There are some doors in our lives that do not need another prayer. They need to be shut. Genesis 4:7 gives us a powerful picture. God tells Cain that sin is crouching at the door, waiting for an opportunity. But God does not tell Cain that the door will disappear. He tells him that he must rule over what is waiting on the other side. That distinction matters. Sometimes we spend our lives asking God to remove doors that He has given us the responsibility to close. Cain was dea

John 11:1–46 gives us the story of three siblings: Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. When Lazarus became seriously ill, his sisters sent word to their close Friend, Jesus. But Jesus delayed His arrival, and by the time He came, Lazarus had already died and had been in the tomb for four days. Although my interpretation of this passage may be somewhat different from the way we traditionally hear this story, I want to look at it from a perspective that perhaps some of us have not consi

As our children Return to school We look again To your eternal faithfulness. Watch over our beloved ones. Let your Spirit go before them To prepare the way And open the doors That lead to your grace. Guide them away from harm, May your mighty Spirit defend them From any aggression or attack. Equip them with discernment And strength of character. Let them be free to live and learn As children of God. Give us, dear Lord, The wisdom and patience To know when to speak or be sti

Have you ever had a time when it felt hard to pray? First, the greatest killer of prayer is a loss of hope. In Romans 4, Paul explains that we are descendants of Abraham and heirs of the promises made to him if we share in the faith of Abraham. Paul gives us a description of God that changes everything: “Him whom [Abraham] believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.” God “gives life to the dead and calls into being that which

We would never consider breaking into our neighbor’s home and destroying their property. Why? Because we understand that such an act is a crime with real consequences. We respect human laws, and we respect what belongs to others. So, here’s the hard question: If we honor human laws and our neighbor’s property, why do we sometimes treat God’s property so carelessly? You might ask, “What do you mean by God’s property?” As followers of Christ Jesus, we are not our own. Scripture

By Sister Cheryl Leader Children of God, when we face extreme hardships, do our lives (our words and actions) demonstrate genuine trust in God’s ultimate sovereignty; do we really believe that nothing is outside of His plan? Is our faith in Jesus more than just lip service? When evil seems to operate in power, even believers in Christ Jesus may begin to wrestle with doubt. We may complain, question God’s divine authority, His rule, His plan, and His will – and sometimes, in o

As we approach this Fourth of July, many across our nation will gather with family and friends, enjoy good food, and celebrate the freedoms we hold dear. And yet, we cannot ignore the weight of the times we are living in—where the climate of our democracy feels uncertain, where division too often drowns out unity, and where fear tries to challenge faith. But I am reminded that the believer does not rely solely on what is happening around us — we anchor ourselves in what God h