Listening to the Spirit
Acts 16:6-10 Do you know what the voice of the Holy Spirit sounds like? For me, I refer to it as having “God’s thumb in my back.” It’s that feeling when you’re standing in line at the store, and...
View ArticleHave Your “Yes” Ready
Acts 20:17-24 Our current District Superintendent has a saying that challenges the pastors on our district always to “have your ‘yes’ ready.” I’ve become convinced over the years that the life...
View ArticleThrough The Spirit
Zechariah 4:1-7 God is the source of His people’s strength and is the One acting on their behalf when they are victorious. From the moment they came out of Egypt, God’s people were tempted to rely on...
View ArticleLearn To Discern
Ecclesiastes 7:1-7 Remember those old cartoons which featured a character trying to muddle through a moral decision with the help of a cartoon devil on one shoulder and a cartoon angel on the other?...
View ArticleBequeathing Wisdom
Ecclesiastes 7:8-14 I once knew someone who decided to bequeath the family treasure to their grown child instead of waiting until they passed. That “inheritance” turned out to be an old rusty canister...
View ArticleA Sacrificial Spirit
Romans 12:1-8 I can’t speak for anyone else, but I am extremely thankful that we don’t live in Old Testament times. I’m thankful that we don’t have to keep a list of our wrongdoings, hunt down the...
View ArticleHumble Sonatas
Romans 12:9-21 I am not a musician, but I admire those who are. Some spend many hours perfecting their craft, taking lessons and/or practicing. They learn what it takes to make melodies that please...
View ArticleLove Them Anyway
Romans 15:1-6 If we were to be truly honest with ourselves, I think we’d all agree that at least once in our lives we’ve been less than happy with the human race. One or more human beings have said or...
View ArticleHoly and Pure
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 I live on top of a huge salt mine. Just a short distance beneath this little town, people are working hard to pull from the earth salt that is pure enough to use for...
View ArticleBeyond Your Preferences
Philippians 2:1-11 Babies are born into this world singing one song: ME! I’m hungry, I’m sleepy, Pick me up! As they grow, they learn to think of others, but life is still pretty much what they...
View ArticleBlameless With Integrity
Psalm 101:1-8 We have all seen it. A family goes out to have fun. The children are so cute. Then it begins. One child has something the other wants. One sibling grabs it from the other, and a fight...
View ArticleLoss and Surpassing Worth
Philippians 3:1-3, 7-11 The evening news ran the story: an apartment building fire. The family interviewed lost everything. They spoke those words often heard in these situations. “Thank God my...
View ArticleThink Noble Thoughts
Philippians 4:1-9 My mother’s philosophy was, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything.” She drilled this into us while we were growing up. This outlook also translates to the way...
View ArticleEncouraging Help
1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 Settling into a new town, we became close to our landlady. She became a mentor in ministry. Her spouse had been the pastor of our church for 17 years. Many times, he would take...
View ArticleDo Not Forget
Hebrews 13:1-8 I received my Associate of Arts degree in social welfare but never pushed on for a four-year degree. Yet I later served as a caseworker for the Salvation Army. The job demanded a...
View ArticleBuild Each Other Up
Romans 14:13-19 Today, truth appears to be a highly personal matter. Many believe that truth is relative to each individual’s chosen life. At first glance, Paul seems to agree: “Therefore do not let...
View ArticleA Generational Choice
Joshua 24:14-18 Each of us grows up with various spiritual influences in our lives. My grandmother always said she was “born a Baptist,” but never spoke of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus....
View ArticleContentment for the Journey
Ecclesiastes 5:8-14 Money surrounds our everyday living. Each day we receive or spend money in some shape or form. Money is a necessary part of life and should not be considered evil. However, our...
View ArticleTake Nothing, Give Everything
Ecclesiastes 5:15-20 At the end of his life, Solomon reflected on the toils of life and the vocation we commit our lives to each week. In verse 15, he reminds us of the reality that we came into this...
View ArticleWhom Do You Serve?
Matthew 6:19-24 During challenging times, many families run to the grocery store to “store up” food. The fear is that I won’t have enough when I need it. Many items end up in the basement, only to...
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