Posts from 2023

  Things that control our lives: money, friends, food, shelter, schedules, time. There is only one of these items that we can’t get more of if we lose it or don’t use it-time . Procrastination is a thief of time- Don’t waste time, it is most valuable and you have direct control of how you use it. God tells us what we must do to join him in heaven-don’t focus your attention on things that doesn’t promote you going to…

  There are so many earthly demands on us today that it is sometimes even hard to have time to sleep. Sometimes that lack of sleep is from attempting to meet the earthly demands and knowing we are not meeting the things God wants from us. Is this a catch 22? No, it is a priority thing. We feel so much pressure to maintain a certain level of worldly comfort that we can’t enjoy life due to the demands to…

  Spend time alone with God’s Word.  Besides the spiritual growth we will gain from study, we will also come to know Him better.  Reading His word brings us in touch with Him.  Jesus tells us in John 14:7 – “If you had known Me, you would have known my Father also.”   Just studying the life of Jesus will help us to know God better.   In seeking God’s help, we can draw closer to Him through prayer, meditation,…

    Spend time communing with God through nature . Observe the beauty in the world that God has made for us.  To see a glimpse of His power in the expanse of the ocean and its relentless waves that pound the seashore; to breath in the sweetness of the majestic mountains with their laurels, so breathtakingly beautiful that we, like Jacob, will say, “Surely the Lord is in this place.”    Feel the spider web’s strength.  Listen as the…

  Until we slowdown in this world of hurry we cannot properly evaluate the events going on in our lives. Meditation gives us opportunity to look into our lives and profit from our mistakes.  We can also reflect and meditate on all the things God has done for us.  Meditate on the record of God’s goodness to His people.  This will help us to focus our thoughts on God’s ability to help us rather than our inability to help ourselves. …

  Knowing God and being able to talk to Him will give meaning and purpose to our existence.  God truly loves us. (Romans 8:38-39)  He is always there, his hand outstretched, waiting for us to seek Him.  He has so much to give us and wants the opportunity to do so (Matthew 7:11). Spending time in prayer is one way to be alone with God.   Our Lord spent much time alone in prayer communing with God.  Many times He withdrew…

                               DISCUSSION: There’s more to being a Christian than talking about Jesus or rejoicing in being “saved.” Too often we emphasize our personal, “vertical” relationship with Jesus without thinking how that should affect our “horizontal” relationships with others, where life can be very complicated. Ephesians has some close to-home application here, teaching that the reason for submitting to one another is “out of reverence for Christ.” Explaining Jesus’ command that we “love one another,” some have stated…

                               DISCUSSION: In a sermon a preacher asked, “What is the best way to teach children?” And the congregation answered enthusiastically, “By example!” Albert Schweitzer once said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” Jesus taught by example what he expects from us. Facing the cross, he illustrated submission and leadership at the last supper with his disciples when…

                                 DISCUSSION: Many preachers today are asked to preach on forgiveness. Most usually focus on the theme that people who are forgiven must be forgiving. If we do not appreciate God’s forgiving us, we have little motivation for forgiving others. Forgiven believers with grateful hearts readily express kindness and compassion for others. Many Bible passages, like Psalm 103, show us that God is forgiving, loving,…

                              DISCUSSION: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32 In the verses from Ephesians 4 and 5, we find some contrasts between our old ways of living and the new way of living in Christ. Though we are “made new” and “created to be like God in true righteousness,” this is an ongoing…

                                DISCUSSION: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. . . . For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if…

                                   DISCUSSION:  “ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to                                                               indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5. 13-14   What is this freedom that Paul warns us not to misuse? Is it the freedom of basic human rights that we enjoy in Western nations? Hardly! There are…