“Every miracle happens twice! The breakthrough always happens in the spiritual realm first. Then — and only then — does it manifest itself in the physical realm. God had already delivered Jericho in the spiritual realm; all the Israelites had to do was keep circling for seven days.”- Mark Batterson “The gates of Jericho were […]
You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle . . . (Thomas Nelson, 2020) Max Lucado’s latest book is titled You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God’s Presence and Power. Currently Max serves as Teaching Minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, TX. When we believe, Pastor Lucado asserts, life happens. […]
“We need those (thirty minutes of silence in heaven) moments of silence on this side of the space-time continuum too. It’s one way we nurture a sense of wonder. Blaise Pascal, the seventeenth-century French philosopher, went so far as to say, ‘All of man’s miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a […]
“Spending an entire day alone with God may sound scary or difficult to pull off. But think of not doing it. Imagine reaching the age of seventy, having received more than 25,000 days as a gift from God, and not having given a single one back to him because you were ‘too busy.’ “- John […]
“One of the archenemies of what if is narrow framing.”- Mark Batterson Mark Batterson discusses the concept of narrow farming in Chapter 18 of If. Pastor Batterson defines narrow framing as a decision-making villain characterized by: ” . . . defining our choices too narrowly. It’s only considering two options when there might be a […]
“The reality is this; you’re a sinner in need of a Savior. But you are also more than a conqueror.”- Mark Batterson “No, in all these things were are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”- Romans 8:37 In Chapter 10 (“The Power of Suggestion”) of If, Mark Batterson asserts that as if is […]
“We say to God, ‘Why don’t you part this river? And God says to us, ‘Why don’t you get your feet wet?’ “- Mark Batterson Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 10 of The Circle Maker by expanding on this statement: “God is great, not just because nothing is too big for Him; God is great because […]
Mark Batterson begins Chapter 9 (“The Favor of Him Who Dwells in the Burning Bush”) of The Circle Maker with a discussion of the by-products of answered prayer. Ebenezer’s Coffeehouse, a community outreach ministry of National Community Church, is the result of eight years of praying hard and circling. God miraculously made it possible for […]
In Chapter 6 (“You Can’t Never Always Sometimes Tell”) of The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson discusses valuable lessons about unanswered prayers that he has learned. The learning began when Pastor Batterson almost said no to a miracle. A married couple, new members of National Community Church, wanted to talk to Mark about church government. Pastor […]
“Anyone who can be in a landscape of joy while maintaining immunity to it hasn’t come to the end of himself.”- Kyle Idleman Kyle Idleman concludes Chapter 6 of The End of Me by observing that the miracle of the paralyzed man’s healing should have a happy ending. The Pharisees, however, make sure this miracle […]
“If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”- John 11:21-22 In Chapter 22 (“The Grave Robber”) of his book The Grave Robber, Mark Batterson begins his discussion of Jesus’ seventh miracle recorded in the gospel of John- Jesus raises […]
“Faith is climbing out on a limb, cutting it off, and watching the tree fall.”- Anonymous In Chapter 18 (“Cut the Cable”) of The Grave Robber, Mark Batterson states that modern skyscrapers are possible as a result of Elisha Otis’ invention of an elevator braking system that ensured the elevator’s safety. With this braking system, […]