One of the things that we struggle with today is impatience. Nobody wants to wait anymore. We want fast food, instant downloads, same-day shipping, and immediately answers. And unfortunately, many people approach love the same way. Culture teaches us that if you feel it, follow it. If you want it, pursue it immediately. Your emotions…
“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6:16 Faith is not abstract; faith is more than believing God exists—it is trusting Him when life feels uncertain. In Paul’s description of the armor of God, the shield of faith…
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Our devotion this morning was on being content. Contentment doesn’t usually come from having more—it comes from noticing what’s already there. We often rush past the quiet blessings of our ordinary lives: a safe place to sleep,…
“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 We live in a world that rarely stops. Our days are filled with noise – emails, traffic, conversations, endless to-do lists. Even our “quiet moments” are often filled with screens and scrolling. But in the middle of all of this “noise,” God invites us into…
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 How do you usually handle stress or worry? Worry and stress are like background noise in our lives—always there, always trying to keep us distracted. But Paul, writing from prison, gives us a…
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?Matthew 6:27 Oh, no! Something’s coming. What now?? Doesn’t it always feel like something is causing us worry and concern? Maybe it’s financial or work-related or health-related or something bad or the 3point internet is messed up again! And…
One of the most repeated commands in the Bible is to “fear not.” Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount not to worry about tomorrow. And Paul assured the Philippian Christians, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And…
James begins his letter with the statement, “Count it all joy when we meet trials of various kinds.” Not if we meet them but rather when we meet them. He says that if we remain steadfast we will receive the crown of life. In our text from yesterday, James points out that God is not…
May and June this year, for me, have been filled with highs and lows. As we were flying out to see our new granddaughter in San Diego, we received the news that Bob Miller, a long-time member had passed away. The joy of Raeya’s birth and Bob’s passing reminded us that life is precious and…
In Luke 5, it says that Jesus would withdraw to desolate places and pray. Sandra often encourages us to enter our prayer closets to pray. I believe that means that we are to seek to be present with God and not be distracted when it comes to spending time with God. Why is this so…