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“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” John 14:27 (NIV)

Do you know someone who never seems to get upset about things? Do you wish you could be like that person? Do you try to take a stand only to have your position cause a problem?

As children of God, we learn to yield ourselves to His plan. He guides us through the sticky circumstances of our lives. We have to trust that He knows what He is doing in each area of our lives. Jesus remakes our inner selves, our souls to be more aligned with His.

When we…  ( Click for more )

What do we know about this thing called joy? It is a fruit of the spirit. Joy comes from within us. Having it is better than being happy. Why is it so important, so sought after? Why do some people in our lives want to steal it from us?

We feel joy when something happens that fills our hearts with gladness. A friend of mine received a new grandson a few months ago. She is joyous about this baby-it’s her first grandchild. Some people find so much joy in being grandparents they joke about wishing they had grandkids first.

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In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined to the purpose of Him who works all things to the counsel of His will. Ephesians 1:11 (NKJV) In Jesus, we have received a gift from God, a gift determined by the LORD’s aim for us. God works all things in accordance……  ( Click for more )

For I know the thoughts [plans] that I think towards [have for] you, says the LORD. Thoughts [plans] of peace not evil, to give you a future and hope. Hebrews 29:11 (NKJV) [NI V] (The words in brackets are how I learned this verse.) The LORD has set in motion a time……  ( Click for more )

”Now my soul is troubled and what shall I say? ‘Father save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father glorify Your Name.“John 12:27-28a (NKJV) Here Jesus speaks to God from His humanity. His soul is troubled. He knows what lays ahead for……  ( Click for more )

Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified and put to death, whom God raised up, having loosed the pain of death for it was not possible that He should be held by it. Acts 2:23-24 (NKJV) Jesus’ coming to earth,……  ( Click for more )

This is a Children’s Moments message I gave a few weeks ago. Before I left church that Sunday, I had two women in my age group tell me they learned about the pledges to the Bible and the Christian flag. Each of them said they never heard these pledges before. I personally believe we need to get back to the……  ( Click for more )

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. Titus 3:1-2 (NKJV) Paul’s words to Titus whom he describes as a “true son in our common faith.” ……  ( Click for more )

By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, and a gentle tongue breaks a bone. Proverbs 25:15 (NKJV) Moses listened to the Lord and patiently awaited the day that Pharaoh would finally let the Israelite people depart Egypt and head to the land God had promised them. Hannah exercised patience……  ( Click for more )

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3(NKJV) Words……  ( Click for more )

We who speak English use the word ‘love’ to describe how we feel about our spouse or that one significant person in our life. Also, we use the same word to describe our favorite flavor of ice cream or our favorite food or snack.

The Greek people had four words to describe the various meanings of what they meant by ‘love’. They called romantic love, Eros. When they described brotherly love, they used the term, Phileo. For love that seeks the betterment of others, they used the word Agape. The fourth word is Storge, which described love between family…  ( Click for more )

Faith That Heals

“Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed from that moment.” Matthew 9:22 (NIV)

We read several accounts of Jesus healings where he commends someone’s faith. Jesus told the people that the Centurion possessed faith to such a degree that he had not seen in Israel. He spoke to the woman with the bloody discharge, saying she was healed because of her faith. What does it take to have the kind of faith that allows us to be healed? Honestly speaking,…  ( Click for more )

But, without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) When we go before the LORD, we must believe He is who He says He is. The writer of Hebrews tell us without our believing……  ( Click for more )

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His mercies fail not. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness. Lamentations3:22-23 (NKJV) Did you ever have ‘one of those days’ when nothing went the way you planned or wanted it to go? Because we are human,……  ( Click for more )

For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Psalm 33:4-5 (NKJV) The psalmist tells us some wonderful thoughts about our LORD. He writes that His word is……  ( Click for more )

The Light of the World

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me

will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 (NIV)

Our neighbor has a security light that comes on when someone gets to a certain spot on his driveway. Several years ago, it came on and scared some police officers when they received a call about a strange recurring sound that came from the yard. While it startled the two police investigators and any others who venture there, it brought peace to our neighbors.

We read in our Bibles that Jesus identifies…  ( Click for more )

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100:5 (NJKV) These words come from a Psalm of Thanksgiving. I find comfort in them as I type them. We sing choruses about God’s goodness to us. But do we really understand what we……  ( Click for more )

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to love justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God! Micah 6:8 (NKJV) God shows us His goodness to us each day. The sun shining through my living room window brings the words, “Thank You, Lord!” to……  ( Click for more )

The Alpha and the Omega: The First and the Last

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word

was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 1:1 (NIV)

“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God,

who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’”

Revelation 1:8 (NIV)

“‘Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me,

and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.’”

Revelation 22:12-13 (NIV)

The…  ( Click for more )

The Resurrection and the Life

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.

He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;

and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

Do you believe this?’” John 11:26-27 (NIV)

Jesus is in Lazarus’ home. Lazarus has died; his sisters are in mourning. The Master comforts the sisters.

The Lord says something to Martha that she doesn't fully understand. Her brother will rise again. She knows Lazarus will rise ‘in the resurrection at the last day.’

…  ( Click for more )

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering (patience), bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV) ……  ( Click for more )

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,

a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9 (NIV)

From time to time in our Christian walk we face situations where we feel helpless. By this, I mean we don’t feel we have the strength to do anything to fix the issue. It seems we have to live with it. But really we don’t because we have Jesus interceding before God on our behalf.

I recently made a visit to a hospital to see an elderly lady from our church. My visitation partner and I came away blessed by the dear lady’s spirit. She spoke with difficulty…  ( Click for more )

Recently, as I read our local newspaper, I became sad about the violence occurring in our cities, our nation, and our world: People unable to peacefully resolve their differences, others, carrying weapons going into schools and taking out the lives of defenseless children and those called to educate them. Memorial Day weekend……  ( Click for more )

For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts, and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward men appeared, not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to His mercy……  ( Click for more )