“Prayer is the opening of the heart of God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should …
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Work Cheerfully for the Lord
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” - Martin Luther King Jr. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an …
Take One Satisfying Drink
If this devotion is helpful to you, please consider sharing it with a friend. Water is essential to proper functioning of your body. Humans need to drink water to survive. Here's how important water is to the human body: Your body is approximately 60% water Your brain is 70% water Your lungs are nearly 90% water Your body uses water in many ways Water cushions and lubricates joints Water nourishes and protects the brain and …
The Simplicity of Christianity
Battling Believers Make Me Tired In our world, the title ‘Christian’ has many meanings depending on who you’re speaking with. As a pastor I find myself in conversations with many types of Christians. There are differing beliefs on repentance, baptism, election, eternal security, and the Holy Spirit – to name only a few. It’s easy to become consumed by those debates. In fact, it's easy to become exhausted by those debates. Sometimes I feel like I'm …
Jesus Offers You Living Water
In the Bible Jesus has many conversations with ordinary people on the fringes of society. One such conversation is with ‘The Woman at the Well.’ She didn’t know she was in need of Christ. While drawing physical water Jesus offered her living water, even though he was not supposed to talk to her. She didn’t know she was dying of a spiritual thirst. She was on an endless search to relieve her dissatisfaction, unsettledness, uneasiness, and emptiness …
Walk the Road to Salvation
The Roman Road is a walk through the salvation story as the Apostle Paul explains it in his letter to the Romans. My wife and I taught a 6-week series on this called The Road: Saved and Sent in 2016. Here are the highlights: Because of our sin, we are separated from God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 We have ALL done things that are wrong and displeasing to God. Due to our rebellion and disobedience to God …
The Work of God is to Believe
What is the work of God? “Then they asked him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?' Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:28-29 The first time I read this verse my entire mind, body, and soul took a collective sigh of relief. Oh, the rest! Jesus Did Great Things At this particular moment in the Gospel of John the disciples have just witnessed two miracles. The first miracle was when Jesus …
Prepare for Storms in Life
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man …
A Light in the Dark
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. –John 1:5 We all experience darkness. Those times in our lives when things just aren’t going as we had planned, when we feel far from God, and we feel hopeless - in those times we can’t focus on the good because all of the bad seems to be drowning us. We try to pull our head above the water and yet something else continues to pull us under. Surrounded by Darkness During my time …
More than the Work
“How was your trip?” It's the question everyone asks when you return from a mission trip. The question that I want to answer so desperately, yet it’s a question that I cannot find adequate words to answer. I can tell you how many beds were built, how many new roofs were put on, how many floors and water tanks were installed, and how many kids received donations and attended Vacation Bible School. The physical work is easy to share with you, it’s …