Posts Tagged ‘Encouraged’
No Excuses
Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve. Proverbs 24:12 (NLT) Humanity has been making excuses from the very beginning. It has almost become an art form. Adam…
Read MoreBe Like Andy
Andy was a nice enough guy, but he never seemed to stand out from the crowd. Andy was very insightful but not very vocal. He was a hard worker but not perceived as a leader. He demonstrated great care and concern for the well-being of other people. Perhaps what we notice most about Andy is…
Read MoreEaster Message
Some people never get from Friday to Sunday. They seem to be stuck in the uncertainty of Saturday. Something has died; hopes, dreams, relationships, etc., but like those early disciples, they cannot look forward to resurrection truth. A theme in my Easter video message is “Don’t Get Stuck on Saturday.”
Read MoreWhen the Going Gets Tough…Consider Jesus
As the time approached for him to be taken to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 (NIV) As with many quotations, it’s difficult to determine who first said, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Here in Luke, we find Jesus facing his final journey into Jerusalem. The emphasis was…
Read MoreIn This World
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV) Pain, suffering, and tribulation are not pleasant topics of conversation. It is natural to desire to avoid pain. And yet, Jesus is telling…
Read MoreLet’s Talk About Holiness
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (NET) It is time to renew a conversation about holiness. The reactions will vary from “what is holiness?” to “isn’t holiness about not wearing makeup and jewelry, or not going to the theater?” It is a subject fraught…
Read MoreMy Favorite Words
You meant to hurt me, but God turned your evil into good to save the lives of many people, which is being done. Genesis 50:20 (NCV) One of the first movies I remember seeing in the theater was the “Sound of Music.” In that movie, Julie Andrews sang the song “My Favorite Things.” The favorite…
Read MoreDivine Interruptions
When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”…
Read MoreThe Truth, the Whole Truth…
For I did not keep from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Acts 20:27 (MEV) The apostle Paul was giving his farewell speech in Ephesus. To say that Paul was concerned about what would happen in the church after his departure is not an overstatement. Paul had invested three years of his life…
Read MoreFrom Praise to Worship
Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:6 (NLT) I recall a conversation with a friend who has many years of experience as a worship leader. The…
Read MoreLet Us Come Boldly
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) Throughout the ages, it was not customary for subjects of a king or other authority to approach with boldness. Notable exceptions…
Read MoreI Come Expecting Jesus
For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NLT) The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is not without controversy. There have been debates over its meaning and significance for centuries. There have been various interpretations regarding the elements of Communion.…
Read MoreLive Courageously
Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 (CSB) Stories of courage and heroism inspire us. In the Bible, we read of Daniel facing the lion’s den, or Peter and the apostles, standing before the Council, declaring, “we must obey God rather than man.” Or we might recall Rosa…
Read MoreI Am Resolved
I am resolved to obey your statutes to the very end. Psalm 119:112 (CSB) It is the time of year when people make New Year’s resolutions, or more accurately, New Year’s good intentions. We joke that we forget most declarations by the middle of January. Many New Year’s resolutions involve diet or exercise; even though…
Read MoreChristmas Message 2022
This Christmas, as we contemplate, “The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone,” let us make it our mission to bring the light of Jesus Christ into a world that so desperately needs a Savior.
Read MoreAt the Right Time
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. Galatians 4:4 (NLT) The birth of Christ is the focal point of history. The Bible tells us that the saints who lived before His birth looked forward to that day when the Promised one would come, and…
Read MoreSee Clearly
Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. Deuteronomy 34:7 (NLT) Last week, I went to see the optometrist. As I expected, I needed a stronger prescription. When we were young, many of us most likely took our eyesight for granted. I don’t…
Read MoreTransformed
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) Transformers is a multibillion-dollar franchise of toys, comic books, video games, and movies. The premise is that two alien robot factions at…
Read MoreTwo Sides of Contentment
I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. Philippians 4:11 (NLT) Contentment can be elusive. Despite the tenth commandment, or maybe because of it, contentment can be challenging to achieve. Even if we are content right now, we will soon be put to the test. Contentment is not natural. Paul said that…
Read MoreNo Compromise
Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. Psalm 119:1–3 (NLT) The introductory verses in Psalm 119 describe a path of success for…
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