Recently had a conversation with a great mentor. Proverbs 27:17 came to mind.

CAA Jason Zimmermann
Priory of St. Joan of Arc
ACT and GOD will ACT
No One Is Beyond Christ's Reach
Before he wrote Romans...
Before he planted churches...
Before he became one of the greatest missionaries in history...

He was Saul.

The man who approved of Stephen's death.
The man who hunted Christians from house to house.
The man convinced he was serving God while fighting against God's own Son.
If anyone looked beyond saving, it was Saul.
But then something happened that changed history forever.
Jesus didn't wait for Saul to come looking for Him.
Je...  more
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” — Matthew 26:41

The strongest warrior can fall asleep.
The wise warrior knows that he can—and keeps watch.

CAA Jason Zimmermann
Priory of St. Joan of Arc
ACT and GOD will ACT
Gospel of Matthew 5:3:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (NKJV)
The key isn't "poor." It's "poor in spirit."

What does "poor in spirit" mean?
The Greek word Jesus used is ptōchos, which describes someone who is completely destitute, someone who has nothing and must rely entirely on another person to survive.

Jesus wasn't talking about money.
He was talking about our spiritual condition before God.

A person who is poor in spirit says:
"I cannot save my...  more
Not every battle is fought with a sword.

The world hears the word jealous and thinks of envy or insecurity. But when God said,

"For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God..." (Exodus 20:5)
The Hebrew word in Exodus 20:5 is qannāʾ (קַנָּא). It means zealous, passionately protective, or devoted to preserving what rightfully belongs in a covenant relationship.

He was revealing His covenant love.
A righteous king is jealous/zealous for his kingdom.
A faithful husband is jealous/zealous for his...  more