"Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you." -Luke 6:28 Have you ever had an enemy? It could be someone you might have gotten into an argument with, someone who wronged you, or it could even be a former friend or estranged relative. However the enemy became an enemy, Jesus taught us that we are to bless our enemies, to pray for those who have hurt us. (Matthew 5:44) This is easier said that done. Often if there has been abuse involved it is difficult to think abo

“For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" -Galatians 5:14 How can we best share the gospel with others? There is an art to doing it, for sure. I remember trying to share Jesus with a friend of mine when I was young, and she asked me why she should believe in Jesus. I pleadingly replied, "So you don't go to hell!" Thankfully, there is a much better way to let people know about Jesus' love for them. Leif Hetland's main pa

“And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life - this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past." -Ecclesiastes 5:10&20 Have you ever felt like life was pointless? I know I have... sometimes life seems futile, boring, and useless. We're all going to die one day anyway - what difference does it make if we do good or ba

“Using a dull axe requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed." -Ecclesiastes 10:10 What kind of gifts has God given you? Have people always told you you were "good" or "great" at something? If you've never been told that, no worries! Often, we don't know the gifts we have - but the truth is everyone has a gift and a purpose in the body of Christ. "The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say t

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” -Romans 12:2 I spent a lot of time in the early years of my life feeling unworthy of anything good. There were many attitudes and feelings that I had about God, myself, and other people that simply were not true. It was only through a revelation of God's love and grace at incremental and pivotal crossroads in my life that my opinions and feelings began to change. And boy did they ever! On

“For God works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28 Have you ever gotten yourself into a mess? I sure have. Sometimes things don't turn out quite like you plan. Perhaps you made a mistake or did something intentionally, knowing full well it would bring about a catastrophe. But what can we do after the mess has occurred? How can we pick up the pieces and deal with the brokenness we find in front of us? Maybe you

“Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure." -2 Corinthians 12:21 In a day where we do what "feels right" and tend to look to movie stars and musicians as a compass for what is morally acceptable, we balk at the idea that there may be such thing as a plumb line for morality

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10 All throughout the Bible, God tells us who love and follow Him not to fear. Contrary to the popular graphic floating around online, “do not fear” is not mentioned 356 times in the Bible, but it is mentioned so often that we should not ignore it. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, a

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." -Matthew 6:19 There is a great temptation in our lifetime to only focus on things that are in the here and now - in the physical realm. Money, recognition, achievements, and material things have their own sense of pleasure - and thes

"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." -Colossians 3:17 Imagine with me for a moment that every Christian on earth had a revelation of the "in everything" principle. What if we asked ourselves, at every moment, "Is what I'm doing now worshipping God? Does what I do glorify Him?" When we see worship as not only the lifting of our hands and voices on Sunday morning, life takes on a whole new me