Imagine yourself gathering with Jesus and His closest followers for dinner—not just any dinner, but the meal that will be their last before the Messiah is led away and crucified. That evening, Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples are recorded in John 14–16. He lays out what is coming: He will be leaving, but the Father will send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who will teach all things to those who believe in Him. John 15 gives a beautiful illustration of how we are to bear fruit in our lives by abiding in Jesus Christ. It begins: “I am the…
Growing Spiritual Fruit: Part 1
One of the most exciting realities of the Christian life is that when we enter into relationship with God through Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit begins a divine work to produce Christ’s character within us. In doing so, our whole outlook on life changes. His thoughts become our thoughts. His actions become our actions. His purposes become our own. We become more Christ-like. No longer living by the old sinful nature, we now live by the Spirit, and in doing so, we bear fruit. Fruit is mentioned many times in the Bible, both literally and figuratively. The concept of bearing…
George Müller: Hero of the Faith
George Müller is a true hero . . . May we all have the kind of simple trust in God his life depicted! Best known as a man of great faith and prayer—who talked to God about everything, and expected God to answer every prayer—his uncomplicated trust for every daily provision is inspiring. Müller’s greatest passion was to show with open proofs that God could be trusted with the practical matters of life. His life served as a testament that God hears and answers prayer. During his lifetime (1805-1898), George Müller cared for more than 10,000 orphans as the director…
C.O.F.F.E.E. and a New Friend
Last week, during our Midwest travels, my husband and I took a day to enjoy a bike ride along a quiet rail trail in western Michigan. Scenic and flat, it was my kind of trail, and despite the cold weather made for a pleasant outing. We arrived in a small town called New Era, population 800. After lunch at the village diner where we were obviously “out-of-towners”, we wandered next door to check out a health food/coffee shop. While waiting for the owner to make hubby’s afternoon espresso, we noticed a sign on her wall: C.O.F.F.E.E. Christ Offers Forgiveness For…
Words You Can Trust
A friend of ours was in trouble. A foolish mistake had cascaded into unexpected legal issues, turning his life upside down. The stress was nearly unbearable for him—its effects spilling over, changing, and challenging every area of his life. As he retained an attorney and the weeks, then months rolled by, he was gradually forced to adjust to an entirely different life path than familiar. My husband and I did our best to support him, counsel him, and pray for him, watching and waiting for things to resolve. Now, eighteen months later, this friend recently visited us. Things have vastly improved,…
