Your church may not use the church calendar throughout the year and that is perfectly fine. Therefore, you may not know that this past Friday was All Saints’ Day. This day is a very special day for me because it reminds me to give thanks to the Lord regularly for those whom God used to lead … Continue reading All Saints’ Weekend
Devotional Thoughts
Undergird Your Pastor in Prayer
"The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching." I TIMOTHY 5:17 "If Christians who have been complaining about their ministers had said and acted less before men and had taken the trouble to cry to God for their ministers, if … Continue reading Undergird Your Pastor in Prayer
It Takes God Time to Answer Prayer
But when it pleased God • GALATIANS 1:15 It takes God time to answer prayer. We often fail to give God a chance in that respect. It takes time for God to paint a rose. It takes time for God to grow an oak. It takes time for God to make bread from wheat fields. … Continue reading It Takes God Time to Answer Prayer
A Prayer of Confession of Sin – On Beauty
Beautiful Savior, You died to make me beautiful — one who was marred and made beastly by sin. Late it was that I loved you, beauty so ancient and so new, late I loved you! Thus, I vacillate between a monkish contempt of physical beauty and a worldly addiction to physical beauty. Unlike the patriarch … Continue reading A Prayer of Confession of Sin – On Beauty
Pray and Bless Your Enemies – A Needed Word in Our Day of Increasing Polarization.
When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. PROVERBS 16:7 A Confederate soldier was on sentry duty on the edge of a wood. It was a dark night and very cold, and he was a little frightened because the enemy was supposed to be … Continue reading Pray and Bless Your Enemies – A Needed Word in Our Day of Increasing Polarization.
When Believers Profess Their Faith Together
When followers of Jesus gather for corporate worship, we remind one another of what we believe. We call this professing our faith. Often, we profess our faith using the Apostles’ Creed . This creed chronicles in summary fashion “the most exciting drama that ever staggered the imagination of man. God’s plan of rescuing sinful man … Continue reading When Believers Profess Their Faith Together
Learning How to Pray the Scriptures
“For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.” 2 Samuel 7:27 ESV bible.com/bible/59/2sa.7.27.ESV God speaks to us through His Word. We answer Him by praying His Word back to Him. … Continue reading Learning How to Pray the Scriptures
Stand Firm, Dear Followers of the Lamb!
One of my devotionals that I am reading this year is called Magnificent Prayer by Nick Harrison. Today’s reading is particularly appropriate for what we are seeing in our country and world right now. Let us not forget who our real enemy is and let us use one of our primary weapons to engage the … Continue reading Stand Firm, Dear Followers of the Lamb!
The Dark Night of the Soul (Psalm 42-43)
The dark night of the soul. This phenomenon describes a malady that the greatest of Christians have suffered from time to time. It was the malady that provoked David to soak his pillow with tears. It was the malady that earned for Jeremiah the name, “The Weeping Prophet.” It was the malady that so afflicted … Continue reading The Dark Night of the Soul (Psalm 42-43)
Promised Peace for Troubled Hearts
Have you ever felt abandoned? Left alone to suffer in silence? Jesus prepares his followers for His departure, but He promises not to leave us as spiritual orphans. He promises to come to us and send the Spirit into our hearts so that we always experience His abiding presence and promised peace. In John 14:27, … Continue reading Promised Peace for Troubled Hearts
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