Tag Archives: restoration

The First Questions God Ever Asked

Posted on January 6, 2026 by Mark Cole

The Bible begins with a powerful declaration: “In the beginning, God…”But it doesn’t take long before something surprising happens. God begins to ask questions. These are not questions asked out of ignorance. They are questions asked to draw people out, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Leadership, Teaching | Tagged awaken conscience, Bible, brother's keeper, call us home, choices, condition, confronted, deflects, draw people out, first questions, God asks, God warns us, grace, healing, heart, honesty, invite, invite relationship, posture of the soul, question, questions, reflex, repentance, restoration, restore, restore relationship, reveal hearts, shame, sin, sin creates distance, truth, Where are you?, which voice | Leave a comment

Sin at the Door: A Warning, a Choice, and a Call to Mastery

Posted on January 2, 2026 by Mark Cole

“Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” — Genesis 4:7 This is one of the most vivid and sobering warnings in all of Scripture. God speaks these words … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Holy Spirit | Tagged actions, choice, closely, compromises, consience, control, counsel, crouching, desires, discouraged, effort, emotions, exposes, flesh, Genesis, honestly, hope, humbly, jealous, lonely, offended, prevention, resist the devil, responsibility, restoration, rule over sin, sin, subdue, Surrender, temptation, tired, truth, walk by the Spirit, warning | Leave a comment

“The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Posted on December 27, 2025 by Mark Cole

Few verses are quoted more often—and understood less—than Nehemiah’s famous words: “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” This wasn’t a motivational slogan. It was spoken into a moment of deep conviction, exhaustion, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Health, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged Biblical, celebrate, clarity, conviction, gladness, God's character, God's Word, grace, joy, joy of the Lord, rejoice over you, repentance, restoration, sacred day, source, strength, strong, what He has done, who God is | Leave a comment

Restoring My First Love

Posted on December 23, 2025 by Mark Cole

At 70 years old, I didn’t expect to be saying this—but this past year has been one of the Top 10 years of my life. What makes that even more surprising is how the year began. It didn’t start with … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Exercise, Family, God, God Adventures, Healing, Health, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Leadership, Music, Sports, Teaching, Travel, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged Albania, alignment, Alpha, Banff, blesings, children, family, fear of the Lord, First love, free used car, generational fruit, godly friends, grandchildren, health, increase, istanbul, Italy, long life, marriage, Maui, mentoring, ministry, next generation, pickleball, provision, restoration, teaching, Top 10, true humility, worship leading | Leave a comment

“Turn Us Again” — A Prayer for Renewal and Rescue

Posted on December 15, 2025 by Mark Cole

Turn us again to Yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.Make Your face shine down upon us.Only then will we be saved. – Psalm 80:19 NLT This verse is not a casual request. It’s a desperate, humble, deeply honest prayer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Healing, Holy Spirit, Leadership, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged angelic hosts, authority, comfort, commander, distraction, face shine, fatigue, Favor, Heaven's armies, His presence, humble, humility, Love God, prayer, pride, reigns, relationship, renewal, repentance, rescue, restoration, restore, restored, salvation, saved, shine Your face, sin, strength, Surrender, turn us, Your face | Leave a comment

Revelation 5 — The Lion Who Is a Lamb

Posted on December 13, 2025 by Mark Cole

Revelation chapter 5 is one of the most breathtaking scenes in all of Scripture. It pulls back the curtain of heaven and shows us who is truly worthy, who holds history, and why worship sits at the center of everything. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Jesus, Leadership, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged best of us, defeated death, every, every tribe, faithful, follow Him, future, God's plan, heaven, heaven searches, His mission, His reign, His worship, His wounds, history, humble service, Jesus is worthy, language, laying down His life, Lion and the Lamb, Lion of the tribe of Judah, love, nation, Obedient, people, perfect obedience, present, purpose, redeemed, restoration, sacrificial love, song of heaven, true worship, weight of sin, who is worthy?, Worship, worthy is the Lamb, You are worthy, Your blood | Leave a comment

When Praise Sounds Like Joy and Weeping: Learning from Ezra 3

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Mark Cole

Some moments in Scripture are so human, so raw, so emotionally honest that they pull us right into the story. Ezra 3 is one of those scenes. After decades of exile, the Israelites finally return to Jerusalem. The city is … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Jesus, Worship | Tagged answered prayer, both generations, cymbals, emotion, Ezra 3, faithful love, foundation, God at work, God is moving, gratitude, grief, grieving, He is good, honest worship, joy, new, old, older generation, past and future, praise, rejoicing, restoration, shout for joy, sorrow, sound of revival, weeping, Worship, worship practices | Leave a comment

Turn Back and Live: God’s Invitation to a New Heart and a New Spirit

Posted on November 22, 2025 by Mark Cole

Few passages in Scripture capture the heart of God as clearly and tenderly as Ezekiel 18:30–32. Spoken to a rebellious nation, these words remain God’s urgent call to every generation—including ours: “Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged abandon, call, freedom, grace, guilt, habits, heart of God, hope, invitation, joy, live, loving Father, new affections, new desires, new heart, new life, new priorities, new purpose, new spirit, pathway home, pattern, rebellion, redemption, renew, repent, rescue, restoration, restore, save you, shame, strength, transformed, turn around, turn back, urgency, walk away | Leave a comment

Turn Us Again to Yourself: The Cry of Psalm 80

Posted on November 21, 2025 by Mark Cole

Psalm 80 contains a hauntingly beautiful refrain—one the psalmist repeats three times (vv. 3, 7, 19): “Turn us again to Yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.Make Your face shine down upon us.Only then will we be saved.” Whenever Scripture … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Worship | Tagged blessing, cold hearts, divine help, drift easily, face shine, favour, fear, God's blessing, God's favor, God's guidance, God's help, God's smile, God's presence, guidance, His presence, humility, Presence of God, renew, renewal, renews our strength, restoration, restore, restores our souls, return, revival, save, saved, smile, spiritual renewal, Turn us again | Leave a comment

Three Returns: Israel and God’s Faithfulness

Posted on November 2, 2025 by Mark Cole

Throughout history, God has shown His faithfulness to the people of Israel in remarkable ways. One of the most striking examples is how He has brought them back to their land multiple times. Each return tells a story — not … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Jesus | Tagged baptism, blood of the Lamb, bondage, Egypt, eternal life, Exodus, God's faithfulness, God's power, God's promises, Israel, nation, Promised Land, promises, reborn, redemption, repentance, restoration, restores, return, salvation, spiritual passion, state of Israel | Leave a comment

Tag Archives: restoration

The First Questions God Ever Asked

Sin at the Door: A Warning, a Choice, and a Call to Mastery

“The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Restoring My First Love

“Turn Us Again” — A Prayer for Renewal and Rescue

Revelation 5 — The Lion Who Is a Lamb

When Praise Sounds Like Joy and Weeping: Learning from Ezra 3

Turn Back and Live: God’s Invitation to a New Heart and a New Spirit

Turn Us Again to Yourself: The Cry of Psalm 80

Three Returns: Israel and God’s Faithfulness

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