You can run, but you can't hide. These words sound like a cliché; as you get older, you learn you can't hide your deeds. The truth exposes lying and deceit. The heart is full of sinful pride and rebellion. No one has to teach you to lie, but you must be taught to tell the truth. Decide to do right and honor Christ. Everything you do and say will follow you to your grave. At judgment day, your deeds will judge you. Being safe in Christ is the only way to escape God's wrath. Ch

Do you know what goes on behind closed doors? "Behind the scenes" describes activities, preparations, or events that happen out of public view. When things are behind the scenes, you can't believe everything you hear and see. God gives the believer discernment. Little ones are innocent until they learn right and wrong. The moment they try to cover their actions, they are no longer blameless. Lying is the smokescreen. Deception is the motive. The work of darkness is our bigges

Everyone should appreciate those who make the sacrifice to keep us safe. Danger is everywhere, and we should look out for one another. We can help by supporting the first responders. They are people like us; they need encouragement and to know that we appreciate them. In your time of need, who can you count on? I'm glad that when I have an emergency, I can call 911 and receive help. Are you a first responder? God has called believers to be spiritual responders. Spiritual resp

A life on cruise control can lead to destruction. When you cruise for the wrong reason, trouble can follow. Road rage is a serious problem. This is a time to practice defensive driving. It's okay to take an off-ramp and go a different way. A quick decision could save your life. You don't have to respond to every hand gesture. Keep your life out of the fast lane. Your goal is to be safe and reach your destination. In your spiritual life, cruise control will not work. You want

Pride will harm a man and his soul. Sometimes we feel like our pride is the only thing that we have that no one can take from us. Holding on to your pride can be devastating. Try paying your light bill with your pride, and you will find yourself sitting in the dark. When you are too proud to ask for something that you need, what will you do? Pride of life can destroy your soul and hurt others around you. It’s like a cancer; when it goes untreated, it only gets worse. In the

Spreading lies is a common thing in everyday life. Deception is the world's motive. Prosperity and gain are the reasons. When you have no reason to lie, you shortchange yourself. A lie can always catch a ride, but the truth has to hitchhike. Don't give a lie a free ride. A message of hope will build a good life on honesty and hard work. People in your life can discourage you through deception. Watch out for those who don't want to see you change and grow in the Lord. The mess

Whitewashing the past will not erase the actions done to hurt people, not only as a nation but as individuals as well. People want you to forget what they have said and done as if it never happened. Cover-up is the motive. A lie will never replace the truth. Truth is the foundation of righteousness. You deceive yourself if you think righteousness has a substitute. Distractions keep you from seeing the truth. Misrepresenting the truth is whitewashing. Illusions are like counte

What motivates you to get up and do something instead of doing nothing? The underdog effect helps us face challenges we would back down from. Being the underdog should not dictate your ability to overcome obstacles. Confidence is key to becoming successful. Set goals, work to attain them, and be consistent. The underdog has to work harder if they desire to be a champion. The losers outnumber the winners. Two options: The thrill of victory or the agony of defeat. If you are a

Pointing the finger at someone else will not help you pass your test. If you judge yourself by others' accomplishments, you will fail. We are encouraged to do self-exams. We should examine our lives to improve them. We must live a life of sacrifice and service. First, we must bear our cross. It's not easy, but it is attainable. Your desire should be spiritual gifts. And not the things of this world. The things you accomplish in this world will pass away. Everything you do wil

God has granted every man free will to plan and chart out his own path. Many have regretted the path they took. Starting a journey without a plan is not wise. Make up your mind where you want to go. Decide when and how you will get to where you are going. If you realize you are going the wrong way, turn around. When we fail to do right, we are headed for self-destruction. We often think destruction comes from the forces of nature. When this happens, we have no control. Someti

There is a bank that most people do not know about. It is a bank with great benefits. It's called the Bank of Truth. Every time you tell the truth, you deposit a blessing. When you tell a lie, you withdraw a blessing that's not redeemable. We must realize the benefits of being for real. You can use deception to get by, but you can't get away. Truth always exposes deception. Your word is your bond. The foundation of relationships is built on truth and faithfulness. Friends are

The man from Galilee is passing by your way; will you receive him? Don't miss your miracle that you've been waiting for. The man from Galilee is Jesus Christ, the Lord. People have been looking for the Messiah (a Savior) to deliver his people. People were healed when he walked the dusty roads of Galilee. Many believed, and they were healed. Christ the Lord is still healing and delivering all who believe. The religious leaders rejected him because they did not recognize him. A

Debt can be overwhelming to people who cannot control their spending. When you live above your income, debt will consume your peace of mind. Borrowing is not the answer. Proverbs 22:7: "The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." The bondage of debt is not a life sentence. You can overcome it if you are willing to make the sacrifice. The first step is to stop romancing yourself. When you put your selfish pleasures over paying your bills, you sh

Confidence and courage walk hand in hand. The fear of failure sometimes gets the best of us. We must be taught to be brave. Men have lost their lives being too bold. When there is no confidence, what will you do? Giving up is not an option. When you make a mistake, learn from it and move on. Don't let your disabilities dictate your abilities. Be courageous and face life head-on. Having confidence in others can help build your self-confidence. Reaching goals is only a stepping

We must understand that the trials we go through are to grow our faith. Temptation will lure us away from doing right. Overcoming trials is a test. Will you pass or fail? Trials are not to destroy you but to strengthen you. God does not remove our trials, but he helps us endure. When tempted, he always gives a way out. We must be wise enough to take the exit. We should never yield to temptation but rather resist it. The will to hold on to the world and sinful lust will lead t

There are many spirits in the world. Be careful of the influence of evil spirits. The spirit of alcohol and drugs causes euphoria. "It is a powerful emotional experience that can occasionally be exaggerated or disconnected from reality." The well-being effect can cause a person to respond or react to the feeling of being HIGH. When the high is gone, there is a need for another fix. When it's not available, it can cause overreacting. Domestic violence and deception are only a

It is a danger to walk around with your eyes closed. Obstacles are everywhere. It is one thing to be blindfolded, but another to go through life with your eyes closed. People who were born blind or people who lost their sight learn how to see within. InterVision comes from deep spirituality. We walk in darkness every day with our eyes open. We should look for the good in people, rather than the bad. It's worth it. Be aware of the activity of sin that blinds. John 8:12, " Then

What does it take to go fishing? First, you must be committed to the thought of catching fish. Preparation is key to your success. You will need the tools to make the catch. Without the knowledge of fishing, you will catch nothing. You can't make the fish bite, but you can entice them with the right bait. Jesus uses parables to teach lessons. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus sees two men whom he can use to work: he calls them and says, "Follow me."

A disciple is a student or a follower of a teacher or an institution. It takes devotion and discipline to be a true disciple. A disciple is not an apostle. All apostles were disciples, but not all disciples are apostles. An apostleship was granted to his 12 disciples and Paul. The qualifications: "in a strict biblical sense, genuine apostles had to be direct eyewitnesses of the risen Jesus and were accompanied by the ability to perform miraculous signs and wonders to validate

Starting over by turning a new leaf is not going to make a noticeable change. Getting rid of excess baggage is a step in the right direction. The hard part is the so-called friends. I have learned to discern genuine friendship. Discernment will help you exemplify the type of friend that you are to others. You cannot expect others to be good friends, and you are not. In friends, you have givers and takers. What are you? Giving is a part of the new life in Christ. Selfishness w