Our relationship with God ought to bring us more joy, satisfaction, and pleasure than any other relationship, activity, or material possession we have. Honestly, that is not a easy or simple endeavor. But there is nothing that the heart absorbs more than unconditional love and acceptance...
When we became a follower of Jesus, God gives us spiritual sight and hearing so we could begin experiencing His presence and activity all around us in a deeply relational manner. The Spirit helps us to develop these spiritual senses as we open ourselves to Him. This is not a primarily...
Pride is the great enemy of the Christian. Its stealth capabilities and cancer-like nature can affect everything! It motivates us to do things that we know are not Christlike, and it hinders us from doing what brings glory to God. Pride influenced Adam and Eve to attempt to become like...
One of the most freeing statements we can make is “I don’t know.” Our world is full of self-proclaimed “experts.” There are people everywhere who want to convince you of the wisdom of their opinion. This pressure can be exhausting. Yet God...
Living in the moment is a Godly characteristic (Phil 1:27-28). Living in the moment requires us not to be tied down to the past nor coasting toward the future, but living in faith now. The “now” requires a special type of faith because of the invisibility of the fruit of...
Christianity is an intimate, growing faith relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not a set of doctrines to believe, habits to practice, or sins to avoid. Every activity God commands is intended to enhance His love relationship with His people. This relationship does not mean that it is...
At any time, the receptiveness of your heart will determine your response to the calling of Jesus (Luke 8:5-18). If your heart is like the trampled ground, hardened by the sin of bitterness and unforgiveness, you will be unable to hear a message from Him. Though you hear the words of the...
It is common for all of us to seek approval for our actions. As kids, we longed for the affirmation of our parents. As we grew older, we also valued the opinions of our friends, colleagues, and employers. At times, the esteem of others can claim such importance that it becomes our way to...
There is no place for hoarders in God’s kingdom. When we begin to struggle in giving what we have to others, we have forgotten from whom & where we received our possessions. The Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7) announces the what is the Kingdom of God but then Matthew sets to explain...
Whenever the Rome Empire won a major military victory they would celebrate with a spectacular parade. The commanding general would lead the procession in a magnificent chariot, followed by his soldiers, musicians, and other officials. Then, soldiers would lead the defeated enemies through the...