There is so much good stuff in Philippians. We don’t have time to study the whole book in a short article but we see in chapter four, Paul admonishing the church to “rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice.” Here, he gives us a glimpse of his mindset and how he had been able to “choose joy” even through imprisonment and adversity.
Read MoreI mean I’m just a wretched sinner that has fallen flat on my face so many times I can’t count. My husband reminded me that I could be reaping the benefits of my parents labor, not because they were perfect, but because they sowed seeds that reap eternal rewards. I saw them obey the Word of God, pray for their children, and continue to make steps of growth. The same goes for my grandparents, my Sunday school teachers, my pastor, his wife and many more.
Read MoreWOW! What an adventure. After numerous chiropractic visits, my husband and I are miraculously fine. The same cannot be said of our car – or the flying horse.
Read MoreThis Christmas, may our homes and hearts be places where Christ’s
peace isn’t merely admired in a picture or carol—but practiced,
shared, and made real through the ministry of reconciliation.
I’ve always admired shepherds... you know, those patient, calm people with a staff and a soft voice who lead sheep so sweetly… and then I remember I can’t even lead my dog to his bed without snacks and promises!
Read MoreSeveral years ago, Bro. Dan Martin made a statement that has stayed with me to this day. He said, “What if we woke up tomorrow with only the things we were thankful for today?”
Read More Lord, help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray
My prayer shall be for others!
Others, Lord, yes others—
Let this my motto be
Help me to live for others
That I may live like Thee.
Read MorePsalm 84 is a psalm of longing for the presence of God and the blessings that come from dwelling in His house. Within these verses, we find a powerful metaphor about making wells in dry places—a calling for us to create life-sustaining resources not just for ourselves, but for those coming behind us. Today, we will explore how we can live in such a way that we leave spiritual “wells” for others.
Read MoreFirst, we have the peel. This will represent our lives. Each peel is bright and beautiful. Every lemon has a peel. Just like we all will face trials. Notice James did not say IF you fall into diverse temptations, he said When you do. We need to remember that each person we pass or are around is facing something no matter what the outward appearance portrays.
Read MoreHave you ever looked at your hands and wondered what impact they could make in the world? Not just when they hold a baby, stir the soup, or wipe a tear, but when they are folded in prayer.
Read MoreThink of someone who “says all the right things” but lives a very different life behind closed doors. We all know or know of someone like that. Or maybe more than one "someone's".
Read MoreDon’t let whatever you are holding on to take away your peace, your health, your friendships, your victory and take you farther away from the Father.
Read MoreAs a young girl I loved sour things. Rhubarb, green apples, dill pickles, gooseberries, black raspberries and cherries, but I especially loved to eat lemons. My parents had a fit claiming that I would get sick or get a belly ache from all of those sour things. Eating them in abundance never seemed to bother me, and no doubt they were more nutritious than the typical diet of today.
Read MoreHave you ever been disappointed when you volunteered for an event or production, and you imagined yourself playing a significant role, only to find out that you were assigned to help clean the toilets and take out the trash? It is so easy to build imaginations and expectations of how our lives will be, and the type of role we will play. Often, those thoughts include God using our lives in ways we view as important and valued by others in our circles.
Read MoreAs we were traveling back from a Youth Conference in Tennessee, I looked out my window and saw a sign posted on a tree that said, “Don’t forget Jesus.” When I saw that sign, I thought to myself how many times do I forget about Jesus. Jeremiah 2:32 says, “Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire?
Read More“Make lemonade!” That’s cute… And a great go to saying.. but what if God doesn’t want lemonade? What if He wants lemon meringue pie?
Life isn’t always sweet. Sometimes it’s sour. And confusing.
As teens, you are constantly being asked:
“What’s your plan?”
Read MoreHave you ever planned to talk to someone and in your mind, you plan out how the whole conversation is going to go? I’m going to say this and then they’re going to say that, and then I’ll come back with the other thing and on it goes. Then you get into the conversation and the other person goes completely off-script and you can’t understand what happened! That was not the way it was supposed to go! The conversation didn’t meet your expectations.
Read MoreWE are called to love as Christ loves, and this often means stepping outside our comfort zones. Luke 6:32 reminds us: “For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.” The true test of our faith is how we love those who may not love us back, who may challenge our patience, or who may even wrong us or may have already wronged us.
Read MoreI can’t even imagine how God feels about our normal. I imagine tears in His eyes and a broken heart when I think of Him seeing how we live. Sadly, we give God so little when He has given us so much!
Read MoreDid you sing this song yesterday? I am sure that you, like me, are still rejoicing in His resurrection following yesterday’s services, congregational singing, special music, and all the emphasis that was given to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. It is, after all, what the Gospel is all about!
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