First Cause
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Global >
      • United States
      • Africa
      • Democratic Republic of Congo
      • Guatemala
      • India
      • Kenya
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Nigeria
      • Peru
      • Rwanda
      • Sweden
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
    • Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Our Statement of Faith
  • Training
  • Leader Resources
    • Outreach
    • Quotes A-C
    • Quotes D-F
    • Quotes G-K
    • Quotes L-O
    • Quotes P-R
    • Quotes S-U
    • Quotes V-Z
    • Worship
    • Testimonials
    • Annual Newsletter
  • Leader Podcasts
  • Blog
  • Prayer
    • A Link In The Chain
    • Prayer Request
    • Long Eternal Line
  • STORE
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Inicio
  • Nosotros
    • Liderazgo
    • Equipo
  • Capacitacion
  • Eventos
  • Blog Devocionales
  • Galeria
  • Contacto
  • Link Page
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Global >
      • United States
      • Africa
      • Democratic Republic of Congo
      • Guatemala
      • India
      • Kenya
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Nigeria
      • Peru
      • Rwanda
      • Sweden
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
    • Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Our Statement of Faith
  • Training
  • Leader Resources
    • Outreach
    • Quotes A-C
    • Quotes D-F
    • Quotes G-K
    • Quotes L-O
    • Quotes P-R
    • Quotes S-U
    • Quotes V-Z
    • Worship
    • Testimonials
    • Annual Newsletter
  • Leader Podcasts
  • Blog
  • Prayer
    • A Link In The Chain
    • Prayer Request
    • Long Eternal Line
  • STORE
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Inicio
  • Nosotros
    • Liderazgo
    • Equipo
  • Capacitacion
  • Eventos
  • Blog Devocionales
  • Galeria
  • Contacto
  • Link Page
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

Reveration Blog

10/26/2025 4 Comments

Praying God's Will

Picture
Barbie with Ron
Recently, I traveled to central Florida with my sister, Barbie, to spend time with Dad, who was not doing well and, according to our brother, Nate, might not live much longer. Once again, Dad surprised us. He snapped out of his comatose state, recognized us, and was able to briefly converse and display the joy that permeates his life. While Dad slept most of the time, the three of us siblings were able to catch up and share meaningful conversations. During one of those discussions, Nate shared something that challenged my thinking, and I want to share it with you, hoping it might encourage you as it did me.  

Read More...
4 Comments

5/20/2025 0 Comments

Wounded Tiger

Picture
T. Martin Bennett writes a remarkable nonfiction book, Wounded Tiger.[1] It narrates the true story of Mitsuo Fuchida, Jake DeShazer, and the Covell family, showcasing the intersection of their lives during World War II and its aftermath. I highly recommend this book for its profound depiction of God’s redemptive hand at work.

Read More...
0 Comments

11/9/2023 0 Comments

If

Picture
Oswald Chambers made an interesting observation in My Utmost For His Highest, after musing upon John 14:15, “If ye love Me, ye will keep my commandments.” (RSV):
"Our Lord never insists upon obedience; He tells us very emphatically what we ought to do, but He never takes means to make us do it. We have to obey Him out of a oneness of spirit. That is why whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an IF—you do not need to unless you like."

Read More...
0 Comments

1/16/2023 0 Comments

No Choice in the Matter

Picture
David & Teresa
Around 2010, David was having his quiet time on his outside patio when the Lord said, “I want you to give me everything.”  He responded, “Lord, You have everything . . . we served You on the mission field . . . ” The Holy Spirit then impressed on his heart, “I want everything in your bank accounts.” David’s heart broke, and he began weeping.  Then he conceded, “Lord, it’s all yours.” He went to his wife, Teresa, and shared what had happened.  She replied that before emptying their bank accounts, she wanted confirmation. After two days of prayer, Teresa heard from God and agreed with her husband.  They emptied all their accounts and wrote a check to Eternal Perspectives Ministries.  David told me, “It was fun to write that check but very scary.”  About two years later, God directed them to move from Indiana to Oregon. Without funding or a job but full of faith, they obeyed.  For six months, with two of their children and a dog, they slept on couches in friends’ homes until the time came when God blessed them with provisions to have their own place and ministry. 
 ​

Read More...
0 Comments

5/21/2020 0 Comments

Praying in Jesus' Name

Picture
 Perhaps one of the bigger disappointments that Christians carry is the despondency that important prayers seem unanswered.  Why does God not do what I have asked for in faith?  It is an important and valid question and one that Jesus gives us insight towards understanding from His instruction to His disciples.

Read More...
0 Comments

4/10/2019 1 Comment

Confirmation

Picture
My good friend Dan moved from Tigard to Albany Oregon to work with Dana, another mutual friend.  Unfortunately, Dana’s business experienced a downturn and he had to let Dan go.  In 2012 Dan felt led to stay in Albany and serve as an Associate Pastor in a Calvary Chapel.  


Read More...
1 Comment

1/9/2018 0 Comments

He Picked You

Meditation
Acts 9:13-15—“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites.”
​

Read More...
0 Comments

11/14/2017 0 Comments

Pray Like This: Your Will Be Done

My parents are living on a farm in Zolfo Springs with my brother Nate and his wife Melissa.  Recently, their guard dog Shepherd went missing.  Less than a week later, Nate’s longtime companion, Minnie, was hit and killed by a truck on the road outside their home.  As my parents were out walking alongside a ditch looking for Minnie, a car stopped and the driver asked what they were looking for.  A conversation ensued in which the driver asked about getting permission to fish in the farm.  Dad explained that he was the owner and he would agree for Alex and his wife Elisa to fish as long as they were willing to let him share with them about Jesus.  They decided that was a fair arrangement and after fishing a couple of times at the pond and catching nice Bass, Alex one afternoon sat down on the farm porch and conversed with Dad about John 3:16.  He ended up placing his faith in Jesus.
 
Meditation
Matthew 6:10—Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
​

Read More...
0 Comments

11/8/2017 0 Comments

Pray Like This: Your Kingdom Come

​Let’s make a case for the ten greatest empires/kingdoms of all time.  
#1. The Roman Empire:  Considered preeminent for its sheer power and long-standing influence in military and political systems, art, literature, and religion.
#2. The Mongol Empire: Five times the size of Alexander the Great’s territory, Genghis Khan established a kingdom that stretched from Eastern Europe to China.
#3. The British Empire: Almost a quarter of the earth’s landmass was covered by an empire effective in warfare and trade.

Read More...
0 Comments

5/21/2017 0 Comments

More Willpower

Meditation
2 John 6—And this is love: that we walk according to His commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.
 
The first Biblical reference to love God is recorded in Exodus 20:6. Moses teaches the Israelites to keep God’s commands and thereby demonstrate their love for Him.  So, when John defines love in his letter to his readers, he is not sharing with them a new concept.  But, as we all know, it is hard to walk in love with God.  How do we strengthen willpower to be better God-lovers and, in the process, improve loving others and ourselves?

Read More...
0 Comments

5/14/2017 0 Comments

Willpower

Joe works hard at work and by the time he gets home he is exhausted.  Too often he is impatient with his children and snaps at his wife. When he loses his temper and yells at her it is not because he wants to be a jerk or to act in such an unloving manner. The fact is his willpower is nearly sapped.  Unfortunately, because of this, he is also insensitive to the fact that his wife, Alice, is also exhausted from watching high-energy children and operating at the tail end of being sick.  Her willpower and ability to understand his feelings is also at a low end. 

Read More...
0 Comments

10/31/2016 0 Comments

Resolve

​Meditation
1 Peter 4:1,2—Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, equip yourselves also with the same resolve—because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin—in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.
 

Read More...
0 Comments

10/4/2015 0 Comments

If He Did What We Deserve

For ten days I underwent training to be an assessor as part of my responsibilities for a new job I will be taking with the military.  By Friday night of the second week I was exhausted.  This job is intense because it requires me (when I am on call) to make a final recommendation to senior U.S. or Canadian leaders at the critical point of what appears to be an enemy attack.  Because I have no experience in aviation, I have to learn new terminology and methodologies in order to make key decisions for terrible contingencies that can occur rapidly.

Read More...
0 Comments

5/23/2011 0 Comments

Finding Answers

How often do you seek answers from the Bible so as to know what to do?   For years Kathleen and I have not been able to sell our home and because of this our equity is tied up.  Not having the ability to free up this money is frustrating.  I wonder how many hours I have spent trying to identify a solution to our situation.  Recently, I read in Psalm 16:5, “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot” (ESV).  What a great reminder that He is in control of my lot (in context lot refers to the future but here it makes a nice property statement)!  He will resolve our housing situation when the time is right. Occasionally finding answers is not the issue.  What I need is to be at peace with the Answer. 

Read More...
0 Comments

4/15/2010 0 Comments

Willing

​I had the privilege for several weeks of working with four Army generals.  In discussing the importance of a good reputation, several of them shared why it was vital to avoid any appearance of impropriety.  Their conduct was measured not just by standards but also the perception of those standards.  Aside from their own moral and spiritual convictions what they were willing to do or not do was tied directly to the people they served. I was encouraged that powerful men modeled integrity with humility.

Read More...
0 Comments

1/7/2006 0 Comments

Agreement

Why did God scatter people across the globe and confuse their languages?  The Scriptural interpretation for an offended God is often based on a literal reading of Genesis 11:4, “And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” But why would God be angry with people for plotting to fabricate some skyscraping tower? I don’t know any stupid architects. No one can build anything that reaches heaven.  Therefore, there had to be something about the purpose of the tower that drew God’s wrath. Marvin Rosenthal provides us analysis from his careful research.  ​

Read More...
0 Comments

4/28/2005 0 Comments

Decision Making

​Samson amazingly typified the nation of Israel.  He was specially chosen by God, and empowered with eye-popping strength.  Yet, like his countrymen, he chose the cravings of his flesh and failed miserably.  What prompted the man set apart for God to make decisions set apart from God?   

Read More...
0 Comments

10/18/2004 0 Comments

Prayer IV: Effective Prayer

​Prayer can be one of the most disingenuous exercises we undertake as Christians. When I go to the Lord in conversation am I intent on discerning His will or am I out to gain my own agenda?  My life is full of plans.  I know what I would like to happen.  It’s my life and I know what is best for me.  Immediately I have gone astray.  I have made the cardinal error that so many Christians insist on making.  

Read More...
0 Comments

9/4/2004 0 Comments

Labor Day

​Labor Day is a holiday celebrated in America the first Monday in September.  It is unclear who first conceived of this day but for over 100 years it has served as a tribute and dedication to the social and economic achievements of American workers.   Regardless of what country we live in, work is an important facet of our everyday lives.  

Read More...
0 Comments

7/8/2004 0 Comments

Selfishness

​Each year senior military officers attending the Army War College choose a gift to present to the school.  Because of differing tastes, this exercise of selecting a gift proves to be the most contentious challenge each class will face.  Typically, students pick a reputable artist and commission that artist to paint a historical event the class chooses.  Civil war themes are by far the most popular and sell the most prints. One year when the artist revealed his sketch, one southern student on the selection committee complained that there were no confederate soldiers present.  Another member objected that no black Americans were depicted.  So they sent the artist back to his canvas. Imagine their surprise when the clever painter produced a beautiful portrait of black Union soldiers guarding sullen Confederate prisoners!  

Read More...
0 Comments

<<Previous

    Categories

    All
    Abiding
    Ability
    Accountability
    Accusations
    Action
    Adaptable
    Admonish
    Adversity
    Advice
    Agreement
    Alert
    Alliance
    Ambition
    Angels
    Anger
    Anointing
    Arguing
    Aspiration
    Assumptions
    Attitude
    Attributes
    Authority
    Available
    Awareness
    Balance
    Baptism
    Belief
    Betrayal
    Bible
    Bitterness
    Blessings
    Blood
    Bold
    Boundaries
    Bribery
    Burn Out
    Busyness
    Calling
    Calm
    Care
    Causes
    Challenges
    Change
    Character
    Children
    Choices
    Christmas
    Comfort
    Commitment
    Communication
    Communion
    Community
    Comparison
    Compassion
    Complacency
    Complaining
    Compromise
    Concern
    Conduct
    Confession
    Confrontation
    Confusion
    Conscience
    Consent
    Considerate
    Contentment
    Context
    Corruption
    Courage
    Craving
    Creation
    Creativity
    Criticism
    Curiosity
    Dark
    Death
    Deception
    Decision Making
    Dedication
    Delay
    Deliverance
    Demons
    Depression
    Despair
    Discernment
    Discipleship
    Discipline
    Discouragement
    Dishonesty
    Disobedience
    Disrespect
    Divine Appointment
    Divisive
    Dogmatic
    Doubt
    Duty
    Easter
    Edify
    Effort
    Emotion
    Empathy
    Encouragement
    Endurance
    Envy
    Eternity
    Ethics
    Evangelism
    Evolution
    Example
    Excuses
    Experience
    Failure
    Faith
    Faithful
    Fasting
    Fathers
    Favor
    Fear
    Feedback
    Fellowship
    Flesh
    Focus
    Follow
    Foolishness
    Forgiveness
    Freedom
    Friendly
    Friendship
    Fruit
    Gentle
    Giving
    Glory
    Goals
    God
    God Fearing
    Godly
    Gods Love
    Gods Promises
    Good Friday
    Gossip
    Government
    Grace
    Grumbling
    Guidance
    Habit
    Happiness
    Hate
    Healing
    Healthy
    Heart
    Heaven
    Hell
    Help
    Heresy
    Heroism
    History
    Holidays
    Holiness
    Holy Spirit
    Honor
    Hope
    Humility
    Hypocrisy
    Idolatry
    Ignorance
    Image
    Immorality
    Incompetent
    Inconsistent
    Ingratitude
    Inheritance
    Initiative
    Insecurity
    Inspiration
    Integrity
    Interference
    Isolation
    Israel
    Jealousy
    Jesus
    Joy
    Judgment
    Justice
    Justification
    Kindness
    Knowledge
    Language
    Laughter
    Law
    Lazy
    Leadership
    Learning
    Legalism
    Life
    Light
    Listening
    Lonely
    Love
    Loyalty
    Lying
    Marriage
    Meaning
    Meditation
    Memorial
    Mentor
    Mercy
    Mind
    Ministry
    Miracles
    Money
    Music
    Name
    Obedient
    Observation
    Opportunity
    Opposition
    Pain
    Parables
    Parenting
    Passion
    Patience
    Peace
    Perseverance
    Philosophies
    Plan
    Poem
    Poor
    Possessions
    Power
    Praise
    Prayer
    Prayer For Leaders
    Prejudice
    Preparation
    Pressure
    Pride
    Priorities
    Profiles
    Promises
    Protection
    Providence
    Provision
    Prudence
    Psalms
    Punishment
    Purpose
    Questions
    Rebellious
    Rebuke
    Recognition
    Reconcilation
    Redemption
    Relativism
    Relevance
    Religion
    Repentance
    Repetition
    Reputation
    Respect
    Responsible
    Rest
    Restoration
    Revenge
    Revival
    Reward
    Righteous
    Role
    Sacrifice
    Safety
    Salvation
    Satan
    Security
    Selection
    Self
    Self Righteous
    Self-righteous
    Sensitive
    Serving
    Sickness
    Silence
    Sin
    Sincerity
    Sorrow
    Soul
    Speech
    Spiritual Disciplines
    Spiritual Gifts
    Spiritual Growth
    Spiritual Warfare
    Status
    Stewardship
    Strategy
    Strengths
    Stress
    Stubborn
    Submission
    Success
    Suffering
    Suicide
    Teaching
    Team
    Temple
    Temptation
    Testimony
    Testing
    Thankful
    Theology
    Thinking
    Thoughtful
    Time
    Tradition
    Training
    Transformation
    Travel
    Trinity
    Trouble
    Trust
    Truth
    Understanding
    Unequal
    Unity
    Values
    Victory
    Virtue
    Vision
    Warning
    Weakness
    Will
    Wisdom
    Witness
    Work
    Worry
    Worship
    Youth
    Zeal

Picture

Contacts

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Photo from Rachel Maxey Miles