Scripture:  “Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.”  (Psalm 39:5,  NKJV)Two of my favorite times of the year are New Year’s Day and my birthday, for both seem to shout out, “REstart!”  It is time to leave behind old attitudes, habits, and perspectives that grieve my Lord and Savior.  It’s no easy thin...  Read More

Scriptures: Psalms 18:6 – In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there...  Read More

Scripture:  Psalm 16:8 - I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.Living in Christ, for Christ, takes some staying power.  I am often reminded by the stand made by  the Hebrew boys in Daniel.  They were in a foreign land and refused to bow down to heathen practices.  They were determined not to be seduced by the delicacies of the king’s food or to ...  Read More

Hebrews 12:1-3 -  New International Version (NIV)Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat...  Read More

Scripture:  Matthew 20:28 “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many.”Involve your life in the lives of other people.  Christ and the disciples constantly met the needs of other people. We can stabilize our own hearts during times of difficulty by serving others, and then find that our service has brought us a sense of satisfaction and emoti...  Read More

Scripture: James 1:2-3 NKJV -  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. How many times has a ‘seasoned saint’ said to you, “Baby, you gone go through stuff sometimes. It won’t always be this ‘a way. But you gone be alright … trials come to make you strong!” On the outside, you put on a fake smile, thank your sister o...  Read More

Scripture: John 1:50 NKJ - “…Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” (Read John 1:43-51)Nathaniel a fisherman by trade, was a bit skeptical of the man Jesus. He did not believe that anything worthwhile could come out of Nazareth. Although Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He grew up in Nazareth with His mother and earthly father Jos...  Read More

Scripture:  “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes…It shall not cling to me.”  Psalm 101:3 NKJVJust before bedtime one evening, I allowed a commercial depicting a game saturated with gratuitous violence to be the last object of my focus!  (The commercial preceded the nightly news—the watching of which was another bad idea)!  Though some of us may recall some campaigns about thirty years ago tha...  Read More

Scripture:  I Corinthians 2:12 – Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.When I was growing up, my mother used to read Bible stories to me; and my parents took me and my siblings to church every Sunday.  I thought the Bible was like any other book/novel.  I wondered if what was in the Bible ...  Read More

Scripture:  Luke 8:14 - "The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.Politics seem to be an idea, a place where many flock and whine alike.  Many Christians sound just like the unbelievers.  They want what is best for their pockets; what will m...  Read More

Scripture:   Matthew 6:25-34  - “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which...  Read More

Scripture:  I Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord for you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”Persevere – No matter how difficult it is or how long it is, God’s timing makes it all worthwhile. Calvin Coolidge said “PRESS ON. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing ...  Read More

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. God has ways of comforting us in every situation we find ourselves in. I mean, think about it – ...  Read More

Scripture: Malachi 3:6 - For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore, you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.In a world where new challenges face us every day, can we really trust that God will be the same today and tomorrow? Perhaps ones’ response will weigh heavy on their spiritual foundation. According to (Isaiah 40:8) “God does not change.  The writer of Hebrews, states “Jesus is the same yes...  Read More

Scripture:  Matthew 12:36 (NKJB) - “…for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”In the words of Philippians 1:27 we’re called to let our conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ.  Have you ever been in a professional setting, and upon hearing a flurry of frivolous or debasing talk, asked yourself, “What IS this—the stage of some ribald comedy club or t...  Read More

Scripture:  Galatians 6:9-10 - And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.Are you one of those that began to serve the Lord Jesus Christ with excitement and energy, but now have or seem to be feeling like you want to quit?  The...  Read More

Scripture:  John 14:26-27 - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.Jesus said “Let not your heart b...  Read More

Scripture: I Cor. 11:23-24 NKJ …. “the  Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: (v-24) and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat;  this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  The churches recognize the ordinance (tradition) established by Jesus Christ for His people to observe the Lord’s supper. This tradition is also call...  Read More