Wayne Stiles's Blog, page 53

Quote by Henri Nouwen on what makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible. [Quote]

What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, . . . Jesus asks, ‘Do you love me?’ We ask, ‘Can we sit at your right hand and your left hand in your Kingdom?’Keep reading this post.

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Cyber Monday Deal on the Best Photos of the Holy Land

Today Only: 30% off for my blog readers!

Whenever I go to Israel, I seldom take pictures for my blog. Why? Because the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands has all I need. It’s simply that good.

Today only, you can get thousands of these high-resolution images of the Holy Land at a deep discount.

I went out on a limb and asked the publishers of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands if they could offer a special “Cyber Monday” deal just for my blog readers. For today only, they have extended a spe...

Black Friday Audio Blowout!

My newest resources at a great deal.

I have saved 5 brand new audio resources (plus my newest audiobook) to offer you at a significant discount for this Black Friday sale. From lessons from Bible lands to questions about why a good God allows evil, you’ll get something worth hearing that will encourage you today!

Get all 5 audio resources at 60% OFF their retail price. When you do, you can get my newest audiobook, Waiting on God at a whopping 75% off! This weekend only!

LEARN MORE!

Keep read...

What My Dumb Dog Taught Me about the Greatness of God

Welcome to the spectrum of all we don't know.

As I left the house early one morning recently, I turned on the garage light to make my way out. Our dog, Carlie, who sleeps in the garage, immediately stood up, walked over to me, and leaned against the wall.

(Photo: Our dog, Carlie)

Her wagging tail slammed against the wall repeatedly—and the other side of that wall was my bedroom. I knew the pounding would disturb my sleeping wife.

I had tried to keep quiet. My dog ruined that. I got frustrated...

Did the Old Testament Offer Only One Way to God?

The exclusivity of salvation isn't a new question.

Of course, we can only approach God’s presence God’s way. The New Testament clearly reveals that only through Jesus can anyone come to God the Father (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:23). But what about in the Old Testament? Are there multiple ways?

(Photo courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)

After King David conquered Jerusalem and secured it as his capital, he desired to bring the Ark of the Covenant up from Kiriath-Jearim i...

Remember and Return: Rekindling Your Love for the Savior–A Devotional [Book]

Remember and Return: Rekindling Your Love for the Savior–A Devotional by John MacArthur (Baker, 2016) MacArthur’s new devotional, Remember and Return , is content pulled from his trade book, Simple Christianity. Each of these short, 31 chapters takes a thought from the book and introduces it with a Scripture verse and concludes with a “Daily Challenge,” a new, poignant paragraph that is really what transforms MacArthur’s older content into a devotional. The book has some w...

Ein Gedi—A Testimony to God’s Grace and Provision

Finding hope against a depressing backdrop of death and desperation.

Ancient travelers who made their way along the shores of the Dead Sea would no doubt shake their heads when they saw it. How could so much water stand in such a barren place—and none of it be drinkable?

(Photo: The oasis of Ein Gedi beside the Dead Sea, courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)

Before the obliteration of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Jordan Valley looked like the “garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10). But a...

Devotions for a Deeper Life: A Daily Devotional [Book]

Devotions for a Deeper Life: A Daily Devotional by Oswald Chambers (Thomas Nelson, 2016) A few authors seem to be given by God for daily devotionals. Oswald Chambers’ is such a writer, and this new volume, Devotions for a Deeper Life , shows the staying power of Chambers’ pen. Although most readers (including myself) have only read My Upmost for His Highest, these new devotionals, culled from content originally published in God’s Revivalist,read as fresh as those in Chamb...

How to Deal With It When God Says NO

Sometimes living with the tension is an act of faith.

You prepared your plans with prayer. For many, many months. You even asked others to pray as well. As far as you can tell, you did everything right and with right motives. But still God said no.

This just happened to me. Cathy and I just returned from a tour to Israel. It took more than a year to prepare for the tour, and part of our preparation included much prayer. Among other items, our prayer list contained two specifics:

For good we...

Leadership Promises for Every Day: A Daily Devotional [Book]

Leadership Promises for Every Day: A Daily Devotional by John C. Maxwell (Thomas Nelson, 2016) One of the most practical of all of John C. Maxwell’s daily readings, Leadership Promises for Every Day , offers the simple wisdom we’ve come to respect and need from this gifted writer. Excerpts from many of John’s popular volumes, in addition to Bible verses that relate to leadership principles, combine to make this daily devotional a simple and inspiring way to grow in leader...