In reading from the book of Isaiah, in the Bible, during this Advent time, I have some thoughts… The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows — light! Sunbursts of light! — Isaiah 9:2 Almost eight centuries before the birth of Jesus, the […]
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, here are a couple of things I’d like to include to help us think more thankfully… The song by Henry Smith is a good place to start: “Give thanks with a grateful heart; give thanks to the Holy One; give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son. Give thanks with a grateful […]
Scripture & Thought Luke 18:9-14 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself…But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy upon me, a […]
I believe greatly that it is within our ability to see each new day that we are blessed enough to have with optimism, hope, joy and gladness. How? It is done by having a proper perspective. It is easy for anyone to murmur and complain about their own hardships when that is all they focus […]
Scripture & Thought Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” We are all captives to TIME (not the magazine). In fact, a couple weekends ago marked the “change” in time that affects nearly all North Americans. We had to set our time pieces back one […]
One thing that we should always remember and keep in mind is that our life is not our own. We are on this earth for a set time according to our life’s purpose. So many people today have goals of simply growing older; retiring from their jobs, enjoying their golden years, etc, but that is […]
Susi and I would like to thank each of you for all of your kind words of encouragement, the cards we’ve received, and the gifts given to us during this Pastor Appreciation month of October! We feel SO blessed and privileged to be serving the Lord with you, here at Bonner Naz! Our prayer is […]
Scripture & Thought Hebrews 13:2 “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Michael W. Smith fans may remember the lyrics of his song, “Angels Unaware.” The opening verse reads: Maybe there’s a light in my soul Maybe it flickers like a neon […]
Scripture & Thought Luke 18:1 (MSG) “Pray consistently and never quit.” As young person and a new Christian, I remember someone quoting Paul from his first letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, chapter 5, verse 17: “Pray without ceasing.” I had no idea what that meant, but it seemed to me to be a strange instruction. How […]
Do you know that your life is meant to be used to be a shining Beacon of hope and love? Each of us are created with a plan and purpose. The Lord has given us the charge to be light in the midst of darkness, to be hope in the midst of despair and to […]
So many people today are frustrated with where they are in their life. They wish they were on a better path than they currently are and instead of being joy filled, they find themselves discouraged and feeling defeated. What we must each understand about our life is that it does not have to stay in the same defeated […]
Scripture & Thought Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Abraham Lincoln said, “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I […]
Can you believe it’s October already? Wow! Where does the time go? It seems like yesterday we were just beginning the New Year and all that it would have for us. Now, we’re nearing the end of this year, and looking back on all the blessings that God has poured out on us, and the trials He’s […]
When Hannah Whital Smith was visiting a home for the handicapped she saw the children going through exercises. They had strength but no skill to use their strength. Their deficiencies were very apparent as they made all sorts of awkward movements. Now and then, by a happy chance they would make a movement in harmony […]
Scripture & Thought Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” These […]
Scripture & Thought John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” When it comes to amateur and professional sports, almost everyone wants to be “Number One.” Second place is okay in some circles, but few people ever remember who […]
I want to encourage us to keep our heads held high and keep looking to the Master for our every need. He will not disappoint, and will be with us every step of the way! In fact, there are moments in life when we become discouraged because we feel overwhelmed with the trials and challenges […]
Scripture & Thought Ephesians 5:16 “Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Question: In your work or in your play (or whatever you do), are you counting the minutes, or are you making the minutes count? There is a difference. If you are “counting the minutes,” you are probably bored with […]