joy

Don’t Waver!

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23 Today, I want to encourage you not to waver, wait, or wander when it comes to walking out God’s plan for your life. In the Old Testament, the Lord told Moses again and again that great and mighty things would happen through him if he agreed to lead the Israelites out of slavery. However, being stubborn and full of self-doubt, he said no four times and offered a laundry list of excuses as to why he shouldn’t be the one to rescue his people from the hand of Egyptians. His refusal caused God’s anger to burn against him, yet the Lord remained gentle and merciful, constantly affirming that He would go before him. Even better, he commissioned his brother Aaron to speak on his behalf so he wouldn’t have to worry about

December 14, 2020 No Comments

Do What’s Right

“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” – Proverbs 21:3 Sometimes doing the next right thing can be difficult. I remember one summer during high school, when I was living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, my friend Josh — who just loved to fish — would ask me nearly every day to go with him. Now, if you know anything about Tulsa, you know that summertime is not just hot, but humid — it’s like going into hundred degree weather wrapped in a blanket that you’re trying to breathe through. That said, because I minded the heat, each time he would call and want me to go, I would say no. I much preferred lying on the couch in the air conditioning, sipping a Coke, and watching my favorite T.V. shows. Nevertheless, Josh was persistent, and when I finally said yes and accompanied him,

December 13, 2020 1 Comment

If Not For Grace, It Would Be Garbage

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ…” – Philippians 3:7,8 Yesterday, we talked about the Apostle Paul and his life as a religious “superstar” prior to meeting Jesus. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews — a stellar Pharisee — and his accomplishments in the realm of Judaism were huge. He sought to keep the whole letter of the law and held everyone else to the same standard of perfection. Unfortunately, though his intentions were to do right by God, his religiosity caused him to become legalistic and hardened. But everything changed the day he was introduced to Christ. On a trip to Damascus to persecute followers

December 10, 2020 No Comments

A Generous Spirit

“But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.” – Philippians 2:25-27 At this special time of year, we hear a lot about generosity. However, more than just buying someone the perfect gift or making a charitable donation, true benevolence is a deeply-rooted state of heart — one that is always willing to go the extra mile. As a study in this manner of kindness, let’s look at a man named Epaphroditus, who was a companion of the Apostle Paul in the New

December 8, 2020 No Comments

The Gift in Sacrifice

“As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.” – Judges 15:14,15 Samson was set apart by God to deliver his people from the evil Philistines, and in return for abstaining from touching anything deceased, drinking no wine, and not cutting his hair, he was endowed with incredible supernatural strength that enabled him to knock down buildings, tear apart gates of iron, and kill 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey. This made the Philistines rightfully afraid of him, and it caused them to think twice before coming after God’s people. Strangely, in spite of his superhuman abilities, Samson was constantly tempted to break his Nazarite vow

December 5, 2020 1 Comment

Don’t Waver!

Do What’s Right

If Not For Grace, It Would Be Garbage

A Generous Spirit

The Gift in Sacrifice

Choose Joy

BIBLE JOY…

PAIN AND JOY…

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