For this weeks’ blog, I wanted us to consider a check-up from the neck up. And if our hearts are heavy I pray they are heavy with the hope of Heaven. For the most part, I naturally enjoy an environment of elevated optimism in my heart. I always advance the argument that the glass is half full as opposed to being half empty! Now for all my more pessimistic friends I am not promoting a proliferation of people that only present positive dispositions in public. I know that’s a lot of p-words but be patient with me. I am augmented with alliteration.
Read MoreDeeply loved by God: Do you recall what our precious Lord reinforced with respect to our resolution to a relationship with him?
Read MoreThe word of God is very direct and deliberate in declaring that Jesus Christ is the only One that can deliver us from the slavery, seduction, sickness, strength and sentence of sin which is separation from God. Listen to what the Scriptures say:
The word and the condition of being poor is not usually associated with a positive situation. A majority of people believe that the word “poor” points us to a pejorative position. In their mind, P.O.O.R. stands for “People Out Of Resources.” For countless centuries people have measured a soul's significance and one's welfare and joy with by their access to a well of wealth from which he or she can draw. Therefore a poor person will naturally have little reason to be joyful based on outward circumstances.
Read MoreLight of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, Let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with you
The opening of today’s blog lifts us with a lovely and wonderful song of worship. It has marvelously ministered to millions of worshipers since its release on December 24, 2001. It reminds us that our Lord Jesus declared that He is the light of the world:
Maybe you have heard or even contributed to the debate: Who was more committed to your breakfast plate, the chicken or the pig? The chicken committed the eggs and the pig, the bacon and ham. My preference is eggs over-easy with a thick slice of ham and some good old fashion Georgia ice cream aka grits! My objective was not to make you hungry so let’s proceed to move from our bellies to our hearts.
Read MoreQuestion: Since God loves sinners, then why worry about sin? If God gives grace and forgiveness to sinners, then some people would suggest why not sin more frequently to receive more grace? Therefore one can conclude that I could commit more sin in order to capture more grace, right?
Read MoreIn July of 1995, my wife, Gloria, and I with our three young sons BJ (5) Philip (4) and Seth (3) prepared to relocate to sunny south Florida from snowy Syracuse, New York. We were not financially able to purchase a home. Therefore, we elected to lease an apartment. The apartment that we wanted was in a perfect location in proximity to my place of employment and it also provided plenty of living space for the family. However, there was one significant complication that closed the door to securing the apartment: It was already leased out. We completed an application anyway just in case something would become available. The leasing manager was sensitive to our situation and displayed a delightful disposition toward the new, faith-filled Floridians. But our hopes to move into our new home looked lost and locked in a cell of impossibility.
Read MoreAs we consider today’s passage of Scripture, let’s consider some proactive measures that would inoculate us from the infection of ingratitude. Paul promotes 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 MoreOn Wednesday evenings at my place of worship, service and fellowship we attend and participate in prayer and Bible study. It is also there that we purpose in our hearts to be more than ordinary servants for an extraordinary God. The format for the service follows what I reference as the four W’s: Welcome, Worship, War (prayer) and finally, Word (Bible study). During the War segment of our Wednesday evening service, individuals present prayer requests as well as testimonials of praise.
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