TGN: The Living Word

One of the big "secrets" of the Christian life is that walking with God does not have to be a complicated process (unless, of course, you want to make it one). Today's verse, Micah 6:8 from the NJKV, shows us just how simple it can be: He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? This is one of those verses we would do well do remember when we start thinking that we have to make our relationship with God more complicated than He wants it to be. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

There are many ways in which God reveals Himself through the words and actions of His people, some of which we've discussed over the past weeks. But, fortunately for us, God doesn't stop there. Today's verse, Psalm 19:1 from the NIV, gives us one more way in which we can get a hint of God's majesty through the world around us: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. On those warm spring and summer nights, when we take the time to gaze heavenward with someone we love, may this verse remind us that Someone Who loves us infinitely more is gazing back. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

When we make a choice to turn to God we are also making a choice to turn away from our sins, or those things in our lives that pull us away from God. Which makes sense of course; we can't move towards something and away from it at the same time (although a lot of people try!). In today's verse, Matthew 3:8 from the NLT, Jesus emphasizes the need to make this choice: "Prove by the way that you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God." This is one of those verses that we should have up on our wall as a constant reminder to keep moving in the right direction. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

Today's show is a review of the past week's shows and the verses we talked about. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

There are times when we know we need to talk with God but either we don't know what we should say or we just don't have the words to express what it is we are feeling. For precisely those times God has provided us with a spiritual Counselor, and in today's verse, Romans 8:26 from the NJKV, we are reminded of His presence: Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. This is a good verse to remember when we feel like we need to be eloquent, or even coherent, when we come before God in prayer. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

Being human, we have a tendency to be rebellious when it comes to rules and regulations. God's laws are no exception, especially when we don't understand their purpose and we see them as restrictive and confining. Today's verse, Psalm 19:7 from the NIV, helps us to see them from God's perspective: The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. When we're faced with a choice to rebel against God or follow Him, this is a verse we should definitely meditate on! God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

We live in a world that can be scary at times, and having a relationship with God is no guarantee that the scary things will go away. It is a guarantee, however, that we can look at those things from a different perspective, knowng that with God's strength in our lives we no longer need to be afraid. Today's verse, Psalm 27:1 from the KJV, spells this out beautifully: The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? This is the perfect verse to bring to mind when life starts to get a little scary! God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

If someone knew how to heal themselves from a fatal disease but didn't apply that knowledge, we wouldn't think that they were very wise. Yet many of us walk around with the knowledge of salvation gained from reading or hearing about Jesus' teachings yet don't apply those teachings to our daily lives. In today's verse, Matthew 7:24 from the NIV, Jesus talks about the need to put our knowledge to work: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Like all of Jesus' teachings, we should not only keep this verse in mind but also live it out! God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

Our society is one in which we are defined by our accomplishments and in which fame is revered. We have famous movie stars, famous authors, famous movie stars, famous athletes, and even famous podcasters! But fame and accomplishments are not something that God cares about. In fact, in today's verse, Luke 14:11 from the NIV, Jesus teaches us that it's just the opposite: "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." When we find ourselves starting to gloat about our accomplishments, this is the verse we should remember. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

Since God is all about love (despite rumors to the contrary), it's worth taking another look at how to best deal with those whose life goal seems to be to get us to respond in a non-loving way. In today's verses, Matthew 5:44,45a from the NJKV, Jesus teaches us the appropriate response to these people, which I'm sure you'll find to be as easy as it sounds! But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. These verses offer enough of a challenge that they're well-worth memorizing and keeping in mind at all times. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

Today's show is a review of the verses we talked about over the past week. Guest Reader: Rachel Patchett. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

It seems to be human nature to make simple things as complex as possible. Our walk with God is no exception. Of all the rules out there about how to please God, the majority seem to come from men and not from God. Today's verse, Hebrews 13:16 from the NIV, is one of many verses in the Bible that make it clear that God's way is simple: Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. It's a great verse to think about when we get caught up trying to please God by following a set of complex rules.

People in Jesus' time hated paying taxes as much as we sometimes do, even more so since they were paying them to the corrupt Roman government. So, was it right to pay taxes in such a situation? Some religious leaders tried to back Jesus into a corner with that very question. In today's verses, Luke 20:24,25 from the NLT, we find his response: "Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?" "Caesar's," they replied. "Well then," he said, "give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God." We should bear these verses in mind when we have a hard time of letting go of those things that belong to others, or of those things that belong to God. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

How many times have your heard Christians, or at least those claiming to be Christians, accused of being hypocrites (and often rightfully so)? It's one thing to say, "I'm a Christian," but it's something completely different to act like one. Today's verses, Galatians 5:25,26 from the NJKV, entreat us to walk the talk: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. We should keep these verses in mind at all times as we make those moment-to-moment choices that affect the way we interact with each other and the world around us. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

We live in a world that's constantly changing, where something you depend on today may be gone tomorrow, or completely different. Change can be good, but it can also be confusing. It's reassuring to have at least one thing you can depend on to stay the same, one area of consistency in your life that you can put your trust in. In today's verse, Hebrews 13:8 from the NJKV, you'll find it: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It's the perfect verse to bring to mind if you find yourself in the midst of change and need to place your spiritual feet on solid ground. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

It's amazing how many people have formed a negative opinion about God without ever having experienced Him for themselves. They base their opinion on hearsay, inaccurate information, or pretty much anything other than God Himself. Today's verse, Psalm 34:8a from the ESV, extends an invitation for each of us to check God out personally: Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! This verse is especially worth considering when you think about just how much may be at stake when you make your final decision about God. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

In show #105 we talked about the need to deal with anger as quickly as possible, ideally before the day ends. But what's the best way to do that? How should we respond when someone sins against us and feelings of anger or hatred are stirred up within us? Today's verse, Proverbs 10:12 from the NJKV, offers the answer: Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins. This is a really great verse to keep in mind when we have a choice to react out of hatred or respond out of love! God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

Today's show is a review of the past week and the verses we've discussed together. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).

Do you worry about financial and physical safety? We all do at one point or another, but our primary concern should be about spiritual safety since that's the only kind that can have an eternal effect on our lives. Today's verse, Psalm 16:1 from the NIV, is a simple prayer from David to God, asking for help in staying safe: Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. It's a great verse to commit to memory and use as a model for our own prayers for safekeeping. God bless you! Background music provided by and copyright Craig Anderson (dub4k.com).