The Three “Empty” Promises of Easter

Now that I have your undivided attention, let me assure you that the phrase “empty promises” in the title above is a play on words and has absolutely nothing to do with the empty promises of this world. An empty promise is uttered with no intent to fulfill it; it is worthless, meaningless. Advertisements for almost every imaginable product imply promises that we can be wealthy, healthy, attractive, happy, popular and successful if we will just buy whatever it is. We can be assured that God does not make empty promises because all of His promises are “Yes” and “Amen” […]

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Insights from Forrest Gump

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). An Insight from Forrest Gump A quick scan of the internet will reveal that Americans spent close to $26 billion – that’s not a typo, $26 billion – on Valentine’s Day in 2023. Depending on who you read, the average American household spent between $100 and $200 each proclaiming our love to spouses and “significant others” last year. That’s quite an investment in love, yes?There’s a tremendous line in the 1994 movie “Forrest Gump” that surely resonates with all […]

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Don’t Be Afraid!

“Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice […]

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The Hope of Christmas

I think we could all use a little infusion of hope just about now. I don’t believe anyone would say that the last few years have been the best. Ever since the onset of COVID-19, all that was solid, familiar, and safe seems to have been jarred shockingly loose. Social media, once a place to connect with “friends,” is now a hotbed of harsh and hurtful diatribes. Family members won’t speak to each other because of sharp political disagreements. Many of our major cities have degenerated into debauched crime zones. Everything from automobiles to groceries to insurance is considerably more […]

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Giving God Our Best… Not The Rest

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I have already begun thinking about all the leftovers from the Thanksgiving meal that always seem to taste even better than they did on the day of the big feast. I don’t know how God does it, but the Thanksgiving leftovers seem to taste better and better over the next few days. Now, as much as I love those leftovers, if Jesus were stopping by, I wouldn’t open the fridge, take out a few plastic containers and “nuke” some leftovers from our Thanksgiving meal. I’d want to give Him our best, prepared with love […]

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God’s Glory or My Gain?

“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name” (Isaiah 25:1). There are only two reasons to do anything in life. One is for personal gain and the other is for God’s glory. One is to serve the self and the other is to serve our Savior. One is to advance the cause of our little kingdom and the other is to advance the cause of the Kingdom of God. The Scriptures are full of examples of both, and it is always a good idea to inventory our hearts from time to time to see just […]

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Your Work Matters to God

On September 4, Americans celebrate the federal holiday known as Labor Day. So I’d like to give you a word of eternal encouragement about your labor: No matter where you work and what you do, your work matters to God. First, we must remember that work is not a result of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Work was given to them before they sinned and rebelled against God. Work is one of God’s many good gifts to mankind. Theologians frequently refer to this as the Cultural Mandate or the Creation Mandate. “God created man […]

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Prayer Changes Almost Everything

God has commanded us and encouraged us to pray, and if we are going to be obedient to His revealed will, we must live a life marked by prayer.  “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). “Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). We are commanded to pray, but we are not to come to our Lord out of a sense of duty. Rather, we come into His presence because of a thankful, joy-filled devotion to the One who invites us to […]

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Supernatural “Stop It!”

“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).   Only when you know deep down in your soul that you have been saved by God’s grace and that you are loved unconditionally, fully forgiven and completely accepted in the Beloved will you stop doing so many things that rob you of the joy of your salvation and the abundant life that Jesus promised to give you.    Trying to earn God’s favor? STOP […]

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Eternal Excuse Exterminator

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit’ says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6). Excuses! Excuses! Excuses! Since sin entered into humanity during the Fall in the Garden of Eden, we have become experts at making excuses for not listening to God’s voice and answering God’s call in our lives. Excuses are self-crippling defense mechanisms that we use to justify our refusal to respond to God’s call. On the surface, the excuses we make can seem reasonable and right. But make no mistake, excuses are the enemy from living a life of Christian excellence. Did you know the […]

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