Are you generous with the blessing of simple encouragement? Paul closed his second letter to the people in Corinth with these words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 Today, I want to share one of Rev’s…
My dad spent his career as a barber, keeping customers looking good with stylish cuts, razor shaves, and occasional facials. He had one customer for whom Jesus’ birth was a barrier to his faith. You see, the man was a gynecologist who found it impossible to accept the thought of a virgin birth. So, let’s…
Would you say that you are living with confident hope? Are you filled with peace and joy? We talk about peace, hope, and joy at Christmas, but what about an average day in September? Life keeps us busy and distracted. The enemy doesn’t want us to look to the only One who is our source…
Happy Independence Day! I thought we’d take a moment to look at the definition of independence… 1. Not subject to control by others: self-governing.2. Not requiring or relying on someone or something else.3. A country or region gaining political freedom from outside control. Some synonyms for independence include being self-sufficient, self-reliant, self-supported, self-sustaining, and having the…
Would you like to get well? Are you feeling hopeless? Do you have a chronic health problem that has interfered with your life for as long as you can remember? Have you carried a mental burden that makes you want to crawl into a corner and stay there? Have you sought help from doctors and…
I once read the following words written by Louie Giglio… “Jesus doesn’t just give you what you need; Jesus is what you need. Your heart was created by Him and for Him. You can fight and claw to gain the world, but without Jesus, you will never be completely satisfied. If there is a growing…
Christmas Blessings, Friends!! It’s time to celebrate Jesus, the best gift ever given. May these verses, quotes, and prayers encourage you and help you remember that even if your day doesn’t look like you wanted … the Lord of the universe left the glories of heaven because He loves you more than you can imagine….
I’m not a fan of cold weather, but one thing I love about a cold winter night is the stillness and peace. It’s hard to find a moment of either at this time of year. Between shopping, wrapping, cooking, church and school activities, holiday get-togethers, and random unexpected appointments … oh my, stillness and peace…
I don’t know if you can relate but I’ve had too many years when I’ve allowed holiday busyness to distract me and keep me from focusing on the gift of Jesus. December is a crazy busy time of the year. We fill our calendars with church and school activities, extra time with friends, shopping, wrapping,…
Do you ever have trouble expressing your emotions? Is it hard for you to share your feelings when your heart hurts? It can be especially hard to deal with sadness during the holidays. There seems to be the unspoken message that we’re all supposed to be filled with peace, joy, and twinkle lights. But many…
Election Day is right around the corner. Many have voted already and more will vote on Tuesday. It feels like America’s future and faith are on the ballot because God’s children know that a nation’s future and faith are closely connected. David wrote… Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12 Why?…
What does it mean that God works all things for good in our lives? Everyone has times when life feels anything but “good.” And yet, this verse gets quoted often as one of God’s promises. How can God be working for good when our circumstances are miserable? Paul wrote… We know that God makes all…
What is the greatest problem in the world today? What do you believe? What do you think? I did a little research and found the following list of the world’s greatest problems. It’s a list that may or may not include the things that concern you. It can feel like today’s problems are worse than ever but…
Do you know what it means to be righteous? The Urban Dictionary defines it as: The American Heritage Dictionary says it means: And finally, the Biblical defines righteousness as: Psalm 111 says… How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in Him should ponder them.Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. His righteousness never…
It can happen in a moment… You can be dealing with a tantrum-throwing toddler, watching the news, driving in rush hour, waiting in some line or waiting room, or discouraged by a project when suddenly you realize your blood pressure is rising and you are frustrated! I was going to say “getting frustrated” but if…
Don’t you wish liars’ noses grew and their pants did catch on fire? It would be much easier to confidently know the truth if we could quickly identify and reject lies and deception. I’ve shared before how much I hate lying. It seems like our culture assumes it’s just part of life but look at…
There’s a strong storm going through our area as I type these words and I’m hoping we don’t lose power. Storms without or storms within … life’s storms leave us insecure and unsettled. When the sky darkens and sirens start blaring we want to feel safe and strong enough to make it through. David wrote……
What would you say if someone asked you about the meaning of worship? Many think of worship as the time spent in church lifting praises and listening to the Word. Wikipedia says… Worship is showing regard with great respect, honor, or devotion. This may be encountered in religious settings. John Piper said… “All true worship is…
Maybe, like me, you’ve had something you’ve been praying about for years but as time goes on … hope fades. You need hope now but wonder if you should just let it go or continue to pray persistently. Your loved one is still ill. Your pain is overwhelming. Your relationship is still broken. Your finances…
Is there anyone who doesn’t need a blessing? What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about needing a blessing? The words “bless, blessed, or blessing” can be found in the New Living Translation of the Bible 427 times. The first is in the first chapter of Genesis, and the last is…
Everyone faces disappointment. Circumstances may be disappointing. People may disappoint us. And more often than we care to think about … we disappoint ourselves. What are we supposed to do when we’re disappointed? We all know how it feels but how do we describe what it is? The dictionary defines disappointment this way: Children know…
