June 29, 2014

Keep on keeping on...

Hebrews 10:35-36

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

Encouraging Words...

Living the Christian life is not for the weak of heart or those satisfied with the status quo. It is a marathon, an iron man, a climb up Mount Everest just to find another taller mountain on the other side. Why do we press through all of this? Because God promises us that there will be a reward in the life to come. And how do we press on? By holding on to the confidence, the faith, that He is Who He says He is, the "I AM!", and that He holds the future in His hands. Glory be to God!

June 27, 2014

What does our future hold?

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Encouraging Words...

In our modern day culture we spend so much of our time, energy, and resources putting away for that future dream. And if we are not careful our whole life passes and we are either gone or too frail to enjoy that which we saved for. We also miss so much of what God has put in our lives...especially our loved ones. Here we are reminded that our true "retirement", the true rewards for our labors of life, is held in the hand of our God and it exceedingly surpasses anything that we will ever be able to achieve or acquire in this earthly realm. Glory be to God!

June 26, 2014

Unity...at what cost?

Psalm 133 (132 LXX)

Behold now, what is so good or so pleasant
As for brothers to dwell together in unity?
It is like fragrant oil running down upon the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down upon the border of his garment;
It is like the dew of Hermon, running down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing
And life forever.

Personal Challenge...

Unity! What a blessing to strive for. It is so important to pursue unity in the life of a Christian that Christ and Paul both prayed that we would have it. We should be seeking it, building it, and protecting it in our homes, in our churches, where we work, in our communities, and throughout our world. We must be the initiators and sustainers of it as followers of Christ. And in order to do this we will most likely have to live sacrificial lives, putting others first. Glory be to God!

June 25, 2014

What is the mold we let form us?

Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Encouraging Words...

Paul makes it clear here that we are to be observant of the practices and traditions of our Church and to follow them. This command was given before the written Bible was collected and therefore reminds us that our walk in Christ is not only to be formed and informed by the Scriptures but also the traditions and teachings established and handed down farom those Godly saints that have gone before us.

June 24, 2014

Is your life unraveling?

Proverbs 3:1-2

My son, do not forget my laws,
But let your heart keep my words;
For length of days, and years of life and peace
They will add to you.

Personal Challenge...

Our Lord wants so much more for us than we ourselves do. He wants us to have lives filled with peace, joy, and even abundance (His kind of abundance). But we must live our lives in such a way that He is the center of them and in so doing we will receive these blessings from Him. But as we choose to live more and more for ourselves we forget His laws and His commands and our lives begin to unravel.

June 23, 2014

The pursuit of knowledge can lead us astray.

Job 28:28

He said to man, 'behold, the fear of God is wisdom,
And to abstain from evils is understanding.'

Personal Challenge...

Why do we spend so much time pursing knowledge about God and His ways when the scriptures reminds us over and over again that wisdom comes from fearing, or respecting our Lord with awe, and doing what He commands us...to live our lives in love? We try so hard to earn or acquire that which He so freely gives us when we live His way. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

June 22, 2014

Faith without works...

James 2:19-20

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Personal Challenge...

It is so easy to slip into the couch potato Christian mode and just base our salvation on our belief, our faith. But James makes it clear that if we are not exercising our faith by regularly doing God's work then that belief begins to die on the vine. Jesus made it clear that if branches of the vine do not produce fruit they will be cut off of the vine. We really do not want to join the ranks of the demons and just stop at belief.