All articles filed in Craig Smith

The Word The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. (Gen 12:1, 2)…

The Word ‘To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?’ asks the Holy One. Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.…

The Word Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty – the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come. (Rev 4:8) You are worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honor and power. For You created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created. (Rev…

The Word Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you…

The Word Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. (Proverbs 30:5) Thought What a wonder it would be if each promise and statement made by those in positions of authority were filled with truth and pure motives. Unforeseen and unavoidable challenges and unanticipated delays…

The Word I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27) Thought One evening I arrived home from a challenging day. Walking toward the house I noticed an unexpected package sitting at the…

The Word What can we bring to the Lord? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, oh people,…

The Word Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is…

The Word He counts the stars and calls them all by name. (Psalm 147:4) Thought One morning I stepped outside the door of our home and into the dark stillness of predawn. My eyes were quickly drawn upward to a stunning array of stars, the sky was unusually clear, and the view astonishing. Certainly the…

The Word Praise the Lord! (Psalm 149:1) Thought An exclamation point is used at the end of a sentence or phrase to make an emphatic declaration or command. The opening sentence of Psalm 149 concludes with such a mark. Humanity was created by God and exists for his purposes and desires. Praising him is our…