The Last Unopened Gift
Did you see it? You may have missed it…but it was there. Don’t feel bad; most people overlook this one, but there is still time. Today, before the new year gets here, before all the decorations are put away, before all the other gifts are set aside, open it! Romans 6:23 “For the wages of […]
The First Move
In our celebration of the birth of Christ, we know the focus of Christmas should be the eternal gift given through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This season ought to irresistibly draw us nearer to God as we reflect on His wonderful gift of love. But perhaps there are times we need […]
Day of Remembrance
There are only a few more days to go! Only a few more days until…until what? Why is December 25th so special? What really is this day we call Christmas? The early church did not give much thought to the birth of Jesus. Of the four Gospels, only Matthew and Luke even mention His birth, […]
The Gift of True Forgiveness
It’s hard to believe there are only a few more days until Christmas. Yes, as the song says: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” It really is wonderful! We are flooded with Christmas music, Christmas lights, and lots of Christmas “activities.” And although the season contains many distractions which attempt to pull us […]
Strengthened By Hardship
On Paul’s first missionary journey, he traveled with Barnabas to Cyprus and then up through several cities in Galatia. After preaching the gospel in Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, they returned back through the same cities so they could strengthen those who had recently placed their faith in Jesus. Acts 14:21-22 “They returned to Lystra, […]
A Life of Discipleship
When Jesus told His closest followers, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), He wasn’t just talking about the one-time event of Salvation; He was referring to the life-long process of “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded” (Matthew 28:20). The process of discipleship actually begins prior to Salvation as we are […]
Be Still And Know
The presence of God is a wonderful gift which is available to every believer. No longer is His presence confined to a specific location or available to only a few; “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). But the gift of His presence requires discipline in order to […]
Learn How to Fall
When my daughter was beginning to ride her bike she discovered an all-important truth. After a particularly difficult afternoon she came inside and said; “Daddy, you know the hardest part about riding a bike? It’s learning how to fall!” At five years of age she had discovered that falling was an inevitable part of the […]
Consume The Word
In the message “When We Hear His Voice” we saw that despite many calls and pleas from Jeremiah, the people of Israel failed to repent of their sin and turn toward God. After many years of rejection, God finally turned them over to their own evil desires; “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand […]
When We Hear His Voice
In the message “No Shortcuts” we saw the importance of remaining on God’s path by obediently following His leading. There will always be temptations to take other paths to “get ahead,” but God’s ways are flawless and He calls us to follow Him with every step. Jeremiah was appointed God’s spokesman to call the people […]
No Shortcuts
In the message “Look Back From Eternity” we saw how one day, when we stand with our Heavenly Father, we will see the awesome purpose in the path we have traveled. If we continue to trust and follow His leading, we will see how each twist and turn in His path was designed to navigate […]
Look Back From Eternity
Ruth lived in the land of Moab just east of Canaan. She was not an Israelite but she married one of the sons of Naomi who had recently moved to Moab from Judah because of a famine. After ten years, Ruth’s husband died. Naomi was going to return to her homeland and thought Ruth should […]