God’s Thermal of Encouragement
Many of us have experienced that low spiritual valley where we thought the sun would never shine again. Some were sent quickly into the valley by a very specific event. Others drifted slowly to the bottom and can’t say by what path they arrived. In either case, we wandered in this gloom until something began […]
A Childlike Amazement
In the message “Remember The Basics” we saw the importance of returning often to the fundamental truths of our faith. We are called to grow and mature, but never to “grow” such that we are led away from the simple and unchanging truth: God loves us so much that He provided a way to restore […]
Remember The Basics
As we continue down God’s path of sanctification, “being transformed into His likeness” (2 Corinthians 3:18), moving from milk to solid food (Hebrews 5:12), and growing in grace and “all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9), it’s wise to return often to the basics of our faith. As we learn more of our Heavenly Father […]
All His Energy
When the Apostle Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, his life was forever changed. Prior to meeting Jesus, Paul was “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” (Acts 9:1). After the encounter with Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul “began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the […]
Our Unconditional Love
When we become a Child of God, through faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, He loves us in spite of our failures – in spite of the way we stumble and sometimes fall. But what type of love do we give in return? Do we have a continual love which remains through good […]
Walk Humbly
Seven hundred years before Jesus walked the earth, the prophet Micah wrote words given to him by God; words that tell what God expects from His Children. Micah 6:8“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk […]
All For His Glory
A few years ago I visited a planetarium and remember coming away with a renewed wonder of God’s creation. I saw many pictures taken from large telescopes and even many taken from space. The stars are fascinating! I’ve often looked into the night sky and wondered about God’s promise to Abraham: “‘Look up at the […]
Tohono O’Odham – Day 5
Today (Thursday) was the fifth day on the Tohono O’Odham Indian Reservation in southern Arizona with our youth group. It was a great day and we will go back out tomorrow and then begin the two day trip back home on Saturday. I’m so proud of our youth. They have been physically and spiritually challenged […]
Tohono O’Odham – Day 4
Today (Wednesday) was the fourth day on the Tohono O’Odham Indian Reservation in southern Arizona with our youth group. Our days have now settled into a schedule, though admittedly a schedule with great variations. We get up early for a quiet time of Bible study and prayer, clean up, eat, and head out to the […]
Tohono O’Odham – Day 3
What is it about being hot, tired, and emotionally drained that allows us to hear from God? It’s not like you could market the process in a book – Seven Steps to Hearing From God; Step 1, Don’t Sleep Right; Step 2, Don’t Eat Right; Step 3, Continually Change Your Circumstances; Step 4, Be Frustrated […]
Tohono O’Odham – Day 2
Today (Monday) we traveled ninety minutes to the village of Menegers, located right on the US-Mexico border. This village contains about thirty-five homes, no stores, one small Catholic church, and a nice recreation center built with money from the Indian casinos near Tucson. It’s odd to see the quality of the recreation center in the […]
Tohono O’Odham – Day 1
All this week I will be writing and sending messages from southern Arizona – the town of Sells in the heart of the Tohono O’Odham Indian reservation. I am helping lead a group of twenty-eight 7th to 12th grade kids from our church. We will be splitting into smaller groups and traveling each day to […]