Desire
Too often our perspective becomes one of entitlement. “If God wants me to be happy, He will give me what I desire.”
Did God ever promise to make us happy? Did God ever say that He wants us to be happy?
Delight
I have been trying to diminish my sugar intake. This works great most days until I am tempted by Cherry Delight. Or cookies. Or carrot cake. Or sugar-coated snack mix. Temptation lurks around every corner. Indulgence calls my name.
Then comes the moment of truth.
Delivered from Sexual Sin
I was hopelessly stuck! Despair overwhelmed me as I realized I was powerless to deliver myself from addictive patterns of sin. Repeated attempts at “repenting” never brought a lasting change, and I struggled to believe that God would actually deliver me. I knew He could. But would He?
The Legacy of Ron Hamilton
Why do I feel like I am mourning the loss of a friend today? Because I am. As was testified today at the service, Ron was authentic, a man of integrity. What we saw through the lens of his music and stories was the real guy. And he gracefully lived in a way that honored God and exemplified Christ.
Walking With God
Perhaps a more creative person would have seen possibilities all around, but my untrained eye just saw brown. I took no pictures that day, but the Holy Spirit directed my thoughts toward spiritual truths. I began meditating on the word walk. I thought of all the people in the Bible who journeyed on foot. I then thought about how much the Bible says about our spiritual walk.
There’s a Lion in the Street
Is there a lion on your street? Can you face that lion with confidence that God is in control? Are you living so that the Accuser cannot find any chinks in your armor? Are you willing to take a courageous step of faith wherever God may lead?
What Is Truth?
Our beliefs are only as reliable as their source.
That’s why it’s important to read God’s Word every day. God’s Word is TRUTH (Jn. 17:17).
I Choose Worry?
This might seem like a strange title for a Christian blog in this day and age of home decor that highlights “Choose Joy” and “Thankful, Grateful, Blessed.” But in all reality, even as saved individuals, worry can be a habit that we put on like that comfy sweater or fuzzy slippers.
Hope: From Fog to Frost
Fog deeply limits our vision. The “fog” of life can envelop us to such a degree that we have a hard time seeing any hope for the future.
And then God starts to open our eyes . . .
Obedience Brings Sweetness
Obedience! The Lord loves to smell its sweet savor ascending on high. We can send it to Him by gladly praising Him when it’s difficult, loving others when they don’t deserve it, and giving when it involves sacrifice. This kind of sweetness doesn’t come cheap.
A Sacrifice of Sweetness
I have learned that God doesn’t need my competence or creativity, my abilities or brains. He has plenty of His own. What He loves to see in me is sweetness . . .
Basic Requirements: Walk Humbly
We conclude our three-part study by considering how to WALK HUMBLY with God.
True humility is a correct perception that we are poor and needy, and underserving of the least of God’s favor. This may be the hardest of all, especially if we do a decent job of being just and merciful. It’s easy to think we are “doing fairly well”, that we “deserve” God’s mercy.
Basic Requirements: Love Mercy
This is the second in a three-part series in which we consider each of these BASIC REQUIREMENTS, first seeing what God’s Word has to say, and then examining what that looks like in our day-to-day practice.
To ignore the needs around us is to ignore the nudging of the Holy Spirit as well as the revealed will of God in the Word of God. Maybe we should have only one item on our daily “to do” list: Find opportunities to show mercy.
Basic Requirements: Do Justly
In this three-part series we will consider each of these BASIC REQUIREMENTS, first seeing what God’s Word has to say, and then examining what that looks like in our day-to-day practice.
The weights and balances we carry around are not measured in ounces or pounds, grams or kilos. They are determined by a lifetime of experiences that have tempered our thinking possibly by past hurts or wounding comments that give us a desire to lash out and hurt someone else.
God Is Not a Man
God is not a man (Num. 23:19; 1 Sam. 15:29), and we cannot compare His perfect love to man’s imperfect love.
No Need to Fear
When our thoughts focus more on our problem than on God, that problem has become our idol. In spite of words of loyalty to the Master, our primary focus turns from the Savior and fear occupies our heart and mind.
Cross References: Comparing Scripture with Scripture
If there’s one principle that my Bible teachers and pastors have emphasized across the board, it is to compare Scripture with Scripture. As you allow God to be His own commentator on His own Word, the Holy Spirit will open up a new depth of understanding and application in your life.
Lessons from a Debit Card
HACKED!?! How could this be?
Here I was driving in my car with all the resources I needed in my bank account, but I wasn’t accessing any of it. Here is my lesson from a debit card.
Jesus Knows Me…This I Love
Jesus knows me, this I love.
From His heav’nly home above
He came down to meet my need.
He now lives to intercede.
Preparation
How then, are we to prepare to face the challenges that living in this wicked, sin-filled world will surely bring? I believe there are five things we can do to be ready.