Powerful Words from the Prophets“Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” – Amos 3:3 (NLT)“The Three-Legged Race” Have you ever participated in a three-legged race? Awkward, isn’t it? Especially if your leg is tied to someone much taller, shorter, or wider. Your stride is different from theirs. You want to go at a different speed. Sometimes one of you wants to win at any co...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsThis is what the Lord says: “The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They have rejected the instruction of the Lord, refusing to obey his decrees. They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors.” – Amos 2:4 (NLT)“Redeem It or Repeat It” Have you ever noticed how some families have the same str...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“This message was given to Amos, a shepherd from the town of Tekoa in Judah. He received this message in visions two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, was king of Israel.” – Amos 1:1 (NLT)“God Chooses Nobodies” Has it ever startled you how much belief God has in us? He gives important assignments and high...

A Word to Every Church of Every Age“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” – Joel 2:28-29 (NIV)“We Need Pentecost EVERY Day!” On the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, God poured out His Holy Spirit upon...

"A Word to Every Church of Every Age"“We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders...so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children.” - Psalm 78:4, 6 (NLT)“The Future Begins With YOU!” Today our congregation is celeb...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“I will give you back the years that the locusts have eaten…You will have plenty to eat. You will be full. You will praise the name of the Lord your God. He has done great things for you. My people will never again be ashamed.” – Joel 2:25-26 (EASY)“God Can Restore the Years the Locust Have Eaten” When I read our passage today, my mind flooded with thoughts about ho...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” – Joel 2:13 (NLT)“God Is for You” I always loved the story about the church that was looking for a new pastor. After they narrowed it down to two candidates, they decided to have both come and preach a sermon, a...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Bring the leaders and all the people of the land into the Temple of the Lord your God, and cry out to him there.” – Joel 1:14 (NLT)“The Wake Up Call Of Disaster” On September 11, 2001, I was speaking at Spiritual Life Emphasis Week at Mid-America Christian University. After I got up and show...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsReturn, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down. Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises.” – Hosea 14:1-2 (NLT)“Return” The thing I love about the great grace of God is that no matter how far you’ve fallen or how badly you’ve sinned, ...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him—the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the Lord is his name! So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and alw...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsMy heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. No, I will not unleash my fierce anger. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy. For someday the people will follow me. – Hosea 11:8-10 (NLT)“The One We’ve Wanted to Know” One day when I was in high school, I w...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him.” – Hosea 11:1-3 (NLT)“Our G...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsI said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ – Hosea 10:12 (NLT)“Sow What You Want to Reap” “You reap what you sow.” Remember that old proverb? It’s so true. It’s stated repeatedly in Hosea. It’s t...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Then I will return to my place until they admit their guilt and turn to me. For as soon as trouble comes, they will earnestly search for me.” – Hosea 5:15 (NLT)“Seeking God in Our Untroubled Times” Have you ever had a friend or family member whom you only heard from when they needed something? You know what I mean. They don’t contact you to wish you a happy birthda...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsThen the Lord said to me, “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them.” So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine. – Hosea 3:1-3 (NLT)“The High...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsWhen the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.” So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she became pregnant and gave Ho...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsThen he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him the...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsThen he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.” – Daniel 10:12 (NLT)“What’s Taking God So Long?” We’re spoiled, aren’t we? We’ve created a world where waiting is thought of as something we shouldn’t hav...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God.” – Daniel 9:23 (NLT)“Why God Sends You an Angel” One night, several years ago, I came home late from work and was really hungry. After scrounging around in the refrigerator and not finding anything that I wanted, I finally told Wanda, “Wha...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.” – Daniel 9:18 (NLT)“Getting What You Don’t Deserve” One of my favorite stories from the Bible is the story of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph grew up favo...