The Holy Spirit gave my congregation a healthy dose of things to think about this Thanksgiving season, especially regarding our gratitude for all that God’s done for us. In light of His teachings, it’s difficult not to be humbled by His grace. Sincere gratitude bears much fruit in the soul. “For from his fullness we have […]
Ingratitude Is Toxic Read More »
They say that there is no substitute for experience. I agree. I cannot say how many times the Holy Spirit has inspired me to preach a message on readying oneself for the inevitable. If you’re a believer in Christ Jesus, you will be attacked. If you persist (you will, if you’re a true believer – ref. Matthew 13:3-8), you
It’s Thanksgiving season and the good Lord has me reflecting upon all the wonderful things to be thankful for. I picture gratitude in my head as concentric circles, starting deep within myself. I think about how grateful I am for what God has done in me. Some days it’s just too incredible a thought to
Concentric Circles Read More »
I used to drive a lot for work. In fact, at one point, my office was an hour and a half away from my home (that was without any traffic, which was rare). This gave me a lot of time alone in my car with the radio on. Product marketers are smart – they know
The Friends and Family Plan Read More »
Though it may be difficult for some to hear, there’s such a thing as holy hatred. The reason it exists is sin. By definition, sin means to “miss the mark,” which refers to the divine standard of God. Since God is infinitely more righteous than sin (or sinners), He is intrinsically separate from it (or
What Is Holy Hatred? Read More »
Have you ever heard someone say, “Oh, yes, we are good friends,” only to find out later that the so-called friend disagrees with this person’s proclamation? It’s an awkward situation, isn’t it? You don’t know whether or not to feel sorry for the first person or bothered by their delusion. Shortly afterwards, you might be
The Friendship of the Lord Read More »
When someone says, “I love you,” is it fair to assume that they are simultaneously saying, “You can trust me”? I mean, isn’t love just that – a show of trustworthiness? Isn’t that also how our own love for others develops over time? Love in the absence of trust seems incomplete somehow. Is it fair
God Teaches Us Trust Read More »
Is there a greater blessing than to love and be loved? I mean, to really know it deep down inside, both intellectually and emotionally, is so very precious that wars have been fought over it. I’d argue that all battles are fought for love; maybe it’s love for another, land, money, power, or whatever else
The Battle for Love Read More »
But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. — Luke 16:17 Faith and hope are intertwined: if the object of our faith is fallible, then so is our hope. If it is perfect, then we have a transcendent hope of things to
Scripture Cannot Be Broken Read More »
Whenever I preach a sermon that includes the account of James’ and John’s mother asking Jesus for preferential treatment of her sons, I chuckle, as does the congregation. It’s a ‘roll your eyes’ type scenario, where a mother’s partiality is on full display and her children are completely onboard. It makes me think about how
Unrighteous Indignation Read More »