Hello beautiful body of Christ and blog readers! I pray you are still on target with your God-centered goals for this New Year. On an occasion, I am led to write a word of exhortation to those of us who are married. Therefore, this week’s blog is directed to married couples. However, I believe that this information is not limited to just married couples because there are some sound samples of spiritual truth for our singles as well.
Read MoreRecently, my wife Gloria’s sister went home to be with the Lord. Gloria’s loss of her sister handed a lot of us some heavy heartbreak as heartbreak is usually hooked to death. However, a compassionate and good God ministered to us and held us with His good hands (which are always better than All State)! We held on to His hands as they helped our hearts of hurt shout “Hallelujah!” because her sister knew the Lord as her Savior. In addition, Gloria’s sister, Donna, was no longer held captive to cancer but was finally set free from the shadow of sickness, sin and death.
Read MoreI am sure that you are familiar with this idiomatic expression: “If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is most likely a duck.” My question for you is: What will your walk with God look like in 2020?
With the beginning of a new year, it is a common practice for a good number of people to purpose to be resolute in a specific area in their life. As a matter of fact, in 2012, 45% of Americans made at least one New Year's resolution. …
A couple of years ago around Christmas I was blessed by a wonderful testimony that turned my attention to a tremendous truth taught in the word: C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S. At the close of our weekly Wednesday night prayer meeting and bible study one of our precious seniors shared with me how she noticed something special in the word Christmas while participating in our Finishing Strong Seniors ministry. One of the seniors was adorned in seasonal, sweet-looking sweater with the words Merry Christmas in huge letters! The individual that shared the story said “She shouted ‘Oh my goodness! I have never seen that before! I love Christmas even more because of what I see in the word Christmas! It is a personal message for me!’” Her rich revelation rested in the last three letters in the word Christmas (mas). She is not of Latin descent but she declared that the last three letters in the word Christmas (mas) means “more” in Spanish. Therefore we should want more Christ in Christmas. Personally, I am proclaiming: “That will preach!”
Read MoreQuestion: have you been sufficiently rocked by Jingle Bell Rock? At this point, we should know what Christmas should look like. And if you keep on dreaming of a white Christmas you may actually be in a coma without even knowing it.
Read MoreChristmas is the most wonderful time of the year! Have you counted how many times you have heard that statement? It is featured on the radio and highlighted in music playing throughout malls and elevators country-wide. Our minds are being molded to believe that this is the only time of the year that we will experience joy, excitement, and happiness. But the truth is that for millions of people Christmas is not so wonderful a time. There is more fear than cheer due to unrealistic expectations. Extreme expectations erase the presence and power of the Prince of Peace!
Read MoreAs we consider today’s passage of Scripture, let’s continue to consider some proactive measures that would inoculate us from the infection of ingratitude. Paul already has promoted the practice of rejoicing in the Lord in all circumstances. When this practice is an authentic and consistent course of action, especially in times of adversity, it advertises the Almighty and gracious God in our lives. So when we say “God is good all the time and all the time, God is good,” it will not be just a cliché.
Read MoreThe year was 1968. The place: Anne Shockley Elementary School located in Griffin Georgia. The event: Vaccination Day! Every student was elated and eager to embrace this entertaining event. The thrill of being shot by a needle that came from a gun-shaped device extended from the top of our heads to the soles of our feet and gave us something to shout about! Clearly, that is far from an accurate account! To this day, I have a round scar nearly the shape and size of a dime reminding me of that traumatic and dramatic day that froze all of us in fear! It was very difficult to process that the stranger with the gun in his hand was there to make us happy and healthy. To make matters worse, the principal of the school, the teachers and our parents were pleased that Dr. Billy the Kid was there to shoot us with his crazy-looking gun! While Dr. Billy the Kid offered us inoculations against disease, our passage today points to an inoculation against the illness of ingratitude.
Read MoreWe closed last week’s blog with the action point of purposing to remember, “True love looks to give first as oppose to gratify.” This must be a deliberate and devoted discipline for all of God's people. Maintaining this mindset will allow us to lock on to a lofty look at love and thereby guard us from being gripped by a grabber mentality with respect to love.
Read MoreThe title of this week's blog encourages us to look at love from an exalted and elevated position. Love that causes us to soar comes from God who is high and lifted up! According to Scripture, He is above all things and all people.
“Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!” - Job 22:12 (KJV)
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