Posts from November 2021

  DISCUSSION:                               If you watch TV or read social media you will see that there are thousands of things designed to make you happy. So, it should be easy to find happiness, shouldn’t it? I think the fact is that nothing in this world will bring us happiness. We have to choose to be happy regardless of what is going on in our lives. Solomon said,…

  DISCUSSION:                       The Bible tells us in Proverbs 17:22, Happiness is good medicine, but sorrow is a disease. If we don’t constantly work on having a good attitude and think on good things (Philippians 4:8), instead of feeling happy and energetic, happiness is likely to get lost in our busy lives. Without happiness life can feel pretty empty and meaningless. Poor health will follow in a life without joy.   As Christians, we have a big reason…

  DISCUSSION:                                                    A teenage boy, Jack, is riding his aging bicycle down the road when he is pulled over by one of his friends, Tom. Tom was sporting a new car.  As he exited the car he told Jack that it was a gift from his brother.  He continued to show all of the extras the car had and how plush the insides were. Jack was taken aback by the costly gift Tom’s brother…

  DISCUSSION:                                                    There is a short story that is told about a young paper boy. It’s said that an older man was on his way to work one morning and he heard this young voice calling out, “Morning Paper, Get Your Morning Paper.” It was a cold rainy day in November and as he looked up, he saw this thinly clad young boy, shivering in a doorway, soaked to the skin. He had no…

  DISCUSSION:                                        V.6 – So when the woman saw that the tree was pleasing to the eyes … she took of its fruit. The story is told about a young child that was being cared for by a baby sitter while the mother worked in the office of her home. When the child saw this beautiful vase in the china cabinet, he wanted it. When the baby sitter refused to…

  DISCUSSION:                                             Many times we are so very short-sighted, placing greater value on the pleasures of this life, than on the glories of the future life in heaven. I can’t say we all do it but I do know that it is all too easy to be caught up in the thoughts and cares of daily living and just forget about God. We invest our time…

  DISCUSSION:                                                                                                              Verse 4 of 1 Timothy 1 says, “Give no heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes.” The truth about babies: A new mother said, but we need our rest. So, we started him on formula so he’ll sleep through the night. Sounds logical right? We’ve been told this for years by our parents or others we love and respect. The problem…

  DISCUSSION:                                                                                                       In Psalm16, David rejoices that the life God gives cannot be canceled by the grave. But generally speaking, the Old Testament offers little insight into life after death, but here David’s faith carries him to a deeper understanding. The apostles Peter and Paul understand this psalm as prophesying about the resurrection of Jesus. (See Acts 2:25-28, 13:35-37). Because of the resurrection of Jesus, David and “all God’s people” will come…

    How often have you passed someone on the road that needed help and later you felt guilty about not stopping? Maybe you heard of someone in the community that needed help and you did nothing. Have you ever seen someone being abused or mistreated and have done nothing? Has someone depended on you for help, or even just for you to be responsible and you let them down? Maybe there were times when you should have spoken up…

  Isn’t it interesting that we read books and watch movies and TV shows about fictional characters that we love and adore, but they all have huge character flaws?  Jack Bauer was the antihero that would toss aside all feeling for other people to accomplish a mission. Harry Potter had a bad temper. Katniss Everdeen was insecure. Winnie the Pooh was depressed (and probably had an eating disorder). The point is this: We also have faults! Each of us are…

  Life is confusing. (I could probably stop the devotional right here.)  You wake up one day, and you’re told not to eat eggs because it’ll raise your cholesterol. The next day you’re told that they are good because of their protein, and they’ll help you lose weight. Same thing happens with coffee. “Drink it! It has compounds in it that are healthy!”  The next day: “Don’t drink it! It’s killing you!” Even those of us who are older, we…

  Grow up! Be a child! Huh? Yep. That’s exactly what Jesus was saying. It’s included in a discussion He was having about humility. But why? Unlike adults, children have no illusions of being in control. All the adults around them are taller, bigger, and stronger. Adults tell them when to wake up, what to eat for dinner, and whether they can watch the movie they want to watch so badly. Sometimes it may seem like children are in control,…