Read: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed. —2 Corinthians 4:8 When I was growing up, I had an inflatable plastic punching dummy. It was about as tall as I was and had a smiling face painted on it. My challenge was to hit it...

Read: Romans 5:1-11 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8 One of the most popular tourist attractions in England is the giant stone pillars of Stonehenge. These massive pieces of granite are also a great source...

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. —Philippians 2:4 I call them Mell Notes—little comments my daughter Melissa made in her Bible to help her apply a passage to her life. In Matthew 7,...

Read: Numbers 13:25–14:19 Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. —Psalm 90:1 According to researchers from the University of Bristol, the European rock ant may be better than we are at staying on top of the housing market. The researchers found that the ant colonies use scout...

Read: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. —Ecclesiastes 3:1 If you’re like me, you’ve struggled with having to say no to taking on a new responsibility—especially if it’s for a good cause and directly related to helping others. We may have...

Read: Nehemiah 4:1-10 Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; . . . they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. —Isaiah 40:31 Boxing legend Muhammad Ali used several ring tactics to defeat his opponents; one tactic was taunting. In his fight...

Read: 1 Peter 1:17-21 You were bought at a price. —1 Corinthians 6:20 We gave our 2-year-old son a pair of new boots recently. He was so happy that he didn’t take them off until it was bedtime. But the next day he forgot all about the boots and put...

Read: Psalm 32:1-5 When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning. —Psalm 32:3 A pastor told this story on himself in his local newspaper. He was chatting with an older man to whom he had just been introduced. “So, you used to work for a utility company,”...

Read: Daniel 6:1-10 He knelt down on his knees . . . and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. —Daniel 6:10 While studying the book of Daniel, I was struck by how easily he could have avoided being thrown into the den...

Read: Acts 17:16-23 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. —Acts 17:16 As an early riser, my wife enjoys the quiet moments before the house wakes up and uses it to read...

Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 God from the beginning chose you for salvation. —2 Thessalonians 2:13 When our children were small, I often prayed with them after we tucked them into bed. But before I prayed, I sometimes would sit on the edge of the bed and talk with them. I...

Read: Matthew 1:18-25 She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. —Matthew 1:21 The movie Man of Steel, released in 2013, is a fresh imagining of the Superman story. Filled with breathtaking special effects and nonstop...