Jan 24, 2021
Responding to the Gift of Friendship
Critical Responses:  Lessons from the Life of David RESPONDING TO THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP - THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF FRIENDSHIP (1) Thou shalt not limit your friendships to others just like yourself.  Rather, thou shalt seek relationships that overcome differences. (2) Thou shalt not consider a friendship to be a disposable commodity.  Rather, thou shalt treasure it as a gift from God. (3) Thou shalt not value thine own exaltation above all else.  Rather, thou shalt count it all joy to contribute to a friend’s success. (4) Thou shalt not abandon a friend in time of need.  Rather, thou shalt find strength by facing trials together. (5) Thou shalt not allow others to berate your friend in your presence.  Rather, thou shalt exalt their reputation as much as honesty allows. (6) Thou shalt not hide thy affection.  Rather, thou shalt celebrate true friendship with fervor. (7) Thou shalt not speak only the words thy friend wants to hear.  Rather, thou shalt value the honest over the easy. (8) Thou shalt not treasure the company of a friend over their well-being.  Rather, thou shalt be sensitive to allow a new stage of friendship to evolve. (9) Thou shalt not break a promise, spoken or unspoken.  Rather, thou shalt be loyal and true to the end. (10) Thou shalt not expect a friendship to be without pain.  Rather, thou shalt appreciate that it was worth it. BONUS:  Thou shalt grow in understanding the friendship of God toward His children, and thou shalt model thy earthly friendships after the loving-kindness displayed by Jesus Christ. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13  
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  • Jan 24, 2021Responding to the Gift of Friendship
    Jan 24, 2021
    Responding to the Gift of Friendship
    Critical Responses:  Lessons from the Life of David RESPONDING TO THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP - THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF FRIENDSHIP (1) Thou shalt not limit your friendships to others just like yourself.  Rather, thou shalt seek relationships that overcome differences. (2) Thou shalt not consider a friendship to be a disposable commodity.  Rather, thou shalt treasure it as a gift from God. (3) Thou shalt not value thine own exaltation above all else.  Rather, thou shalt count it all joy to contribute to a friend’s success. (4) Thou shalt not abandon a friend in time of need.  Rather, thou shalt find strength by facing trials together. (5) Thou shalt not allow others to berate your friend in your presence.  Rather, thou shalt exalt their reputation as much as honesty allows. (6) Thou shalt not hide thy affection.  Rather, thou shalt celebrate true friendship with fervor. (7) Thou shalt not speak only the words thy friend wants to hear.  Rather, thou shalt value the honest over the easy. (8) Thou shalt not treasure the company of a friend over their well-being.  Rather, thou shalt be sensitive to allow a new stage of friendship to evolve. (9) Thou shalt not break a promise, spoken or unspoken.  Rather, thou shalt be loyal and true to the end. (10) Thou shalt not expect a friendship to be without pain.  Rather, thou shalt appreciate that it was worth it. BONUS:  Thou shalt grow in understanding the friendship of God toward His children, and thou shalt model thy earthly friendships after the loving-kindness displayed by Jesus Christ. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13  
  • Jan 17, 2021Responding to Unjust Opposition
    Jan 17, 2021
    Responding to Unjust Opposition
    “You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  — Matthew 5:43-44 Loving our enemies—or simply being kind to someone who has been unkind to us—is one of the most difficult demands of the Christian life.  Because it is so hard, we tend to think of it as a suggestion, the choice of a few super-Christians.  But Jesus never proposed it as an option.  It is God’s expectation that if we claim to be followers of Christ, we will adopt His manner of living and loving.  This is surely impossible on our own, but not when the forgiveness and compassion of Christ dwells within us.  He is our strength for loving those who have harmed us.
  • Jan 10, 2021Responding to Extreme Challenges
    Jan 10, 2021
    Responding to Extreme Challenges
    David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty!”  — 1 Samuel 17:45      In everyone’s eyes but his own, David the shepherd-boy seemed like the underdog as he approached the giant Goliath.  But David understood something that the others didn’t; God was on his side because he was living for God!     Too often in life we face challenges with a defeatist attitude.  But God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  As we live for Christ, He is our strength—always more powerful than the challenges of this world!  So when you face temptation, sickness, opposition or addiction—call upon the Lord!  He can lead you to victory through His wisdom, courage and strength.
  • Jan 3, 2021Responding to New Opportunities
    Jan 3, 2021
    Responding to New Opportunities
    “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  1 Samuel 16:7  We tend to have a pretty shallow perception of one another.  At a superficial glance, we often make assumptions about a person’s athleticism, success, intelligence, and even character. We’re often wrong!  Thank goodness our potential is not determined by what other people think about us.  Our Creator determines our purpose, worth and potential!  God Himself gives us new opportunities to serve and grow every day.  As we begin 2021, let’s make the most of every opportunity given to us by God to do good and make a positive impact in our world.  
  • Dec 27, 2020Casting Off the Things That Hinder
    Dec 27, 2020
    Casting Off the Things That Hinder
    Series: (All)
    “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  Hebrews 12:1  No serious athlete would run a race wearing work boots, or carrying a bag of groceries, or with pockets full of rocks. All of those things would greatly hinder their performance, and they know it. In the same way, God gives us the wisdom to discern the attitudes and actions that hinder us from living the victorious Christian life. What are the things we need to leave behind here in 2020 so that we can be more like Jesus in 2021?  
  • Dec 20, 2020Bethlehem
    Dec 20, 2020
    Bethlehem
    Luke 2: 1-7 & John 1:1-14 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.  He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”  John 6:35  The gospels tell us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  The town name literally means “house of bread,” and is a reminder that Jesus is the Bread of Life.  Bread from the table can ease our hunger and meet our physical needs temporarily, but Jesus Christ can meet our spiritual needs and give us eternal life!  Christmas is an invitation to believe in Him and receive Him as your own Lord and Savior.
  • Dec 13, 2020Nazareth
    Dec 13, 2020
    Nazareth
    “How can this be?” Mary asked the angel.  — Luke 1:34 The first chapter of Luke tells us that Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, came to a young Jewish woman named Mary while she was living in Nazareth.  When he announced she would give birth to a child who would be the Son of God, she asked a logical question:  “How can this be?”  It’s a question we may ask many times in our lives.  We seldom understand the ways of God—His wisdom, His power and His love.  Even when we don’t understand, we need to trust him as Mary did.  Our greatest joy will be found in surrendering our lives to His plan!
  • Dec 6, 2020Jerusalem
    Dec 6, 2020
    Jerusalem
    “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel.”  Luke 2:29-32  When Mary and Joseph carried baby Jesus into the temple, the old man Simeon knew immediately who he was—bursting into a song of praise for God’s saving work!  How did Simeon know when so many others did not?  The scripture tells us the Holy Spirit moved in the heart of this man who was righteous, devout, trusting, and constantly waiting for God to work.  God’s Spirit can reveal great truths to us as well, if our hearts are prepared in the same way!
  • Nov 29, 2020God’s Design for Joy
    Nov 29, 2020
    God’s Design for Joy
    God's providence brought immediate joy to Ruth, Naomi and Boaz.
    His plan also included a king for Israel and a Messiah for the world.
  • Nov 22, 2020A Plea for a Redeemer
    Nov 22, 2020
    A Plea for a Redeemer
    “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  Colossians 1:13-14 In the story of Ruth, the upstanding man Boaz declared his willingness to be the “kinsman-redeemer” for Naomi and Ruth.  As such, he could provide them with a family, security and a bright future.  In a much more glorious and eternal way, Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and does the same for us.  He declared his willingness to do this through his sacrificial death on the cross which atones for our sins.  Let us be forever grateful!