The decision... had been that he would not be allowed in services from now on. Nothing else had worked. He would not be silenced; he would not voluntarily keep his seat. He had felt obligated to speak of teachings that were condemned by the ministers.

I prayed earnestly that God would direct me where I should live and labor next. I was plainly directed to a certain congregation, and it was in that place that I first plainly and clearly saw the church of God functioning as it should.

My brother arrived, and I faltered between being fascinated and being enraged. At one point, disgusted by the lack of ability to "play"... and irritated by his crying, I earnestly and sincerely suggested to my parents, "Let's take that baby and throw him in the river!"

Our Ishmaels exist because we listen to some voice other than that of the Holy Spirit. Our motives may be pure, and the cause laudable, but we are badly out of our depth when we lean on human wisdom and understanding to attempt the work of God.

Jehoshaphat got too far from God and too close to Ahab. The same will happen to you and me unless we live continually in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Without His aid... sin does not appear so exceedingly sinful anymore.

The question naturally arises: What if there is a conflict between the natural (family) relationship and the spiritual relationship to God?... Our relationship to God is more important than anything else.

The division that is caused by the gospel does not negate the family commitments.... No matter how reprehensibly the other acts, the regenerated child of God should and must be filled with the love of God for their companion.

Each of the characters God used in recording the events around Jesus' birth have their precious story.... God's dealings with each of these Bible figures offers a wealth of insights that He will apply to our own lives if we take the time to study and ponder.

"What do you have, Mark?... Did you get that in that store?" "No." I was concentrating fiercely on outwitting my watchful, determined Mom—too focused to realize that I was now not only a thief, but a liar, too.

We needed someone like this—oh, how we needed and do need Him! He has exactly what we need. He is not too high and beyond our reach, and He is not too low. We needed someone holy who could make us holy and keep us holy.

Now a handmaid's position in life is a very humble position.... they're the folks that are around to do whatever the mistress says to do.... It's not that she does great, big tasks all the time; it's the little things—I'm here; I'm ready for service; I'm at hand.

Surely it is worthwhile to carefully review all the evidence that can be accumulated about these spiritual disasters.... God is able to open the eyes of our understanding that we may avoid the same errors where others have made shipwreck.

Most human beings do not value their soul as they should, but are instead incredibly careless. This neglect of the soul is beyond irresponsible, beyond criminal, beyond comprehension.... So the souls of men become easy pickings for the enemy of mankind.

To be the voice of one crying in the wilderness in this way... is to abandon all human planning and direction.... It is to forsake that peculiar fleshly confidence that comes from human reasoning and second-guessing God.