The One Verse Devotional Podcast is back! It's been exactly one year since I stepped away... and I've missed you! I am so glad to be back with new episodes starting March 1, 2022.  Make sure and subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Peace! Matt

This is the episode I never thought I'd be recording. After 5 years, 950 episodes, and 750,000 downloads, I am stepping away to take a break.  The One Verse Daily Devotional will still be available. I am keeping the podcast up. Feel free to go back and listen to past episodes at oneversedevotional.com

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. -Matthew 1:21

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.  -Matthew 1:18

"I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations." -Psalm 89:4

Welcome to Advent 2020, One Verse Devotional style! Get your free Christmas devotional!

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be." -James 3:9-10

Our God is worthy of praise. He has done wonderful things planned long ago.

God has invited us to join Him in His restoration of the world. We are God’s ambassadors, living our lives “as though God were making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

There is only one thing I want you to hear today: God is NOT angry with you! He loves you and simply wants to have a relationship with you. He is not angry about your past. He is way more concerned with your future.

Salvation was God’s idea! God desired to restore the broken relationship that sin brought. Through Christ, we are reconciled back to God. Our relationship has been restored!

Great news! You can stop feeling guilty about your past. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are a new creation! (2 Cor. 5:17) God is more concerned with your future than your past.

"But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble." Psalm 59:16

Live like Jesus and value others above yourself! In the Gospels, Jesus taught us a different way: Put others first. Paul reminds us of that in Philippians 2:3. 

Stop feeling guilty for your anxiety. God cares enough about us that He doesn’t judge us. He tells us to give it to Him.

God loves a cheerful giver!

This is a season of doing good for family and others. It is a time of giving. Unfortunately, we can also become burned out when trying to do too much without taking care of ourselves. The Apostle Paul understood this. He encourages us in Galatians 6:9 that we do not become weary, tired, or worn out when doing good. Maybe you need to pause and take care of yourself.

God is our refuge, our salvation, and our stronghold. When life gets busy and filled with anxiety and worry, He is our Rock. If life feels crazy right now and you’re trying to do it all on your own, run to God and allow Him to be your protection.

Let us show our love for God by the way we treat His children.

God is never surprised by the outcome of an election.

Can anyone use a little peace today? The Peace of God is larger than life and transcends all understanding. If you let it, it will guard your hearts and minds

God will shield us and protect us when we’re weak. He is a loving and protecting Father. He is our refuge.

"For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17 This is the verse that changed Martin Luther's life.

Jesus lived a perfect life, but he was also tempted. He understands our weaknesses and can even empathize with us. He isn’t upset with us. He understands, and He is here to help.

If you don’t know how to pray, or you feel like your prayers are hitting the ceiling, take comfort in the fact the the Holy Spirit is praying to God FOR YOU on your behalf.

Why are christians so cruel and hard on other christians? The Bible is very clear on this: Do good to all people, ESPECIALLY those within our church family. I think it’s time that we take Galatians 6:10 seriously!

We serve a LIVING God! He is the great Conqueror and the great Overcomer. He holds the keys to death and hell!

The Lord God is our Shepherd. Through Him, we lack nothing. (Psalm 23:1) This is one of the most profound truths you’ll ever hear. Read it over and over until it fully grips your heart.

Paul had a physical “thorn in his flesh.” He prayed on three different occasions for God to take this away from Him. But God didn’t do it. Yet, God’s answer to Paul is something every Christian needs to hear. We need to remember this. God’s Grace is all-encompassing. Whether it is the physical pain Paul endured or an emotional scar that represents a painful past mistake in our lives, God’s Grace and His Love is sufficient in our lives. God's grace is all we truly need!

It is by Grace we are saved through faith. Our faith unlocks this Grace in our lives. It is not because of any good works on our part. Otherwise, we could brag about how great we are. No, it is ALL about God, His Love, and how great He is! By His grace, alone, we are saved!

Jesus is more concerned with us showing mercy and love to others than trying to be good little boys and girls.

When Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to become a disciple, the Pharisees could not handle it. They rebuked Jesus for hanging out with sinners. But Jesus has a different view. Jesus is the benefactor of Grace. And through this story, Jesus reminds us of something key… It is the sick who need a doctor.

Sometimes our faith can become stale. Our past mistakes can beat us down. David understood that better than anyone. In Psalm 51, he prays, “Lord, restore to me the joy of your salvation.” We all need to pray this from time to time. I know I do.

If there is a perfect verse for 2020, it's Proverbs 10:12! "Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs." Proverbs 10:12

The Bible makes us an amazing promise: If we acknowledge that Jesus is God, God will live with us and spend time with us.

God will strengthen your heart. He will provide the energy, power, and rest you need to live a blameless life.

When it feels like the waves of life are washing out the sand beneath our feet, we can take comfort in the Lord. He is our Rock, and we can build our foundation on Him.

What does the Christian life look like? How are we supposed to live out our faith? Ephesians 5:2 gives us a simple guideline: Walk in the way of Love. This is the example that Jesus set for us. What a beautiful way to live!

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him” -Psalm 103:13

"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!" Proverbs 6:6

The three greatest forces in the entire universe are Faith, Hope, and Love.

True love isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty. True love puts its boots on and goes to work. True love fight for others.

True Love, God-Love, does not rejoice when someone else fails or becomes jealous when someone else succeeds. Love rejoices. Have you ever been in a situation where you are working hard at chasing your dreams only to see someone else reach theirs much quicker? We don’t know what it took them to get there. We don’t know the sacrifice or work they invested. But from our perspective, it sure looks like it was a lot easier and a lot faster than what we have experienced! Have you been there? I have. In those times, it’s easy to get jealous. It’s easy to (secretly!) wish that something bad would happen or that they would hit an obstacle like we have been hitting. But that’s not how Love works, at least not God-Love. Our One Verse today comes from 1 Corinthians 13:6 and teaches us that Love never rejoices in evil. It doesn’t secretly hope that something bad will happen to someone else. God-Love rejoices in Truth. We need to constantly remind ourselves that God’s Love is not scarce. Blessings in another person’s life does NOT mean less for us. God’s Love is abundant. We can, and should, rejoice with others even when we are in the midst of chasing after our own dreams. Go and Love others and rejoice with them today. 📖ABOUT THE ONE VERSE DAILY DEVOTIONAL 📖 The One Verse Daily Devotional is a short, daily Bible study for anyone who wants to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus. Our goal is simple: Grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day. ➡️ Learn more about The One Verse Devotional and listen to past episodes: http://oneversepodcast.com/ 🎧 Subscribe and Listen to The One Verse Devotional HERE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/one-verse-devotional/id1083040320 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nK4qjCWR4nQXJnCbt2RCc 📱 Connect with Phosphorus Project on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/phosphorusproject/ https://www.facebook.com/phosphorusproject/ 🙏 Join our private Facebook Group: The Phosphorus Family https://www.facebook.com/groups/phosphorusproject/ Subscribe to Phosphorus Project here: https://www.youtube.com/phosphorusproject Thanks for joining me! Peace, Matt

True love doesn't hold onto offenses for a later fight. "It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." 1 Corinthians 13:5

What is love? This week, we are looking at the definition of true love. 1 Corinthians 13 is more than a wedding passage. It teaches us about the kind of Love that God has for us so we can share this same Love with others.

When we need help, who better than the Maker of heaven and earth! Nothing is too big for God. Reach out to Him in your time of need.

This Proverbs isn't about hunting... "Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler." -Proverbs 6:5

Only a movement of Love can stop fear from taking over. If you love God, you must love His children.

Confession may not be fun, but it is the best way to allow God to cleanse us from impurities and stay in tune with our Savior.

Jesus made it clear in the Gospel of John: If the Son (Jesus, Himself) has set you free, you are truly free!

The more we know Jesus, the greater freedom we will experience.

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Today, we are going back to square 1...

God isn’t a grumpy old man, waiting to punish you. He is forgiving and good and filled with love.

"Keep your [posts] free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your [keyboard]." Proverbs 4:24 (2020 paraphrase)

"I no longer call you servants, I have called you friends" John 15:15

Jesus came to share good news, proclaim freedom to prisoners, and set the oppressed free. As His followers, shouldn’t we do the same?

We all struggle with temptation, BUT… there is a cure. "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." Galatians 5:16 We make mistakes. We fail. We sin. We are broken and imperfect people. But God is good. He wants to help us. Our One Verse today is Galatians 5:16 and teaches one simple concept: The closer we get to God through His Spirit, the more we can overcome temptation in our lives. Come to God BROKEN and let Him heal you! 

Our culture is obsessed with the negative and controversial. Just watch the news. But God says to think about what is lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy.

It can be easy to dismiss, but we must remember that we are in the middle of a spiritual battle every day of our lives and we have an enemy who wants to destroy us. But God is stronger!

At times, life will get crazy. But remain confident in one thing: You will see the goodness of God in your life. "I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13

"Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin" Proverbs 21:4 Most of us would say we don't want to be prideful. However, when we look at the word "haughty" we can easily see how things have gotten out of hand on the internet. Maybe Solomon had something to say thousands of years ago about how we act on social media today.

Jesus is the Light of the world, and He calls us to follow in His Light. As we grow closer to Him, the Light of Jesus becomes greater than any darkness we encounter in this world. Jesus promises the Light of Life to illuminate our path.

This is the controversy of the Gospel: Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6  

Jesus didn’t just rise from the dead. He IS the Resurrection. It is a part of who He is. He offers new and fresh life.  “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;” John 11:25

“I AM the Vine... Apart from me, you can do nothing.” Strong, but true words from Jesus in John 15:5. We must stay connected to the Vine!

In the OT, God said His name was I AM. In the NT, Jesus finished the statement and explained who God is in our lives. In John 10:14, Jesus tells us, "I AM…the Good Shepherd"

God knows your voice! "I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy." Psalm 116:1

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil." Proverbs 3:7

"So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." - 2 Thessalonians 2:15

This is my prayer for you: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13  

You, yes you, are a minister of Jesus.

When God calls us to go, He rarely tells us the exact destination. God wants our trust and obedience. Just Go… and let God show you the way!

The greatest “wealth” we can achieve is growing deeper in our relationship with Jesus and being content with the blessing He has given us.

The closer we get to Jesus, the more we will live according to our gifts, passions, and purpose in this world!

A simple reminder: Jesus is the TOTAL fullness of God in human form. We serve a MIGHTY and POWERFUL Savior!

As followers of Jesus, we can run, yet not grow weary. We can soar with wings like eagles. But we need to learn how to trust and place our hope in God. Pro tip: It doesn’t come naturally!

One aspect of being a follower of Jesus is that we are supposed to share our faith. This is the one thing that freaks most Christians out! Always be prepared to give an answer. That is what we learn in our One Verse today. But what does that really mean? Do we have to prepared to answer everything about the Bible? That's our topic on today's podcast.

The negative talk in our culture is becoming unbearable. But if it’s going to change, it has to start with us.

As Christians, we are called a family for a reason. We aren’t called to guilt or shame others, but to come alongside them and encourage them in love and good deeds.

We are called to accept others. Those in the Church. Those outside of the Church. When will the Church get serious about this command?

The disciples ask Jesus for a sign that they should follow Him. (BTW, this was AFTER Jesus fed the 5,000 and walked on water!) They “remind” Jesus that God sent Moses bread from heaven as a sign. Jesus uses their own illustration and teaches us an important lesson: He is the Bread of Life and the closer we grow to Him, the more fulfilled we will be.

A prayer for your week: “Show me your ways, Lord. Teach me your paths.” -Psalm 25:4

Is life weighing you down? When we feel weary and burdened, Jesus invites us to come to Him and He promises to give us rest.

Even in the midst of storms in our lives, even when we don’t understand or can’t explain the storm, nothing is too hard for God.

Do we grasp how wide and long and high and deep God’s love is for us?

Through His Spirit, God will give us power to live out our purpose in this world and to love others.

My prayer for you is that you would be strengthened today with the power of God through His Spirit. Through God’s glorious riches, He will strengthen us and give us His power. It is so easy to get caught up in the small details of life and forget that we serve a God who needs nothing. He has everything. And from those riches, He blesses us and provides for us! Through His Spirit, God will comfort us and give us power to live out our purpose in this world and to love others. I pray this for you today. May you be strengthened by His Spirit!

In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could come into the Presence of God, and it was just one time per year. Now, God allows us to encounter His presence whenever we choose. Do NOT take prayer for granted. It is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us.

Satan works in small temptations.

Is being a Christian about having deep faith or doing good deeds? According to the book of James, both!

The Bible promises that, if we ask God, He will give us His wisdom generously.

Let’s be quick to open our ears and slow to open our mouths (Or type on our keyboards!)

We can only put our hope of salvation in Jesus. Both our future salvation as well as our salvation for today and tomorrow.

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." -Exodus 14:14

God is the safety, help, and strength we need to survive any storm that comes our way.

"The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother." -Proverbs 10:1

This world needs love. We need to build up others, not tear them down. Please find someone today to encourage. They need it. The world needs it.

Christians who believe in a Creator should want to take care of His Creation.

"Do not give the devil a foothold." -Ephesians 4:27

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." -Colossians 3:2

What does it mean to be crucified with Christ? It can sound scary, but I believe it can change your life if you adopt this way of thinking. Through Jesus, we can put our old lives, our old decisions, and our old identities to death. We are new creatures, living by faith, every day, with a God who loves us unconditionally.

"May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." -Psalm 19:14

"Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning." -Proverbs 9:9

No matter what situation or life phase you find yourself in, there is something you can rejoice in. I challenge you to find something (or many things) to rejoice in today.

When we need to wait on God, it never means to sit back and do nothing. Waiting on God is an “active” waiting. Isaiah reminds us to follow the Law of God while we are waiting for Him to speak into our lives.

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith." -1 Thessalonians 3:7

“In essentials, unity; In nonessentials, liberty; In all things, love.”

God’s will is a mystery. The Bible makes that clear, but maybe it’s not as mysterious as we make it. It is more like a great mystery novel. There are twists and turns, but in the end, all will be revealed. Everything is a mystery… until it isn’t. And this is true of our faith. There is a difference between a mystery and a secret. God wants to reveal the mystery of His will to us. He isn’t holding onto a secret.

Fill in the blank for yourself: “Some trust in _______ and some in________, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” -Psalm 20:7

"For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." -Proverbs 2:6

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! Our One Verse today comes from the book of Joshua. Joshua was the leader of Israel in the Old Testament after Moses. He took the Israelites into the Promised Land. At the end of his life, after years of service and leadership to his people. He made one of his final addresses. In a sense, he drew a line in the sand. You can serve whoever you want to serve, but me and my household will continue to serve the Lord. What an inspiring message! He could of pointed to himself, but this wise leader pointed everything to God. My prayer is this will be a phrase you live by in your own life. Will you serve the Lord?

The spiritual life is like a marathon. It takes time, energy, and discipline. Paul reminds us of this in 1 Corinthians 9. He encourages us to prepare ourselves for the race ahead and then to run in such a way as to gain the prize that will last forever. Where do you need discipline in your life?

Today is episode 800 of the One Verse Devotional. I want to say thank you for being a part of this journey, and I want to challenge you to love others.

Many of us feel pain and regret over past mistakes and sins. However, you will never fully realize the glorious future that God has for you until you let go of your past.

Whenever I hear the word, snare, I think of a trapped animal. Doesn’t life feel like this at times? Today’s One Verse gives us some great advice when we find ourselves in this situation.

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." -Proverbs 16:3

Live your life for the only prize that truly matters! We have a mission. We have been given a goal: Love others. Care for others. Look after those who need help. Share the Gospel message of Jesus Christ with the world. THIS is the prize, the goal we have been given in Jesus. Let us live every day with this goal in mind!

Can our faith have an effect on our friends? According to today’s One Verse, it does! Mark 2 is an amazing story of friends showing up to help. They did all they could to get their friend in front of Jesus (I thought “Let’s tear the roof off this place!” was just an expression). And Jesus makes it clear: The man was healed because of the faith of his friends. What does that mean for us today? It makes me want to be a better friend.

“I stand at the door and knock.” This is a famous verse that many Christians are familiar with. But here is the sobering part of this verse: Jesus was speaking to the Church! At some point, Jesus was pushed out. Now, He patiently waits outside the door, knocking, and hoping that someone will invite Him back in.

God will uncover His heart as we grow closer to Him.

As followers of the One True Light (Jesus), we are called to reflect His Light and Love to a dark and hurting world. We are the light of the world.

Even when life takes a turn, God isn’t surprised. God knows where you are at in life, where you have been, and where you are going. His plans will stand firm. I love this because I don’t always know where I am going. But God is never surprised by our circumstances. 

"Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!" -Proverbs 30:4

I head a question once: “Was Jesus murdered or did He commit suicide?” Neither. He gave Himself as a sacrifice in the greatest act of Love the world will ever see. Spend some time, today, reflecting on the love Jesus showed to you through the cross.

As Jesus prepared to go to the cross, He left us with a simple command: Love one another.

During this time of coronavirus and the Covid-19 pandemic, how can we effectively love our neighbor?

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. As we look to Easter, let’s spend some time with God and express our love and thankfulness to Him.

At some point in our lives, we all have to answer this question: “Who is Jesus?”

"Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!" -Psalm 118:25

“Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways." -Proverbs 8:32

"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith," -Galatians 3:26

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” -Luke 11:13

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." -Hebrews 11:1

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." -Philippians 2:13

To save your life, you must lose it in Jesus.

The closer you get to God, the more of His secrets He will share with you!

"The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." -Proverbs 4:7

How should a Christian live? Is it all about going to church, following rules, and talking about Jesus? Well, no. We are called to let the Love of God flow into us, and then through us, out into the world. That is how a Christian should live. #LoveOverFear

Sharing your faith is one of the scariest parts of being a Christian, but it doesn’t have to be. Are you afraid that someone will ask you a question that you don’t have an answer to? You don’t have to be worried about that, either. In our One Verse today, John teaches us how to share our faith: Simply tell your story.

“You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” There is a lot of talk today about what we can do as Christians. What is ok, what is not ok? What is right, what is wrong? How should we live our lives? I think these are the wrong questions. Our One Verse today in 1 Corinthians 6:20 gives us a different outlook. It reminds us that Jesus paid everything for our future. We had sin and judgement and death to look forward to, but Jesus turned that into life and grace and forgiveness. So, how should we live in light of this fact? By loving God and loving others. That is how we honor God with our actions.

Our One Verse today is packed full of awesomeness. In one simple verse, we can see three key principles for our spiritual lives. First, we learn that we are surrounded by a “cloud of witnesses.” This means that Heaven is cheering you on. The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes perseverance. It takes discipline. Stick with it. Finally, it we are running a race, we need to remove any weight that is holding us back. We know we need to get rid of sin in our lives. But what else is in your life that is holding you back? Is anything getting in the way of God’s best for your life? Let’s remove anything that hinders us from running our race well.

What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Faith requires us to have an understanding of a world we cannot see. In life, we want to put our trust in what we can see and touch. It’s comforting. But it is a false sense of safety. Everything around us is temporary. It won’t last. As followers of Jesus, God calls us to see the world with different eyes. Let us live our lives for what truly matters, even if we can’t see it now. And let us trust God to take care of us, even when we can’t see the answer right in front of us.

God cares more about what He is doing in your future than about the mistakes of your past.

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." -Proverbs 3:3

 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” We need to keep this verse close to us at all times. If you have ever experienced heartache, pain, or disappointment in your life, this verse is for you. I love this verse because it is the answer to so many questions. How many times have you looked at God and asked, “Lord, I don’t know how I’m going to get through this. I don’t know how I can overcome this pain. I don’t know how I can face this sickness. I don’t know how we’re going to pay this bill. Are You there? Can You help me?” Have you asked those questions? I have. And for each of those situations, Jeremiah 32:27 is the answer. Keep this verse in your wallet. Keep it in your purse. And when you have one of those deep life questions, take it out and read God’s answer. “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” No, Lord. There isn’t.

Are you letting some things replace the refreshment of God in your life? This week, we have been looking at the book of Jeremiah. He was an Old Testament prophet known as the “Weeping Prophet.” Yet, he gives us verse after verse about God’s love and His plan for our lives. Well, today’s One Verse is a little different. Jeremiah is gonna drop a little Truth bomb on us. In Jeremiah 10, God and Jeremiah have a conversation about how crazy it it that men will hire a craftsman to cut down a tree and carve an idol. How does that even compare to God? Well, we probably don’t have a lot of “worthless wooden idols” in our house. Or do we? I know I have some electronic idols. I have some food idols. An idol is anything that can take us away from God or substitute His work in our lives. When I’m stressed, I turn to food. Idol. Or I binge watch on Netflix. Idol. Is food, Netflix, or social media bad? No. But I can turn them into an idol when I start to look to them for refreshment instead of my relationship with God. Let’s evaluate our lives and see if there are any idols we need to give up.

God has a plan for your life, a plan for Hope and a future. Your past may be filled with mistakes and regrets. You current reality may be uncertain and you aren’t where you hoped you would be. But God has not forgotten you. He has a plan for your life. He wants to protect you from harm. He wants to give you a future. He is your Hope.

The message of Jesus cannot be contained. Jeremiah didn’t have the easiest life. He even told God that He deceived him. That’s pretty bold. Our One Verse today comes just two verses later. Even though Jeremiah was frustrated, he knew that God’s message was a fire in his bones he could not contain. I love this verse. I think this is a rally cry for anyone who desires to be a Light Bearer and a true follower of Jesus. The message of Jesus is like a fire we cannot control. For anyone that is serious about following Jesus, His message will pour out of us.

God had a plan for your life before you were even born. God knows you. He loves you. He has a plan for you. This week, we are looking at verses out of the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah was an Old Testament prophet who, frankly, had a pretty tough life. He is known as the Weeping Prophet, and he once told God, “You deceived me!” That’s some pretty strong words to be throwing at God! I like Jeremiah. With all the hurt and pain he went through, we still find some of the most uplifting and encouraging verses in the Bible in His writings. Today, God wants you to know that He loves you, He knows you, and He created a plan for your life before you were even born. That is how special you are to God!

God will give you the desires of your heart, but He’s not a genie. First, we must trust in Him and follow His ways. Then, He will give us our deepest, truest, heart-level desires.

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;" -Proverbs 3:9

When we feel lost, God sees a clear path. Have you ever been lost, really lost? Maybe you were driving in a new city or hiking in the woods. Either way, you didn’t know where to go next. You had lost the path. Has this ever happened in life? Have you ever said, “Why God?” Whenever we are lost driving or lost in life, one thing is true. If we could only get high enough, we could see the whole picture. We wouldn’t be confused and we would see exactly where we needed to go. Our One Verse today teaches us that God’s ways are higher than our ways. As high as the heavens are from the Earth, God sees the whole picture. Trust in Him to guide you down the right path.

Nothing you do for God is done in vain. Being a follower of Jesus is not easy. There will be days when you are tired, hungry, and want to give up. There will be days that you will wonder if it’s worth it. There will be days that you look up at God and say, “Really? Why am I doing this?” But on those days, stand firm. Nothing you do for God is ever in vain. You may not see the results you expected. You may not see results for a while. But God is faithful. He sees your deeds. He knows your heart. It may be tough now, but it is worth it.

I prayed for you today. Like Paul to the Colossians, I prayed that you would discover your purpose through your deepening relationship with God.

It’s all about that grace, ‘bout that grace, no trouble! No matter what you have done or the mistakes you have made, God has had a plan of redemption for you since the beginning of Time. God’s grace is at work in your life.

Take responsibility for your own spiritual life. Do you take your Bible to church? Do you follow along with your pastor on the Bible App? Or do you just take for granted that whatever they project on the screen is actually in the Bible? No, I am not saying your pastor is lying to you. I am saying that we should be taking responsibility for our own spiritual life. In our One Verse, the Berean Jews were comparing everything that Paul taught against what Scripture taught. I think it would be wise for us to do the same. You aren’t showing disrespect to your pastor. Instead, you are learning how to feed yourself.

God is our refuge of safety in times of trouble Is life a struggle right now? I can relate. For my wife and I, we are in the middle of a “life transition” and it’s not easy. It takes a toll on your faith when life doesn’t make sense or things aren’t working out the way you thought they would. Yet, God is good. He promises to meet all of our needs. We can trust in Him at all times. We can cry out to Him and be honest with Him. God is our refuge, our shelter in times of trouble. If life is uncertain, reach out to Him today!

Peer pressure isn't just an issue for teenagers!

You have already been given the gifts, skills, personality, and passion to live out God’s purpose for your life.

Paul teaches us the three most powerful forces that God created in the entire universe. The question is: How much time are you investing in these three areas?

Our limited problems are no match for God’s unlimited power!

Spend some time in prayer today! Let’s take time to pray for friends, for family, for our leaders, and for the troubles and injustices in our world. But don’t stop there. Let’s also give thanks to God for all that He is doing and will do in our lives!

I don’t know about you, but I can ask for a lot. I can imagine even more! Yet, today’s One Verse teaches us that God can do more than we can ask or even imagine! And it doesn’t stop there. Paul reminds us that God is at work in our lives. If we are followers of Jesus, His power lives within us. We can face our greatest challenges knowing that we have a loving God who cares for us, and that nothing is too big for Him!

Is life a little rough right now? Is your back against the wall? Have you been beaten down from a financial or health crisis? Are you battling anxiety or depression? If so, you probably have a strong desire in your heart for things to get better. A desire for hope and healing. Today’s One Verse teaches us that God hears the desire of the afflicted and the broken. We simply need to cry out to Him, and He will encourage us.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." -Proverbs 1:7

Don’t judge a book by its cover. We’ve heard it our entire lives. Yet, we all do it. In our fast paced culture, we look at outward appearances every single day. Yet, God looks a little bit deeper.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. God will be with us every step of the way. Be joyful in hope, stay patient because God will come through in His timing, and stay connected to Him in prayer.

"Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love."

The Bible is a miracle, being breathed by God yet written by ordinary people. There is nothing like the Bible. It is alive. It is the Words of God, yet given to us through ordinary and humble people. The Word of God exists to teach us, correct us, and guide us in the way we should live. The deeper you want to go, the deeper the Bible will allow you to do so. Dive deep into God’s Word today!

Why did Jesus come to earth? We don’t have to wonder. Jesus actually answered this question in one of the greatest verses in the Bible: John 10:10

When life is crumbling around you, God is there to whisper, “Be still”

One of the greatest attitudes we can have in life is a teachable spirit.

When you spend time with Jesus, it changes you. And people notice! Sometimes, I feel so ordinary. That is exactly what people said about Peter and John, two disciples who started the Church. In our One Verse Devotional today, the religious leaders are amazed at what they hear from Peter and John. After all, these are ordinary, working class guys, not the educated elite. But they noticed something very important about these men: Peter and John spent time with Jesus. When we spend time with Jesus, it changes you.

The more you plant, the more you can harvest Farmers have acres and acres of fields because they know the more they plant, the greater their chances are or having a large harvest. The same is true in life. When it comes to finances, career, relationships, and our spiritual life, the more we sow, the greater we will reap. But the opposite is true as well. The less we sow--investing in our faith, our relationships, and our finances--the less we will harvest. Now, go plant some seeds!

Through God’s amazing grace, we have been given freedom in Christ. But how will you use your freedom? Today’s One Verse teaches us a very important outcome of living with freedom in Christ.

No matter what you have done in your past, God wants to give you a new heart and a fresh start.

Adam's sinful choice brought evil into this world, but Jesus came to bring us life.

Are you feeling tired, worn out, or weak? Make today’s One Verse your prayer to God. Ask Him for the rest you need. His grace and mercy is fresh every morning.

Who are you letting speak into your life? Who do you seek for influence? What kind of media are you engaging with? The Book of Proverbs tells us to surround ourselves with wise influence or else we will suffer harm.

The world says to look out for #1. Some Christians even say that God helps them who help themselves. But these ideas are opposite to the teachings of Jesus. What does He say? Put others first. Otherwise, you could end up last.

God gives us power, not for our own good, but to share His Love with others. But it's going to take discipline. Fortunately, God gives us that, too!

If we cannot lead our own family in healthy spiritual, emotional, and financial ways, how can we expect to lead others? We can’t win in one area of our lives but lose at home. Win at home first.

God loved us when we had done nothing to earn it. That is true love! How did God demonstrate and show His love for us? By sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to live a sinless life and pay our penalty of death on the cross. We did nothing to earn it or deserve it. He loved us when we were truly unlovely.

The Shepherd cares about every single one of His sheep. Are you the lost sheep? Have you gone your own way and chose to turn your back on a God who loves you? It’s not too late. Our One Verse today was spoken by Jesus, Himself! He is pursuing you. He isn’t angry with you. He desires to restore your relationship and spend time with you. Don’t keep running from God. He cares for you. Make today the day that you turn around and run back to Him!

Do you ever get up in the night and stumble around until you run into a piece of furniture? You needed a light to show you the way. Our spiritual lives are no different. Without a steady light to direct our path, we would simply stumble around in the dark. Does life ever feel that way? I know mine does! But the closer we get to God, the ultimate Light, the more our future will be illuminated. Spend some time with God today and allow Him to shine some of His Light onto your path.

Whatever you do, do it for God! God has given us His best. It is now up to us to give our best back to Him. Doesn’t He deserve that? This is a life of true worship!

Dive deep into God’s Word, lift up and encourage each other, and reflect back worship to God. This is exactly how Colossians 3:16 tells us to live.

How do you make decisions? Colossians 3:15 gives us a great guide: Allow the peace of God to rule your heart. Even if it doesn’t make sense, choose the path that gives you peace.

“Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” -Colossians 3:14. The Bible teaches us to place love above all us. Jesus showed us that true Love is never weak.

Since Jesus gave His life for us and forgave us so we could have a restored relationship with God, how much more should we forgive others?

The Bible calls us to live with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. But is this what we see in our churches today? Is this what we see in our lives?

We don’t need to fear the valley of the shadow of death. God’s love and goodness and mercy will follow us wherever we go! Join us at phosphorusproject.com/community

As a father, sometimes I need to rebuke my children. This isn't because I'm cruel, but because I love them. A loving God doesn't discipline us because He is mean or angry. He does it out of love for His children.

The Bible is a living book. Certain parts of It will speak to us at different times in our lives… exactly when we needed it. The Bible is a living book because It is the Word of God. It has the ability to see into our soul and heal us from the inside out.

The Christian faith was meant to be lived out in relationship and community with others. Even Jesus appointed 12 disciples. If anyone could do it on His own, it would be Jesus. Yet, He chose to live in relationship with others.

Have you ever been on a rollercoaster ride of faith and emotions? Did God come through for you? If so, do these two things: 1) Give praise to God, and 2) Tell your story of what God has done in your life.

We want Love that puts on its boots and goes to work.

As parents, we have a huge responsibility... Teaching our children the Bible. But how? The Bible lays out for us the perfect way to teach our children, even if you don't have it all figured out yet. (Pro tip: You never will!) Teach your children about God and His Bible as you are going about your day. As you are living life. It doesn’t need to be complicated. It doesn’t need to be confusing. It simply needs to be consistent.

In times of trouble, God is a place of protection, safety, and relief. He is our refuge and our shield. Let’s place our hope in God and His Word.

In a time of intense negativity, it is time for us to embrace a new boldness with our words: being gracious and kind. In our culture today, using kind and gracious words would actually be one of the most radical things you could do. Why should we respect others? Because they were made in the image of God. We are all His children, made in His image. That, alone, requires kind, gracious, and respectful words. Show grace in your speech today.

As followers of Jesus, we all have one outstanding debt: To love others, and it is due every single day. Jesus first loved us, so He calls us to love others as well. (Pro tip: Especially if they look, act, or live different from us!)

At the heart of the Gospel message is looking out for the needs of others. When we carry each other’s burdens, we live out the example of Jesus in our lives. If we all do this, that means someone will also be there for you when you really need it!

Do you want to live a productive life in 2020? Today's One Verse lays out a unique way to be successful. Do you want your life to matter and be effective? Listen to Titus 3:14.

When Joshua took over as the leader of Israel, God gave him some great advice. God’s advice to Joshua thousands of years ago is still applicable today as we start 2020!

What if we could ask God what He wanted for us in 2020? What if we could ask Him how to be successful in the new year? I believe He has already given us the answers. Today, Matthew 6:33 gives us the key to having a successful new year.

Life can get so busy that even when we watch or read something, we can completely forget it just a few minutes later. Our minds are going, going, going. It can be especially true when we engage with God. But David reminds us to hide God’s Word in our hearts. Stay focused. Allow Him to speak into your life. Life does get crazy, but if we allow God’s Word to be hidden in our hearts, those verses will come back to us right when we need them the most.

One of the greatest attitudes you can have is to have a teachable spirit. It will help you in every area of your life!

Who are you letting speak into your life? Who do you seek for influence? What kind of media are you engaging with? The Book of Proverbs tells us to surround ourselves with wise influence or else we will suffer harm.

The Bible makes us an amazing promise: If we acknowledge that Jesus is God, God will live with us and spend time with us.

God will strengthen your heart. He will provide the energy, power, and even rest you need to live a life that pleases Him.

Today is #GivingTuesday and God loves a cheerful giver!

This is a season of doing good for family and others. It is a time of giving. Unfortunately, we can also become burned out when trying to do too much without taking care of ourselves. The Apostle Paul understood this. He encourages us, in Galatians 6:9, that we do not become weary, tired, or worn out when doing good. Maybe you need to pause and take care of yourself.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Today, I’m thankful for you. I appreciate your support and allowing me to speak into your life. I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you!

Being thankful is God’s will for your life

[Week of Thanksgiving] When we ask God for things, we have to be careful not to treat Him like a genie in the lamp. There is one, simple way to avoid this: Pray out of a heart of thanksgiving. Giving thanks is an act of worship and shows respect and honor for our God.

[Week of Thanksgiving] What is the foundation of thanksgiving? Jesus gave Himself as our sacrifice, and His grace is reaching more and more people. It is this Grace that allows Thanksgiving to overflow in our lives as worship to God.

"As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him." -Psalm 18:30

Jesus lived a perfect life, but he was also tempted. He understands our weaknesses and can even empathize with us. He isn’t upset with us. He understands, and He is here to help.

Sometimes, we simply don’t know how to pray. Have you been there? When you look to heaven, throw up your hands, and say, “Lord, I don’t know what to pray. I just need you.” Romans 8:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit steps in, and literally, prays for us.

The message of the Bible is simple: Do good to others both inside and outside of the Church!

We serve a LIVING God! He is the great Conqueror and the great Overcomer. He holds the keys to death and hell!

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." Psalm 23:1

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8

"For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:13

"On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." Matthew 9:12

Maybe you need to make this your prayer today: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation" -Psalm 51:12

"Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal." Isaiah 26:4

"walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us..." Ephesians 5:2

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” -John 8:32

"I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:8

For Halloween, we are tackling one of the SCARIEST topics in the entire Bible! Spooooky!

In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could come into the Presence of God, and it was just one time per year. Now, God allows us to encounter His presence whenever we choose. Do NOT take prayer for granted. It is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us.

We have an enemy who is ready to take us out at every opportunity. That is why it is so important to stay alert, stay connected to God, and stay connected to each other. Like my football coach used to teach me, you need to keep your head on a swivel.

The Apostle Peter was one of Jesus’s closest friends. He also helped to start the Church movement with his sermon at Pentecost. So, when Peter gives some guidelines and instructions for the Church, we should probably pay attention. Do Peter’s words describe the Church today?

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him” -Psalm 103:13

"It [Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:7-8

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." 1 Corinthians 13:6

"It [Love] does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." 1 Corinthians 13:5

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." 1 Corinthians 13:4

No matter your sin or your past, God's grace is available to you.

It can be easy to dismiss, but we must remember that we are in the middle of a spiritual battle every day of our lives and we have an enemy who wants to destroy us. But God is stronger!

“I am the resurrection and the life."

Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing.

Jesus knows you, He loves you, and He wants to lead you.

God is the Rock of our salvation, a firm foundation in the middle of life’s shifting sands. When life is unsure and we feel like we are walking on shifting sands, God is the foundation and the Rock that stands firm. When the wind is blowing and the storm is raging around us, we can take comfort and safety near the Rock. I encourage you to find the Rock. Find your safety in God. Then, grow closer to Him and build your life on HIs solid foundation.

“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace…” -Romans 15:13

We usually think of a minister as a pastor. But the original meaning of the word minister was “servant of the king”. As followers of Jesus, we are ALL called to be ministers of the Gospel… servants of the Most High King.

What is God calling you to do? Where is God calling you to go?

Go outside and enjoy the creation of God!

Christians who believe in a Creator should want to take care of His Creation.

Have you ever played the game where you shut the door and try to keep out your friends? As long as the door stays shut, it is almost impossible for them to open it. But if they get just one foot in the door, they can eventually pry the entire thing open. In Ephesians 4, the Bible tells us that is exactly how sin works in our life. Do not give the Devil a foothold.

Should we step out in faith or wait on the Lord?

In every situation, find something you can rejoice in. At the end of the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul tells us to “rejoice always,” but what does that really mean? Do we still praise God during the messy times of life? Even then, you have a LOT in which you can rejoice. You are still a son or daughter of the Most High Kind. You still have a future in Christ. No matter what situation you find yourself in, there is something you can rejoice in.

Your faith can actually bring great encouragement to others who are struggling in their own faith journey. Just like yesterday, today’s One Verse is a personal message from me to you. Paul told the church of the Thessalonians that he had actually been encouraged by their faith in his times of distress (and Paul had some distress!) I feel the same about you. There have been times when I’ve wanted to quit the podcast. But right when I feel that way, I get an email or a private message or even a Facebook comment from someone telling me how much what I am doing means to them and their spiritual life. What an encouragement! You have the power to encourage other Christians who are struggling in their faith. By seeing your faith, it can give them hope. What about your pastor? That’s a tough job with little thanks. I know! So many pastors are tempted to quit. Your faith could be just the thing that is bringing them encouragement and allowing them to feel like their efforts and their ministry are actually making a difference. Our faith affects those around us.

By holding on tight to the teachings of Jesus, we can stand firm in an unpredictable world. I love today’s One Verse because I want to adopt Paul’s message. He encourages his brothers and sisters in the faith to stand firm and hold fast to the teachings he passed on to them by mouth or by letter. Through word of mouth (podcast!), I am also passing on these teachings of Jesus to you, my brothers and sisters. My hope, like Paul, is that you stand firm in these teachings. God’s Word remains firm in a constantly shifting world.

The beauty of the Church happens when different people from different backgrounds and different cultures come together under the name of Jesus. God has invited us into His will to bring unity to heaven and earth through Jesus. God’s will is that heaven and earth would be reunited. After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, a gap was created between us and God. His will is for that gap to be removed, and that is exactly what Jesus did through His sacrifice on the cross. Now, we are invited into the story. As we grow closer to God and chase after His will in our lives, we get to participate in bringing unity to all things.

God’s will is the journey, not a destination. He wants you to know His will! One of the biggest questions many have about the Christian life is “What is God’s will for my life?” We have this idea that once we find God’s will, life will be great. It will all fall into place. But that isn’t the case. God doesn’t want us to get comfortable and content with where we are. He wants us to keep moving and growing. His will isn’t one perfect destination in our life. If we just get “there” everything will be perfect. No. It is the journey of growing closer to God. And even more than that, God wants to reveal His will to you. The closer you get to God, the more He will uncover His will in your life.

May God increase your love for everyone. Always.

When Jesus said He was standing at the door and knocking, sadly, He was speaking to His church. In today’s One Verse [Revelation 3:20], Jesus says that He is standing at the door and knocking. Maybe you’ve seen the famous painting that was based on this verse. But here is the part we usually forget: He is speaking to Christians. When we hear this verse, it’s easy to think, “Yes, I hope people who don’t believe in Jesus would open their lives to Him.” And that’s great. But this verse is for us. As Christians, we have a hard question to ask… Are we shutting Jesus out? Is He standing outside the door of your heart, asking for you to let Him back in? Please open the door and spend some quality time with Jesus today.

God isn't angry with you. David, the writer of this Psalm, did a lot in his life that God wasn’t happy with. Adultery, murder, bloodshed. Yet, David tells us that God’s anger last only a moment. God isn’t angry with you. If you’ve messed up, sinned, made a mistake, then seek His forgiveness. He freely gives His grace. God loves you and wants to pour out His blessings on you like a loving Father does for His child.

"You are all children of God through faith." -Galatians 3:26 Such a simple One Verse today. However, this short verse has three deep layers we must understand. 1. This is your identity You are a son or daughter of the Most High King. This is who you are. Do you understand that? Does your life reflect this fact? Or do you wonder where you stand? When we don't understand who we are, we will always struggle with anxiety, worry, and even depression. We will develop a "scarcity mentality" where we never think there is enough, even though God promises to provide all of our needs. You are a child of the God, and He is a good, good, Father. 2. You are ALL children Listen, it doesn't matter what you look like, the color of your skin, your past mistakes, or how you vote. If you have faith in Jesus, you are a child of God. There is NO racism, sexism, or bigotry allowed in the Christian faith.  If faith is used for these purposes, I promise you it is NOT faith. 3. Faith, not rules In the previous verses, we find Paul is comparing the law to our faith. In the past, people had to follow the law, always wondering if they were right with God. We are children of God through our faith in Jesus, not following rules. Your relationship with God is not based on if you do enough, go to church enough, or follow all the rules. Yes, we have guidelines as Christians. Those come after we are a child of God, not before. You are a child of God based on your faith and faith alone. It is by grace through faith, not your good works. If you trust in Jesus, you ARE a child of God!

As much as you love your children, God loves you even more! I love being a dad. I love providing for my children and giving them gifts. I would do anything for them. If you are a parent, you know what I mean. We sacrifice so much to provide for our kids. Yet, I’m human. I’m not perfect. So, if I love to take care of my children, how much more will God take care of us? God loves you. He loves you like you love your children. And He will take care of you.

Faith gives us hope because we can see God moving in every area of our lives. Faith is hard to wrap our minds around. You can’t see it. You can’t hold it. Yet, our One Verse for today, Hebrews 11:1, tells us that we can actually have assurance and hope in our faith. Faith doesn’t fly well in today’s culture. Science and information rules. Experience matters. But faith? Not so much. So, what is faith? Faith is a choice. Faith is choosing to have confidence in the Hope we can’t see. Faith doesn’t make sense. If it did, it wouldn’t be faith. Faith is supernatural assurance in what we cannot see and choosing to Hope. That sounds strange, doesn’t it? How can you have hope in something you cannot see? It’s hard to explain, but once you have deep faith, it is as real as anything else in life. How does it bring hope? Because our faith allows us to see God working in our lives, the good and the bad. And if we can’t see God moving, we know to look for Him. That is what Faith does in our lives. It allows us to see where God is moving.

“God takes full responsibility for the life wholly devoted to Him.” -Charles Stanley We don't have to worry about finding God's will for our lives. God takes responsibility for His will and purpose in this world. The Bible makes it clear over and over, again. God will guide us towards His will. After all, it is His purpose that He want to see lived out in the world. He wants you to find His will. He has invited you into the story. We don't need to stress about finding God's will. Just find God and He will show you the way!

Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus paid our sin debt. Now, as followers of Jesus, we are called to honor God with our actions. There is a lot of talk today about what we can do as Christians. What is ok, what is not ok? What is right, what is wrong? How should we live our lives? I think these are the wrong questions. Our One Verse today in 1 Corinthians 6:20 gives us a different outlook. It reminds us that Jesus paid everything for our future. We had sin and judgement and death to look forward to, but Jesus turned that into life and grace and forgiveness. How should we live in light of this fact? It isn’t just about doing what is right and what is wrong. It also means we ask ourselves: what are the positive things we can engage in like serving others? Let us honor God with our bodies today.

The focus of the Christian faith isn’t about following rules. The goal isn’t a bunch of do’s and don’ts. Jesus taught and lived compassion. The focus of true Christianity is Love in all of its forms. Not only was this the example of Jesus, we find it throughout the Bible. Even in the Old Testament, the book of Isaiah teaches us how to live a life of true Love.

Sharing your faith is one of the scariest parts of being a Christian, but it doesn’t have to be. Simply tell your story. One of the biggest questions many Christians have is, “How do I share my faith?” We know we are supposed to do it. Yet, most of us shy away from sharing our faith because we don’t know how. We don’t want to be pushy. We don’t want to get into a debate with someone. We don’t want to seem like a know-it-all. But sharing your faith has nothing to do with any of these things. Sharing your faith is simply telling your story. This is how John, who lived with Jesus, begins his letter. He isn’t giving second hand information. He is telling the story that he experienced. We should do the same. Simply tell your story. Telling a story isn’t a debate. You are simply sharing what God has done in your own life. And who doesn’t love a good story?

What do we do when God doesn’t seem to be listening? When we aren’t sure where to turn or what to do, we reach out to God for the next step. We ask for vision and clarity. We ask for deliverance. And all of that is good. He wants us to do that. But have you ever felt that God is being silent? David begins Psalm 109, “My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent.” What an amazing prayer. There have been times that I felt like God had been silent. Yet, my wife and I decided, together, that we will still praise God. We will still trust that He is in control. So, make this your prayer: God, do not remain silent. But always remember that small phrase in the middle… whom I praise. Continue to seek God and praise Him, even in the waiting.

The Christian life is like a marathon race. Get rid of anything that is weighing you down.The Christian life is like a marathon race. Get rid of anything that is weighing you down. The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes perseverance. It takes discipline. Stick with it. Finally, it we are running a race, we need to remove any weight that is holding us back. We know we need to get rid of sin in our lives. But what else is in your life that is holding you back? It might not be sin, but it is getting in the way of God’s best for your life?

God’s will is not a secret.  Many Christians wonder what God’s will is for their lives. The thing is, the Bible gives us the answer. No, the Bible can’t tell you exactly what job you are supposed to have, who to marry, or where to live. But God’s will goes way beyond all of these areas. God’s will involves bringing our lives in line with what God is doing in the world. How do we discover this? How do we join God? Our One Verse for today, Romans 12:2 gives us the answer.

Worship isn’t the songs we sing, but the lives we live. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were a big deal. They were a large part of many national festivals. One one day out of the year, a sacrifice was even made that would cover the sins of the entire nation of Israel. After military victories or special blessings, a sacrifice would be made. Yet, every sacrifice was, at its core, an act of worship. Making a sacrifice was a way of offering praise to God and acknowledging His deity. In our One Verse today, we are called to become a “living sacrifice.” How can we do this? By giving our lives back to God. He has given us true Love, forgiveness, grace and mercy. In turn, we should be compelled to give our lives back to Him. It is the ultimate act of worship. I encourage both you and myself to live our lives as living sacrifices to God. He isn’t easy, but it is the greatest act of worship we can give: Ourselves.

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” We need to keep this verse close to us at all times. If you have ever experienced heartache, pain, or disappointment in your life, this verse is for you. I love this verse because it is the answer to so many questions. How many times have you looked at God and asked, “Lord, I don’t know how I’m going to get through this. I don’t know how I can overcome this pain. I don’t know how I can face this sickness. I don’t know how we’re going to pay this bill. Are You there? Can You help me?” Have you asked those questions. I have. And for each of those situations, Jeremiah 32:27 is the answer. Keep this verse in your wallet. Keep it in your purse. And when you have one of those deep life questions, take it out and read God’s answer. “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” No, Lord. There isn’t.

Are you letting some things replace the best God has for your life? This week, we have been looking at the book of Jeremiah. Today, Jeremiah is gonna drop a little truth bomb on us. We probably don’t have a lot of “worthless wooden idols” in our house. Or do we? I know I have some electronic idols. I have some food idols. An idol is anything that can take us away from God or substitute His work in our lives. When I’m stressed, I turn to food. Idol. Or I binge watch on Netflix. Idol. Is food or Netflix bad? No. But I can turn them into an idol when I start to look to the for refreshment instead of my relationship with God. Let’s evaluate our lives and see if there are any idols we need to give up.

God is giving you a future filled with Hope. Your past may be filled with mistakes and regrets. Your current reality may be uncertain and you aren’t where you hoped you would be. But God has not forgotten you. He has a plan for your life. He wants to protect you from harm. He wants to give you a future. He is your Hope.

Jeremiah didn’t have the easiest life. He even told God that He deceived him. Even though Jeremiah was frustrated, he knew that God’s message was a fire in his bones he could not contain. I love this verse. It is a rally cry for anyone who desires to be a Light Bearer and a true follower of Jesus. The message of Jesus is like a fire we cannot control. For anyone who is serious about following Jesus, His message of Love will pour out of us.

God knows you. He loves you. He has a plan for you. We are in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah was an Old Testament prophet who, frankly, had a pretty tough life. Yet, with all the pain he went through, we still find some of the most uplifting and encouraging verses in the Bible in His writings. Today, God wants you to know that He loves you, He knows you deeply, and He created a plan for your life before you were even born. That is how special you are to God!

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice so we could receive the ultimate gift. Matthew 27:50 is the verse that changed history. In this moment, Jesus took on the weight of the world. He bore the wrongdoings of every man and woman that has ever lived or ever will live. Jesus paid the sin-debt of death for all of humanity. In the beginning, God and humankind enjoyed a perfect relationship, spending everyday together. But sin changed that. God is perfect and holy, and He can not associate with sin, evil, or injustice. It is against His very nature. By our own sin, we had separated ourselves from God. And only one penalty could heal our sin-debt: death. Blood would need to be shed. It was the only way. Jesus lived a perfect life in an imperfect world. He was innocent, the one human that did not need to appease the blood-debt. But He stood in our place. He took on our debt and paid the price with His life. Now, through His death, our debt has been paid. And through His resurrection, death and hell and sin have been conquered once and for all! The gift of true Life is now available to anyone who will place their trust in Jesus, recognizing our need for a Savior who gave everything for us. If you have any questions about what this means for your life, please email me at [email protected] and let’s have an honest conversation about life and faith and your future.

At the Last Supper, Jesus gave us a new command. You might remember from earlier this week that Jesus quoted the Old Testament with He was asked what the greatest commandment was. Jesus is now in the upper room with his closest disciples and gives us all a new commandment. What is this new commandment? To love one another as Jesus loves us. As we enter Easter weekend, let’s remember how much Jesus gave for us because of His Love and show that same love for others that we encounter each and every day.

How can we effectively love our neighbor? Yesterday and today, we are looking at what Jesus called the first and second greatest commandments. Jesus said “all the laws and prophets hang on these two commandments.” What did he mean? Can the entire Christian life be summarized in just two commands? If we love God and love people, we would live a life full of worship and purpose!

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. As we look to Easter, we are looking at a verse, each day, from the last week of Jesus’s life. It’s funny how many times Jesus doesn’t answer a direct question in the Bible. He usually answers a question with another question. He wants people to think and dive deeper. That is, until someone is trying to test Jesus. Then He doesn’t mess around! Well, today’s One Verse is one of those times. It is during Holy Week, the last week before Jesus goes to the cross. An “expert” in the law is trying to test Jesus, and we get to listen in and hear from Jesus as He answers the question: “Which is the greatest commandment?”

This is the start of Holy Week, which means we are less than a week away from Easter, resurrection Sunday! To prepare for Easter, we are going to look at a verse, each day, from the final week of Jesus’s life here on earth. Today’s One Verse takes place when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. The Bible tells us it caused quite a stir when Jesus entered the city. Palm leaves and branches were being thrown in the street, and people were shouting, “Hosanna!” For those who didn’t understand what was happening, they had one question: Who is this? We all have one question we must answer in life: Who is Jesus? This isn’t a question we only ask once, but one we continually ask ourselves throughout our lives.

When we grow close to God, He will show us the true, deep desires of our heart.

We all need a little encouragement. Let us continue to reflect the Love of Jesus to others who need it and build them up, as well.

When it comes to the group assignment called Life, God is the A+ student

Nothing you do for God is done in vain. Being a follower of Jesus is not easy. There will be days when you are tired, hungry, and want to give up. There will be days that you will wonder if it’s worth it. There will be days that you look up at God and say, “Really? Why am I doing this?” But on those days, stand firm. Nothing you do for God is ever in vain. You may not see the results you expected. You may not see results for a while. But God is faithful. He sees your deeds. He knows your heart. It may be tough now, but it is worth it.

I am praying for you.

When we trust God, He lets us in on His plans. Do you have some questions for God? I do. That is why I love today’s One Verse. It promises us that if we trust God and fear Him with awe and respect, He will let us in on His plans. He will trust us and confide in us.

Are you taking responsibility for your own spiritual life? Do you take your Bible to church? Do you follow along with your pastor on the Bible App? Or do you just take for granted that whatever they project on the screen is actually in the Bible? No, I am not saying your pastor is lying to you. I am saying that we should be taking responsibility for our own spiritual life. In our One Verse, the Berean Jews were comparing everything that Paul said against what Scripture taught. I think it would be wise for us to do the same. You aren’t showing disrespect to your pastor. Instead, you are learning how to feed yourself.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" Our One Verse today comes from the book of Joshua. Joshua was the leader of Israel in the Old Testament after Moses. He took the Israelites into the Promised Land. At the end of his life, after years of service and leadership to his people. He made one of his final addresses. In a sense, he drew a line in the sand. You can serve whoever you want to serve, but me and my household will continue to serve the Lord. What an inspiring message! He could of said anything, but this wise, old leader new what really mattered. Stay close to God. My prayer is this will be a phrase you live by in your own life. Will you serve the Lord?

God has invited you to participate in His story of redemption, reconciliation, and love. Yesterday, we learned that God has already given us everything we need to live out our calling. In 2 Peter 1:4, we learn that God has invited us into His story. We have been given a role to play, and He wants us to participate in what He is doing. You matter to God, and He has given you a role to play.

God has already given you everything you need to live your purpose. Do you know God’s will for your life? Have you discovered your purpose? A lot of people struggle with this. We think, “Well, if I just had this gift or that person’s skills. If only had (fill in the blank), I would be able to find God’s will for my life and live out my purpose. Well, today’s One Verse teaches us that we have been given everything we need. It’s like our Spiritual DNA. You have the gifts, skills, personality, and passion to live out God’s purpose for your life.

Can we trust the Bible that we have today? I believe we can. The Bible is God-breathed. Even though God chose to use flawed humans, He preserves His Word. So, why do we have the Bible? Our One Verse, 2 Timothy 3:16, tells us that the Bible can correct us and highlight those areas we need to work on. Yet, it also gives us the teaching and training we need. The Bible equips us to live the life God has planned for us. I encourage you to dive into God’s Word and allow it to speak into your life.

We can't fight being busy with more busyness. Sometimes, we just need to be still and allow God to work in our lives. God never calls us to chaos, only Peace.

I believe we have all been given special gifts and abilities from God. However, sometimes I simply feel ordinary. I wonder if I really have what it takes. Well, Acts 4:13 speaks to this very problem. Peter and John, from the world’s view, were ordinary men. Yet, they did extraordinary things for the Kingdom of God. How? They spent time with Jesus. Are you tired of feeling ordinary and what to uncover the best that God has for you? Spend time with Jesus and He can do extraordinary things through your life.

As Christians, we aren’t called to be fearful or timid. We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. What does that mean? God’s Spirit gives us STRENGTH so we can develop self-discipline and be outspoken in love.

Should we sacrifice everything for our careers? There is a common lie in our culture that says you can win at work and lose at home. That we can sacrifice our families as long as we are giving everything we have to our business or our dreams. But the Bible makes it clear: If you can’t lead your family well, you can’t lead anything well. We don’t need to be perfect spouses or parents. But it is impossible to win at life if we are losing at home.

How does God feel about me? This is the question we have been asking the last two days. Thankfully, the Bible is very clear on how God feels about us. God loves us, unconditionally. He loved us when we were truly unlovely. Do you struggle with past mistakes and failures? Take some time today to reflect on how much God must love you. He showed us His love when we could do nothing in return and had done nothing to earn it!

Do you feel lost? Whether you feel lost in finding your future or lost because you have messed up in your past, Jesus hasn’t given up on you. He is pursuing you, He will show you the path of life, and He will rejoice once you are back home.

How should a Christian live? What does it mean to follow Jesus and live the Christian life? Colossians teaches us how to live, and it is beautiful.

Only God can heal us. Only God can cleanse us. No matter what your past mistakes may be, seek after God and ask Him to repair your heart.

“I’ll pray for you.” How many times have we used this phrase only to forget our promise and turn it into empty words? Today’s One Verse teaches us HOW to love others: through our actions. There’s no place for “lip service” love.

When we hear the word “debt” we usually think of money and credit. Yet, as followers of Jesus, we have one very important debt that has nothing to do with money. And we owe this debt to every person we meet.

Teaching our children the Bible can seem overwhelming. What does it look like? When should we do it? Today’s One Verse actually lays out a simple strategy on how to teach the Bible. Whether you have kids or not, this is how we should interact with God’s Word.

If I asked you how to "fulfill the Law of Jesus" what would you say? Our One Verse today gives us the answer in only 4 short words.

What is Christianity? Getting plugged into, and reflecting, the Light and Love of Jesus.

God finishes what He starts | Philippians 1:6 | Episode #605

Just a quick update to let all of you know that the One Verse Devotional podcast is back! Plus, I answer some questions about where I've been and where God has been leading me the past couple of months.

As Christians, we are called to love and serve others. But that is different than trying to please others and finding your worth in what others think of you. That is only a trap that will prevent you from serving God and discovering His best for your life in 2019.

Want 2019 to be a great year? Focus on these two key areas: Seek wise counsel and have discipline in your life. They may not sound flashy, but Proverbs 19:20 reminds us of their importance.

Let’s be very clear: If you follow Jesus, you cannot hate another one of God’s children. You can’t call yourself a Christian and hate your brother or sister.

There is a big difference between saying, “Lord, forgive me” and actually confessing and repenting of our failures.

Today’s One Verse says, “The Truth will set you free.” Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. So, the more we know Jesus, the greater freedom we will experience.

Since God has been faithful in the past and has our best interest at heart, we can trust that He will be faithful in the future, as well.

God isn’t a grumpy old man, waiting to punish you. He is forgiving and good and filled with love.

Jesus came to proclaim good news and set the oppressed free. Jesus came to give us Hope!

This one truth will keep you from all sorts of temptation.

Our culture is obsessed with the negative and controversial. But God says to think about what is lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy.

It can be easy to dismiss, but we must remember that we are in the middle of a spiritual battle every day of our lives and we have an enemy who wants to destroy us. But God is stronger!

“You have done amazing things. You have always done what you said you would do; you have done what you planned long ago.” -Isaiah 25:1

On Thursday, you probably sat down with family or friends and shared why you are thankful. I think it’s easy to overlook our thankfulness for God. Let’s not put Him on the back burner this year. Give your thanks and your worship to God. He is truly worthy of our deepest thanks. Take a few minutes today and tell God “Thank you”

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Today, I’m thankful for you. I appreciate your support and allowing me to speak into your life. I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you!

Christmas is coming. Are you ready? Get your copy of 12 Days of Christmas This is the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas lights glisten throughout the neighborhood as familiar carols fill the air. Decorations are hung with care and the star is gently placed on top of the tree. Even movies feel like old friends as you spend time with characters you haven’t seen for a year. Yet, with all this nostalgia, Christmas can also be the most chaotic time of the year. It is easy to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday that you miss out of the true gift of Christmas. This year, it’s time to try a different approach. Christmas will be much more meaningful for your whole family if you start preparing for Christmas now. I'm not talking about avoiding the last-minute shopping rush. I'm talking about preparing your heart. 12 Days of Christmas: A Christmas Devotional will allow you to see the birth of Jesus in a refreshing, new light. From Genesis to Revelation, 12 Days of Christmas will take you on a journey that will give you a unique perspective on the Christmas story and what it means for your life. If you are experiencing a desert season of life or looking to find true hope this Christmas, 12 Days of Christmas will prepare your heart for Jesus, the perfect Gift.

What is God’s will for my life? It’s kind of a big question, right? But the Bible lays out several ways that we can live in God’s will. Today’s One Verse makes it clear: Being thankful is God’s will for your life.

Being thankful is easy to put on the back burner and only focus on once a year. But the Bible lays out another way: living “with thanksgiving” in every situation of life.

[Week of Thanksgiving] We are weak, but He is strong. This is the power of God’s grace in our lives, and His grace is reaching more and more people. It is this Grace that allows Thanksgiving to overflow in our lives.

God is the Rock of our salvation, a firm foundation in the middle of life’s shifting sands. When life is unsure and we feel like we are walking on shifting sands, God is the foundation and the Rock that stands firm. When the wind is blowing and the storm is raging around us, we can take comfort and safety near the Rock. I encourage you to find the Rock. Find your safety in God. Then, grow closer to Him and build your life on HIs solid foundation.

“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace…” -Romans 15:13

Today, we think of a minister as a pastor. But the original meaning of the word, minister, was servant of the king. As followers of Jesus, we are ALL called to be ministers of the Gospel. Servants of the Most High King.

As much as we want all the answers, we are simply called to go until God shows us the future He has for us

The greatest “wealth” we can achieve is growing deeper in our relationship with Jesus and being content with the blessing He has given us.

The closer we get to Jesus, the more we will realize and understand our gifts, passions, and purpose in this world! Yesterday, our One Verse was from Colossians 2 and reminded us that all of the power, glory, might, and fullness of God was in Jesus. That means we serve an awesome Savior! Well, today’s One Verse is a continuation of that thought. It is Colossians 2:10 and it says, “and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.” Wow! Christ is the fullness of God and then He passes that on to us! In other words, the closer we get to Jesus and the deeper we engage with Him in authentic relationship means the greater we will understand our gifts, skills, passion, and purpose in this world! Grow close to Jesus and He will show you amazing and wonderful things!

A simple reminder: Jesus is the TOTAL fullness of God in human form. In the Book of Colossians, Paul teaches us something simple, yet very critical: All the fullness of God was in Jesus in human form. For many of us, that is simply a reminder. Yes, we know Jesus is God. But there can be a big difference between “head knowledge” and “heart knowledge.” My desire is for you to have heart knowledge of Jesus and Who He is. Remember the stories of the Old Testament that we grew up with? When God parted the Red Sea through Moses or defeated Goliath through David? What about when He provided manna to the people of Israel when they were in the desert? Over and over again, God shows us His power. And it is THIS power that lives in Jesus. We serve a mighty God who loves us. We follow a powerful Savior who provides for us. I simply want to remind you, today, that Jesus IS God and God IS BIG!

As followers of Jesus, we can soar like eagles. But we need to learn how to trust and place our hope in God.

Happy Reformation Day! Romans 1:17 is the verse that inspired Martin Luther and kicked off the Protestant Reformation on October 31st, 1517

From political ads to Facebook posts, the negative talk in our culture is becoming unbearable. But it can only change if it starts with us.

Our world is filled with violence. This past weekend, a gunman filled with hate walked into a Jewish synagogue and murdered 11 worshippers. Throughout the Bible, God calls us to join Him in His mission of Love. The only way to stop evil in the world is for God’s people to get serious about spreading the Light and Love of our Savior, Jesus. Yes, violence will exist until Jesus returns and reconciles all things back to Himself. BUT…. We can still make a difference by spurring others to live a life of Love, as well. This is our God-given calling.

We are called to accept others. Those in the Church. Those outside of the Church. When will the Church get serious about this command?

Today’s One Verse is wisdom from John, the closest man to Jesus while on earth. Of everything that John could teach us, what would it be? To love others, not in words, but through our actions.

The disciples ask Jesus for a sign that they should follow Him. (BTW, this was AFTER Jesus fed the 5,000 and walked on water!) They “remind” Jesus that God sent Moses bread from heaven as a sign. Jesus uses their own illustration and teaches us an important lesson: He is the Bread of Life and the closer we grow to Him, the more fulfilled we will be.

The disciples ask Jesus for a sign that they should follow Him. (BTW, this was AFTER Jesus fed the 5,000 and walked on water!) They “remind” Jesus that God sent Moses bread from heaven as a sign. Jesus uses their own illustration and teaches us an important lesson: He is the Bread of Life and the closer we grow to Him, the more fulfilled we will be.

It’s Monday, which means we are in the book of Psalms. (Wait! That doesn’t sound right.) Yes, normally we do Psalms on Friday, but today’s One Verse is perfect for kicking off a new week. Psalm 25:4 could be used as a weekly prayer to begin our weeks with God’s blessing. If we adopted this weekly prayer, I believe it could have a massive impact on our lives.

In Psalm 23, David says that he is walking through the “valley of the shadow of death”. Just a few pages later, in our One Verse today, David has confidence that He will see the goodness of God in the land of the living. No matter what you are going through right now--blessing or pain--we can all be confident that we will see the Goodness of God in the land of the living.

Even in the midst of storms in our lives, even when we don’t understand or can’t explain the storm, nothing is too hard for God. Today’s One Verse: Jeremiah 32:17

Do we truly understand how wide and long and high and deep God’s love is?

Today, I pray that you would be strengthened with the power of God through His Spirit. I love Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians. To start of this week, I want to make this my prayer for you, as well. Through God’s glorious riches, He will strengthen us and give us His power. How many riches does God have? Does He need anything? Of course not! It is so easy to get caught up in the small details of life and forget that we serve a God and have a Father who needs nothing. He has everything. And it is out of those riches that He blesses us and provides for us! Through His Spirit, God will comfort us and give us power to live out our purpose in this world and to love others. I pray this for you today. May you be strengthened by His Spirit!

In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could come into the Presence of God, and it was just one time per year. Now, God allows us to encounter His presence whenever we choose. Do NOT take prayer for granted. It is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us.

We have an enemy who is ready to take us out at every opportunity. That is why it is so important to stay alert, stay connected to God, and stay connected to each other. Like my football coach used to teach me, you need to keep your head on a swivel.

The Apostle Peter was one of Jesus’s closest friends. He also helped to start the Church movement with his sermon at Pentecost. So, when Peter gives some guidelines and instructions for the Church, we should probably pay attention. Do Peter’s words describe the Church today?

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” -Psalm 100:4. Psalm 100 is only five verses, but is so uplifting. It is a feel-good passage, for sure! But it also a great reminder to praise God’s name. He is worthy of our praise. How many times do we (spiritually) drag into church each week, look at the pastor, and basically say, “Please give me something to make it through another week.” I understand. I’ve been there countless times. Sometimes life is on fast forward and we can’t keep up. But can I be real for a second? Maybe a little tough love? How many times is that actually on us? I’m not saying we can never be tired. We all have those times. But in general, are we always showing up to church like that? Are we starving ourselves throughout the week and then trying to score a quick spiritual meal on Sunday mornings? No wonder your spirit is tired. Just like in the real world, feeding yourself once a week is not very healthy. I don’t know about you, but I want to enter His gates with a song already in my heart and I want to be praising God, even silently, as I walk through the door!

This world is troubled, but take heart! Jesus has overcome the world. There is no doubt that our world is troubled. I can hardly watch the news, and actually avoid it most nights. Scene after scene of violence from around the country and around our world. Jesus warned us that we would experience trouble in this world. I always thought He meant that we would experience hard times in our lives. That is true, of course. But I think He meant even more than that. Our entire world would be troubled. But Jesus reminds us of two very important things in our One Verse today. In John 16, Jesus is at the Last Supper talking to His disciples. As Jesus was going to the cross in just a few short days, do you think those words were important? Yeah! He tells the disciples that He came to bring us peace. The teachings of Jesus and going to the cross were meant for us to find true God-peace in Him. In Jesus. And then Jesus reminds us of something very important. He tells us that we will experience trouble in this world. “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” For me, that is so comforting. Yes, there is still tragedy and chaos. For now. But evil will not win. It has already been defeated. Jesus has overcome our trouble, our sin, death, and hell. And because of that, I want to encourage you with the same words of Jesus… Take heart!

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Did you know the Golden Rule was Jesus’s idea? Our culture needs the Golden Rule now more than ever! A phrase that’s easy to forget that came from the Bible is the Golden Rule. It comes straight from the mouth of Jesus and it is today’s One Verse. Many times, we think the Golden Rule was something we learned as a child, so we discredit it. It was childish thinking. Be nice, share your toys. Old school. But I would say that our society, our country, and our world needs the Golden Rule now more than ever. How could our country change if we all started living by this simple rule? Maybe you’re a cynic and think, “Matt, there is no way everyone is going to start living this way.” Ok. I’d agree with you. But what if YOU start living this way. And I start living this way. Could we still make a difference? Could we start a ripple of kindness and love? I think we can. One more thing to remember: When Jesus gave us the Golden Rule, he started this paragraph telling us to love others that hate us, slap us, and say horrible things about us. Jesus said love your enemies and then ended with “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The Golden Rule isn’t for nice people. It’s how we are supposed to treat everyone, even our enemies.

The greatest leaders don’t say, “This is how great I am.” The greatest leaders say, “This is how I can serve you.” Jesus always has a different way of looking at things. That is probably one of the greatest reasons I love being a Christian. The true message of Jesus is radical. Over and over, Jesus would say, “You’ve heard it said…, but I say…” or “You’ve been taught [that], but I’m teaching you [this].” Many times, these teachings are major ways to view the world. Today’s One Verse is a great example. While on the road traveling from city to city, the disciples were arguing with each other. Jesus asked them what they were arguing about, but they were too embarrassed to answer. Of course, Jesus already knew. So, He answered their question anyway. The question? Who among us will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Jesus? They thought Jesus was coming to set up an earthly kingdom and overthrow Rome. In Mark 9:35, Jesus gave the answer: “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” True leadership is servant leadership. Great leaders never say “look at me.” They serve others and let them decide if they are great or not. They don’t stand on the backs of others. They serve. If you want to be a leader worth following, then serve. It may not look anything like what the world teaches, but by placing others ahead of yourself will actually mean that you become a true leader. (Note: For some that understand true leadership, this idea actually is taught a few places in our world. Even though this Jesus principle was laid out thousands of years ago, the business world is just starting to see the value of servant leadership. A great example is the book Good to Great by Jim Collins.)

Living for Jesus isn’t always easy. The Sermon on the Mount is the greatest sermon ever told. For almost three chapters in the book of Matthew, Jesus lays out many of His core teachings. Over and over, He calls us to a new way and a new outlook on life. In Matthew 5:11, He says, “Blessed are you when people insult you because of me.” What Jesus? How is that a blessing? Persecution is a blessing when it is for Jesus. Are we standing firm in our beliefs? Or are we going with whatever is popular at the time? This is tough, because there is a good chance that we are going to disagree on some issues. The Bible is complex and deep. Jesus calls us to draw close to Him, study His Word, and stand firm in our faith. Maybe we won’t always agree, but we CAN stand firm and stand together on the name of Jesus! Maybe we will be insulted, even persecuted. That’s ok. Jesus reminds us that we will be blessed, and our reward will be great in heaven.

When we are in a season of waiting for God, don’t look around and compare yourself to the success of others. Wait. On. God. It can be hard when you are in a season of waiting. You feel helpless. You are ready for things to move ahead, to discover that next step. For whatever reason, though, God is making you wait. When we are in a season of waiting, it can be easy to look around at others and compare our lives. Our One Verse today warns against that. We don’t know what is going on in their lives. We don’t know the circumstances behind the scenes. Instead, keep our eyes on God and focus on Him. He is working in your life to form your spirit and prepare your future. Trust Him. Don’t look around at others. Wait on God.

You are God’s work of art, and He has created a purpose and a plan for your life. It can be hard to receive a compliment, can’t it? You aren’t sure how to react and you wonder, deep down, if it’s really true. So, what if someone called you a work of art? That you were a masterpiece? That can be hard to hear. Really, me? What if that person was God? Because that is exactly what the Bible says in Ephesians 2:10. This verse is jam-packed with wisdom and encouragement. In just 22 words, we learn that we are God’s handiwork--His work of art. We then learn that God has a purpose for our lives to do good works in His name. Finally, our One Verse teaches that God has a plan for our lives that He has been preparing for a long time! This may be hard to hear, but you are God’s work of art, and He has created a purpose and a plan for your life. Your mistakes don’t matter. That is why God has given us grace and Love. You are not disqualified from the purpose and plan God has created for your life. You are His masterpiece. I encourage you to start leaning into that truth. How could this fresh outlook change your life?

Will God give you more than you can handle? Yes! It forces us to depend on Him. Have you ever heard the phrase, “God won’t give you more than you can handle” or even used it yourself? The problem is, it never shows up in the Bible. As a matter of fact, the opposite is true. God WILL give us more than we can handle so we have to seek after Him, depend on Him, and allow Him to work in our lives. So, where did this phrase come from? From today’s One Verse. Well, a misquoting of today’s verse. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. When it comes to temptation, God will never place us in a situation that we can’t get out of. The verse even ends with a promise: God will always provide a way of escape. We can never say, “God did this. He led me to temptation.” We can’t even say “the devil made me do it!” No, it is on us. But we have a LOT of help in God. He is with us, and He will always provide a way out. We are all in this together. You will never face a temptation that ONLY you have experienced. We’ve all been there. But God is with us every step of the way. We have a way out. We don’t have to give in. God wants us to focus on our relationship with Him, our family, our marriage, and the purposes He has for our lives.

Going through a tough time? God may be allowing you to go through the fire in order to purify you like gold! In our One Verse today, Job faces a problem that many of us do from time to time: He can’t find God. He looks East, West, North, and South, and Job still can’t find God. Have you ever felt like your prayers were just “hitting the ceiling”? This is where Job is at in Job 23. But then he says, “But He knows the way that I take.” Job knew God was always there, even when it didn’t feel like it. These can be difficult times when you can’t hear from God. But God is testing you, and He is in the process of turning your life into gold.

When we dedicate our lives to following God’s path of righteousness and love, we discover true life, prosperity, and honor. When we spend our lives chasing God and His plan for the world (righteousness and love), our lives will be filled with contentment. We will discover full lives that can only be found in Jesus. Others will view us with respect and honor. Life, prosperity, and honor. I’ll take some more of those!

Our world is filled with fear and hate and acts of terror. How can God be good while all of this is happening? Why does He allow it? I can’t answer those questions. It’s much bigger than me. I don’t think anyone other than God can. But I trust Him. I can’t explain it. If you came across this episode of this podcast, and you are struggling with this, maybe today’s One Verse is for you. Taste and see that the Lord is good. That is the start of Psalm 34:8. It is like God is allowing us to test Him: “Spend time with me. Trust me. And you will experience my goodness in your life.” I can see this in my own life. I have experienced heartache and tragedy and fear for the future, yet God has always been good to me. Life isn’t perfect, but His Love sustains me. If you’ve never experienced this, there is nothing I can do to explain it. But once you taste the goodness of God, you will know it! I encourage you to spend some time with God today, both in prayer and in His Word. I hope you experience His goodness today.

The knowledge you have isn’t as important as the Love you give. In two short verse, Jesus tells us three different times to love one another. This was one of the final commands Jesus gave us before going to the cross. This is how people will know you are a follower of Jesus: by showing love.

What the world needs now is Love. A HUGE amount of Love. Our world is broken. It has been broken since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden. But the brokenness in our world is so evident today. Our One Verse comes from some of the last words of Jesus at the Last Supper. Right after predicting his betrayal by Judas and right after reminding His disciples that He would go away, Jesus gives them a new command: Love one another.

Jesus tells a story of a man who found hidden treasure in a field. Can you imagine being this man? He’s just walking through an empty field. It’s barren. No crops. No fruit. And then he stubs his toe on something. As he looks down, he uncovers something special. Hidden treasure! What would you do? Jesus tells us that the man went immediately and sold everything he owned so he could buy the field. Can you imagine what his friends thought? Why would he sell everything for one field? What a waste! But the man knew what he found. He was excited about his treasure. Wouldn’t you be! And this brings up a very tough question. Jesus said this man was like the Kingdom of heaven. So here is the question: When was the last time you were as excited about your faith as this man is about his field? Do you see your faith as a hidden treasure or something you almost apologize for? Do you want to share your amazing find with the world or hide it in shame? These are tough questions. They are tough for me to answer. I don’t know that I am THAT excited about my faith. But I should be! May God grant us this kind of excitement for our faith. Let’s keep chasing God until that happens.

In order to experience all that God has for you, you must let go of your past. God has! Yesterday, we learned that God is doing a new thing in our lives. He is creating streams of life-giving water in what sometimes feels like the wilderness of life. Today, we learn another critical piece to this puzzle. The verse prior to yesterday’s One Verse explains HOW we can experience the new things God is doing in our lives. Isaiah 43:18 teaches us that we have to stop dwelling on the past and forget the sins and mistakes we’ve made. And here is the best part, God is the one speaking! He doesn’t want to judge you. He doesn’t want to hold you back or keep you down. He wants you to move on into the future blessings that He has for your life! Let’s finally forgive ourselves. God has. It’s time to let go of the past and move forward into the future that God has laid  out for us!

God is doing a new thing in your life. He is creating streams in the wilderness. Sometimes life is confusing. We don’t know what the future holds. It can feel like our future is nothing more than a barren wilderness of options. But that’s not true, even if it feels that way, because God is doing a new thing in our lives. In our One Verse today, God is talking, and He tells us that He is doing a new thing. He is forming streams in the middle of the wasteland. Life is never perfect. There will be times when it feels like a wilderness. But God has not left you. He has a plan, and He is not surprised about your circumstances. Stay true to Him. He IS doing a new thing in your life. Keep your eyes on Him, and He will show you the life-giving stream you’ve been waiting for!

I wanted to give you an update of some things God shared with me this past weekend. It really comes down to asking ourselves a tough question: What do you want? Yes, that question may seem selfish, at first. And it can be if we are seeking after ourselves. But if we are seeking after God, He promises to show us the TRUE desires of our heart. The desires that God placed there! As long as what you want--your desires--line up with the Bible, you can be confident that it is coming from God. Sometimes, we need to spend time in deep reflection. That is what I did this past weekend. I did an exercise that I learned from a friend and former pastor. It goes like this: Take a piece of paper and draw a line, like a timeline. Then think of a certain period of time. This can be your entire life or a smaller section of time. Since it has been a rough summer, I chose to focus on that past 3-4 months. Now, on top of the line, you write the word PASSION and below the line, PAIN. Then you simply plot out all the things that brought you passion and joy, as well as those things that brought you pain. Through this, you will uncover themes in your life.  For me, it showed me that I must be creating and building something that has Kingdom value. It showed me that I can't be done with the podcast, yet. It showed me that I need to focus on the calling God has placed on my life to draw people closer to Him and teach everyone about how to live with a "Love first" worldview. What about you? What do you want? What is God trying to show you? And what desires has God placed in your heart?

Today’s One Verse is one of the great promises of the Bible, yet very few Christians know about it or act on it. James opens his letter with this plea: “Does anyone lack wisdom? Ask God! He will give it to you!” What an awesome verse! What an amazing promise. Do you need more wisdom in this life (Um, yeah!). Ok, Ask God. He promises to give it to you. It doesn’t get any more simple than that! There is no technicality or red tape. There is no trick. You need it? Ask for it. He’ll give it. If you are reading this, I STRONGLY encourage you to take God up on His promise. Add into your daily prayer life. I truly believe this one simple prayer can alter the path of your life. How would life be different if you would have God’s wisdom with every decision? If we take Him up on this promise, our future is in much better hands!

Let’s be quick to open our ears and slow to open our mouths. The Book of James teaches us that we need to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to have anger. Have you looked at your Facebook newsfeed, lately? Oh, my! The internet has given us a voice. What we haven’t realized is that it has given us a great way to listen, as well. You can be firm in your beliefs. This verse isn’t about compromise. Look at Jesus. He spoke to tax collectors and prostitutes and all sorts of people. He always listened. Let’s follow the teaching of James and the example of Jesus. Let us listen before we speak. Understanding James 1:19 is a core foundation to living a “Love first” lifestyle.

Many of us feel pain and regret over past mistakes and sins. However, you will never fully realize the glorious future that God has for you until you let go of your past. In our One Verse Devotional today, Paul says “this one thing I do” and then goes on to list two things. Was Paul stupid? No. Paul was a very well-educated man. But he is using this as a word illustration to point out and teach us a critical principle of life. In order for us to be able to move into the future and live out our God-given purposes, we have to let go of our past mistakes, sin, guilt, and shame. I know this because I’ve lived this. For over 10 years! I just couldn’t get over my guilt and shame, but I would still try to step into God’s will for my life. And it was impossible! Why? Because we have to do this ONE thing: Forget what is behind AND move into what is ahead at the same time. If we follow this principle, it will allow us to step into God’s best for our lives.

This world needs love. And if God is Love, His people need to lead the charge. “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other.” What a beautiful way to begin a verse. It is a prayer of blessing. May the Lord bless you. May He keep you. May the Lord make your love increase. That is kind of how I read this verse. I also love that Paul purposefully says “for each other and everyone else.” We can’t read this verse and think that it only means we show love to other Christians. There is no stipulations to this verse. May the Lord increase your love to everyone. That’s it. May God increase your love. It doesn’t matter who. May God increase your love for everyone. Always.

Let's have an honest conversation about depression, shame, and grit. Today, I wanted to share a little bit about what has been going on in my life, as well as a recent sermon I preached. I talk a little about the podcast and the shame I've felt from not posting regularly. Love you guys. This is a long one! I hope you enjoy it.

Yesterday, we talked about being crucified with Christ. But what does that mean for our lives? Where do we go from there? Our One Verse, Colossians 3:2, answers this question: We must set our minds on the things above. As followers of Jesus, we are strangers in this world. We belong to a different kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven. Yes, we have jobs and homes and bills. Yes, it’s ok to have fun and take vacations. But where is our FOCUS? If we can remind ourselves daily that the “old self” is gone and we are new creations in Jesus; that we belong to His Kingdom more than this world, it will give us a different outlook on God, our lives, and other people.

The Christian life has some strange themes and ideas. It’s true. Many of the teachings of Jesus simply confused the people He was talking to. In today’s One Verse Podcast Devotional, Paul writes about death and life. A strange thing to write. Why would Christians be called to die? This idea of death and life deals with our spirit. We all have a dark side, deep down, that we would rather not think about. I do. The greed, jealousy, envy, pride, and lust that wants to creep up in my life. That is the “old flesh” as Paul called it in another passage. There is only one response to the old flesh: death. We crucify is with Jesus on the cross. BUT through this death, we experience true life in Jesus. We are transformed. We are given new life and the “new flesh” in Christ. Now, we no longer live for #1. Because Jesus didn’t either. He gave His life away. Let’s follow Jesus’s example and spread His Light and Love to this dark world.

Today’s One Verse can be used as a prayer for our lives: “May the words of my mouth and the things I say be pleasing to You, God.” He is our Rock, our Redeemer, and our Savior. He has done so much for me, that I want everything that I say, do, and even think about to be pleasing to Him. Obviously, this isn’t easy. We are surrounded by temptation and have a million reasons to let something not-so-pleasing come out of our mouths every day. I want my words and deeds and thoughts to be pleasing to the One that truly matters.

Let’s live our lives with gratitude! In every situation, find something you can rejoice in. At the end of the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul tells us to “rejoice always,” but what does that really mean? Do we still praise God during the messy times of life? Isn’t this command a little cruel and uncompassionate? Today, we are surrounded with ads and marketing. TV, internet, social media. It’s everywhere. And that’s a problem. Marketing has one fundamental message: Get you to be discontent with your life. Yes, you have a car that works fine, but how much better would your life be if you had OUR car! Yes, you have dinner planned out for tonight and it is within your budget, but what if you didn’t have to work so hard and just ordered our delicious pizza, instead. On Instagram, we get paid recommendations from celebrities. We live in a world where we are surrounded by these types of messages. It can have a serious impact. It’s easy to get to a place where we are never content with what we have. We lose our gratitude and in turn lose our rejoicing. Well, you have a LOT to rejoice in today. No matter what situation or life phase you find yourself in, there is something you can rejoice in. I challenge you to find something (or a lot of things) to rejoice in today.

Your faith can actually bring great encouragement to others who are struggling in their own faith journey. Just like yesterday, today’s One Verse is a personal message from me to you. Paul told the church of the Thessalonians that he had actually been encouraged by their faith in his times of distress (and Paul had some distress!) I feel the same about you. There have been times when I’ve wanted to quit the podcast. But right when I feel that way, I get an email or a private message or even a Facebook comment from someone telling me how much what I am doing means to them and their spiritual life. What an encouragement! You have the power to encourage other Christians who are struggling in their faith. By seeing your faith, it can give them hope. What about your pastor? That’s a tough job with little thanks. I know! So many pastors are tempted to quit. Your faith could be just the thing that is bringing them encouragement and allowing them to feel like their efforts and their ministry are actually making a difference. Our faith affects those around us.

By holding on tight to the teachings of Jesus, we can stand firm in an unpredictable world. I love today’s One Verse because I want to adopt Paul’s message. He encourages his brothers and sisters in the faith to stand firm and hold fast to the teachings he passed on to them by mouth or by letter. Through word of mouth (podcast!), I am also passing on these teachings of Jesus to you, my brothers and sisters. My hope, like Paul, is that you stand firm in these teachings. God’s Word remains firm in a constantly shifting world.

The beauty of the Church happens when different people from different backgrounds and different cultures come together under the name of Jesus. God has invited us into His will to bring unity to heaven and earth through Jesus. God’s will is that heaven and earth would be reunited. After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, a gap was created between us and God. His will is for that gap to be removed, and that is exactly what Jesus did through His sacrifice on the cross. Now, we are invited into the story. As we grow closer to God and chase after His will in our lives, we get to participate in bringing unity to all things.

God’s will is the journey, not a destination. He wants you to know His will! #godswill #purpose One of the biggest questions many have about the Christian life is “What is God’s will for my life?” We have this idea that once we find God’s will, life will be great. It will all fall into place. But that isn’t the case. God doesn’t want us to get comfortable and content with where we are. He wants us to keep moving and growing. His will isn’t one perfect destination in our life. If we just get “there” everything will be perfect. No. It is the journey of growing closer to God. And even more than that, God wants to reveal His will to you. The closer you get to God, the more He will uncover His will in your life.

When we feel lost, God sees a clear path. Have you ever been lost, really lost? Maybe you were driving in a new city or hiking in the woods. Either way, you didn’t know where to go next. You had lost the path. Has this ever happened in life? Have you ever said, “Why God?” Whenever we are lost driving or lost in life, one thing is true. If we could only get high enough, we could see the whole picture. We wouldn’t be confused and we would see exactly where we needed to go. Our One Verse today teaches us that God’s ways are higher than our ways. As high as the heavens are from the Earth, God sees the whole picture. Trust in Him to guide you down the right path

Nothing you do for God is done in vain. Being a follower of Jesus is not easy. There will be days when you are tired, hungry, and want to give up. There will be days that you will wonder if it’s worth it. There will be days that you look up at God and say, “Really? Why am I doing this?” But on those days, stand firm. Nothing you do for God is ever in vain. You may not see the results you expected. You may not see results for a while. But God is faithful. He sees your deeds. He knows your heart. It may be tough now, but it is worth it.

Is spending just 5 minutes a day with God worth it? Yes! Our One Verse today is Isaiah 55:11 and it reminds us that God’s Word never returns to Him empty. It always accomplished the purpose He meant for it. What does that mean for us? Even if you don’t feel like it, even if you only have a few minutes, spend time with God. Dive into His Word, if only one verse. It will accomplish exactly what God meant for it. God promises His Word will continue to work in our lives, bringing life like rains to a dry land.

Hey, everyone! A quick update: This is the McCarrick moving week! We got the keys to our new place on Friday, so we are deep into packing, moving, and cleaning. Thanks for all the messages. I'm going to take this week to focus on the move, but I'll be back on Monday. Have an awesome week! Love you all, Matt

You may have to wait on God, but He always hears your cry, and He will turn to you. We never know when God will answer our prayers. It may happen instantly, or it could take years. But one thing is for sure, God is listening to you. He hears you! Your prayers are not hitting the ceiling. I don’t know why God has us wait. I don’t know why He doesn’t answer some prayers. But God is listening to you. And when He is ready, He will turn and answer you.

We learned from our last One Verse, 2 Corinthians 1:3, that our God is the God of all Comfort and the Father of Compassion. Today, we look at the very next verse that continues this thought. 2 Corinthians 1:4 tells us that God has given us comfort, not just for ourselves, but so that we can pass along that comfort and compassion to others who are hurting. This is what it means to be a Light Bearer.

Our God is the Father of Compassion, Who comforts us in all our troubles. Today’s One Verse teaches us that our God is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. I love serving a God who cares for us and has love and compassion for His people. But it doesn’t stop there. Our God is the Father of Compassion because He helps us through all of our troubles. If you are facing trouble today, turn to God. He is listening, and He is there for you.

Our flesh and our heart may fail, but God you never will! Life is tough at times. We never know what it might throw at us. That is why I love today’s One Verse, Psalm 73:26. Even though our flesh and our heart may fail, even though we may want to give up and throw in the towel, God promises to be our strength. He never fails. He will provide for us, protect us, and sustain us. We do something a little different today, and I end with one of my favorite worship songs that is actually based on Psalm 73:26. It’s a song called Give Me Faith and I want these lyrics to soak into your soul today: “My flesh may fail, but God you never will!”

We have the power to go to the throne of God on behalf of our friends. Our One Verse, today, takes place in the Gospel of Mark. It comes in the middle of a crazy and even hilarious story. Jesus was preaching in a city and His popularity was at an all time high. People wanted to be fed, they wanted to be healed. As Jesus was preaching in this home, so many people showed up that you couldn’t even get in the door. Well, for one paralyzed man, this was a problem. But he had four friends. And they weren’t going to let a little thing like a huge crowd stop them! These guys went up on the roof and started tearing a hole in it! The poor homeowner. Then they lowered the paralyzed man through the roof and he landed right smack dab in front of Jesus. I would give anything to have seen this! But then Jesus says something crazy. He says, “Because of their faith…” It was the faith of the friends that moved Jesus. I think this is a key principle that holds true today. We have the power to go to God on behalf of our friends. We have the power to have faith on behalf of our friends. I pray that you will go to God for your friends today.

When Jesus said He was standing at the door and knocking, sadly He was speaking to His church. Today’s One Verse is Revelation 3:20 is a famous verse. Jesus says that He is standing at the door and knocking. Maybe you’ve seen the famous painting that was based on this verse. But here is the part we usually forget: He is speaking to Christians. When we hear this verse, it’s easy to think, “Yes, I wish people who don’t believe in Jesus would open their lives to Him.” And that’s a great hope. But this verse is for us. If you are a Christian, we have a hard question to ask… Are we shutting Jesus out? He is standing outside the door of your heart, asking for you to let Him back in? Please open the door and spend some quality time with Jesus today.

When we seek after God, He is willing to uncover great and unsearchable things to us. I am so thankful that I serve a God who knows more than me. God who knows the secrets of the universe. And better yet, He said that He will share those with us. No, we don’t always get the answer we want. He may not always pull back the curtain all the way. But God desires to have a relationship with us, and He is willing to share great and unsearchable things with us. We simply need to call out to Him.

As followers of the one, true Light (Jesus), we are called to reflect His Light to a dark and hurting world. We are the light of the world. In our culture, the word Christian carries a lot of emotional baggage. There are a lot of terms associated with Christian that are, well, less than flattering. Today, the word Christian has become very confused: christian movies, christian music, there is even a christian phone book. I feel we have lost something from the original meaning. There is something about a fresh ray of sunshine on your face. It brightens your mood, your day, and your entire outlook. Light is amazing. We are called to spread the Light and Love of Jesus to this dark and hurting world!

Do you think God is angry with you? Our One Verse, Psalm 30:5, teaches us that God’s anger only last for a moment. Yet, His blessings last forever. David, the writer of this Psalm, did a lot in his life that God wasn’t happy with. Adultery, murder, bloodshed. Yet, David tells us that God’s anger last only a moment. God isn’t angry with you. If you’ve messed up, sinned, made a mistake, then seek His forgiveness. He freely gives His grace. BUT, if you are still struggling with it after you’ve sought God’s forgiveness, that’s guilt. Guilt isn’t from God. Guilt is holding you back. Guilt never lets you get over a past mistake. Guilt prevents you from stepping into your future. Allow God to forgive you. He isn’t angry with you. He loves you and wants to pour out His blessings on you like a loving Father does for His child.

With all that God has forgiven of us, shouldn’t we forgive others, too? Forgiveness. It’s tough. When we feel wronged, it is so easy to focus on the other person. “They need to apologize. They need to be sorry for what they did to me!” But in the Bible, God is never concerned with the other person. We can’t control them. We can’t make them do what we want. There is only one thing we can control. We have the power to forgive. No, it isn’t easy. But remember how much God forgave us. Remember what Jesus did for us so we could experience God’s forgiveness. If we do that, I mean truly understand it, it will help us the next time we need to forgive someone else. Don’t live your life with unresolved anger. That leads to bitterness. Live your life with a forgiving heart. You have the perfect example. Hint: It’s Jesus.

As much as you love your children, God loves you even more! I love being a dad. I love providing for my children and giving them gifts. I would do anything for them. If you are a parent, you know what I mean. We sacrifice so much to provide for our kids. Yet, I’m human. I’m not perfect. So, if I love to take care of my children, how much more will God take care of us? God loves you. He loves you like you love your children. And He will take care of you.

Faith gives us hope because we can see God moving in every area of our lives. Faith is hard to wrap our minds around. You can’t see it. You can’t hold it. Yet, our One Verse for today, Hebrews 11:1, tells us that we can actually have assurance and hope in our faith. Faith doesn’t fly well in today’s culture. Science and information rules. Experience matters. But faith? Not so much. So, what is faith? Faith is a choice. Faith is choosing to have confidence in the Hope we can’t see. Faith doesn’t make sense. If it did, it wouldn’t be faith. Faith is supernatural assurance in what we cannot see and choosing to Hope. That sounds strange, doesn’t it? How can you have hope in something you cannot see? It’s hard to explain, but once you have deep faith, it is as real as anything else in life. How does it bring hope? Because our faith allows us to see God working in our lives, the good and the bad. And if we can’t see God moving, we know to look for Him. That is what Faith does in our lives. It allows us to see where God is moving.

“God takes full responsibility for the life wholly devoted to Him.” -Charles Stanley We don't have to worry about finding God's will for our lives. God takes responsibility for His will and His purpose in this world. The Bible makes it clear over and over, again. God will guide us towards His will. After all, it is His purpose that He want to see lived out in the world. He wants you to find His will. He has invited you into the story. We don't need to stress about finding God's will. Just find God and He will show you the way!

Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus paid our sin debt. Now, as followers of Jesus, we are called to honor God with our actions. There is a lot of talk today about what we can do as Christians. What is ok, what is not ok? What is right, what is wrong? How should we live our lives? I think these are the wrong questions. Our One Verse today in 1 Corinthians 6:20 gives us a different outlook. It reminds us that Jesus paid everything for our future. We had sin and judgement and death to look forward to, but Jesus turned that into life and grace and forgiveness. How should we live in light of this fact? It isn’t just about doing what is right and what is wrong. It also means we ask ourselves: what are the positive things we can engage in like serving others? Let us honor God with our bodies today.

The closer we get to Jesus, the closer we get to each other. Our faith is very personal. It’s an intimate relationship with Jesus. Yet, as deeply personal as our faith is, it is not meant to stay private. Faith was meant to be shared in community. 1 John 1:7 teaches us that as we grow closer to Jesus, we actually grow closer to each other. We build stronger relationships and a deeper community. I encourage you to grow closer to God, not just for yourself, but so we can all grow closer together! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Sharing your faith is one of the scariest parts of being a Christian, but it doesn’t have to be. Simply tell your story. One of the biggest questions many Christians have is, “How do I share my faith?” We know we are supposed to do it. Yet, most of us shy away from sharing our faith because we don’t know how. We don’t want to be pushy. We don’t want to get into a debate with someone. We don’t want to seem like a know-it-all. But sharing your faith has nothing to do with any of these things. Sharing your faith is simply telling your story. This is how John, who lived with Jesus, begins his letter. He isn’t giving second hand information. He is telling the story that he experienced. We should do the same. Simply tell your story. Telling a story isn’t a debate. You are simply sharing what God has done in your own life. And who doesn’t love a good story?

What do we do when God doesn’t seem to be listening? When we aren’t sure where to turn or what to do, we reach out to God for the next step. We ask for vision and clarity. We ask for deliverance. And all of that is good. He wants us to do that. But have you ever felt that God is being silent? David begins Psalm 109, “My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent.” What an amazing prayer. Recently, I felt like God had been silent. Yet, my wife encouraged me and spoke to me. We will still praise God. We will still trust that He is in control. So, make this your prayer: God, do not remain silent. But always remember that small phrase in the middle… whom I praise. Continue to seek God and praise Him, even in the waiting.

The Christian life is like a marathon race. Get rid of anything that is weighing you down. Our One Verse today is packed full of awesomeness. In one simple verse, we can see three key principles for our spiritual lives. First, we learn that we are surrounded by a “cloud of witnesses.” We don’t really know who these witnesses are, but one thing is certain. Heaven is cheering you on. Our One Verse also tells us that the Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes perseverance. It takes discipline. Stick with it. Finally, it we are running a race, we need to remove any weight that is holding us back. We know we need to get rid of sin in our lives. But what else is in your life that is holding you back? It might not be sin, but it is getting in the way of God’s best for your life? Let’s remove anything that hinders us from running our race well.

What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. This is one of the most difficult parts of the Christian life. By its very definition, faith requires us to have an understanding of a world we cannot see. In life, we want to put our trust in what we can see, what we can touch, and what makes sense on paper. It’s comforting. But it is a false sense of safety. Everything around us is temporary. It won’t last. As followers of Jesus, God calls us to see the world with different eyes. Let us live our lives for what truly matters, even if we can’t see it now. And let us trust God to take care of us, even when we can’t see the answer right in front of us.

God’s will is not a secret. Many Christians wonder what God’s will is for their lives. The thing is, the Bible gives us the answer. No, the Bible can’t tell you exactly what job you are supposed to have, who to marry, or where to live. But God’s will goes way beyond all of these areas. God’s will involves bringing our lives in line with what God is doing in the world. How do we discover this? How do we join God? Our One Verse for today, Romans 12:2 gives us the answer. Yesterday, we discovered that we are called to be living sacrifices, giving our lives to God. The next verse uncovers how we do this. By spending time with God and allowing Him to transform our mind. When we regularly engage in Bible study, prayer, and even devotional podcasts (wink), it allows God to speak into our lives and transform our minds to His. And that’s the start to finding God’s will for your life.

Worship isn’t the songs we sing, but the lives we live. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were a big deal. In our One Verse today, we are called to become a “living sacrifice.” How can we do this? By giving our lives back to God. He has given us true Love, forgiveness, grace and mercy. In turn, we should be compelled to give our lives back to Him. It is the ultimate act of worship. I encourage you to live your life as sacrifice to God. It is the greatest act of worship we can give. Ourselves.

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” We need to keep this verse close to us at all times. If you have ever experienced heartache, pain, or disappointment in your life, this verse is for you. I love this verse because it is the answer to so many questions. How many times have you looked at God and asked, “Lord, I don’t know how I’m going to get through this. I don’t know how I can overcome this pain. I don’t know how I can face this sickness. I don’t know how we’re going to pay this bill. Are You there? Can You help me?” Have you asked those questions. I have. And for each of those situations, Jeremiah 32:27 is the answer. Keep this verse in your wallet. Keep it in your purse. And when you have one of those deep life questions, take it out and read God’s answer. “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” No, Lord. There isn’t.

Are you letting some things replace the best God has for your life? On today’s One Verse, Jeremiah is gonna drop a Truth bomb on us. In Jeremiah 10, God and Jeremiah have a conversation about how crazy it it that men will hire a craftsman to cut down a tree and carve an idol. How does that even compare to God? Well, we probably don’t have a lot of “worthless wooden idols” in our house. Or do we? I know I have some electronic idols. An idol is anything that can pull us away from God.

God has a plan for your life, a plan for Hope and a future. Your past may be filled with mistakes and regrets. You current reality may be uncertain and you aren’t where you hoped you would be. But God has not forgotten you. He has a plan for your life. He wants to protect you from harm. He wants to give you a future. He is your Hope.

Jeremiah didn’t have the easiest life. He even told God that He deceived him. That’s pretty bold. Our One Verse today comes just two verses later. Even though Jeremiah was frustrated, he knew that God’s message was a fire in his bones he could not contain. I love this verse. I think this is a rally cry for anyone who desires to be a Light Bearer and a true follower of Jesus. The message of Love of Jesus is like a fire we cannot control. We don’t need to be preaching on the street corners. But for anyone that is serious about following Jesus, His message will pour out of us.

One of the deepest needs that every person shares is to “know and be known”. In today’s One Verse, we learn that God knows you. He loves you. He has a plan for you. We are in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah was an Old Testament prophet who, frankly, had a pretty tough life. Yet, with all the pain he went through, we still find some of the most uplifting and encouraging verses in the Bible in His writings. Today, God wants you to know that He loves you, He knows you deeply, and He created a plan for your life before you were even born. That is how special you are to God!

We all need a little encouragement. For me, Tuesday was rough. Thank you to everyone who reach out. Let us continue to reflect the Love of Jesus to others who need it and build them up, as well.

I prayed for you today. Right on the podcast. If you need some prayer and you are wondering what God has for your future, today’s One Verse is for you.

When we trust God, He lets us in on His plans. Do you have some questions for God? I do. Right now, my family is in the middle of a transition. We are happy where we are at, but we know it isn’t long term. We have some serious God questions. How long will this take? What are we supposed to do next? That is why I love today’s One Verse. It promises us that if we trust God and fear Him with awe and respect, He will let us in on His plans. He will trust us and confide in us. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Are you taking responsibility for your own spiritual life or just blindly following someone else? Do you take your Bible to church? Do you follow along with your pastor on the Bible App? Or do you just take for granted that whatever they project on the screen is actually in the Bible? No, I am not saying your pastor is lying to you. I am saying that we should be taking responsibility for our own spiritual life. In our One Verse, the Berean Jews were comparing everything that Paul taught against what Scripture taught. I think it would be wise for us to do the same. You aren’t showing disrespect to your pastor. Instead, you are learning how to feed yourself. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" Our One Verse today comes from the book of Joshua. Joshua was the leader of Israel in the Old Testament after Moses. He took the Israelites into the Promised Land. At the end of his life, after years of service and leadership to his people. He made one of his final addresses. In a sense, he drew a line in the sand. You can serve whoever you want to serve, but me and my household will continue to serve the Lord. What an inspiring message! He could of said anything, but this wise, old leader new what really mattered. Stay close to God. My prayer is this will be a phrase you live by in your own life. Will you serve the Lord?

God has invited you to participate in His grand story. Yesterday, we learned that God has already given us everything we need to live our purpose. Today’s One Verse is the very next verse. In 2 Peter 1:4, we learn that God has given us His great and precious promises. God’s promises are awesome! But our One Verse doesn’t stop there. It lets us know why we have these promises… Because God has invited us into His story. We have been given a role to play, and He wants us to participate in what He is doing.

God has already given you everything you need to live your purpose. Do you know God’s will for your life? Have you discovered your purpose? A lot of people struggle with this. We think, “Well, if I just had this gift or that person’s skills. If only had (fill in the blank), I would be able to find God’s will for my life and live out my purpose. Well, today’s One Verse teaches us that we have been given everything we need. It’s like our Spiritual DNA. You have the gifts, skills, personality, and passion to live out God’s purpose for your life.

This is the 500th episode of the One Verse Devotional podcast! I can hardly believe it. A little over two years ago, I had no idea how to create or produce a podcast. Yet, I felt like it was a God thing. I dove in deep and learned everything I could, quickly. I launched the One Verse Devotional with a lot of uncertainty, but even more passion. Since then, I’ve heard from so many people who have said they appreciate the devotional and that it helps them connect to God on a daily basis. This brings me such joy, knowing that I can share in small part of their faith journey. I wanted you to hear from some of my friends, as well as other community members. Today’s episode is a different (and longer!). Listen in as listeners, just like you, share some of their favorite One Verses with us today. I was honored that they were willing to give me their time. I truly love you all. I am here because of you. I do very little promotion of the podcast. It has grown to more than 12,000 downloads a month all because of YOU! Please keep sharing and telling your friends, family, and pastors about the One Verse Devotional. From my heart to yours…. THANK YOU!!!

Prayer is powerful. It is how we communicate with God. But I take prayer for granted many times. Do you? In the book of 1st Timothy, the Apostle Paul is mentoring Timothy and, literally tells him to start with prayer, first. Have we forgotten the importance of prayer, today? I get so busy that I rarely find myself on my knees. Our One Verse, 1 Timothy 2:1, gives us three unique prayers that we should be investing in: petitions, intercession, and thanksgiving. Let’s take some time to pray today: for friends, for family, for our leaders, and for the troubles and injustices in our world. But don’t stop there. Let’s also give thanks to God for all that He is doing (and will do!) in our lives. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

God can do more than we ask or even imagine, and His power is at work in your life. I don’t know about you, but I can imagine a lot! Yet, today’s One Verse teaches us that God can do more than we can ask or even imagine! And it doesn’t stop there. Paul reminds us that God is at work in our lives. If we are followers of Jesus, His power lives within us. This isn’t the self-help “tap into your potential” kind of power. This is the Power of God living inside you. God is at work behind the scenes even when we don’t realize it. We can now face the future and our greatest challenges knowing that we have a loving God who cares for us, and nothing is too big for Him! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Viktor Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor who wrote the book, “Man’s Search for Meaning” where he discovered that at the core of all people is a need to find purpose. Frankl said, “What man actually needs is... the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him.” What does this have to do with our One Verse today? Everything! Paul said in Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Paul lived with meaning. He had purpose as he pressed on to strive for the goal God placed in his life. Viktor Frankl said we actually get in trouble when we just sit around and wonder about life. Does God love me? Does God hear me? Does God have a purpose for my life? Instead, we need to get busy! Meaning and purpose comes from diving into a goal and a project. This is what we see in the life of Paul. He was striving toward the goal God placed in his life to win the prize. For us, I think it’s time to get off the couch. It’s time to press toward the goal for which God has called each of us! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://oneversepodcast.com/

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice so we could receive the ultimate gift. Matthew 27:50 is the verse that changed history. In this moment, Jesus took on the weight of the world. He bore the wrongdoings of every man and woman that has ever lived or ever will live. Jesus paid the sin-debt of death for all of humanity. In the beginning, God and humankind enjoyed a perfect relationship, spending everyday together. But sin changed that. God is perfect and holy, and He can not associate with sin, evil, or injustice. It is against His very nature. By our own sin, we had separated ourselves from God. And only one penalty could heal our sin-debt: death. Blood would need to be shed. It was the only way. Jesus lived a perfect life in an imperfect world. He was innocent, the one human that did not need to appease the blood-debt. But He stood in our place. He took on our debt and paid the price with His life. Now, through His death, our debt has been paid. And through His resurrection, death and hell and sin have been conquered once and for all! The gift of true Life is now available to anyone who will place their trust in Jesus, recognizing our need for a Savior who gave everything for us. If you have any questions about what this means for your life, please email me at [email protected] and let’s have an honest conversation about life and faith and your future. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

We are just a few days away from Easter Sunday, and we are looking at a verse every day this week out of the last week of Jesus’s life here on earth. Today’s One Verse comes from the Last Supper. Jesus gives us a new command. You might remember from earlier this week that Jesus quoted the Old Testament with He was asked what the greatest commandment was. He was answering an “expert” in the law who was trying to trick Him. So Jesus quoted the Old Testament law to turn the tables on this expert. But today Jesus is in the upper room with his closest disciples and gives us all a new commandment. What is this new commandment that Jesus gives us? To love one another as Jesus has loved us. As we enter Easter weekend, let’s remember how much Jesus gave for us because of His Love and show that same love for others that we encounter each and every day. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

How can we effectively love our neighbor? Today’s One Verse is like “part 2” of yesterday’s verse. In this story, Jesus is being tested by one of the “experts” of the law. While Jesus normally answered one question with another question, this time He had no problem putting this guy in his place. But through this interaction, we are able to discover the first and second greatest commandments. Jesus said “all the laws and prophets hang on these two commandments.” What did he mean? Can the entire Christian life be summarized in just two commands? And if this is true, that means if we learn how to love God and love people, we would be well on our way to living a life full of worship and purpose! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. As we look to Easter, we are looking at a verse, each day, from the last week of Jesus’s life. It’s funny how many times Jesus doesn’t answer a direct question in the Bible. He usually answers a question with another question. He wants people to think and dive deeper. That is, until someone is trying to test Jesus. Then He doesn’t mess around! Well, today’s One Verse is one of those times. It is during Holy Week, the last week before Jesus goes to the cross. An “expert” in the law is trying to test Jesus, and we get to listen in and hear from Jesus as He answers the question: “Which is the greatest commandment?” The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

This is the start of Holy Week, which means we are less than a week away from Easter, resurrection Sunday! To prepare for Easter, we are going to look at a verse, each day, from the final week of Jesus’s life here on earth. Today’s One Verse takes place during the story of Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. The Bible tells us there was a large crowd, and it causes quite a stir when Jesus entered the city. Palm leaves and branches were being thrown in the street, and people were shouting, “Hosanna!”  For those who didn’t understand what was happening, they had one question: Who is this? We all have one question we must answer in life: Who is Jesus? This isn’t a question we only ask once, but one we continually ask ourselves throughout our lives. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://oneversepodcast.com/

Have you ever felt like your prayers were hitting the ceiling? Does this mean God isn’t listening? Is He paying attention to our lives? Psalm 10:17 reminds us that God hears the cry of the afflicted and hurting. He hears your prayer. He is listening to your deepest desires for joy and peace. If you are hurting, today, don’t turn away from God. Grow closer to Him and allow Him to wrap His arms of Love around you and offer you comfort. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Many times, the life God calls us to is exactly the opposite of what the “world” values. Our One Verse, today, comes from the story of David when he was anointed king. Even Samuel, the prophet, thought David’s older brother would make the perfect king. He looked the part. But God quickly reminds him that our culture looks at the outward appearance. But this doesn’t matter to God. He looks at our character. He looks at our hearts. Instead of trying to keep up with what’s popular in our culture, focus on the inside and what God is doing in your heart. That is what truly matters. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Whether life is going well or you are experiencing pain and frustration, Paul reminds us of three important guidelines for the Christian life. We are to remain joyful in the hope we have in Jesus. We are to stay patient and wait for God in the midst of our troubles. And we must always remain faithful in prayer. Stay close to God and allow His perfect joy to give you hope in every life situation, both good and bad. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

1 Corinthians 6:19 says we are the temples of God. Does that mean we can’t get tattoos? Well, not quite. Tattoos aren’t the context of this passage. It’s actually all about sexual immorality and sin. What can we learn from today’s One Verse? That God is always with us. We should treat our bodies and our lives as though we were inviting Him along with us. Jesus gave everything for us. We should now be willing to give everything to Him. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Can we trust the Bible that we have today? I believe we can. The Bible is God-breathed. Even though God chose to use flawed humans, He preserves His Word. So, why do we have the Bible? Our One Verse, 2 Timothy 3:16, tells us that the Bible can correct us and highlight those areas we need to work on. Yet, it also gives us the teaching and training we need. The Bible equips us to live the life God has planned for us. I encourage you to dive into God’s Word and allow it to speak into your life. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Personally, life feels really chaotic right now. My wife and I have been working hard to create schedules, make plans, and be more disciplined. But honestly, every time we take a step forward, it seems like something is there to get in our way. We get sick for 2 weeks; Our girls decide to be 100% awake from 2-4am; The hot water heater goes out twice in one week! It’s been beyond frustrating. And my natural instinct is to do more. Work harder. Hustle longer. Sleep less. Yet, I’ve found this has the opposite effect and causes the hamster wheel to just keep spinning. Our One Verse, today, gives us a better option. God never calls us to chaos, only Peace. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Do you ever wonder what God thinks about you? Do you wonder where you stand with God? Today’s One Verse, 2 Timothy 1:9, answers that exact question. We have been saved by Jesus. We have been called to live a special life. But why? According to God’s purpose. This was His idea. He loves you. Through His grace, He has saved you and called you. Love, grace, calling. That is where you stand with God. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Normally, when we read 1 Corinthians 13, it’s because we are at a wedding. However, this chapter of the Bible reaches a lot further than something to recite at a ceremony. It gives us the definition of perfect Love, the kind of Love that only God can truly provide. The ultimate goal in loving others. Our One Verse comes from the very last verse of the chapter. Paul teaches us the three most powerful forces in the entire universe. The question is: How much time are you investing in these three areas? The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

I believe we have all been given special gifts and abilities from God. However, sometimes I simply feel ordinary. I wonder if I really have what it takes. Well, Acts 4:13 speaks to this very problem. Peter and John, from the world’s view, were ordinary men. Yet, they did extraordinary things for the Kingdom of God. How? They spent time with Jesus. Are you tired of feeling ordinary and what to uncover the best that God has for you? There is only one answer: Spend time with Jesus. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

I live in the farming state of Indiana. Next month, around late April into May, you’ll start seeing farmers out in the fields. Farmers are known to get up early and work long days. Why? They understand the principle found in our One Verse today. 2 Corinthians 9 reminds us that the more we sow, the more we can reap. If we invest sparingly in many different areas of our lives, we will never see the outcomes we are hoping for. The less we put in, the less we get back. Yet, the more we give, the more we reap. It’s true in farming, and it’s true in life, as well. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

If we understood that each day is truly a gift, how would that shape our decisions? Would we make better choices? Would we chase after only those things (and those people!) that truly matter? By learning to number our days, we will live with more wisdom. Like Tim McGraw taught us, you have to live like you were dying. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

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Yesterday, we learned that Jesus came for one reason: to bring LIFE. In Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth, he reminds us why Jesus had to bring life. Through the sin of Adam, he brought mankind death. If the story stopped with Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden, we would have no hope. But Jesus changed all of that. He humbled Himself and became human, and where Adam gave us death, Jesus offers us Life. The closer we get to Jesus, the more we uncover the true Life only He can provide. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Why did Jesus come to earth? There can be a lot of great answers to this question: To die on the cross. To rise from the dead. To perform miracles. To teach and preach. To love others. But what would Jesus, Himself, say? Well, fortunately, He told us. And it all comes down to just ONE word... The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Sometimes, it can be hard to sacrifice and serve when no one seems to notice. It can be difficult to put others first, while at the same time feel like we are being pushed to the back of the line. Is it worth it? Should we be more vocal about who we are and what we are doing? Do we deserve more? Jesus tell us that our service is not in vain. Our sacrifice has been noticed. And when the time comes, Jesus, Himself, will take us from the back of the line and escort us to the front with all of His blessings. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

When life throws a curveball, it’s natural for us to focus on the problem. Current problems, past failures, and even attacks from other people all have the tendency to grab our attention. But Psalm 25 gives us a different option that is much more effective. The next time you are facing trouble, place your focus on God, not the problem. Only He can set you free. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://oneversepodcast.com/

As Christians, we aren’t called to be fearful or timid. We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. What does that mean? God’s Spirit gives us STRENGTH so we can develop self-discipline and be outspoken in love. (2 Timothy 1:7) The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://oneversepodcast.com/

Should we sacrifice everything for our careers? There is a common lie in our culture that says you can win at work and lose at home. That we can sacrifice our families as long as we are giving everything we have to our business or our dreams. But the Bible makes it clear: If you can’t lead your family well, you can’t lead anything well. We don’t need to be perfect spouses or parents. But it is impossible to win at life if we are losing at home. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

How does God feel about me? This is the question we have been asking the last two days. It’s an important question that we all must wrestle to the ground. Thankfully, the Bible is very clear on how God feels about us, if we would listen (and believe!) what It says. The truth is, God loves us, unconditionally. He loved us when we were truly unlovely. Do you struggle with past mistakes and failures? Take some time today to reflect on how much God must love you. He showed us His love when we could do nothing in return and had done nothing to earn it! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

How does God feel about me? This is a question many of us have wrestled with at some point. Honestly, we’ll probably need to answer this question a few times in life. It’s natural for us to wonder where we stand with God. This question becomes even more real after we mess up or make a mistake in life. Fortunately, this is a question that Jesus has already answered. In Matthew 18, Jesus shares a parable of a shepherd with a lost sheep. The sheep has wandered away. It’s not where it is supposed to be. The shepherd has 99 other sheep, so what does he do? How does he feel about this sheep? Does he cut his loses and focus on the safe sheep? No! He risks his life to find the lost sheep. And Jesus adds, “if he finds it… he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.” Even if you have messed up in your past, Jesus hasn’t given up on you. He is pursuing you and will rejoice once you are back home. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

The Christian life is a journey that will take you from the highest mountain experience to the lowest of valleys, and everything in between. And just like any adventure into the wilderness, you need a lamp. There is nothing worse than getting caught, after dark, without a light. When you’re camping, this is an easy fix: fire, a lantern, or a flashlight. But what about when it comes to our spiritual lives. Psalm 119 tells us that God’s Word acts like a lamp in lives, lighting the path in front of us and illuminating the way we should take. The closer we get to God, and the more time we spend in His Word, the brighter our path will be! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

We’ve been looking at Colossians, chapter 3, for the past two weeks to discover how Christians should live. Today, we wrap up our series, and Colossians 3:17 is the perfect conclusion. “Whatever you do… do it all in the name of Jesus.” All of our deeds, actions, and words should be done as if we were doing them for God. Honoring God with our words and actions is one of the best ways to live like Jesus. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” -Colossians 3:14 This week, we’ve been diving into Colossians, chapter 3. We are learning what it looks like to follow Jesus. We must have compassion, gentleness, kindness, and humility. We also need to be courageous is offering forgiveness to others, even though it’s not easy. It’s been a great discussion, but I get REALLY excited about today’s One Verse: “Put on love, which binds them all together.” THIS verse lays out a key philosophy and worldview that I have become extremely passionate about: Love First. The perfect Love of Jesus is the foundation for everything else in life. We must have Love, or the rest is meaningless. Before we do anything, we must have Love first. This is what it means to follow Jesus. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

This week, we are in Colossians 3 learning how to follow Jesus and live the Christian life. Yesterday, we learned we should live out compassion, kindness, and patience to others. But it doesn’t stop there. Colossians 3:13 calls us to forgive others, even though it isn’t easy. Paul uses the ultimate act of forgiveness as our example: Forgive as God forgave you. In the same way that God loved us, we would love others. In the same way God doesn’t hold our past mistakes against us, so we should forgive others, as well. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

How should a Christian live? What does it mean to follow Jesus and live the Christian life? What does that look like? Sadly, there are a lot of different views, today, on what it means to be a Christian. Most of them aren’t very positive. And if we’re honest, we (the church) have brought this on ourselves. But is this what we find in the Bible? No! Colossians teaches us a different way to live, and it is beautiful. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Have you ever been alone in the woods at night? It can be a little scary. You don’t know exactly where to go or what dangers may be ahead. But if you have a companion, it’s a different story. Sure, you were probably still anxious and it was still a little scary. Yet, with a friend, you had confidence. You felt more safe and secure. You didn’t feel alone. You felt like it was an adventure. In many ways, this is like life. We can feel alone in the darkness of our future. But Psalm 23 promises that we are surrounded with some pretty amazing companions: the goodness, mercy, and love of God. They will follow us all the days of our lives. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Are we called to teach and train others in the Gospel and faith? Absolutely. But the Bible gives us clear guidelines, and more importantly, an attitude to have when we do it. It is never God’s intent for us to blast people on social media with no context or relationship. Instead, out of the peace we find in Christ, we are called to teach and correct others in His Love with wisdom and a heart of gratitude. Colossians 3:16 literally teaches that we should be able to sing a worship song together afterward. I don’t see that, too much, on Facebook! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

How do you make decisions? What do you use to guide your life? Colossians 3:15 gives us the compass we need to navigate life: The Peace of Christ. When we are faced with decisions or difficult life choices, it is the peace of God that will guide us. When we are unsure of ourselves, it’s the peace of Guide that leads us. God is never a god of confusion. God is a God of clarity. He offers us His peace to guide us when we are scared, unsure, and hesitant. Allow the Peace of Christ to rule in your life, and pass this Peace on to others you encounter. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Growing in our faith is much like a growing tree. When we plant deep roots in Jesus, He continues to help us grow, building us up and giving us strength. This is one area we simply can’t do it on our own. From roots to growth to strength, Jesus promises to build our lives if we lean on Him. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

The focus of the Christian faith isn’t about following rules. The goal isn’t a bunch of do’s and don’ts. Jesus taught and lived compassion. The focus of true Christianity is Love in all of its forms. Not only was this the example of Jesus, we find it throughout the Bible. Even in the Old Testament, the book of Isaiah teaches us how to live a life of true Love. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Even at the darkest point in his life, David didn’t run from God. He ran to Him. “Create in me a clean heart” is the prayer David had after his affair with Bathsheba. This can be hard to pray, but David gives us a great example of how to seek God, even in our weakness. Only God can heal us. Only God can cleanse us. No matter what your past mistakes may be, seek after God and ask Him to repair your heart. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

What has God done in your life? Sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in troubles or worry and forget how many times God has come through for us in the past. Today, let’s pause for a moment and praise God for what He has done in our lives. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

“I’ll pray for you.” How many times have we used this phrase only to forget our promise and turn it into empty words? The Apostle John reveals a key priority for all true followers of Jesus: We must show love through our actions. There’s simply no place for lip service love. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Teaching our children the Bible can seem overwhelming. What does it look like? When should we do it? Today’s One Verse actually lays out a simple strategy on how to teach (or learn!) the Bible. Whether you have kids or not, this is how we should interact with God’s Word. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

The Bible is a living book. Certain parts of It will speak to us at different times in our lives… exactly when we needed it. The Bible is a living book because It is the Word of God. It has the ability to see into our soul and heal us from the inside out. In a pinch, it also makes a great imaginary sword… you’ll have to listen to the episode to know what that’s about! ;) The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

God loves His children. When life becomes overwhelming, God is our refuge and strength. He is a place of safety from the storms of life. If you are in a place of need, seek after God and find rest. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

When we hear the word “debt” we usually think of money and credit. Yet, as followers of Jesus, we have one very important debt that has nothing to do with money. And we owe this debt to every person we meet. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.

We learned this week that we are called to reflect the “Light of life” that is only found in Jesus. We are His light bearers, reflecting his Light and Love to this dark and hurting world. But how can we do this? What does it look like? Galatians 6:2 teaches us how we can live out this teaching of Jesus: Carry each other’s burdens! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Jesus is the Light of the world, and He has called us to reflect His light to a dark and hurting world. This light is the Light of Life, and we have a part to play. What is true Christianity? Getting plugged into, and reflecting, the Light and Love of Jesus. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Today’s One Verse in Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God finishes what He starts. He began a good work in your life, but God didn’t take off, hoping everything would work out. He didn’t leave us alone to figure things out. No, God promises to be with us every step of the way. He started something beautiful in your life, and He promises to work in us until that good work is completed. We can have confidence in this. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Have you ever cried out to God, only to feel like He wasn’t listening? This is exactly how the writer of Psalm 102 felt. It was tried and weak. He needed help. If this is where you are at in life, I encourage to make Psalm 102 your prayer. God isn’t ignoring you. When you need Him, don’t stop calling His name. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

How do we unlock the promises of God? In our free course, Jump Start Your Year, we learned that many of God’s promises are made real by simply spending time with Him and delighting in His relationship. But how do we develop this relationship? John 14:23 gives us the answer: When we obey the teachings of Jesus, God will make a home with us. Obeying Jesus = A deeper relationship with God = His promises in our lives. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://oneversepodcast.com/

Following Jesus isn’t about “do this” and “don’t do that”. We have been given FREEDOM in Christ! However, this freedom comes with responsibility. THIS is how we should use our freedom... The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Your past does not define you. Through the resurrection of Jesus, we have been given a fresh start and hope for the future. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

We all have a voice in our head that wants to tell us that we are not enough. It wants to tell us that we are defined by our past, our mistakes, and our sin. This voice is a lie. You have only one true identity: You are a child of God. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Known as the “Man after God’s own heart”, David also made a lot of mistakes. Yet, in Psalm 26, he says that he has lived a blameless life. How? Because David understood the power of God’s Grace. And this grace is available to us. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, Jesus has invited us to reflect His Light to a dark world. This isn’t about religion: rules and guidelines to make sure you’re in good standing with God. This is a relationship, and Jesus wants us to take part in His mission of Love. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://oneversepodcast.com/

Jesus calls us to spread His Light and Love to this dark and hurting world. If we obey His command, He promises that we will be pure in His eyes AND we will have deeper relationships with others. Talk about a WIN-WIN! Be a Light Bearer. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://oneversepodcast.com/

Even Jesus didn’t live life alone. Jesus appointed 12 disciples. He also had His inner three, and a best friend in John. If Jesus, Himself, didn’t try to do things on His own, why do we? Connecting to a positive and encouraging faith community is critical to our spiritual lives. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://oneversepodcast.com/

“Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.” -Martin Luther King, Jr. (Christmas sermon | Montgomery, Alabama, 1957) #MLKDay #love

If you could ask God for one request, what would it be? In Psalm 27, David says that he only has one thing that he would ask of God: that he would dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of his life. Is that what you would ask for? Yeah, me either. But David demonstrates a lot of wisdom in this One Verse. It all comes down to relationship. David doesn’t just want to hang out in church (the temple) his whole life. He wants to dwell with God. He wants God to spend time with him. So, what is David’s one request? That he would know God, and that God would know him. What a great focus to have in 2018, as well. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://oneversepodcast.com/

Holy doesn’t mean perfect. Yes, we are called to be holy, but that doesn’t mean that we have to live perfect lives. God didn’t set the bar so high that we can never reach it. Holy simply means to be “set apart for God”. So, when Moses is standing on “holy” ground at the burning bush or the God says the city of Jericho has been consecrated (same word for holy in Hebrew), it’s not saying that these things are perfect. It is saying they are set apart. This is how we are supposed to live our lives: set apart from the world and to God. Our lives will look different. We will act and react differently than what culture might expect. Why? We belong to God. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://oneversepodcast.com/  

Do you have financial or career goals for 2018? The first question you must answer is not “Can I make more money?” or “How can I get more clients or customers?”. No, the first question you must answer is: “Do I trust God to provide?” God has promised to take care of His people. Do we trust that He will stick by His Word? The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://oneversepodcast.com/  

As Christians, we are called to love and serve others. But that is different than trying to please others and finding your worth in what others think of you. That is only a trap that will prevent you from serving God and discovering His best for your life. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://oneversepodcast.com/

I have been giving a lot of thought to what I would like to accomplish in 2018. But goals aren’t enough. I’ve seen a lot of years end (including 2017!) where I had totally missed my goals. This year, I have two focuses that will help achieve my goals: Discipline and seeking wise counsel. They may not sound flashy, but Proverbs 19:20 reminds us of their importance. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.

Goodbye, 2017! I don't know about you, but I was ready to part ways. Now, it's time to say, "Hello, 2018!" I am really excited about the coming year and some plans I have for Phosphorus Project and the One Verse Devotional podcast. I hope you'll join me!

God’s creation is beautiful. It is perfect and wonderfully made. From the oceans to the mountains, we don’t need to look far to see the wonder of God’s creation. Yet, many of us struggle with what we see in the mirror. But, you (yes, you!) are God’s creation. That means YOU are perfect and beautiful and wonderful. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://oneversepodcast.com/

A lot of times, it’s easy to wonder where we stand with God. What does He think of us? Or we struggle with knowing His will. But John 14:23 actually gives us a very simple step to take so we don’t have to wonder where we stand with God or what he wants us to do. Check it out... The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

The Christmas season is wonderful, beautiful, and magical. It can also be filled with anxiety. Thankfully, we have the Peace of God available to us. But how do we tap into this Peace? The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

The state of our political system is, well, crazier than I’ve ever seen in my life. But there is a powerful verse in the book of Daniel that can give us hope during these times of uncertainty. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

God is our refuge, our salvation, and our stronghold. When life gets busy and filled with anxiety and worry, He is our Rock. If life feels crazy right now and you’re trying to do it all on your own, you need to Psalm 18:2. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Hello, everyone! First things first... Yes, I'm alive! Sorry I have been out of the loop and haven't posted for two entire weeks. It has killed me, and I've missed you guys so much! Here's the kicker: my last podcast was titled, "weary and burdened"! Ha. Are you kidding me? Cause that has been my life. I think I'll go back and read that One Verse, again. Second, I just launch (today!) our brand, spanking new podcast website: oneversepodcast.com I'd LOVE for you guys to check it out. You can listen to new and old episodes, learn about One Verse, and there's even contact info to get ahold of me. Finally, I am writing, again (woo-hoo!). This Wednesday, I'm releasing our 2017 Holiday Devotional: "12 Days of Christmas". This will be different than our One Verses. The Holiday Devotional takes a unique look at the Christmas season. Did you know my favorite Christmas story doesn't come from Luke 2, but from the book of Revelation?! To get the FREE Holiday Devotional, sign up for FREE at our new site: oneversepodcast.com Love you guys and I'll talk to you in the morning with a brand new One Verse Devotional. Peace!

Is life weighing you down? Starting to feel the strain and pressure of the upcoming Christmas season? When we are feeling weary and burdened, Jesus said to come to Him and He would give us rest. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

[Week of Thanksgiving] God loves a heart filled with thanksgiving, so this is a wonderful way to show Him praise! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Happy Thanksgiving! This year, I am thankful for you. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

[Week of Thanksgiving] When we have Jesus in our lives, we always have a reason to be thankful. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

When we ask God for things, we have to be careful not to treat Him like a genie in the lamp. There is one, simple way to avoid this: Pray out of a heart of thanksgiving. Giving thanks is an act of worship and shows respect and honor for our God. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

[Week of Thanksgiving] We are weak, but He is strong. This is the power of God’s grace in our lives, and His grace is reaching more and more people. It is this Grace that allows Thanksgiving to overflow in our lives. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

God is strong. His way is perfect. But He doesn’t shame us. He doesn’t point out or weakness. We learned this week that He understand and can empathize with us. Instead, God is strong so He can shield us and protect us when we’re weak. He is a loving and protecting Father. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Jesus lived a perfect life, but he was also tempted. He understands our weaknesses and can even empathize with us. He isn’t upset with us. He understands, and He is here to help. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Sometimes, we simply don’t know how to pray. Have you been there? When you look to heaven, throw up your hands, and say, “Lord, I don’t know what to pray. I just need you.” Romans 8:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit steps in, and literally, prays for us. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Why are christians so cruel and hard on other christians? The Bible is very clear on this: Do good to all people, ESPECIALLY those within our church family. I think it’s time that we take Galatians 6:10 seriously! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

We serve a LIVING God! He is the great Conqueror and the great Overcomer. He holds the keys to death and hell! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Jesus is more concerned with us showing Mercy (active compassion) to others than trying to be good little boys and girls. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Why did Jesus spend so much time with sinners? He makes it very clear in Matthew 9: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

We all feel disconnected from God at different times in our lives. Psalm 51:12 is a beautiful prayer: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.” The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

When it feels like the waves of life are washing out the sand beneath our feet, we can take comfort in the Lord. He is our Rock, and we can build our foundation on Him. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

You don’t need to wonder where you stand with God. Jesus has set you free. Without question! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

As Christians, we are called a family for a reason. We aren’t called to guilt or shame others, but to come alongside them and encourage them in love and good deeds. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

What does the Christian life look like? How do we act? Do this. Don’t do that, right? Ephesians 5:2 gives us a simple guideline: Walk in the way of Love. This is the example that Jesus set for us. What a beautiful way to live! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

As a dad, I love my children. I would do anything for them. God feels the same way about His children and has perfect Love for them. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

We are wrapping up the traits of Love from 1 Corinthians 13. This is the God-Love that we should strive to have in our lives. Love always protects, trusts, hopes, and pushes through the hard times. Love never fails. [Editor’s note: Yes, we know “love never fails” is actually in verse 8.] The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Many times, I feel like “truth” can fly in the face of love. Yet, the Bible makes it clear that Love and Truth go hand in hand. True Love always seeks out Truth and never rejoices at the misfortune of others. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

True love doesn’t put others down to make itself look better. God’s Love believes there is plenty of blessings and grace to go around for everyone. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

The opposite of love is not hate. It’s pride. This week, we are looking at the definition of true love. 1 Corinthians 13 is more than wedding passage. It teaches us about the kind of Love that God has for us, so we can share this same Love with others. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

God is not out to get us. He loves us deeply and offers help to His children. Nothing is too big for God. Reach out to God in your time of need. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Let’s be very clear: If you follow Jesus, you cannot hate another one of God’s children. You can’t call yourself a Christian and hate your brother or sister. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

There is a big difference between saying, “Lord, forgive me” and actually confessing and repenting of our failures. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

“The truth will set you free.” Did you realize that phrase is a quote from Jesus? The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

After watching God part the Red Sea and escaping from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites still did not trust God. They were afraid to enter the promised land. In today’s One Verse, God asks, “How long before they trust me?” Basically, God wants to know what else He has to do. He has been faithful. The same is true in our lives. Since God has been faithful in the past and has our best interest at heart, we can trust that He will be faithful in the future, as well. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

God isn’t a grumpy old man, waiting to punish you. He is forgiving and good and filled with love. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Will God give you more than you can handle? Yes. But He will never allow you to be tempted more than you can bear, and there is a BIG difference between the two! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

This one truth will keep you from all sorts of temptation. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

We hit 400 episodes! THANK YOU! Today, Paul teaches us how to avoid failure in our lives. Whatever is true, noble, pure, and lovely… think on those things. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

It can be easy to dismiss, but we must remember that we are in the middle of a spiritual battle every day of our lives and we have an enemy who wants to destroy us. But God is stronger! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

“You have done amazing things. You have always done what you said you would do; you have done what you planned long ago.” The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

There is only one Way to experience real Truth and a full Life. And His name is Jesus. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Jesus brings dead things to life. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

This week, we are looking at the “I am” statements of Jesus. Today, we learn how Jesus is the ultimate Vine. Without being connected to Him, we can do nothing. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

With only two words, Jesus made a claim that He was the God of the Old Testament. Also, a few words on the shooting in Las Vegas. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

I have a challenge for you. It’s simple. No excuses. But if you take the challenge, I know you’ll be glad you did! If you like it, email me at [email protected] The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace…” -Romans 15:13 The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

You’ve heard the phrase that talks about obeying the spirit of the law instead of the letter of the law. Did that phrase come from the Bible? It sounds a LOT like our One Verse for today. Trying to measure up to the letter of the Law will kill us. Jesus gave us a better way. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

As much as we want all the answers, we are simply called to go until God shows us the future He has for us. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

The greatest “wealth” we can achieve is growing deeper in our relationship with Jesus and being content with the blessing He has given us. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Why do we love God? Psalm 116:1, our One Verse Devotional for today, gives us a very simple answer. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Ok, honesty time… I think this whole idea of “living up to your potential” is a load of crap. Yeah, I said it. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Jesus made incredible claims. He didn’t say He was from God. He said He was God. That only means one of three things: He was a liar. He was a lunatic. Or He was God! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

The negative talk in our culture is becoming unbearable. But it can only change if it starts with us. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

If Jesus was called to fulfill a purpose… and we are called to be like Jesus… Shouldn’t we be serious about that same purpose? The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Whether we mean to or not, it’s easy to make the Christian life sound like a total drag. We act like it is all rules and no fun. Just boredom. BUT… The Christian life is actually exciting and risky, and there are countless benefits to following God. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

We are called to accept others. Those in the Church. Those outside of the Church. When will the Church get serious about this command? The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

“We want Love that puts on its boots and goes to work.” The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

The disciples ask Jesus for a sign that they should follow Him. (BTW, this was AFTER Jesus fed the 5,000 and walked on water!) They “remind” Jesus that God sent Moses bread from heaven as a sign. Jesus uses their own illustration and teaches us an important lesson: He is the Bread of Life and the closer we grow to Him, the more fulfilled we will be. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

It’s Monday, which means we are in Psalms. Wait, that doesn’t sound right. Yes, normally we do Psalms on Friday, but today’s One Verse is perfect for starting off a new week. If we kept Psalm 25:4 as a weekly (even daily!) prayer, I believe it would have a massive impact on our lives. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

In Psalm 23, David says that he is walking through the “valley of the shadow of death”. Just a few pages later, in our One Verse today, David has confidence that He will see the goodness of God in the land of the living. No matter what you are going through right now--blessing or pain--we can all be confident that we will see the Goodness of God in the land of the living. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

As followers of Jesus, we can run, yet not grow weary (in life. Marathons are still tough!). We can soar like eagles. But we need to learn how to trust and place our hope in God. Pro tip: It doesn’t come naturally! The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Even in the midst of storms in our lives, even when we don’t understand or can’t explain the storm, nothing is too hard for God. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Do we truly understand how wide and long and high and deep God’s love is? That is Paul’s prayer for us in today’s One Verse. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

God promises to be right by our side. All we need to do is keep our eyes on Him. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

One aspect of being a follower of Jesus is that we are supposed to share our faith. This is the one thing that freaks most Christians out! Always be prepared to give an answer. That is our One Verse today. But what does that really mean? Do we have to prepared to answer everything about the Bible? That is what most of of think, but who can actually do that?! Or, does the verse simply mean to be prepared to tell your story? The question is, have you actually paused and thought about your story? Could you share it if someone asked? The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

We have an enemy who is ready to take us out at every opportunity. That is why it is so important to stay alert, stay connected to God, and stay connected to each other. Like my football coach used to teach me, you need to keep your head on a swivel. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could come into the Presence of God, and it was just one time per year. Now, God allows us to encounter His presence whenever we choose. Do NOT take prayer for granted. It is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

The Apostle Peter was one of Jesus’s closest friends. He also helped to start the Church movement with his sermon at Pentecost. So, when Peter gives some guidelines and instructions for the Church, we should probably pay attention. Here’s the question: Do Peter’s words describe the Church today? About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

We are called to enter God’s presence with thanksgiving, worship, and praise. It’s easy to skip over this or think it just involves singing a few songs at church on Sunday. Yet, praising God and being filled with thanksgiving is a spiritual discipline that can affect our entire outlook on life. The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

This week, we’ve been honest about the fact that the Christian life isn’t an easy life. Jesus calls us to a higher standard in how we live and especially in how we treat others. On top of that, this world is broken. It is troubled. Yet, Jesus makes us an awesome promise. He says to take heart because He is in our corner, and He has already overcome the world. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse  

Did you realize that the “Golden Rule” was Jesus’s idea? “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” -Luke 6:31 About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse    

Jesus makes it clear: If you want to be first in His Kingdom, put others first and become the servant to all. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse   The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project.

At the start of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminds us that it won’t always be easy to follow Him. We have to be prepared to take some heat if we are going to stand up for what is right. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

When we experience evil in this world, God says we shouldn’t worry. Instead, give it over to Him and trust God to move in a way that only He can. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

This week we have been diving into a theme: Do good. Stand against evil. Today’s One Verse Devotional reminds us that God created us to do good works. In the mid-1700’s, John Wesley wrote “Three Simple Rules” to live by. They are more applicable now than ever: Do no harm, do good, stay in love with God. Great rules to live by! About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

If we say that we are a godly nation, we must seek good and stand against evil in every form. It is time for the Church to get serious about seeking repentance, calling out to God, and being a voice for good and against evil. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Job faces a problem that many of us do from time to time: He can’t find God. He looks East, West, North, and South, and Job still can’t find God. Have you ever felt like your prayers wer just “hitting the ceiling”? This is where Job is at in Job 23. But then he says, “But He knows the way that I take.” Job knew God was always there, even when it didn’t feel like it. These can be difficult times when you can’t hear from God. But God is testing you, and He is in the process of making like gold. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

“I’m just a broken soul who’s been restored by the grace and the Love on an Almighty God.” This is where I find my identity, not in the color of my skin. (Warning: this is a long one, folks!) The One Verse Devotional Bible study is provided by Phosphorus Project. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.

Whether you just started following Jesus, or you have been a Christian your entire life, God is inviting you into a deeper relationship. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

This week, we’ve been talking about the new command Jesus gave us: to Love one another. Jesus said this is how the world would know we follow Him. On today’s One Verse Devotional, I share my hope and prayer for you, that your Love would increase and overflow. About the One Verse Devotional Podcast One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse   Bible study devotional provided by Phosphorus Project.

357: How will they know | John 13:35 How will others know you are a Christian? Jesus’s answer may surprise you! That is the question we are answering today on the One Verse Devotional Podcast. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

What comes first: belonging or believing? For the church, many times it is believing. Once you believe like us, act like us, think like us- then you can belong. But Jesus gave us a new command: Love first. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Jesus loved to speak in story. He was a master storyteller, while teaching deeper meanings through His parables. In Matthew 13, Jesus tells six different parables, all about the Kingdom of Heaven. In Matthew 13:44, He tells a story in just one verse! Sounds perfect for the One Verse Devotional... About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

I love the Psalms. They give us the emotional side of the stories we read in the Bible. On today’s One Verse, we are reminded of the power in God’s name. We can trust in Him. Have you ever felt like your prayers just hit the ceiling. It’s just that: a feeling. God promises to never leave you. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

As a fan of DC Talk growing up, I almost called this episode Nu Thing. (That’s for all the TRUE fans! Ha). Yesterday, God said we shouldn’t dwell on the past miracles He has done in our lives. A weird thing for God to say. Today, we learn why God would give us that advice. And we truly understand what He is saying, it will change our outlook on life. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

“You don’t have any freedom. It’s just all rules and regulations.” This is what a lot of people think being a Christians is all about. The problem is, they are believe a lie. If we do whatever we want and make any choice we feel like, it leads to a life of sin and bondage. Freedom comes with guidelines. Jesus want to free us from the bondage of sin. True freedom is found in Christ. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

After a two week break, it is good to be back! It was nice to get caught up on life and get a little refreshed, but I missed you all. Today, we have a great verse. It’s one of those verses where you think: “Did he really just say that?” James makes a very important observation in today’s One Verse. When people talk about faith, a common phrase is, “I believe in God.” According to James, that isn’t enough. You know why? Satan believes in God. Wait, did he just say that?! (See, I told ya!) About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

It can be easy to get so focused on finding God’s will for our lives, that we actually forget to seek God in the matter. We can ask God to teach us His will, much of which has already been laid out in Scripture. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

When we need to wait on God, it never means to sit back and do nothing. Waiting on God is an “active” waiting. Isaiah reminds us to follow the Law of God while we are waiting for Him to speak into our lives. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Many of us feel pain and regret over past mistakes and sins. However, you will never fully realize the glorious future that God has for you until you let go of your past.   About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived because he asked God for it. We have that same ability. The Bible promises that, if we ask God, He will give us His wisdom generously. Now that’s a promise!   About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Living with a “love first” philosophy means being quick to listen, yet slow to speak. (And slow to anger, too!)   About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

To see the wonder of God, you simply need to take a look outside.   About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Hey guys! I wanted you to know I'm going camping with my family the next few days, so I am taking a little break from the podcast. I will be back later this week on Thursday and Friday. Stay in God's Word! Happy 4th! I'll see you later this week. Peace! Matt

Summer means camping. Hiking. Canoeing. If you love these outdoor activities, then you’ve been caught in a storm. When the lightning crashes, you immediately look for safety, a place you can take refuge from danger. Psalm 46 tells us that this is exactly what God is in our lives. He is that refuge, a place to hide when the storms of life surround us. God doesn’t just offer help in times of trouble, but He is an ever-present Help when we need Him. Our God is the safety, the help, and the strength we need to survive any storm that comes our way. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.  http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

“Christians who believe in a Creator should want to take care of His Creation.”   About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Yesterday (ep. 340), we talked about being crucified with Christ. But what does that mean for our lives? Where do we go from there? Colossians 3:2, today’s One Verse gives us a great clue: setting our minds on things above. These really affects our lives in two areas...   About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

What does it mean to be crucified with Christ? It can sound scary, but I believe it can change your life if you adopt this way of thinking. Through Jesus, we can put our old lives, our old decisions, and our old identities to death. We are new creatures, living by faith, every day, in a God who loves us unconditionally. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

In Psalm 19, David is praising God for His beautiful creation. He praises Him for His strength and power and majesty. David declares that the Law of the Lord is perfect and sweeter than honey. But in the last verse of this Psalm, David gives us a glimpse into what true worship looks like.   About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

When life doesn’t make sense, or we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place, there is only one question we need to ask ourselves: Is there anything too hard for God?   About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

As Christians, it is easy to get caught up in the “do’s and don’ts” of religion. While rules and guidelines are important, they aren’t the most important thing. So, what is? What is the most important thing a Christian should hold onto and live by? Paul says simply in Galatians 3:26, “In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.” That is the defining point of our faith: Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are the children of the Most High God, along with all the benefits this brings. We are children of God and heirs to His Kingdom. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

At the end of the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul tells us to “rejoice always,” but what does that really mean? Do we still praise God during the messy times of life? Isn’t this command a little cruel and uncompassionate? Like any verse, this one has layers. Let’s take a few minutes and peel of few of them back on this whole idea of rejoicing always. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Have you ever played the game where you shut the door and try to keep out your sibling or friends? As long as the door stays shut, it is almost impossible for them to open it. But if they get just one foot in the door, they can eventually pry the entire thing open. In Ephesians 4, the Bible tells us that is exactly how sin works in our life. Do not give the Devil a foothold. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Fill in the blank for yourself: “Some trust in _______ and some in________, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” -Psalm 20:7 About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Thank you for listening to and engaging with the One Verse Devotional podcast. As Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 3, I am encouraged every single day by watching you grow in your faith. Invest in the faith of others, and you will be encouraged, as well. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings I am passing on to you each day. These are both Paul’s words and the message I have for you. About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

“In essentials, unity; In nonessentials, liberty; In all things, love.”   About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

God’s will is a mystery. The Bible makes that clear, but maybe it’s not as mysterious as we make it. In the Bible, mystery never means “something we can’t understand.” It is more like a great mystery novel. There are twists and turns, but in the end, all will be revealed. That is why I love Sherlock Holmes stories. Everything is a mystery… until it isn’t. And this is true of our faith. God’s will is a mystery because we can’t get our minds wrapped around it. There is a difference between a mystery and a secret. God wants to reveal the mystery of His will to us. He isn’t holding onto a secret.   About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

We have all experienced low times in our lives. Times of anxiety, fear, or mourning. In today’s One Verse, David remembers a time when he was at his lowest. He talks about being clothed in sackcloth, something you would only wear during times of deep mourning in the ancient world. Yet, David praises God because He turned his wailing into dancing. God’s love, grace, and forgiveness can take the lowest points of our lives and turn them into something greater. A celebration. A time of dancing. If you are hurting today, look to God and let Him turn your depression to dancing.   About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Is life difficult right now? Do you have something weighing heavy on your heart? I cannot promise when it will happen, but Psalm 40 tells us that God WILL hear our cry and turn to us. Sometimes, we need to be patient. Stay strong in prayer.   About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

In Ephesians 5, Paul reminds us to always give thanks for everything. But that is not always easy, is it? Are we really supposed to thank God for everything? What about the bad stuff? The hurtful stuff? Here are some honest thoughts...   About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

The spiritual life is like a marathon. It takes time, energy, and discipline. Paul reminds us of this in 1 Corinthians 9. He encourages us to prepare ourselves for the race ahead and then to run in such a way as to gain the prize that will last forever. Where do you need discipline in your life? About the One Verse Devotional One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

We’ve all used empty words. Filler. Small talk. Meaningless. But God never speaks just to hear His Own Voice. His Word, God says, will never return empty. Whatever He speaks into our lives, He promises us that It will continue to work and flourish, accomplishing the purpose He has in store. Place your trust in God’s Word. It is never empty and nourishes us like rain on dry ground. About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

We learned from our last One Verse, 2 Corinthians 1:3, that our God is the God of all Comfort and the Father of Compassion. Today, we look at the very next verse that continues this thought. 2 Corinthians 1:4 tells us that God has given us comfort, not just for ourselves, but so that we can pass along that comfort and compassion to others who are hurting. This is what it means to be a Light Bearer.   About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

God is Love. He is also the Father of all compassion and comfort. God loves you. He wants to pour out His Grace, Forgiveness, Mercy, and Love into your life. If you are hurting, God is offering His perfect Comfort. About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Sometimes life is more than we can possibly bear. Sometimes our flesh and our heart fails us. But God promises to be our strength forever. When we are down, He lifts us up. About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse

Happy Memorial Day! As we remember those who have given their lives for our freedom, let us also use today as a time to remember. God encouraged His people to set up memorials to pause and remember what He did in their lives. About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/oneverse  

Can our faith have an effect on our friends? According to today’s One Verse, it does! Mark 2 is an amazing story of friends showing up to help. They did all they could to get their friend in front of Jesus (I thought “Let’s tear the roof off this place!” was just an expression). And Jesus makes it clear: The man was healed because of the faith of his friends. What does that mean for us today? It makes me want to be a better friend. About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/

“I stand at the door and knock.” This is a famous verse that many Christians are familiar with. Maybe you remember the well known painting of Jesus knocking on the door. But here is the sobering part of this verse: It’s not a “salvation” verse. Jesus was speaking to the Church! At some point, Jesus was pushed out. Now, He patiently waits outside the door, knocking, and hoping that someone will invite Him back in. What a tragedy for that church. About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/

Does God get angry with us? That is a big question that a lot of people struggle with. That is the topic we wrestle with today on the One Verse Devotional Podcast. My answer may surprise you. About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/

God will uncover His heart as we grow closer to Him. Today’s One Verse Devotional focuses on Jeremiah 33:3 where God promises to teach us great and unsearchable things if we will simply call on His name and grow deeper in our relationship with Him. About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus began to teach us what the Kingdom of Heaven looked like. In Matthew 5:14, Jesus taught us that His Kingdom would be made up of Light Bearers. As followers of the One True Light (Jesus), we are called to reflect His Light to a dark and hurting world. We are the light of the world. About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/

Since Jesus gave His life for us and forgave us so we could have a restored relationship with God, how much more should we forgive others? If we are called to live with Faith, Hope, and Love, why is there so much negativity in the church? About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/

I love being a dad. I love providing for my children and giving them gifts. Yet, I’m human. I’m not perfect. So, if I love to take care of my children, how much more will God take care of us? About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/

The purpose and plans of God do not change. He stays the same through the ages. When it is so easy for me to bounce from one idea to the next or one opportunity to another, I find comfort in following a God who stand firm. When we give our lives to God, He promises to act in our lives and invited us to participate in His unchanging purpose. About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/

Faith doesn’t fly well in today’s culture. Science and information rules. Experience matters. But faith? Not so much. That just sounds crazy, right? I respectfully disagree. So, what is faith? Faith is a choice. Faith is choosing to have confidence in the Hope we can’t see. Faith doesn’t make sense. If it did, it wouldn’t be faith. Supernatural assurance in what we cannot see and choosing Hope… That is true faith. And that is a choice I am making. Today's One Verse: Hebrews 11:1 About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/

“God takes full responsibility for the life wholly devoted to Him.” -Charles Stanley   About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project.   http://phosphorusproject.com/

When Jesus predicted His death, Peter immediately corrected Him. Jesus wasn’t a fan of that (“Get behind me, Satan”). Peter didn’t understand something critical: If you want to find true Life, you have to give yours away for Jesus. About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/

Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus paid our sin debt. Now, as followers of Jesus, we are called to honor God with our actions. About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.   Is it hard to find time to spend with God and grow your Christian faith? The One Verse Devotional is a short, 5 minute podcast where we grow deeper in our faith through just one verse a day, Monday through Friday. A practical and encouraging look at the Bible, now you can spend time with God whenever you want. Hosted by Matt McCarrick and brought to you by Phosphorus Project. http://phosphorusproject.com/