Call On The Lord

Enduring Harsh Words

Proverbs 15:1-"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."


Why is it so hard to endure an unjust or unfair criticism? Why do we always have to defend ourselves no matter how ridiculous the charge? Often the problems we have with others simply escalate because we do not choose to forgive and let them go on in the Lord!

Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

Today is Memorial Day and I encourage everyone to take time to pause and remember all the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrafice for our freedom. God bless our veterans and God bless America.

Lord You Take Over

"Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him." (2 Chronicles 20:2-4)

Think about one difficulty you are facing right now. It might have to do with your family, your finances, conflicts at work or even an accident you recently had. All these things can be considered as armies coming against you. I know from personal experience that any circumstance that has overpowered me is an army coming against me. I might come up with my own ideas, methods or plans, but nothing I do is going to fix it. In desperation and anxiety, I cry out to the Lord. Crying out to the Lord as a last resort is a lot different than "resolving to inquire of the Lord" from the start (as Jehoshaphat did). God honored Jehoshaphat's prayer and then he honored the Lord by singing praises to God before the battle even began. Circumstances are difficult in life. Many times, we wonder what is really going on and why is the Lord allowing this to happen? All the Lord wants is for you to include Him. Circumstances can be hard but His answers to your prayers are not. Go to God today first. Tell Him, "Lord, I don't know what to do but I am looking to You." He not only hears, sees and answers, but He assures the victory.

Walk By Faith

“Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:27-29)

Years ago my heart sought peace, comfort, and joy. I had tried all the trappings of the world that I could. I was a part of the cool crowd one moment and then the next moment, I wasn’t. Yet, my heart wanted more than acceptance from the crowd; my heart wanted to believe. As a child I attended church and found it dull and boring. I found most of the words unnecessary and irritating. I mean, I believed that I was a good person, why would I ever need anything or anyone else? Why would I ever need Jesus?Years passed by and with them passed a sorted life that brought temporary happiness but no lasting joy and no peace, no peace for my hurting heart. The love of Christ came into my life and it came through his love displayed by others. That love of Christ made me stop and made me consider. And when the time was right I asked the Lord to forgive me and to be my Lord. The love of Christ displayed in others taught me that I could never be good enough and that I needed a Savior. I learned that I needed the righteousness of Christ and not my own; a righteousness freely given to me when Christ gave his life on the cross. And just as Jesus rose from the grave daily I rise and I’m a little bit different, a little cleaner inside, a little more like my Heavenly Father all because of faith in Him.That journey starts with faith. Faith is believing that Jesus Christ loves you and me enough to die for us. But the story doesn’t end there; Christ also rose from the dead so that we could believe that he is the Son of God, the Christ.Maybe today you believe in Him, you know his life, and you know his sacrifice. Yet, in the very core of your heart is Christ your Lord, your Savior, and your King? Many use the name ‘Christian’ to mark themselves with the religion of ‘Christianity’; using the name doesn’t make you a follower of Christ.Walking by faith in Him and trusting Christ alone does.

Too Busy for God?

Most people know the importance of spending time with God. But in the midst of life's daily activity, it's just too hard to find the time. Our schedules get filled, situations at work consume our thoughts at night and family and friends vie for attention with us and then we need to get some sleep at night to face another day's challenges in the morning. How do you find time for everything that needs to get done in 24 hours when you need more time in the day. What do we let drop from our schedule? What do we put on hold so we can concentrate on getting through our day? There can be many reasons for our busy schedules, but no matter what the reason may be, God demands our worship. The sisters Mary and Martha give us a good example of this when we examine their two lives. In Luke 10:38-42 it gives us the story of these two sisters. Martha was busy serving and keeping busy but was missing out on what was most important. Time with God. Mary on the other hand desired time with the Lord and this was the most important thing in her life at that moment. May we find the faith that Mary had and seek to worship God and not miss out on opportunities with Him.

We Are Not God

Isaiah 55:8-9-"My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

One of my favorite sayings regarding our relationship with God comes from the movie Rudy where Father Cavanaugh says to Rudy these words, "Son in over thiry years of religious study, I have discovered two incontrovertable truths; there is a God and I'm not Him." Never was a statement more true. No matter how we try to perceive God, he is still God and we are not. We must forever remember that the original, and still primary sin was to try to become like God in terms of knowledge and understanding. We are to know God, but we can never fully know about him. We are to take on his character, but we cannot approach his majesty. This is both exciting and frustrating. But the promise remains that one day we will be like him and see him as he is

IN CHRIST

John 3:3-"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Being in Christ, and all that it means to Christian maturity and freedom, is the overwhelming theme of the New Testament. For example, in the six chapters of the Book of Ephesians alone there are 40 references to being in Christ and having Christ in you. For every reference to Christ being in you, there are 10 to you being in Christ. Being in Christ is the most critical element of our identity. But we weren't born in Christ. We were born in sin, thanks to the first Adam. What is God's plan for transforming us from being in Adam to being in Christ? We must be born again (John 3:3). Physical birth only gains us physical life. Spiritual life, the eternal life Christ promises to those who come to Him, is only gained through spiritual birth (John 3:36). What does it mean to be spiritually alive in Christ? The moment you were born again your soul came into union with God in the same way Adam was in union with God before the Fall. Your spiritual union with God is complete and eternal because it is provided by Christ, the last Adam. As long as Christ remains alive spiritually, you will remain alive spiritually--and that's for eternity. Contrary to what many Christians believe, eternal life is not something you get when you die. You are spiritually alive in Christ right now. That's how you got to be in union with God, by being born again spiritually. You'll never be more spiritually alive than you are right now. The only thing that will change when you die physically is that you will exchange your old earthbound body for a new one. But your spiritual life in Christ, which began when you personally trusted Him, will merely continue on. Salvation is not a future addition; it's a present transformation. And that transformation occurs at spiritual birth, not physical death. God's Word promises, "He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life" (1 John 5:12). Eternal life is something you possess right now because you're in Christ. Believe it. Rejoice in it

Tried, Tested and True

Job 23:10-11-"He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside."

How we long for this to be our true confession. We are not yet gold, but long to be. We are not yet fully following his steps, but are trying. We have tried not to turn aside, but we sometimes falter. Thank God for his grace until our intentions and desires are fulfilled!

Living By Two Principles

Matthew 22:37-39-"Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."


Some things are just not very complicated. Living for Jesus can be boiled down to two principles: love God with everything I am and have, and love others and treat them as I would like to be treated. Not too hard to understand. I guess it's living it that is the challenge!

The Light Unto Our Path

Psalm 119:105-"Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

We live in a world where the flip of a switch instantly lightens or darkens a room. The lamps in biblical times, on the other hand, burned brightly but required proper tending. If not cared for, they would become a dwindling flame. God's Word uses the metaphor of a lamp to teach us about guidance for our lives. And it provides the opportunity for some graphic applications of this teaching. Earnestly seeking the clear teaching of God's Word allows the lamp to burn brightly and us to stay on the path. The light dims when we stay away from God's Word and the fellowship of believers. It goes out when we serve another master. Sometimes we overlook the obvious: God's will is expressed by His Word. God's will is revealed to us in His Word. There is no substitute for being "diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). The Bible is a light to your path.

Being God-Centered

Luke 9:1, 2-"He [Jesus] called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to perform healing."

Notice how Jesus equipped His disciples for ministry. He knew that when they began preaching the kingdom of God and healing the sick, demonic powers would bring opposition. So He specifically gave them power and authority over demons. Later Jesus sent out 70 of His followers on a similar mission, and they "returned with joy, saying 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name'"(Luke 10:17). These missionaries were spiritually in tune enough to know that demons existed and that they were a force to be reckoned with in their ministry. Jesus' followers had been eyewitnesses as the evil spirits opposed the Master, and they probably anticipated the same treatment. Perhaps they even started out on their mission with pangs of fear and doubt about encountering demonic resistance. But they came back astonished at the victory they experienced over evil spirits. But Jesus quickly brought the issue of spiritual conflicts into perspective: "Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven" (Luke 10:20). Jesus sent out the 70 to preach the gospel and to heal, but all they could talk about when they came back was how they sent the demons running. "Don't be centered on demonic spirits," Jesus replied. "Be kingdom-centered, be ministry-centered, be God-centered." That's a good warning. As you learn to exercise authority over the kingdom of darkness in your life and in the lives of others, you may be tempted to see only the spiritual battle, looking for demons behind every door. But it's truth which sets you free, not the knowledge of error. You are not called to dispel the darkness; you are called to turn on the light. You would have no authority at all if it weren't for your identity as a child of God and your position in Christ.

What Is There To Fear?

1 John 4:18-"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. "

What is there to fear if God sent his Son to die to redeem us? What is there to fear if we cannot be separated from the love God has for us in Christ Jesus? What is there to fear except ourselves? As we love God and his children, we are reminded by his love for us, which is far better than our meager love for others. Rather than run from him in fear, we bow before him in thanks, knowing that he who hears our prayers is also he who loves us and stops our fears

It Happens Every Spring

This week marked the beginning of the 2010 baseball season with the start of spring training. My beloved hometown team, the St. Louis Cardinals opened spring training in Jupiter, Florida this week and I am excited about the 2010 season. Manager Tony LaRussa and the Cardinals should do well this year and I am expecting great things from the Cardinals. They won the 2009 NL Central Division and I am looking forward to bigger things in 2010. GO REDBIRDS!!!!

Keeping An Honest Account

1 John 1:8-"If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

We deceive ourselves when we say we have no sin. The Scripture doesn't say that we are sin; it says that it is possible for us to sin and for sin to reside in our mortal bodies (Romans 6:12). We are not sinless saints; we are saints who sin. It's important to keep honest account of our failures and pick up our cross daily. When we become aware of a discrepancy between our identity and our behavior, we must confess it and deal with it. The person who deceives himself by ignoring these sinful discrepancies and allowing them to build up is headed for a great fall. I spent the early years of my ministry in earthquake-prone Southern California and lived through several earthquakes. Like many people who lived there and those that still reside in California, we keep hearing about "the big one," which is thought by many to be inevitable along the San Andreas fault. Whenever Californians experience minor earthquakes (up to about 4.0 on the Richter scale), they may be frightened by them a bit, but they also see them as a good sign. These little tremors mean that the plates in the earth's crust beneath them are shifting. As long as the crust is adjusting this way, it's unlikely that "the big one" will hit. It's when they don't get any minor earthquakes for several months or years that the danger of a major, devastating quake increases. Similarly, living in the light, holding ourselves accountable to God, and confessing and dealing with sin on a daily basis prevents the major spiritual crises from building up in our lives. If we keep saying, "I don't have any sin," or if we fail to acknowledge our shortcomings and settle our differences with people as God convicts us of them, we're in for "the big one." We will eventually lose our health, our family, our job, or our friendships. Unacknowledged sin is like a cancer which will grow to consume us.

Nothing Separates Us From God's Love

Romans 8:38-39-"I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Separation is something we fear whether it's from a child, a parent, a sibling, a spouse, a friend, or from God. Because Jesus bore the separation from God, becoming and going to the cross, we can know we won't have to ever be separated from God's love.

Message of Love

1 John 3:11-"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. "

The original message - love one another. The enduring message - love one another. The most convicting message - love one another. The most difficult message - love one another. We are commanded by the Lord Jesus to love one another as He loved us and loving others means we look beyond faults and differences and learn to love those that might seem different or even unlovable to others. That is the comman from the Lord and the greatest attribute of God in our lives in when we love others.

God Loved Us First

1 John 4:10-"This is love: not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

He loved us first! He offered his Son to save us regardless of our decision to believe or ignore his grace. We are given the ability to accept or reject the death of his Son as the sacrifice for our sins. The only condition, as 1 John 2:1-2 emphasizes, is that we realize that he died for everyone else in the world, too!

The Accuser of the Brethren

Revelation 12:10-"The accuser of our brethren . . . who accuses them before our God day and night."

Next to temptation, perhaps the most frequent and insistent attack from Satan to which we are vulnerable is accusation. By faith we have entered into an eternal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, we are dead to sin and alive to God, and we now sit with Christ in the heavenlies. In Christ we are important, we are qualified, we are justified. Satan can do absolutely nothing to alter our position in Christ and our worth to God. But he can render us virtually inoperative if he can deceive us into listening to and believing his insidious lies, accusing us of being of little value to God or other people. Satan often uses temptation and accusation as a brutal one-two punch. He comes along and says, "Why don't you try it? Everybody does it. Besides, you can get away with it. Who's going to know?" Then as soon as we fall for his tempting line, he changes his tune to accusation: "What kind of a Christian are you to do such a thing? You're a pitiful excuse for a child of God. You'll never get away with it. You might as well give up because God has already given up on you." We have all heard Satan's lying, hateful voice in our hearts and consciences. He never seems to let up on us. Many Christians are perpetually discouraged and defeated because they believe his persistent lies about them. And those who give in to his accusations end up being robbed of the freedom that God intends His people to enjoy. The good news is that we don't have to listen to Satan's accusations and live in despair and defeat. Satan is not your judge; he is merely your accuser. When Satan's accusations of unworthiness attack you, don't pay attention to them. Instead respond, "I have put my trust in Christ, and I am a child of God in Him. I have been rescued by God from the fire of judgment, and He has declared me righteous. Satan cannot determine a verdict or pronounce a sentence. All he can do is accuse me--and I don't buy it."

Sign of a Real Disciple of Christ

John 13:34-35-"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you , so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

How do you recognize Jesus' followers? How do you find Christians? Jesus said they love each other just as he loved the disciples. In the immediate context, this means he is willing to give sacrificially and extravagantly by dying for them on the cross, and he is also willing to love selflessly and practically by washing their feet. His ministry reveals he also will do almost anything in between extravagant and practical. Imagine if we all read the Gospels, and committed to love each other in the same way Jesus showed his love to his disciples!

Love Always

1 Corinthians 13:6-7-"Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Always love - pretty tall order and pretty tough stuff. Only God is "always." But then Christians are fueled to a always love through the Holy Spirit! Check out the promised source of "always" love in Romans 5:5.

Growing Our Love for One Another

2 Thessalonians 1:3-"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing."

"Increase my faith, O Lord." "Increase my strength." "Increase my wisdom." We often pray for these things, but when is the last time you thanked God for your love increasing? Can you think of anything more exciting to say about your church than "The love every one of you has for each other is increasing!" Lets pray and act to make it so!

Loving Your Enemies

Matthew 5:43-45-[Jesus said,] "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."

We often talk about the privileges of being a child of God - forgiveness, salvation, a future in heaven with him, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and ultimate victory when Christ comes. One of the greatest privileges we get, however, is the opportunity to act toward those who dislike and hate us in a way that reflects the character of God himself. We all have been hurt, offended or mistreated by someone and it does indeed cause hurt feelings and pain and sorrow along with anger and thoughts of revenge. Anyone can return hate for hate, but it takes a child of God to return a blessing and a prayer for their enemies.

Colts Lose Super Bowl XLIV

Tonight the Indianapolis Colts saw their quest for a world championship end in Miami as the New Orleans Saints defeated the Colts 31-17 to win Super Bowl XLIV. Peyton Manning and the Colts saw an end to a terrific season and came up short against the Saints. Not surprising....the Colts are already the favorites to win the Super Bowl next year according to the odds makers. I am disappointed but I am confident that the Colts will be back. GO COLTS!

I Love You Lord...

Psalm 18:1-2-"I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

We sing it and we say it in our public prayers: "Father, God, we love you." But notice very carefully the beginning phrase of our verse. "I love you, O Lord..." Even in public, community worship, we are taught the importance of a personal expression of love to God. When is the last time you told the Creator of the universe, "I love you!"

Phil Sees His Shadow....

Don't put those cold weather clothes in storage just yet. Punxsutawney Phil, the internationally known weather prognosticating groundhog, emerged from his burrow in Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and saw his shadow this morning and predicted six more weeks of winter. Looks like we'll have to endure the cold a little longer. God bless everyone and have a great day.

Better Than We Can Imagine

1 Corinthians 2:9-"As it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."

Many of the things we anticipate and dream about are much less glorious in real life than they were in our imaginations. There is one event, however, that is better than we can imagine and beyond our wildest dreams. When Jesus returns to take us home to be with our Father, it will be far better than we can ask, imagine, dream or think. Maranatha - Come Lord Jesus

Forgiving and Forgetting

Psalm 86:5-"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call on you."

Forgiveness is such a sweet blessing. But God does more than forgive! He cleanses and forgets. His love is not metered out or carefully rationed. He pours it out upon us if we genuinely seek him as our God and Father

Kurt Warner Retires

Today was an especially emotional day for me as my favorite quarterback of all time Kurt Warner announced his retirement from the NFL. After a 12 year career and over 30,000 career passing yards and two MVP awards and a Super Bowl championship, Kurt Warner is retiring at age 38 to spend time with his family and move into ministry and broadcasting. Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom said of Kurt Warner, "Kurt Warner epitomizes the finest qualities that can be attributed to any athlete. He is a gentleman, competitor and, most of all, a winner whose achievements and contributions go far beyond the field of play." Kurt Warner started his career with the St. Louis Rams and later played for the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals and led both the Rams and the Cardinals to the Super Bowl winning MVP honors in the Rams victory in Super Bowl 34. I and many Rams fans will always remember number 13 and never forget the great years he played in St. Louis. Next stop...the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Thanks for the memories Kurt....we love you.

Genuine Worship To God

John 4:24-"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Genuine worship is a gift. Since God is spirit, since he is holy, we cannot fully approach him without the gift and blessing of his Holy Spirit. As Christians who received his Spirit when we were baptized into Christ and born of God, we can now speak to him and worship him Spirit to Spirit.

Winning the Spiritual Battle

Ephesians 6:12-13-"Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

How often do you forget that we are in a spiritual war? Our enemy is deceptively cunning - take away the immediacy of a threat and the danger appears gone. But he's there, always. But rather than try to guess his plans and counter all of his moves, Paul reminds us to simply take up the tools God has given us and stand up to the evil one

COLTS Headed To The Super Bowl

Today all of us here in central Indiana are celebrating because our Indianapolis Colts are heading back to the Super Bowl following their 30-17 victory over the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game. Peyton Manning again led the Colts to victory and what a joy to watch this future Hall of Famer in action. Now onto Miami for the Super Bowl...GO COLTS!

Restoration in the Body of Christ

Galatians 6:1-"If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."

In a day when intervening in someone's life is no longer politically and socially correct, these verses ring out like a gunshot on a still night. Sin is still real and is just as deadly as ever. Yet because we fear being branded judgmental, we let many who are trapped by sin go to their spiritual death. The call is for nonjudgmental intervention -- we recognize the gravity of the sin and the need of the sinner, without feeling arrogant in our righteousness. "There but for the grace of God go I."

Shining Out In a Dark World

Philippians 2:14-16-"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life."

Stars. They've always been a source of constant hope for God's people. "Your descendants will be like the stars," God told Abraham. "When I see the stars, what is man that you are mindful of him?" the Psalms ask. The Wisemen from the East followed a star to Jesus. Luke reminds us that Jesus was a bright star come to us from heaven to shine God's light to those in darkness. And now, we're stars. God's points of light in the dark sky of the universe. So let's make today a day where our light shines God's glory to a dark world around us

The Truth That Sets Us Free

John 8:31-32-"Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

There are few things more coveted than freedom. People die for it. People pray for it. People strive for it. True freedom comes from knowing truth. Knowing truth only comes by living in obedience to Jesus. Truth is not something you merely think about or believe. Truth is something you do, you live. Jesus' teaching always ends with the exclamation: Blessed are you who do these things! Only by doing will we ever know the truth that liberates us.

Real Love

1 John 4:20-21-"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Love! The word can mean anything. Many in the Christian community have tried to define it by a dictionary or lexicon, not realizing the key word for love, agape, is defined by action. Before Christians got a hold of agape, it meant the same thing our word today does: just about anything! But if you read 1 John, you see what love is by what God does. God demonstrates his love. He asks us to do the same for our brothers and sisters. Love must be more than talk, it must be genuinely demonstrated in action!

Believe in God

Hebrews 11:6-"Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

The life of Wilma Rudolph, the great Olympic sprinter, is a remarkable story of faith. Wilma was born with health problems that left her crippled. "Will I ever be able to run and play like the other children?" Wilma asked her parents. "Honey, you have to believe in God and never give up hope," they responded. "If you believe, God will make it happen." Taking her parents' counsel, she painfully struggled to walk. By the time she was 12, to the delight and surprise of many, Wilma no longer needed her braces. She went on to play basketball on her championship high school team and win three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics. When you hear inspiring stories of faith like Wilma Rudolph's, do you sometimes wonder, "What could I accomplish if I took God at His Word?" Faith is the foundational principle of the Christian life. Believing who God is, what He says, what He has done, and what He will do defines the kingdom of God. Furthermore, faith is the essence of the Christian's day-to-day activity. Paul wrote: "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Colossians 2:6). How did you receive Christ? By faith. How then are you to walk in Him? By faith. In Scripture, walking refers to the way you conduct your everyday life. Victorious Christian living and spiritual maturity are determined by our belief in God. We tend to think of faith as some kind of mystical quality which belongs only in the realm of the spiritual. But everybody walks by faith. It is the most basic operating principle of life. The question is, in what or in whom do you believe? We are challenged to believe in God and take His Word seriously.

One In Christ

Galatians 3:26-29-"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. "

We are all one. This is basic, simple, and easy to understand. When we become Christians through saving faith in Christ, we are made one with all other Christians around the world. Race, gender, and social status are gone. All that's left is One, the One, Jesus. Our lives are his and thus are connected to each other. Our destination is the same, heaven. Our family is the church. No barriers. No closed doors. We are one

Knowing the Comfort of God's Presence

Psalm 118:5-6In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

The beginning of the year has been a trying time for people I care about. Maybe it's been that way for you or those you love. My prayer for you, and for them, is that they may know the comfort of God's presence. Whether it's the popular little poem "Footprints" or the familiar "Yea though I walk through the shadow of death, thou art with me," the presence of the Lord is absolutely vital to standing up against our anguish! The Lord does long to be with us, especially at those moments when we feel most alone. He told us that by experiencing it himself at the cross.

Who's On The Lord's Side?

Amos 5:14-15-"Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts."

A whole bunch of folks claim that God is on their side. In reality, that's not important at all. The real question is whether we are on God's side! That's determined more by what we seek and do rather than what we say and believe. God longs to be with us, but he will not sacrifice his character to extend us cheap grace, a grace that does not call us to be like him. He's looking for believers who put their character where their mouth is

Who Are We Imitating?

Ephesians 5:1-2-"Be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. If we are to sincerely flatter God by being like him, imitation may be the most costly form of flattery as well. You see, love for God is never something that occurs just in our minds or our hearts. Love is something we do for another -- it is action. John said in 1 John 4 that we must love in both our deeds and our words. Love means to give ourselves up -- what we want, our rights, our desires -- to honor God and serve others. This is a kind of love that can change the world, or a marriage, or a family

Christ's Glory Revealed At His Return

1 Peter 1:13-"Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."

When Jesus came the first time, he came to reveal God (John 1:18). As wonderful, powerful, and gracious as he was in his earthly ministry, it did not fully reveal Jesus our Lord. Our hope is tied to his return. When he comes this time, he won't come to reveal God, but to reveal himself -- the conquering Lord, the Rider on the white horse. Every knee will bow. And we will see him as he really and fully is, Immanuel in power and grace. With this as our hope, we can be ready for active service to our king as people who live their lives under his leadership and control.

Successful Christian Living

Galatians 5:1-"We are to grow up in all aspects into Him..."

Ephesians 4:15-"It was for freedom that Christ set us free..."

There are two concepts which determine the victory and fruitfulness of a Christian. The first concept is maturity. Paul wrote: "We are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ . . . to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:15, 13). God has given us everything we need to grow to maturity in Christ (2 Peter 1:3). But Satan is opposed to our maturity and will do anything he can to keep us from realizing who we are and what we have in Christ. We must experience victory over the dark side before we can fully mature. The second concept of the successful Christian life is freedom. Paul declared: "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1). This verse not only assures us that God wants us free, but also warns us that we can lose our freedom by returning to the law. Before we received Christ, we were slaves to sin. But because of Christ's work on the cross, sin's power over us has been broken. Satan has no right of ownership or authority over us. He is a defeated foe, but he is committed to keeping us from realizing that. He knows he can block your effectiveness as a Christian if he can deceive you into believing that you are nothing but a product of your past, subject to sin, prone to failure, and controlled by your habits. As long as he can confuse you and blind you with his dark lies, you won't be able to see that the chains which once bound you are broken. You are free in Christ, but if the devil can deceive you into believing you're not, you won't experience the freedom which is your inheritance. I don't believe in instant maturity, but I do believe in instant freedom, and I have seen thousands of people set free by the truth. Once a person is free, you would be amazed at how quickly he or she matures!

A Refelction of God's Love

Micah 6:8-"[God] has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

God's desires for us are not hard to discern. He wants to bless us with salvation. The incredible gift of his Son is powerful testimony to this truth. But salvation from sin and death is not something he wants to happen in our lives only once. He wants our lives to daily reflect his salvation and to share it with others. We should act justly and pursue mercy in our relationships, and honor him with our worship from a humble heart.

Welcome 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. GOD BLESS EVERYONE AND HAVE A BLESSED AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR OF 2010.