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Having entered “seniorhood” I realize that my temptations are not the same as those faced by the younger generation, but I must constantly remind myself that Satan is relentless in his efforts to lure me into thought patterns and actions that can embarrass me and negate my influence.
Read MoreBy measuring seismic activity across the continent, scientists have concluded that over 400 miles beneath the earth’s surface is a vast ocean — a body of water three times greater than all the surface oceans combined. When I came across this science report, I immediately thought of the flood in Genesis 7, where it says, “the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.”
Read MoreIn the first book of the Bible, we read about a man named Lot, the nephew of one of the most important characters in history: Abraham. Lot was a good man, and his life was full of promise and opportunity, but he ended in disgrace and tragedy. We don’t find overt sin in Lot’s life, but we do find a man with misplaced priorities and a failure to consider the costs of his decisions.
Read MoreWhat is your name worth to you? The Bible says in Proverb 22:1, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” We don’t transact in silver and gold as they did in Biblical times, but we do transact in money and in what money can buy. What do you enjoy that money buys you?
Read MoreLooking back over 2023, I am amazed at how quickly the year flew by. Each year, it seems to go faster and faster (I know, I know—I am getting older, and it works that way), but on the positive side, I am also becoming more reflective. Who did I influence this past year for the good? In what area did I make a difference? Will my investment matter or even last past the moment? I think each of us desires that our lives would count in eternity, but the question is: How will I make it count and last?
Read MoreThroughout Scripture we are commanded to sing. Whenever we see commands like these, it is good to compare them to what Jesus calls the two greatest commandments – to love God and to love others – as we are to “hang” all commandments on these.
Read MoreOur giving to the Lord can be done with so many different motives. We can do it because not giving is robbing God. We can give out of a sense of duty, a willingness to do our part. Or, we can give out of a heart of cheerfulness and generosity.
Read MoreWe often view smiling as an extra quality that some people are born with or are more apt to do, but for the Christian, smiling is our testimony, our light to this dark world.
Read MoreIn the Book of Numbers (chapter 12), we read a story about three siblings who hit a rough patch in their relationship. Moses, the leader of Israel, married a woman whom his brother, Aaron, and sister, Miriam, greatly disapproved of.
Read MoreWe all play this game when it comes to having guests in our homes: We tidy up every visible spot in our house. We clear the dining room table. We sweep and mop the floors. We dust the shelves and the top of the piano. We wash the windows, clear away cobwebs in the corners, straighten the pillows, and turn on the essential oil diffuser. We check that everything that can be seen is in its place. Anything that gets in the way of the appearance of neatness and order is stuffed into the closets, under the bed, up in the attic, or down into the basement.
Read MoreIn Mark 12:41-43, Jesus uses the example of a widow who offers all that she has, just a few mites, to teach us several significant lessons. Lessons like, it’s not how much we give but how much we are willing to sacrifice. Lessons like, God looks at our heart not the dollars in our wallet. Think for a minute about the joy that can come through understanding and applying the truth of this story.
Read MoreIf I was a Canaanite around the year 1400 BC, I would have likely had one singular thought: “This does not look good. In fact, this really does not look good.”
Read MoreI was exhausted. It was a long day of work. I had accomplished much that day, and yet I was overwhelmed by the fact that I still had so much work to do. As I pulled into our driveway, I asked God to give me the strength, energy, and focus to engage my wife and children well.
Read More“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Not long ago I read this verse and came to the realization that I had been looking at the idea of fruits of the Spirit all wrong. I used to see this verse and feel discouraged, knowing how imperfect I am and how impossible it seemed that I could ever muster up all of these fabulous character traits. It seemed to just be a list of things at which I frequently failed. But this time, I noticed the importance of the word "fruit." The healthy tree that has been well planted, pruned, and cared for will, in time, mature into a fruit-producing tree. The longer the tree's needs are met, the more fruit it will produce. If a tree is healthy, we don't question if it will produce fruit, we simply know that it will.
Read More“Would you like the world to be a better place for your having been here?” This is the question posed by Ken Blanchard in his forward to Bob Bickel’s book Finishing Well. The premise of the book and its entire focus is on individuals who had a plan that they followed in an effort to make their later life one of significance, not just one of success. Bickel speaks of “Life I” when we have to “prove ourselves” and “Life II” when we should “give back and make a difference.”
Read MoreHow can I rest? We as women work so hard on the outward—focusing on our appearance and responsibilities—that we totally neglect our rest. What peace and joy we could have if we would spend as much time on resting in the Lord.
Read MoreAt one time or another, we have all felt the need to just “get away”. Maybe we want to get away from a stressful job or from our husbands, or perhaps even our children make us want to get away. At times we can each feel overwhelmed with life’s pressures and responsibilities.
Read More“I am not going in there. You guys go ahead and I’ll stay on the porch,” our realtor Carla stated as she held her nose and unlocked the front door to a foreclosed property that we were considering buying. The house had had the water and electricity turned off for months, and the musty odor of neglect made my eyes water before we even crossed the threshold. The dilapidated outside and overgrown yard had deterred buyers for over a year - but not us.
Read MoreMusic plays a fundamental part in these three roles of corporate worship as it unites our thoughts and mends our emotions. Each week I count it a privilege and a responsibility to lead the music at Eastland Baptist Church. I see my main purpose as helping us to refocus on God through the use of music, and hopefully stir greater devotion to Him. I know that my own life can be filled with so many distractions that I need these times to tune my heart.
Read MoreThis was nothing like I expected. My official job title was “lifeguard” and yet there I was cleaning bathrooms, mopping floors, and picking up trash.
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