Winning the Mind Battle—Two2Grow, Friday, July 24 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2 NIVWe are in a battle for our minds. The Reformer Martin Luther is often credited with saying:“You can't stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop it from building a nest in your hair.”The illustration is meant to help us better fight the battle of our thought li...  Read More

Fear No More— Two2Grow, Thursday, July 23 “He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” Matthew 8:26 NIVWhen faith moves out, peace leaves, and fear moves in. That's what happened to the disciples in the boat on the stormy lake.Fear is a bully. Fear is an enemy. Fear wants to take the driver's seat, seeki...  Read More

The God of Our Future— Two2Grow, Wednesday, July 22 "Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish." Isaiah 46:10 NLTLife is full of waiting for answers that will affect our future.You or a loved one may have taken a medical exam, and you are anxiously waiting to hear what the doctors will say. Or, as a student, you are waiting...  Read More

Who You Are in the Dark— Two2Grow, Tuesday, July 21 “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” Luke 12:2 NIVD. L. Moody is often credited with saying, “Character is what you are in the dark.” How we act in the privacy of our home, what thoughts and fantasies we nurture in our minds, and what feelings we harbor deep inside our soul—all of that ma...  Read More

God Remembers You— Two2Grow, Monday, July 20 “I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you.” Isaiah 44:21b NIVWhen I was 8 years old, my father took me to SeaWorld in Florida. I thought it was the most amazing experience ever. For several years after that, if anyone asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, my answer was always the same: a killer whale caretaker. Eventuall...  Read More

The Highest Calling— Two2Grow, Sunday, July 19 "God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:9 NIVI remember, as a young man, listening to a renowned preacher who had traveled all over the world, preaching the gospel to hundreds of thousands of people. As I listened to him, I found myself wishing I could do great things for God too.Have ...  Read More

Heaven's Army— Two2Grow, Saturday July 18 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:17 NIVI vividly remember waking up in the middle of the night while we were serving in Africa. Something was happening neaby. Shattered glass. Shouting. Chaos...  Read More

Don't Be Caught Off Guard—Two2Grow, Friday, July 17 “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” Matthew 18:7 NKJVIf you are not offended right now, get ready—you will soon have an opportunity to be offended. I don't need a prophetic word to predict that!There are many of Jesus' words that I love and have highlighted in my Bible, bu...  Read More

Transforming Encounter—Two2Grow, Thursday, July 16 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. 1 Samuel 1:18 NIVToday's verse tells the story of Hannah praying at God's tabernacle. Hannah was burdened by the fact that she was childless—to the point that she could no longer eat.But Hannah knew where to go. She w...  Read More

Faith Spells R-I-S-K — Two2Grow, Wednesday, July 16 "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 NIVEarly in my walk with Jesus, I had to learn to let go of every desire to control or predict what He was going to do. I learned that faith spells R-I-S-K.By risk, I don't mea...  Read More

Is Anyone Following? — Two2Grow, Tuesday, July 14 “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 NLTIt is often said, “If you want to know whether you are a leader, look behind you. Is anyone following?”God has called each of us to raise up followers of Jesus. But that does not begin by looking for people whom we can lead. It begins by living a life radically centered on...  Read More

Tuning Our Heart — Two2Grow, Monday, July 13 “They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.” Jeremiah 31:9 NKJVThere was an elderly man of God in one of the churches I pastored who often referred to today's text by ...  Read More