July 4th is our 250th Independence Day! Our forefathers wrote the Declaration of Independence based on Christian beliefs and then fought and died for them. They did not do it out of greed, lust, or for earthly gains, they did it for the liberty of future generations. Galatians 5:13 says: “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Let’s honor their sacrifice and use the liberty we were given to faithfully serve the cause of Christ! Happy Independence Day and God bless you!
Reach Out
Each of us has struggles in our life. Some are financial, some are emotional, some are physical. We might think that no one is willing to help us, but that’s simply not true. We all need someone we can count on, and in fact we do! Psalm 34:18 says: “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” When you start to feel overwhelmed, ask for help from our greatest helper, Jesus. God bless you!
It’s Hard to Wait
Waiting is hard! Most of us would prefer instant results and answers. But waiting is a part of our lives. Like it or not, waiting takes patience. Growing a garden takes patience as seeds begin to grow into beautiful flowers. Waiting for a prayer to be answered can sometimes take days, weeks, or even months and years. Waiting takes courage as well. King David wrote about waiting on the Lord when he said in Psalm 27:14: “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” Waiting must have been important because he said it twice. Even while we are waiting, God is working. Ask him for the ability to wait and trust him because he is control of our future! Let’s all strive to be someone who waits well. God bless you.
God is With Us, Even In The Hard Times!
Even in life’s hardest and most depressing seasons, God is with us and he is listening to us. In life, we all go through seasons of sadness and grief. Thankfully, we have the scriptures as a guide. Psalm 42:11 says, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; For I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” The first step when we are down is to come before God and honestly express ourselves to him. Yes, some days are harder than others. That’s why it’s important to keep putting our hope in God. Amen?
Are You A Cheerful Giver?
Have you ever been in a grocery store and the person in front of you didn’t have enough money? Most of us have seen a homeless person on a corner asking for help. What do we do? 2 Corinthians 9:7 says that “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” We all have a choice about what to do with what God has blessed us with! When we are hesitant to give, we miss out on the chance to bless others and show the love of God. If he is provided us with a way to be generous, we shouldn’t hesitate to provide for others. Let’s look for opportunities to give; not just within the church walls, but outside as well. Amen? God bless you!
Is Life Really Uncertain?
When we face the uncertainty of life, it is easy to feel lost or overwhelmed. Jesus offers a comforting promise to his disciples – and to us: we have not been left to navigate life alone. The Holy Spirit (Spirit of Truth) has been sent as our personal guide. John 16:13 says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” Notice three realities about this Spirit of Truth: He guides us, He prepares us, and He shows us things to come. We do not need to fear the future. Today, we do not have to rely solely on our own wisdom, emotions, or the shifting opinions of the world. The Spirit of Truth dwells inside every one of us, ready to teach, comfort, and guide. God bless you!
Who Do You Learn From?
Who taught us what we know? We all had teachers, mentors, and especially our parents. We also have the “The Teacher,” God! Psalm 32:8 says: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” He promises to lay out our path and guide us to make right decisions, watching us with loving concern. I’m glad He keeps leading and guiding! How about you?
Who Ya Gonna Call?
Do you remember a moment – maybe dramatic, maybe quiet – when you realized you needed help? Not just a little assistance, but rescue? Romans 10:13 gives us this promise: “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” These words describe trusting in Jesus, believing in him, and calling out to him. There are no prerequisites, no religious background, no good behavior, nothing else is required. It is about turning to God and asking him to save you. This verse is about calling out for help, admitting a deep need, a need you cannot solve yourself. And it’s about trusting that God hears and responds. If you need help with something, would you call on him today? He’s listening. God bless you!
Follow the Leader
What, or who, do you follow? When we were toddlers we followed mom or dad, when we play games we follow the rules, as we get older we (hopefully) follow the law, if we were in the military we followed our commander, but do we follow the one thing that matters the most? Matthew 16:24 says, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Let’s make it a point to follow the One who truly leads us, Jesus Christ! May He lead you to continue to walk the narrow path today. God bless you.
There IS someone out to get you!
Have you ever heard the expression “I think someone’s out to get me?” Well, someone sure is! Satan is out to cause us confusion, sow seeds of doubt about our salvation, make us stumble in our walk with God. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” We have a weapon to defeat him, God’s holy word! Let’s be vigilant and stand strong. God bless you today.
