Jesus makes people feel comfortable even when He catches them without their makeup. When circumstances scrub off the layers of their self-confidence, and their shortcomings wash away the foundation of their self-righteousness, Jesus isn’t appalled by the blemishes He finds underneath. There’s no sin too bad, no doubt too big, no question too hard,

Discipline is one of the key tools God has given to help us groom our children for greatness. To avoid disciplining your child because it makes you feel uncomfortable is to say you love your own best interests more than theirs. Grace-based parents want to see the “peaceful fruit of righteousness” growing in their adult children. The time to plant

You are the salt of the earth . . . You are

You have been singled out to do a favor for God. He is asking you to be His representative to a small but vital part of the next generation. He needs someone to be His voice, His arms, and His heart. He chose you. He chose you to assist Him in a miracle. He gave you children and then said, “Now go, and give these precious lives meaning.” It’s a

The first thing we need to do is an inventory of their three inner needs. Remember: Children have a need to be secure, to be significant, and to be strong.

None of these people could see what Jesus could see. None of them had any grasp of the bigger picture. Their needs were the result of their myopic condition, or their naiveté, or their lack of sophistication. Jesus could have dismissed their needs because of how small they appeared next to the bigger task before Him. But His grace kicked in, and it

There is a deep longing in the heart of every child to “make a difference.” They were hard-wired by God to want to do more than take up space and suck up air.

Any time we can help people gain perspective in the midst of confusion, worry, doubt, or pain, we’re giving them a gift.

God is mighty! He is powerful. He had the first word (“I am the Alpha”), and He will have the last word (“and I am the Omega”).7