hard times

He Knew You

“The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’ ” – Jeremiah 1:4-6 Today I have comforting news, “Before you were born, He knew you.“ God called Jeremiah as a young man to be a prophet. The Bible states, “The word of the Lord came to me saying ‘before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’ ” Isn’t it reassuring that God feels this about you as well? God was looking forward to you being born. Before you were born, He knew you. He knew you would have failures and make mistakes; He still has a dream and a plan for you. Out of

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A Greater Reflection

“On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’ ” – Mark 2:17 I believe the Lord commands us to be: merciful, friendly, kind, welcoming, and a healing presence. Each of these is the greater reflection of who Jesus is and the heart of God. Jesus Himself said God did not send him into this world for the healthy, but for the sick. The heart of God is one in which people in crisis would come to a place where believers are gathered to find care, comfort, and compassion. If you are going through hard times, feeling defeated in your job, or can’t face another bill or doctor’s appointment, come to this loving place. People who are clouded with doubts about God, or the meaning of life, could gather for

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Get Back Up

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9 When I finished seminary, the average time a graduate spent in pursuit of ministry was just five years. Even after countless hours of formal education and the sacrifice of months spent studying and training, the unforeseen yet inevitable challenges of doing the Lord’s work in a fallen world are too much for many. And unfortunately, this isn’t just true in ministry. Most people stay at a job for an average of four years before moving on in search of something better. And while this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it speaks to the truth that consistency in any endeavor is hard, because it comes at a cost. In whatever we undertake, there’s a “honeymoon” period when things are new and exciting, and the

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