Month: April 2025

Simple Faith

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Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” John 8:12

I have heard from so many people I’ve talked to about why they stopped attending a church, or fell away from their faith. More times than not it was because of a hurt they experienced at the hands of someone they looked up to, or a leader they once trusted. At some point along my journey I asked a very wise and well aged minister about this and he said to me, “churches are hospitals for sinners, not museum’s for saints. Only one is perfect and that’s Jesus. Look to Him.”

Faith Is An Act of Trust.

Look past the failings of man and fix your eyes upon Jesus. Faith is the simple act of loving God and desiring in your heart to be close to Him.

Choices

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God said, “Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and marvelous things that you do not know!” Jeremiah 33:3

Imagine what God will do for you if you would simply do as he asks. “Call to Me” God is saying. After all, we tend to search high and low for answers through friends and counselors and the internet, but fail to call upon the One who can actually provide the answers we seek.  

Choose Wisely.

Just speak with God from your heart. You have Him on speed dial by simply opening your mouth. God will answer, and show you great and marvelous things that you never dreamed possible.

Renewal

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“Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…” Isaiah 40:31

I could name a thousand others things I’d rather do than wait. Yet, God being God, He has thrown us a curve ball in Isaiah 40 and turned waiting into a virtue. He’s given waiting meaning. Something to perfect.

Blessings Arrive Through Waiting On The Lord.

We are promised renewed strength when we wait on Him. I can already hear you saying, how is that remotely possible? Believe me, through the years I’ve had many one sided debates with God over waiting. I say one sided because God is very, very good at waiting on us. Waiting on us to realize that He is our creator, and our provider, and our healer, and we need not look any further than Him. Amazing things beyond imagination have happened in my life when I threw my hands up in a prayer of surrender. Try praying: Have your way, Lord. I trust and will wait on You.

Right Before Your Eyes

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“Then (Jesus) passing through the midst of them, He went His way.” Luke 4:30

Amazing what we don’t see in life. One minute we see, and the next minute we don’t. In Luke 4:28-30 a group of people in a Synagogue became angry at Jesus teaching and lead Him out to the edge of a city with the intention of throwing Him off a cliff. As they neared the cliff, Jesus simply “walks through the midst of them” and slips away unseen. Amazing what happens when Jesus is not wanted. He’ll be present, but just out of sight,

Waiting In The Unseen.

Jesus is here. He may be unseen but he’s right where you are, right this minute, waiting for you to call His name.

Our Wealthy Father

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“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

The question of the day, is it foolish to fear the future when we live in the care of our Heavenly Father? Jesus said many times in scripture ‘do not fear’, so why do we do so? I’ve often asked myself that question. Then I read 2 Corinthians 9:8 and am instantly reminded that my Heavenly Father is wealthy beyond imagination. He alone holds the power of life and death, and owns the cattle on a thousand hills. This same God calls us His children, His beloved – His thoughts toward us are precious.

What Have I To Fear?

As it turns out, absolutely nothing! Now, I’ve not perfectly mastered giving up fear, but let’s just say it’s a work in progress and I get better at it every day. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…and he will make your path straight”. Proverbs 3:5-6.

New!

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“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

When God does something new, it is new in every way possible. It means that things are going to change, and the resulting blessings will be something you have never experienced before.

God says, “I Am Doing Something New!”

When the Creator of the universe’s says, “I am doing something new”, pay attention. Invite “new” into your life today by praying, Lord, not my will, but thine be done.

God’s Math

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“Jesus said, they do not need to go away, you give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:15-16

A large crowd gathered to hear Jesus speak. Official estimates put the crowd size at 5,000, but in that day they only counted men, so with woman and children you likely have a group that would fill a modern NBA arena. As the day wore on, Jesus friends advised Him to send the crowd away to so they could get some food as there were no concession stands available. Jesus was about to open the first one.

When We see Problems, Jesus Sees Opportunity.

Jesus took five loaves and two fish and divided them in such a way as to fill enough baskets to feed this massive crowd of more than fifteen thousand people, with twelve baskets left over. That’s God’s version of math, where 5 + 2 = 15,000. What do you lack in life? Let God’s math go to work for you. Hand your issues to Jesus. All He will see are opportunities to provide you with a miracle.

Blessed

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“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. whose confidence is in Him.” Jeremiah 17:7

When we trust God, blessings come. Such blessings are different for everyone and every situation, but that’s where our trust comes in. Trust that God will meet the need you have in your life in His perfect way.

Timing Is Everything.

You may be tempted to be like Veruca Salt in the “Willy Wonka” film and say, “I want my blessing, and I want it now!” Take a breath and trust God. He created you, formed you, made you, has a plan for you, and He absolutely does not make mistakes!

Forgiven

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“Jesus said, “It is finished.” John 19:30

Jesus had been placed on the center cross between two men who had been tried and convicted as thieves. Of the three, Jesus alone was innocent. One thief somehow knew who Jesus was, and said to the other, “we are getting what we deserve, but He has done nothing wrong”. Instantly, Jesus recognized the thief for his repentance. 12 words from this thief saved his soul for eternity. The cross of Jesus is all about forgiveness and a new path called hope. “It is finished” meant,

The Sacrifice Was Made, The Price Was Paid.

Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” He willingly paid the price for our sin. That’s how much Jesus loves you. If you were the only one left on earth, Jesus would have still endured the cross for you. Talk to him.

Balaam’s Donkey

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“When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field.” Numbers 22:33

How do you react when life veers off course? In Numbers 22, a man named Balaam is traveling with his donkey to a place God does not want him to go. When God blocks Balaam’s path with a sword brandishing Angel only seen by the donkey, the donkey veers off course, and that makes Balaam frustrated. He can’t see the obstacle so he blames the donkey. Sound familiar? When we can’t see the obstacle in our path,

We Usually Find Someone Else To Blame.

Eventually the sword carrying Angel makes his presence known to Balaam, and you can guess what happens next. Balaam becomes contrite in a hurry. The next time you find yourself frustrated by circumstances, obstacles, or delays in life, trying saying, “Lord, what are you trying to teach me?” You may be surprised by the answer.