News (Page 9)

We are starting a new series on the major prophets. We will spend the next twelve weeks going through each of these twelve powerful and challenging books. Most people don’t spend much time in most of these books because they can be a little difficult to track because they consist of so much poetry and refer to many different times in Israel’s history. I’m excited to see these books come alive as we start with overviews of each book, and…

2 Corinthians 4:7-9: But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. How can faith help you endure when life gets brutal? When we pray, God doesn’t usually change our situation, but He does change us, during our struggles. Often our…

Colossians 3:8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. How are the relationships with your family, friends, and coworkers? Is there anyone who has experienced your beast within, and is still wounded? The problem with this misuse of emotion is broken relationships usually with the people closest to us. Do you love the power that evolves with your rage, more than blessing those close…

Deleting The Dark Clouds We are all familiar with the question, is your glass half full or half empty? What do you do if your glass is desert dry? Can that person be freed from condemning thoughts and feelings so that their anxiety and fear can be replaced with peace and joy? Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,…

Coming Back Together Ephesians 4:1-3 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. It’s been two years since we stopped mandated social distancing because of Covid.…

The Struggle Is The Blessing 1 Peter 2:20-24 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they…

The Power of ChoiceWhat negative thoughts have you been focusing on? Romans 8:28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who lovehim, who have been called according to his purpose. Genesis 1:26Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so thatthey may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over thelivestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that movealong…

Fiendishly Finding Footholds Ephesians 4:22-27 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of…

Deuteronomy 31:6 Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Fear, loneliness, and depression are the symptoms, not the disease. Genesis 3:23-24 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim…

Ephesians 4:29-32 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. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving…

Ephesians 5:15-17                                                                                   15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.  I would hate to hear at the end of my life that I had a lot of potential. We all want to have an impact on our loved ones and communities, but it doesn’t happen by accident. What we spend our time…

Dealing With Suffering And Doubt   Hebrews 11:1   Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. We will also be blessed if we trust in the goodness of the Lord, not the tranquility of the journey. Know that our greatest challenges and wounds, don’t take us out of God’s plan for our future. That’s what faith looks like when experienced. The world of God isn’t just nice ideas, but the truth that we hold…

Stronger Together Philippians 2:1-5      Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ     if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being       like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.   3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your…

The Power Of Prayer 1 John 5:14-15   This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of him.                 Prayer isn’t about making selfish requests of God for our current desires; it’s about realigning our will to His. When we desire the things that God desires, we start praying…