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"Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things I say? I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn't shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!" Luke 6:46-49 HSCB

Last summer…  ( Click for more )

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for…  ( Click for more )

What is the source of the wars and the fights among you? Don't they come from the cravings that are at war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don't receive because you ask wrongly, so that you may spend it on your desires for pleasure. Adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world's friend becomes God's enemy. Or do you think it's without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit He has caused to…  ( Click for more )

The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless only becomes poor. Proverbs 21:5 HCSB

From the time you were a little child you were probably asked the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Although you may never have given it any thought, once asked the question, you began to dream about what it is you wanted to do when you grew up. Did you dream of becoming an astronaut, a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, a cowboy – maybe the President or an actor or even a professional football player? Whatever it was, you spent countless hours…  ( Click for more )

For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven't stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing [to Him], bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints inheritance in the light. Colossians 1:9-12 HCSB

Here are several…  ( Click for more )

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?" asked the men. "He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be betrayed…  ( Click for more )

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:8 NIV

Lately I've been having a hard time sleeping. I know it stems from these horrible nightmares I'm having and now when it's time to go to bed, I dread it… even though I'm exhausted and need to sleep. It's created somewhat of a vicious cycle… I'm tired, I want to sleep, I lay down and I start getting anxious because I am afraid of the nightmares. Eventually I do drift off to sleep, but it's a restless sleep and just when I hit the deep sleep the dreams come. Not the good kind…  ( Click for more )

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' and I said, 'Here am I; send me.'" 6:8 NIV

Just how far are you willing to go to follow Christ? Literally – are you willing to go to a homeless shelter and feed the homeless? Are you willing to be a part of a prison ministry mentoring men and women who are incarcerated? Are you willing to work in the projects – take food or deliver toys to the numerous children who must live there – but not by choice? Are you willing to travel across the world to Africa to evangelize? Just…  ( Click for more )

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him Psalms 37:7a KJV

What does it mean to wait patiently for him? I always thought that waiting on the Lord was like being in a doctor's office: I, the one with the raging fever, must sit patiently until he, the doctor, is available to see me. But this psalm gives me a different picture of waiting.

Contrary to popular belief, waiting on the Lord is not a passive activity. It is a still, quiet activity. But it is directed, purposeful, and expectant. When we are waiting on the Lord, we remain in our present circumstance and await further…  ( Click for more )

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV

As I finish up the last of 3 parts based on a Passion to Know Christ, I want to talk about what it means to have a passion to serve Him. The apostle Paul had an incredible passion to serve Christ. Despite experiencing hunger, cold and exposure, prison, beatings, and shipwrecks, Paul was willing to endure them simply to be a servant of Christ. Why do you think he was not just willing to endure these things, but was able? After having seen the movie…  ( Click for more )

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 53:5 NIV

I'm sure by now many of you if not most of you have seen The Passion of The Christ – a movie directed and produced by Mel Gibson. If not, I urge you to go and see this film. If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, hopefully as a result of seeing the movie you will consider it and begin asking questions and seeking answers. I challenge you to seek out a church that desires to answer your questions…  ( Click for more )

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ Philippians 3:7-8 (NIV)

Passion is defined as a strong, enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance.

As a believer I'm afraid many of us become complacent in our spiritual walk - content simply to walk in the knowledge that when we die we will go to heaven. If…  ( Click for more )

Jesus lover of my soul Jesus I will never let You go You've taken me from the miry clay You've set my feet upon a rock And now I know

I love You I need You Though my world may fall I'll never let You go My Savior my closest friend I will worship You Until the very end

© 1992 Daniel Grul, John Ezzy, Steve McPherson/Hillsongs

I'm sure I've heard this song sung many times before, but recently I heard it on the radio and it was as though I was hearing it for the first time. It struck me that Jesus loves me with a love like no other. He loves me unconditionally.…  ( Click for more )

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:3-8a NIV

How many times have you been to a wedding and heard this passage of scripture read? I'd have to say dozens and dozens.…  ( Click for more )

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:28 NIV

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 NIV

One of the greatest responsibilities we have is encourage and uplift others in our circle of influence. Whether we're parents, bosses, friends or leaders, we have an obligation to help others to live up to their full potential.

And whether you realize it not, with everything we say and do,…  ( Click for more )

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the…  ( Click for more )

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV

What kind of trials are you facing today? Is there a situation in your life that feels beyond your control? Are you struggling with a relationship with a friend, family member or co-worker and you don't know what to do? Do you feel like a storm has taken you by surprise and you need shelter?

I'd like to share…  ( Click for more )

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:7-8 (NIV)

Having the courage to obey God means that even in the midst of life's challenges you are able to face them fearlessly, firmly and calmly in your spirit. But often we struggle with this. Sometimes…  ( Click for more )

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)

As a single person – my friends are often the ones I turn to when a married person would turn to their spouse – like when I'm sick and need medicine or my car breaks down and I need…  ( Click for more )

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Well the New Year is finally here. Goodbye 2003 and hello 2004! For many, this is a time to establish New Year's resolutions – which usually sound something like this… "This year I'll start working out," "this year I'll lose weight," "this year I'll spend less money." Does any of this sound familiar?

After many years of coming up with New Year's resolutions and only a few months later finding they've…  ( Click for more )

And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the inn. Luke 2:4-7 (HCSB)

Christmas is finally here. Are you excited to see this day arrive or happy that it's almost…  ( Click for more )

For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?' "And the King will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did…  ( Click for more )

For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness"—He has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:6-9 (HCSB)

I fell down today and something got broken Lord. I'm not exactly sure how to fix it. My first instinct is to run for cover,…  ( Click for more )