Melanie Banks

"But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." Psalm 33:11 NIV We are focusing on our purpose and calling in Christ this month, so fitting after being on this six-month journey of going deeper in God's word. The more we know and understand His word, the more we know and understand our Lord. As we read in the gospels, everything Jesus did during His life here on earth had a depth of meaning, mission, and purpose. Reading through Paul's letter to the church[...]

“Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:9 I desire to stand firm and unshakable in my faith but to be honest, sometimes it’s challenging to do. Comparing my calling with others is one of the stumbling blocks that I have experienced that affects my ability to stand firm. Sometimes what other people are doing looks so much more glamourous or is more applauded. I have been guilty of lo[...]

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown? ” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Qui[...]

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV) This scripture is a challenging one for me. To say I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities would be a stretch. To be honest, these are all things that I would like to avoid at all costs. Looking back over the years of my life, I can see a pattern of that. Fear of discomfort, confrontation, conflict,[...]

"When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.'” John 11:32 NLT The story of Lazarus has always stood out in my mind as one of the more dramatic healings that Jesus performed in the Bible.  It is one that inspires me to have hope no matter how challenging and hopeless a situation may seem.  Lazarus had been dead four days by the time Jesus showed up on the scene.  There had been four days of weeping an[...]