1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Elvina was inspired. Sitting in the choir loft, Elvina M. Hall (1820-89) grew weary as the pastor’s sermon went on and on. She began to think about the sacrifice Christ made on the cross, and a poem began to form in her mind. Having no paper, she grabbed a hymnal and jotted […]

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Romans 1:26-32 William was rebellious. The president of Moody Bible Institute received an anguished call from a pastor, begging for his son to be enrolled in the school. Although sympathetic, the president informed the pastor that he ran an institute, not a reform school. Yet the father was persistent, and the president eventually relented on […]

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Romans 1:18-25 Elizabeth Prentiss (1818-78) was known as a godly woman. A published writer by age 16, she once wrote: “To love Christ more is the deepest need, the constant cry of my soul . . . out in the woods, and on my bed, and out driving, when I am happy and busy, and […]

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Psalm 78:17-24 Cyrus was discouraged. For the last year and for a meager salary, Cyrus S. Nusbaum (1861-1937) had faithfully served a circuit of seven Methodist churches in Kansas. At the annual conference, he was hoping for a better appointment, but it was not to be. After the session in which the bishop announced that […]

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Psalm 78:9-16 George chose to trust God. Already losing his sight, George Matheson (1842—1906) graduated from the University of Glasgow at age 19. But he had to tell his fiancée that he was going blind. George was heart-broken by her immediate response: She did not want to be the wife of a blind man. Instead […]

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2 Peter 3:1-9 Traveling for many hours, arriving to see family and friends waiting brings such comfort. God also stands waiting, anticipating the moment He is recognized for who He is. God wants everyone to come into His presence and know Him. Sinful disobedience blurs the vision of those seeking for God. It keeps us […]

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Ephesians 2:17-22 Human nature seeks to belong. To join a community committed to Christ, there is no password or padlock on the gateway to enter in. The only condition for joining the family of God is faith in Christ and a willingness to join His family. It means growing ever closer to Him. There is […]

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Ephesians 2:11-16 According to the Ethnologue publication, there are 7,151 distinct languages spoken around the world. About half of the global population speaks 23 languages. The most spoken languages are English, Mandarin, Hindi, and Spanish. Language differences can become a barrier to getting along with others. As many may already know from personal and painful […]

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John 17:20-26 Brothers Michael and Constantine received the best education offered by the Byzantine Empire. The older brother became a skilled administrator while the younger brother became a more prolific learner, later earning the title of philosopher. They eventually took on the names given when they joined their monastic communities: Michael became Methodius and Constantine […]

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Galatians 3:23-29 Amanda Berry Smith worked her fingers to the bone, washing clothes by hand and keeping other people’s houses clean. Her husband was killed in the American Civil War, and she raised their five children on her meager income. Hardship was nothing new to her; born into slavery in 1837. Every Sunday, her father […]

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