Take A Good Look - Looking At Things You Cannot See
Have you ever had “one of those days?” I have, too.
On those days, the things we SEE can be defeating. But if we can look ahead with confidence to the things we CANNOT SEE, we can experience great hope and joy in the middle of those difficult days.
Take A Good Look - Looking for the Blessed Hope
Sometimes in the hustle of the daily grind and all its joys, opportunities, challenges, and heartaches we forget that there is more to this life. Something else is coming - our Lord Jesus is coming back!!!
Are you looking ahead to that blessed hope?
Take a Good Look - Looking at Worthless Things
Did you know that the average American spends 7 hours looking at a screen each day?
Each day we fight the urge to fix our gaze on things that drain our spirits, and therefore, darken our hearts.
Psalm 119:37 is a cry for help turning our gaze from the worthless to the worthwhile - the Word of God.
Take A Good Look - Looking Ahead
Are you ever dangerously distracted while you are driving?
Distractions in our walk with Christ are also dangerous. They keep us from seeing the road ahead where we are meant to live in victory.
Take a Good Look - Looking Back
Are you held captive by your past? by your sin? Perhaps the devil is using it to shame you.
In Luke 9 and Philippians 3, we are reminded to look ahead to Jesus, and not look back at what lies behind. You can be free from the shame that keeps you from experiencing victory!
Take A Good Look - Looking Unto Jesus
What are you looking forward to this year?
Jesus knows the beginning from the end of this year, and every day in this year. As we look to Jesus, He will become our wisdom, our guidance and our light for each day in 2023.
Ready? Set. Look.
Christmas is for Everyone - So Let’s Go and Tell!
This Christmas, i’m sure you gave and received gifts resulting in joy and thankfulness. You were willing to share what you had with the ones you loved, and they were willing to share with you.
The shepherds, described in Luke 2, offered a gift to the rest of the world. After receiving the gift of seeing and hearing the angels declare Christ’s birth, they went to find him and worship. And after that, they shared that gift with everyone by telling them what they had seen and heard. (Luke 2:15-18)
The challenge is obvious. Are we sharing the gift of Jesus who we’ve seen and heard, the gift of Jesus who has changed our lives, the gift of Jesus who provides hope and redemption from sin with people who need Him?
Christmas is for Everyone - Even the Whole World!
Was John 3:16 the first verse you memorized? For many Believers, it was. The simple message of this verse will capture the attention of children and the complexity of this verse will confound the most brilliant theologian. This precious gift that came wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger in Bethlehem is God’s saving gift to the whole world.
Christmas is for Everyone - Even the Godless People
How does the genealogy of Jesus include harlots, prostitutes, and Kings? Well it does!
Christmas is for Everyone - Even the Great People
Do you know anyone who is considered famous? Maybe you would consider them a “great person.”
Not only is Christmas for good people, Christmas is also for great people. Christmas is not just for those of us that are simple and unknown; Christmas is also for the most well known.
In the genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew 1, two of the great people of human history are listed - Abraham and David.
And both of them needed Jesus.
Christmas is for Everyone - Even the Good People
Who is Christmas for? Some say that Christmas is for children. Christmas through the eyes of a child feels magical and extraordinarily exciting.
Christmas isn’t just for children, though. Christmas is for everyone - even the good people. Good people need the saving grace that came to earth that night in Bethlehem through a tiny baby.
Are you a good person? No matter how good you are, the saving grace of Christmas is for you!
When Thanksgiving Meets Christmas
If you’ve been shopping lately, you’ll know that even though today is Thanksgiving Day, Christmas has been on the mind of shoppers and retailers for many weeks now!
Sometimes, the idea of Thanksgiving getting lost in Christmas frustrates people. But you know what? Every year I find that Thanksgiving meets Christmas - and I’m just fine with that.
Want to know why?
Caught in the World’s Trap Part 2
Do you feel entangled with the world?
When we demonstrate a life of friendship with the world, we become characterized by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life. (see I John 2:16) And once we are entangled in the world, we find ourselves trapped, living a life of bondage rather than a life of freedom in Christ.
But…you don’t have to STAY entangled!
Caught in the World’s Trap
“for Demas, having love this present world, has deserted me.”
These chilling words from II Timothy 4 describe a collision course of the Christ-life and culture for Demas, a friend of Paul . He became a casualty of the culture because he loved the world and was caught in the compromise that loving the world brings.
Satan, the ruler of this world, doesn’t show us the heartache and heartbreak that comes with embracing this world. But like Demas, when we embrace the world’s ideas, philosophies, and view of life, we can find ourselves trapped.
You Are Light
Sometimes I find myself a bit overwhelmed with the collision that is happening with Christ-followers and culture today. It makes me long for Jesus to return and take us home to heaven. But then I remember what Jesus prayed in John 17. He didn’t ask the Father to take us out of the world; but instead, to be protected from the evil one.
I believe that brings us to the mission and purpose Jesus gave us before He returned to the Father - be light in a world of darkness, be hope in a world of lostness and be truth in a world of lies.
The Hatred of the World
Several years ago, I heard a conference speaker declare that the United States was the 4th most unreached country in the world with the gospel.
I was shocked. The idea that the United States, founded on Biblical principles and entrenched with a strong history of God at work, has now become one of the most unreached countries in our world was overwhelming to me.
That was over ten years ago and today, we might be even higher on that list!
Singing the Blues or Singing with Joy?
Have you ever listened to a blues song? I was born and raised in Memphis, TN, the home of the blues. Blues songs are often filled with sadness, sorrow and agony that comes from trouble.
We all face trouble that attempts to rob us of joy and gladness. For many it causes discouragement, disappointment, or even depression. Trouble can steal our energy and leave us singing the blues.
Are you able to sing for joy instead of the blues in the midst of trouble? Psalm 90 helps us learn how to trade the blues for a song of joy.
Praising God for the Paradox
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to he high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
This excerpt from a Puritan prayer called The Valley of Vision captures the idea of the paradox of the Christian life found in Psalm 145::14.
Seeking God’s Reviving Work
Do you remember when churches had old fashioned revival services? A guest preacher would come to the church for a week or two for nightly services focused on spiritual renewal for believers.
I don’t hear of these types of revival services in churches today, but it is still important for believers in Jesus to walk in daily renewal and revival.
Psalm 85 gives us a focus on renewal, revival, and restoration for the people of God.
Shouting Praise to God
Fall is one of my favorite times of the year! I suppose it is for many people. The cool crisp air and the changing leaves are a part of what I love. But to be honest with you, one of my favorite things about fall is college football and the pennant races of Major League baseball. And I do what many of us do. I shout for my teams! Like you, I have my favorite college football team, my favorite MLB team and I do my fair share of shouting and cheering them on to victory. For some reason, I equate the fall with shouting!
Did you know that we are called to shout to God? Psalm 66 is a Psalm of mighty praise and it begins with a shout!