I wrote last week’s episode for those of us going through a season of lack, and hadn’t planned on continuing with this theme. However, the daily reading for today—October 13—in Charles Stanley’s wonderful devotional, Every Day in His Presence, prompted me to focus on “lack” for one more week. Dr. Stanley’s devotional opens with God’s…
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This episode is for anyone going through a season of lack right now. I am right there in the desert with you. The drought I’m in is being magnified by the smell of smoke that is so thick from the California wildfires near my home that it’s blocking out the sun at times. We need…
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God directed me to read from Psalm 32 today, and so I went to my usual sources—those versions of the Bible that take pains to accurately translate the original languages, which for the Old Testament is Hebrew and the New Testament is Greek. As a Bible teacher, I esteem the versions that stay true to…
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Today’s episode is centered on one of those if/then passages in the Bible. In other words, our Bible reading contains a conditional promise. According to James 1:12, God promises untold blessings to those of us who persevere under trial. If we choose to hang on, press through, and keep believing God, then we will receive…
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Yom Kippur begins tonight at sundown. Yom Kippur, known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for people of the Jewish faith. This important day is marked by prayer and fasting and repentance. In recognition of Yom Kippur, I’ll be reading fifteen verses from the book of Hebrews in today’s…
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This week, I’ve been consciously looking for reasons to give thanks. I decided to read Psalm 138:1-3 from The Message, because I love how this version of the Bible interprets these three verses regarding praise and thanksgiving. Since the tongue has the power of life and death, I want to fill my mouth with thanksgiving…
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Today, I’ll be reading 1 John 5:1-5. These verses are such an encouragement to me when I feel like evil is gaining ground. I know that God has never lost a battle and that he has promised victory to every single one of us who believe in his Son. I don’t always feel victorious. But…
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Today’s reading is John 10:1-15 from The Message, which opens with Jesus speaking truth. May you hear the voice of your Shepherd as I read his words in this episode of the Believe & Speak podcast. According to John 10:3 Jesus “calls his own sheep by name.” Jesus knows your name, my friend. I want…
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This week’s episode is inspired by a fable one of my pastor’s recently posted to Facebook. It’s called “Don’t Argue with a Donkey”, and since it’s about a lion and a donkey, I thought it might be one of Aesop’s fables. I searched the Internet and couldn’t find a proper attribution, but I liked the…
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In light of yesterday’s resignation of Governor Cuomo, I was drawn to share the portion of Scripture that talks about praying for those who rule over us in government. I looked back over my notes and discovered I read that Bible verse, which is 1 Timothy 2:2, in Episode 44. The declaration back then focused…
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