Everlasting Father

I’d like you to imagine that my wife has left our toddler home with me while she went out. I want him to know I love him so I decide to let him do whatever he’d like. Unfortunately, the thing he likes most is the glowing fire in our fireplace. He toddles over to it [...]

Mighty God

One of the most encouraging pictures of Jesus in Scripture can be found in the book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 9:6 the Messiah is referred to as Mighty God.  Isaiah expands upon the concept of Mighty God in Isaiah 33:20-22: Look upon Zion, the city of our festivals; your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful [...]

Advent week 1

This is the season of Advent; the four Sundays preceding Christmas. Advent is a special time of year. During Advent, we look back to the first coming of Jesus Christ (as a baby) and look forward to his second coming (as our conquering King). It is a time that we think about hope, love , [...]

God’s Presence in The Storm

On Sunday August 28 our area was hit by Tropical Storm Irene. Often when tragedies like this happens people ask ‘ Where is God in all this?’. Psalm 46 gives an answer to God’s presence in the midst of the storm: Ps 46:1-3,11 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 [...]

The Three “R’s” of Faith, Part 2.

Read again that wonderful promise found in Colossians 1: Colossians 1:11–14 (NIV84) 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom [...]

The Three “R’s” of Faith, Part 1.

Growing up I heard about the three “R’s” of education: reading, writing and arithmetic. Having these skills was fundamental to my education. Similarly, the three R’s of faith (Rescued, Relocated and Redeemed) are essential to my faith. Colossians gives us instruction: Colossians 1:12-14 “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought [...]

Hidden with Christ

Our year verses for 2011 are: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  4When Christ, [...]

Advent!

This Advent, may the grace of God warm you with good news about His Son… “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own [...]

The “Key” to a Thankful Heart

  This Thanksgiving, have you thought about the things for which you are thankful? I’ve thought about the things with which God has blessed me: family, ministry, health, just to name a few. I did what I usually do, I went through a list of things God has either done for me or given me. [...]

Making Decisions

How do you make decisions? What criteria do you use when making choices? One primary motivation for making decisions is fear. Fear of not having what we want or need, fear of what we may lose, fear of … you name it. Fear is a fascinating emotion. Fear motivates us to action, it also paralyses [...]