We don’t have to look very far to find the first mention of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. We see Him hovering over creation changing chaos into order, emptiness into fullness, and darkness into light. May we continue to see the creative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives every day.

Paul wraps up this section of his letter to the Romans in these two majestic verses. Pay attention to the power of God’s love. Trust in that power, and truly believe that you can never be separated from that love.

We take a short but important break from our podcasts in Romans to invite us to pray for Jerusalem and all of Israel. Pray for peace. Pray for hope. Pray for salvation in the name of Jesus, the Messiah.

Unfortunately, we usually don’t have to think too long and hard to come up with reasons that make us feel “less than” in our lives. Weight and appearance, jobs and money, friends and relationships… the list goes on and on. But for those of us in Christ, we have been promised the status of “more than”!

A late Sunday night conversation that turned into a week-long argument made the point loud and clear: Even as we profess our love and loyalty for Christ . . . HOW MUCH MORE is His great love for us! There truly is nothing that can separate us from it!

Divorce is only one of many avenues through which shame and condemnation can travel. Unfortunately, we as Christians either place that shame on others or walk in it ourselves. But if we truly are forgiven in Christ Jesus, who can point a finger at us?

A paddling in sixth grade was based on false accusations, and the punishment was without cause. Thanks to Jesus, we are free from even the accusations that are true, and we will never receive punishment for them!

Praise God for children who don’t get permanently scarred from a dad’s failed attempt to teach a “Jesus lesson” while on a family vacation. And praise God for a Father who did not spare His own Son in order to save our lives!

We’ve all likely had our share of bullies in our lives. Some have taken human form like an “Eddie” in high school. Some live within our hearts and heads to torment us. But take great hope in this: If God is for you, no bully can be against you.

We are never forced to answer God’s call on our lives, but we are forever invited. Whether it’s a backyard funeral for a dove or a divine voice that sends you running scared as hard and as fast as you can, God will use whatever He will to get our attention.

Have you discovered your calling from God? Have you surrendered to it and said yes?

The debate will continue until Jesus returns: man’s free will versus God’s sovereign will, especially in hard life-and-death moments. But take heart and hope in Romand 8:28!

First, we see creation groaning. Next, we see us as Christians groaning. Now, it’s the Holy Spirit? What good could come from the Spirit of God groaning? Unless He is praying for us to know the Father’s perfect will!

With apologies to Billy Ray Cyrus . . .

Even though we all have to deal with it, no one likes pain in our bodies, whether in our heads and shoulders or knees and toes. But that pain, which causes groaning now, can turn our focus toward a great hope to come in the future!

From the stars in the sky to the sands on the beaches, creation causes us to be in awe and wonder. But lest we forget, both the creation of God and the children of God are awaiting the redeeming work to come!

Emphysema slowly drained the breath and life out of my mom, but near the end of her life, she found Life! Her children laughed and cried (and healed) their way as her earthly heirs. Praise God for the inheritance that awaits us on the other side of suffering! 

Two nephews, two different perspectives of their own adoptive lives. But they have the same love and gratitude that someone did indeed do the adapting. How much more awed should we be by God’s great adoption!

A harmless childhood legend may or may not be the root of real fear, but let’s face it: real fear does exist today, and unfortunately, it can mess with our hearts and minds. Praise God for the Holy Spirit who gives us all we need to fight that fear.

A mistake in a pick-up point on a fishing trip down a creek leads to a teenage boy being misled and lost for hours. As children of God who are truly led by the Spirit of God, we can never be misled.

As the baby in the family, sometimes you can feel as if you are always in debt to your older siblings. But you can never dismiss the enormous influence they have in your life. Thanks be to the “influence” of the Holy Spirit, we are no longer “in debt” to our sinful nature!

A horrific traffic accident leaves a young man paralyzed, but he is so very grateful to be alive. Let us never take for granted the supernatural life given to us by the Holy Spirit!