Ryan Smith

What Do We Mean by Forgiveness? 2

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s96/sh/1d0b4783-41d0-4af4-859b-cb44e613480f/d9473e05d687ee8c3566b5b1ab3af83f

What Do We Mean by Forgiveness pt.1

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s96/sh/1b4d34e1-78eb-498f-81a0-bcbd481ca926/9e076f332ae1683125c0c9746ce64439 The hard truth is that forgiveness is required as followers of Jesus... it's difficult and…

Hebrews 12:1-13 Never Drop Out

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s96/sh/da7cc223-38d0-4e82-a283-e898bebd48fe/36880e95d3aad335672b4ae06b8b745f

Shining Beacons of God's Love

My qualm here isn't with the verse, rather with the devotional that accompanied the verse. It mentioned that if the church was found to be in disrepair we'd most certainly rush to repair it, so that the…

1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV), 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NIV)

In the Face of Power

I some times forget to cut the disciples the appropriate amount of slack, they deserve. I read this passage and think to myself, "How can you guys have such little faith? You're standing in the presence…

John 6:4 (ASV), John 6:5 (ASV), John 6:6 (ASV), John 6:7 (ASV), John 6:8 (ASV), John 6:9 (ASV)

Sign of Blessing

I’ve always found this story from the life of Jacob interesting. What stands out to me is the degree in which Jacob was willing to go in order to receive his blessing from the Lord. And while he did in…

Genesis 32:22 (ESV), Genesis 32:23 (ESV), Genesis 32:24 (ESV), Genesis 32:25 (ESV), Genesis 32:26 (ESV), Genesis 32:27 (ESV), Genesis 32:28 (ESV), Genesis 32:29 (ESV), Genesis 32:30 (ESV), Genesis 32:31 (ESV), Genesis 32:32 (ESV)

Voices!

Carefully read 16:2... Did you notice what it says Abram did? He listened to his wife. Not God, but Sari his wife. Strange don't you think to have come to this juncture and on this one instance opt to…

Genesis 16:2 (ESV), Genesis 17:1 (ESV), Genesis 17:2 (ESV)

Taking Notice

6 "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate..." I wonder how many times…

Genesis 3:6 (ASV)

My handicap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtnE_e1LylY Ah, here it is, the famous Thorn In My Side portion of Paul's story, or as the Message says, "I was given the gift of a handicap." It seems like many know about…

2 Corinthians 12:7 (MSG), 2 Corinthians 12:8 (MSG), 2 Corinthians 12:9 (MSG), 2 Corinthians 12:10 (MSG)

Okay, I don't know what I'm doing!

Intense! This, I think, best sums up this passage. Much like going twelve rounds in a prize fight, James holds nothing back and begins his message with a jab, jab, right uppercut. As I marinate for a…

James 1:1 (MSG), James 1:2 (MSG), James 1:3 (MSG), James 1:4 (MSG), James 1:5 (MSG), James 1:6 (MSG), James 1:7 (MSG), James 1:8 (MSG)

An Unkowing Generation

I couldn't help but notice the glaring over site of God's people to properly train up the next generation to also follow after God. V. 11 says this new generation "deserted God, the God of their parents,"…

Judges 2:10 (MSG), Judges 2:11 (MSG), Judges 2:12 (MSG)

Love Worked In

I can only pray that there comes a day when this can be said of me too. That love was worked deep into and through me that it's evidence was obvious. God may it be so!

Colossians 1:8 (MSG)