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God never makes a mistake. And He certainly didn’t make one when He chose the humble Mary to be the mother of His Son! The responsibility of raising Jesus, the Righteous Branch of David, called for righteous parents who followed God’s law. And, as the Scriptures tell us, Mary and Joseph clearly met that criterion. […]
What a beautiful life you will experience when you “walk in the Spirit.” You will produce “the fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:16, 22-23). These elements of God’s grace are at the center of each day. In simple terms, walking by the Spirit means living each moment […]
Read The Art of Walking by the Spirit on Elizabeth & Jim George.
During His years of ministry, Jesus saw firsthand the religious burdens the Jewish leaders were placing upon the people. Moved by their condition, Jesus offered to relieve the people of these burdens if they would come to Him. In contrast to the harsh demands of a religious works system, Jesus described Himself as gentle. He […]
Read A True Gentleman on Elizabeth & Jim George.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8 I’m not going to […]
Read The Divine Criteria for Success on Elizabeth & Jim George.
In order to fully enjoy God’s peace, we have to actively trust Him. Jesus stated as a fact, “In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33). But as Christians who abide in Christ there is peace (even in tribulation!) as we rest in God’s presence and trust in His promises. When you and I walk […]
Faith—what a price tag it has! The life of faith is not an easy one. And that’s exactly what Sarah discovered. Life was going quite well for her in her hometown of Ur. True, she and her husband, Abraham, didn’t have any children yet (Genesis11:30). That may have been more bearable as long as she […]
Here’s something to think about: Are you making spiritual decisions…or physical decisions? For instance, someone asks you to do something and, if you feel good physically, the answer is yes! But if you don’t feel good or are tired, well, the answer is “No thank you” (while thinking No way!) You can be thankful that God gives […]
Read Teen Tuesday—The Right Way to Make Decisions on Elizabeth & Jim George.
God is generous and giving. When the disciples came with a need, Jesus filled the need by giving food to five thousand people. Are you nurturing a giving spirit? Are you generous with your resources? Giving God and people your time is sometimes the most expensive, and most appreciated, gift you can give. Generosity also […]
Every Christian battles with the flesh-even the great apostle Paul struggled (see Romans 7:21-24). How can you M-A-S-T-E-R this challenge? Monitor your time with those who drag you down. Account for your struggles to a more mature believer. Strengthen your “inner man” through the Bible and prayer. Train yourself to avoid things that stir fleshly desires. […]
Elizabeth here! Do you realize God actually has a Plan for Success in the Bible? I first found it as a brand new Christian when I began memorizing Bible verses. The second verse I ever learned by heart was Joshua 1:8-9. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall […]
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and [money]. —Luke 16:13 Whether we acknowledge it or not, nothing that is ours is truly ours. A steward is “one […]
Read Making the Most of Opportunity on Elizabeth & Jim George.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night….” (Joshua 1:8) Yes, I’m another voice encouraging you to read, study, and memorize Scripture. But maybe you think, “I tried reading the Bible before. I’ve done a stint or two of Bible study. And I […]
Read The Blessings of God’s Word in Your Heart on Elizabeth & Jim George.
I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. -Ephesians 1:15 Did you know that Paul was a prisoner when he wrote these words with such conviction about compassionate prayer […]
Read Spiritual Insights on Elizabeth & Jim George.
How would you rate your relationships with your family? It’s sad to have to say that most family relationships are not what God desires them to be. Many times, we do things that hurt our parents or family members. And, at other times, one of them does something to hurt us. That’s often the way […]
Read Loving Your Family — and In-Laws on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Paul was an amazingly influential believer — and yet did you know he got a late start in the Christian life? Most people become Christians as teens and young adults; Paul didn’t get started in formal ministry until he was past 40! Most pastoral search committees would never consider a man in his mid-forties with […]
I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ. Philippians 1:12-13 Do you complain about your circumstances at times? Wish […]
Do you realize that what we’re thinking about and entertaining in our mind will ultimately show up in our behavior? Here are some practices and decisions that will help you turn your thoughts heavenward. 1. Make a decision each day to seek to dwell on the Lord. Willfully think on God, on His attributes, and […]
Read Controlling Your Thoughts and Actions on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Whenever I’m tempted to feel sorry for myself or to think no one is suffering as much as I am or in the same way, I recall one of my favorite scriptures—2 Corinthians 12:10. This verse clearly teaches there will be times we’ll be persevering through different kinds of pain. It also cites the apostle Paul’s […]
In the Bible, we first meet Aquila and Priscilla in Acts 18:2. The year is AD 50, and the city is Corinth: Paul “found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla… and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, […]
Read A Remarkable Husband-Wife Team on Elizabeth & Jim George.
At your workplace, do you see yourself as Christ’s ambassador? Being an ambassador for Christ means properly representing Him in whatever you do, including at work. You represent God as you go about doing your job. What kind of ambassador are you? Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world…Let your light so […]
When life is good it’s easy for praise and thanksgiving to flow from our lips. But when life gets tough, that’s an entirely different story. Yet the Bible says, “In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Everything? I’m afraid so! Think of it this way: When you’d rather stay miserable but you choose to look […]
Someday — maybe even today — you will need courage for the trials Jesus said will come your way. He encourages you in such times to be brave and trust in His strength through you. For, “You are from God…and have overcome them, for greater is He that is in you than he that is […]
Similar to the bountiful bouquet we’ve been discussing, your life is also like a flower that unfolds with the passing of time. The Lord promises each of us that we are His “handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). We are beautifully […]
Read A Bountiful Bouquet – Part 3 of 3 on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Where does life find you today? What season are you in? Spring—Are you in the early beginnings of life? Are you tasting the joy of fresh starts and taking your first steps as a Christian? Summer—Have you progressed along the way with the Lord to the place of wisdom, of a blossoming knowledge of the […]
Read Yea, Though I Walk Thru the Valley on Elizabeth & Jim George.
It’s impossible to read the book of Proverbs and not get the message that wisdom waits. As a general principle for practicing your faith, know that it is safer to wait and do nothing than to rush in and do the wrong thing. One of the many proverbs that expresses this biblical truth says, “He […]
If you’re alive, you’re tempted. That’s a simple fact of life. That’s why you and I need God’s self-control every minute of every day. We need His help to resist our “urges” regardless of how innocent we’d like to think they are. “No” can be a hard word to say, but it’s the key to […]
Thankfulness should characterize every aspect of your life. “Thank You, Lord,” should be recurring words throughout your every day—not just on one day a year. What can Christians be thankful for? Read on! We become Christians by God’s grace, through His unmerited favor. We can’t buy salvation. We can’t earn eternal life. All that God […]
Politicians, celebrities, and others talk a lot about “going green”. They want to protect the treasures of the earth. To keep the earth pure or restore it to purity. If you look up the word “pure”, you’ll discover that it means to be without stain, to be free from pollution, to be clean, innocent, and […]
Read Going Pure on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Prudent? It sounds so old-fashioned… but what a wonderful attribute for any woman to have. Prudent is exactly what Proverbs 19:14 calls the wife who is from the Lord: “Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.” This wife is in a special category. She’s a blessing to her husband directly […]
Read A Prudent Woman on Elizabeth & Jim George.
There’s nothing that thrills my mother’s heart more than two or three little ones sharing chocolate chip cookies at my house. We have so little control over most of the events of our lives, but we do have a measure of say in establishing the atmosphere of our homes. And that includes filling the house […]
The Holy Spirit does not automatically seal your mouth so you don’t overeat-or so you don’t yell at your children. But He will prompt you! God will gently lead you as you read, study, pray, and try to apply God’s Word to every area of life. For example, Proverbs 17:28 tells us that even fools are considered wise and […]
Read God Will Lead You on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi said, “The quality of your life will be determined by the depth of your commitment to excellence, no matter what your chosen field.” With this in mind, here are some questions you can ask yourself as you strive to live for Christ: What are the most important commitments in my […]
Read Focusing on What Really Matters on Elizabeth & Jim George.
There is no time lost in waiting… if you are waiting on the Lord. Sarah, the woman God had called “a mother of nations,” waited on the Lord for 25 years! Clutching God’s remarkable promise for a son, she had waited—right on past her childbearing years. The future looked hopeless, and although she had her […]
Read Waiting on Joy on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Is your husband a key focal point of your prayers? If so, your husband is a blessed man! To make him your special “prayer project” for life, here are a few suggestions—and cautions—to keep in mind. Pray without expecting instant results. God is always at work. and He doesn’t work according to your timetable. Applying […]
Going to school can get old with day after day trudging off to the same classes, only to come home and do homework. But I want to encourage you! The good habits and disciplines you develop during the next few years will lay the foundation for the rest of your life. Here’s my story…. When […]
Read Teen Tuesday—Where Are You Headed? on Elizabeth & Jim George.
What situation do you face today? Has someone you love fallen sick? Are you concerned about your child’s behavior? Are you holding on to a hurt from the past? Just as Christ’s strength is sufficient for all you endure, it is sufficient to get you through each day. Not one day goes by that I […]
You can plan, schedule, and control—but real life doesn’t always go as smoothly as you’d like, does it? Someone’s upset with you, the car breaks down, you’re in a meeting and the school calls because your child is sick, you get the news your mother has fallen and hurt herself—it’s an endless list. Galatians 5:22-23 […]
“Where is all my energy anyway? What’s going on?” These are important questions to ask and answer. When you evaluate your life and health choices, you’ll probably discover why you’re so tired. What time do you go to bed? What activities are you involved in? Do you have young children? Teenagers? Are you working? Serving […]
Read What’s Going On? on Elizabeth & Jim George.
“What I need is rest. About a hundred years ought to do it!” Don’t we all feel this way at times? If I asked you to fill out a survey with one of the questions being, “What causes you to seek peace?” how would you answer? I responded to this question quickly: busyness. It’s #1 […]
Read The Reasons Why We Seek Peace on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Why not plan a special night for your family? If you’re not married, get friends together. Give everyone plenty of notice, especially if teens are involved. When the time comes around, prepare a festive meal, go out to dinner, or order pizza! Later, gather around and have everyone share what they’ve done in the past […]
Read A Special Time on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Moms feel lonely too. Many mothers and wives have days-or even seasons-of feeling lonely. But you are not alone. The Bible says God is with you. It’s a fact of life. You will be alone at various times. When your children start grade school, extra activities, college, or their own marriage and family. And most […]
Read The Lonely Mom on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Being a mom is in no way an inferior or a secondary calling! No one else is called to love our children but us. And no one else can love our children like us. God calls you and me to love our God-given children. How they came to be ours doesn’t matter. The fact that […]
“Hey, I’m the kind of gal who has a refrigerator filled with bottled water, a few pieces of fruit, and a Diet Pepsi. Entertain? I don’t think so!” Are you like my friend? I’m hoping you’ll reconsider! There are so many people around you who need love, friendship, support, and a relaxing time. Begin nurturing […]
Have you ever seen a speeding car with the bumper sticker that says, “Please be patient-God is not finished with me yet!”? If that law-breaking driver is a child of God, then the theology of the bumper sticker is correct. From the moment of your salvation, God is in the process of conforming you into the […]
To me “help these women” are the most embarrassing words in the Bible! That’s because two women, Euodia and Syntyche, caused such serious problems in their church that the apostle Paul had to intervene. What did he do? Paul spoke directly to the two ladies, imploring them to be of the same mind “in the […]
Read “Help These Women” on Elizabeth & Jim George.
There’s nothing more important than the value of spending as much time as possible with our children. We have the awesome privilege and joy of loving them and molding them in godly directions. Here’s a list of 10 ways you can love your children: Teach them and train them. Do not provoke them (Ephesians 6:4). […]
Read 10 Ways to Love Your Children on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Friends are a gift from the Lord. You should cultivate friendships with other men, especially other Christian men who will encourage you in your faith and give good advice. The Bible says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17). Are you friends with men who are a […]
Read Calling All Men—The Gift of Friends on Elizabeth & Jim George.