Month: October 2020
Good Gifts and Good Works

Good Gifts and Good Works

Part I - Good Gifts Like many American children, I was raised with a strong faith in Santa Claus. And this faith taught me a lesson: good behavior is rewarded with the gifts of my dreams (thanks for the Nintendo, Santa!) and poor behavior is punished by withholding...

Kids Experience October 25

Kids Experience October 25

Focus on what's GOOD.Everything changes when we put our focus on what’s GOOD in our lives. It makes everything better when we think about what God is doing—even when things are difficult and when we don’t understand. Let’s do this: Let’s focus on what’s...

When You Find and Follow Jesus

When You Find and Follow Jesus

Becoming a Christian and living as one are two different things. God refers to one as justification and the other as sanctification. We might also understand these two distinctions as finding Jesus and following Jesus. Blur this distinction between salvation and...

The Wait

The Wait

The Wait …the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from Heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’"Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age… Luke 3:21b-23a...

The Feast of Salvation

The Feast of Salvation

Imagine you’re at a wedding reception. There is music, laughter, dancing, and a lot of food. You might have a cocktail hour with an appetizer course, the main course, and a dessert course. Each of these courses is part of the overall meal during the celebration. The...

Your Life with God

Your Life with God

Salvation is often viewed as a singular “event” or moment in our lives. By God’s grace, we receive salvation by believing in the death and resurrection of Jesus to save us. There is a sense in which this is absolutely true, from the moment of belief we are saved...

Kids Experience October 18

Kids Experience October 18

Be a person of integrity.We can always look at Jesus and find the very BEST example of integrity. Jesus proved that we can ALWAYS trust Him. Jesus did what He said He would do, and He showed us what it means to be trustworthy and truthful. When we choose to live that...

Reframing the Bad

Reframing the Bad

Reframing the Bad Give thanks in all circumstances. Thessalonians 5:18 ave you ever thanked God for the bad things that have happened to you? I can picture your face, because I’m probably making the same one. Bad things are bad! They cause hurt,...

The Spiritual Life

The Spiritual Life

We have been in the process of becoming who we are from the time we were born. Who we are today isn’t the person we were twenty years ago, or even twenty minutes ago. For better or worse, who we are, and who we are becoming, is constantly being shaped and transformed...

Kids Experience October 11th

Kids Experience October 11th

He will always forgive us.  We can be ourselves with God. We can ALWAYS go to Him, even we’ve done something wrong. We can know for SURE that He will always forgive us! We might still have to face the consequences of what we’ve done, but we know that we never have to...

Your Growth Toward Maturity

Your Growth Toward Maturity

You’re born into God’s family the moment you place your faith in Jesus for eternal life. You start as a spiritual baby. But it’s never God’s intention for you to remain a baby. You are to grow and thrive as a maturing believer in Jesus. But you never grow passively....

If The Bones Are Good

If The Bones Are Good

If The Bones Are Good I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 ver walk by a glimmering make up counter…or a brand new luxurious home...

Love Thy Neighbor

Love Thy Neighbor

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your should and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."  Mark 12:30-31 OBSERVATION God instructs his people...

Some Assembly Required

Some Assembly Required

If you’ve ever purchased something from IKEA, chances are good you’re familiar with the term “some assembly required.” More like ALL assembly required. Yet people all over the world have embraced a little DIY if it means having a bit of trendy furniture at a fraction...