Usually, we think of “having faith” as simply “trusting, believing.” And while that is true, it can be incomplete if we forget that, as Christians, we are also joined to Christ as our Bridegroom. In other words, there is a real relationship with Him—the living Christ—that is at stake. It is not just a matter of possessing correct content of what we […]
Scripture & Thought Exodus 3:11 – “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’” If you were God, would you have chosen Moses to lead His people out of Egypt? He was a has-been, a failure. But […]
Since we are currently in the season of Lent, I’ve been thinking about what I’m doing, or not doing, that can be pushed away or stopped. Or something I might should start doing, which would lend itself toward more depth spiritually speaking, etc. This scripture came to mind: Isaiah 61:1-3 – “The Spirit of the Sovereign […]
Scripture & Thought Isaiah 52:7 – How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! Missionary George Smith died on his knees praying […]
Scripture & Thought Hebrews 9:27-28 – “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation […]
In a conversation I had this week, we were talking about how do we know if what we do and say really has any impact on how other people live their lives. After that conversation, I read an article by Professor Mike Gough (Mid America Nazarene University) that spoke to exactly that issue. It really […]
Are we really living our lives for God’s glory? Or, is that just “church talk” and it really doesn’t affect us? I have been pondering that question over the last couple of weeks. Then I read an article by Scott Heitzig on this topic and it made sense to me. Even though the practices of […]
Scripture & Thought 2 Timothy 4:7 – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There was a man who had the unique opportunity of reading his own obituary. One day over his morning toast, he opened the paper and saw his name in the obituary column. […]
Scripture & Thought Judges 6:6 – “So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help.” John Wesley said, “Give me a hundred men who love God with all their hearts and fear nothing but […]
I read something last week that really resonated with me, and I wonder if you can relate as well. Thinking about how overwhelmed we all can get with everything that’s been going on in our world over these last few months, with the COVID-19, the social unrest, the political climate and people trying to force […]
Scripture & Thought 1 Corinthians 10:12 – “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” Simon Peter is known for his legendary faux pas. He said things he shouldn’t have said. And he openly denied the Lord not once, not twice, but three times. But Peter took steps that led […]
Scripture & Thought Luke 22:61 “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’” Simon Peter, definitely one of the most colorful individuals in the entire Bible, is perhaps my favorite. It’s […]
I was reading some from Stormie Omartian’s book, Praying God’s Will for Your Life, this week. She said this: “Faith is obedience. Faith is a gift from God because He enables us to believe.” Then she went on to say, What if this Jesus thing is all a hoax? I thought to myself in horror one day […]
Scripture & Thought Jonah 2:1 – “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish.” After the crew tossed Jonah overboard in the middle of a storm, God sent a custom-designed watercraft Jonah’s way. In other words, He brought in a very large fish to swallow the prodigal prophet. Now, did God do […]
I was reading this week, from Michele Cushatt, in her writings of “I Am Safe” and I wanted to share some of that with you all. I thought it was very fitting for our world today. She takes it from the scriptures of Ezekiel 34:28 – “They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid.” […]
Scripture & Thought Hebrews 13:5 – “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.” I remember a time that I didn’t feel God’s presence. I woke up one morning and just didn’t have the great feeling I had before. And I thought, “I think God left me last night. What […]
We started our Lenten journey yesterday, capped off with our Ash Wednesday service last night. What a beautiful time we had together in the presence of God’s Holy Spirit guiding and ministering to us as we learned more of what it is to seek after God’s fullness for our lives. As you know, Ash Wednesday […]
Scripture & Thought 1 Samuel 7:12 “Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” A line from Robert Robinson’s hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” says, “Here I raise my Ebenezer; hither by Thy help I’ve come, And I […]
Let’s keep “keeping on” as we journey the road of this Lenten season. God is at work! His Spirit is moving all over the place, and we have been experiencing the outpouring of His Spirit in our services! May God help us to stay sensitive to His leading and promptings in our lives, that He […]
Scripture & Thought 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promises, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Pamela McQuade: “Of all the promises we make and break, perhaps the most tragic are those we make to God…And yet we keep […]