Today, we continue the first week of the Advent season with our focus on hope. We read in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” Notice Apostle Paul’s prayer. He prays not…

With the coming of the last Sunday of November, we are officially into the Advent season, that ancient tradition of preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas. The first week of Advent focuses on hope, and that will be our focus all week here at “Change Begins in You.” We read…

Do you ever feel scattered in your life? Boy, I do. As a husband of a very outgoing and active wife, a father of five children who are involved in all sorts of good things, and a pastor of a church with several hundred people, my life often feels scattered. Sometimes I feel like I’m…

As I child, I remember one of my greatest fears was losing my family and being left all alone. That’s a pretty scary thought for a child, isn’t it? But let’s be honest, it’s a pretty scary thought for an adult also. In fact, Jesus’ grown-up disciples struggled with this fear, concerning His departure. Jesus…

In a world of constant change, where relationships shift and circumstances fluctuate, we anchor our souls in this truth: God’s love for His people never wavers. The psalmist declared in Psalm 100, “For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” The prophet in Lamentations 3 beautifully said,…

A couple of weeks ago, my family made quick trip up to Terre Haute, Indiana to see my oldest son. It’s an 11 hour drive, and we usually break it up by stopping over about halfway in Bowling Green, Kentucky. And that’s what we did on the way up, but on the way back, we…

Do you ever wonder why things happen the way that do? We may never fully understand why, but for those who believe the Bible, we can trust that God’s hidden hand is there weaving it all together for His good purposes. Theologically, we call this divine providence. And Genesis 42-47 unfolds one of Scripture’s most…

Every single day, you and I face temptation to sin. How should we handle those situations effectively and successfully? Well, Genesis 39 presents one of Scripture’s most powerful examples of how to do that. Joseph, far from home and flourishing in Potiphar’s household, faced repeated advances from his master’s wife. His response demonstrates a masterclass…

Have you ever been thrown into a situation so dark, so painful, that it felt like the end of everything God promised you? What if that pit is actually the pathway to your purpose? We read in Genesis 37 that Joseph’s brothers stripped him, threw him into a dry cistern, and left him for dead.…

Have you ever felt God whisper a promise to your heart, only to watch your circumstances move in the complete opposite direction? You’re not alone—and you’re in good company. We read in Genesis 32 that, at seventeen, Joseph received dreams that seemed impossible: his brothers’ sheaves of wheat bowing to his; the sun, moon, and…