is drawing it out in me again. Friends would disagree, but I know differently.

I worked with stained glass in one form or another all my life and got tired of what I called art on demand…