* I encourage you to read this, not as an article, but one on each of the 12 days of Christmas.“Adornaments” started as something I did with my children when they were growing up. The “adornaments” reading and ornament were ways to help them/us focus on the true meaning of Christmas amidst all the presents and lights of the seasons. Thirty-plus years later, it is still a treasured part of our Chri...

There is great wonder and awe in the fact that our God “counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.” (Psalm 147:4). And maybe the most famous star is the star of Bethlehem as featured in Matthew 2:1-2.“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews...

In March of 1974, my friend Tommie Sharp invited me to a revival meeting to hear Evangelist Dolphus Price. I accepted the invitation, went to the revival, and heard a message entitled “Three Hours of Darkness.” The Evangelist preached with passion and vividly explained how Christ became my sin-bearer. The message was clear and life-changing. That night, I accepted Christ as my personal Savior, but...

Every country in the world has its own set of traditions, but the United States, however, seems to rank at the top of the charts. You can find a holiday or tradition to celebrate almost anything of interest in today’s society. Because the US has opened its arms to all sorts of global influences, we are obsessed with generating festivities to bring people universally together. This is accomplished ...

In today’s fast-paced world, we often feel overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of global needs. When the word “missions” comes up, many might assume that it’s the work of career cross-cultural missionaries—extraordinary people who travel across the world to spread the gospel. However, missions, the act of sharing Jesus with the world, is not just for career vocational missionaries. Every follower o...

As a sophomore in college with a history minor, I took a world geography class.  I enjoyed my somewhat animated professor who liked to remind us that when studying geography, we need to have our mental map out and ready for use in class.  I will admit that some days, my mental map was blurry and fuzzy, but his words stuck with me as I realized the value of a mental map.  Like that world geography ...

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!Isaiah 52:7 NLTMy earliest recollection of reading this verse is when I was in my late 20s or early 30s, and I still remember being so intrigued by it. The word beautiful really struck me and has stuck in my mind all these years. To this da...

Am I willing to trust God with the consequences of my obedience?As a high school junior growing up in a Christian home, I watched my father ask himself that very question as he wrestled with the prospect of taking his family to Africa. A family physician with a thriving practice in Greenville, SC, he had been asked by a medical missionary to consider filling a critical need for a doctor during the...

Jesus not only gave the Great Commission, but He was a living example of doing the Great Commission. Our Lord was on “mission” 24/7. He was always about the Father’s business. For instance, we read in Mark 1:16-18, ““As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send...

Yes, you read the title correctly; your eyes are not playing tricks on you.  Sometimes, the minuscule, pointless, and most aggravating things in this life have spiritual value.  Really, any part of God’s creation has immense value to us, whether we consider it significant or insignificant.  For example, consider the vast heaven above us.  We consider the exploration and discovery ......