A Better Way to Live
Join Shawn Boonstra in selected video chapters of his daily devotional "A Better Way to Live". Be inspired by the readings of the Word of God and learn how you can think about those truths in your daily life. You will find a new perspective of some ancient passages of the Scriptures and you will figure out how they can be useful today, illustrated with examples of every day living.
| Message | Reference |
| A path of moral shortcuts | Sometimes the devil gives you what you think you want—in order to tempt you down a path of moral shortcuts. But the long-term result of giving in to temptation is losing control of your own self-government. Verse: "He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time." —Daniel 11:24 |
| A Sense of Restlessness in the Heart | As this verse tells us, a clean conscience is worth more than all the money in the world. Verse: "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 'There is no peace,' says my God, 'for the wicked.'" |
| Alcohol | Summary: If nobody ever consumed another drop of liquor, what harm would it do to our society? If you never touched another drop, what would you have to lose? Verse: "Wine is a mocker, intoxicating drink arouses brawling, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." —Proverbs 20:1 |
| Crucial Decisions in Every Human Heart | In the final analysis, the Bible describes only two kinds of people living on our planet the day that Jesus returns. What are the differences between the two? Verse: “And it will be said in that day: ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.’” —Isaiah 25:9 |
| Debt | Many of the financial problems we're facing as a nation were created as a direct result of our unwillingness to live within our means. Are there Biblical principles that can help us as we budget? Verse: "Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." —Romans 13:7-8 |
| Diet and Health | In the very first chapter of the Bible, we find the original diet for human beings as it was designed by the Creator Himself. Verse: "And God said, 'See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.'" —Genesis 1:29 |
| Father Figures and Religion | Can our relationship with our earthly father affect the way we view our Heavenly Father. Verse: "In this manner, therefore, pray: our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name." —Matthew 6:9 |
| Living like Jesus | How can we live an exemplary life? Is it too tall an order in this modern day? What should we do when people attack us and our beliefs? Verse: "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 'Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth'; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously." —1 Peter 2:21-23 |
| Marriage | With divorce rates hovering around 50 percent in the Western world, most of us are painfully aware of the disappointments that can be associated with modern family life. As a result, many people now seem to be eyeing traditional marriage with a great deal of suspicion. What does the Bible say on this topic? Verse: "And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him." |
| No Man Can Tame the Tongue | We should never underestimate the destructive power of the human tongue. Mere insinuation and doubts about a person's integrity are seeds that are easily planted, but they can lead to devastating effects. Verse: "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." —James 3:5-8 |
| One of the Greatest Promises of the Bible | God's people are living by faith—although we don't have all the answers right now, we know Someone who does. But that doesn't mean we'll never have the answers. Someday the ultimate verdict about God's government will be delivered by His people. Verse: "The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom." —Psalm 145:9-12 |
| Shortcuts and Compromise | Throughout the book of Psalms, you'll find many instances where the author laments the fact that wicked people seem to get ahead in life. What should we do when we find ourselves becoming envious of those who appear to have it all, even though they acquired their wealth or success through questionable means? Verse: "Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace." —Psalm 37:37 |
| Teaching Your Children About God | What's the best way to teach a child about God? Verse: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." —Proverbs 22:6 |
| The Autenticity of the Bible | Are we free to pick and choose when it comes to the authenticity of the Word of God? Is the nature of inspiration such that we can sit in judgment over the words of God's Book? Verse: "But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ." —Galatians 1:11-12 |
| The Joy of Forgiveness | Once we sin, the devil's very good at using that fact to drive a wedge between us and God. He tries to convince us that we have made ourselves utterly unforgivable. But God has a solution and we are not beyond His forgiveness! Verse: "I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin." —Psalm 32:5 |
| The Words In God's Book | What are you going to do with the words in God's Book? It's never been wrong about world events and it's not wrong when it talks about you! Verse: "And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people." |
| When It's Hard to Forgive | The Bible tells us that we should forgive as God forgives us, but what if we just don't feel like forgiving someone? Verse: “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” —Proverbs 16:3 |
| Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People | Why doesn't God remove all the pain and suffering here on Earth? If He's really a God of love, how can He allow evil to persist on this planet? Verse: "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities." —Psalm 103:8-10 |
| Your role in God's Kingdom | Do you ever feel like you're too inadequate to be of any real service to God? Is it possible He has a role for you to play in His Kingdom? Verse: "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." —1 Corinthians 15:9 |