When I was in my twenties, I went through a tough time spiritually. At 17, I had become a fully devoted follower of Christ, but my family was not so sure about my decision. Because of that, they made my life more difficult than it should have been. There was one message I heard during […]
Written by Michael Graff Have you ever felt stuck? Maybe you felt bound to an addiction or limited by a mindset. We could all probably name something keeping us in a place we don’t want to be. Thank God, through His Word, we find clear instructions on how to break what binds us. Let’s look […]
In 1985, my family lived through what we call “the year from hell.” I was 25 years old. Let me tell you what was supposed to happen that year. My parents were supposed to welcome their eleventh grandchild into the world, build their dream retirement home, and celebrate their last child (me!) marrying his forever love. Here’s what happened […]
I’m a pastor, so I’ve gotten used to uncomfortable conversations. When I first started taking time to listen to people’s struggles and respond with scriptural advice, though: I’ll admit: I felt awkward. I didn’t know what to do or say. So I turned to Scripture to teach me how to do it the right way. […]
Conflict resolution is one of life’s most important skills. Each of us naturally approaches it in one of two ways. We either avoid conflict like a plague, or we face it head on, though sometimes not in the kindest way. Thankfully, Jesus gave us a better way to approach issues with each other—as peacemakers. In […]
“Pastor Mike,” a lady approached me the other day with a concern she wanted to talk through. “My husband and I are having a difficult time. All he wants to do is talk, talk, talk!” I asked, “Well, have you guys been working on it? Have you told him how you feel?” She responded, “I haven’t spoken to him […]
Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit? Maybe you experienced a strong conviction in a moment of decision or heard a song that sent chills down your arms. While the Holy Spirit certainly helps us to feel certain things, He is much more than something to be felt; He is someone to be followed. How do we […]
One of the best life-planning strategies is to begin with the end in mind—to ask yourself, What kind of legacy do I want to leave behind? Many times, as we dream about what can be, we experience regret about what has been. Thank God He can turn any regret into reward. Scripture tells us how. In Luke 24:13-17, we […]
My friend Laura lost her 17-year-old son in a car accident 14 years ago. At the funeral, as she greeted people, I noticed she looked exhausted, so I asked if she needed me to step in. Her response has stayed with me. She replied, “Thank you, Tamara, but this is good for me. With each hug, […]
About this time 40 years ago, I was preparing to graduate with my bachelor’s degree from Oral Roberts University. I was excited to begin pursuing the things God had put on my heart. The problem was—I had much more chaos than confidence about what exactly that was. There were two options upon gradation, and they […]