We take the good days from God—why not also the bad days? – Job 2:10 What a beautiful morning! The sun is shining. The birds are singing and the weekend is here. It is definintely the opposite of last weekend when it rained all day, everyday. Like many people, we had plans to be outside for the Memorial Day weekend, but the rain and cold prevented those plans from happening. It was frustrating because I was looking forward to being outdoors, but it turned into a beautiful reminder from God. Many times in life we will be met with disappointment, hurts and heartaches. We will also have many days of…

Trust in the Lord with all your heart    and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,    and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3: 5-6 Last weekend our Nation celebrated Memorial Day. In Sunday’s sermon, the pastor shared a message about remembering. He asked the congregation to remember what Christ has done for them. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us when He laid down His life and made a way for us to live eternally with Him. Throughout the Bible people were encouraged to remember what God had done for them and Sunday’s sermon provided an opportunity for people to share what God has done and is…

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. Isaiah 26:3 As each new day begins, news and updates from social media inform us of all the current events taking place in this world. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged at what we see and hear. Jesus told us that we would live in a world with trouble, but He also told us to take heart, be encouraged, because He has overcome the world. Knowing this gives us peace. That deep spiritual inner peace is ours…

 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. – 2 Timothy 4:8 Psychologists tell us that anticipation, which is the opposite of surprise, is an emotion with marvelous healing powers. Can you imagine a world without anticipation? How would you feel with nothing to look forward to? Welcome to non-Christianity. Without Christ, there’s no ultimate anticipation. There may be momentary prospects and incremental excitement, but lasting expectancy is missing. Everything is different for Jesus followers! Our best days are ahead of us,…

For what is our true hope, our true joy, our crown of rejoicing in all this? It is nothing if it isn’t you standing before our Lord Jesus the Anointed at His arrival. – 1 Thessalonians 2:19 Have you every received a trophy, a medal or even a diploma? How many weeks, months or years of dedication, hard work and determination did it take to accomplish the task? How great did that make you feel? No doubt you decided long ago that the prize would be worth any effort required to obtain it. Now imagine putting all that time, effort and devotion into seeking the lost souls in this world and sharing the Good…

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. – Luke 15:10 I have been participating in a study of the end times and came across a story that goes with the judgement and rewards that we will receive when we meet Jesus. The story goes like this; There is an old tale about three men crossing the desert by camel at night. As they were crossing the desert, a voice came out of the darkness. The voice commanded them to dismount, pick up some pebbles, and put them in their pockets. The voice said, “At…

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:  Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge…

They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 I am currently working through a bible study about the signs of the end times. It’s fascinating and amidst all that is going on in the world today, it is giving me peace. Peace because I know the One who is truly in control. Peace because I know the One who has provided revelation and warnings. Peace because I trust Him. One thing that is very clear in the study of end times is that there is a heaven and a hell. We try to imagine…

In the past you were full of darkness, but now you are full of light in the Lord. So live like children who belong to the light. – Ephesians 5:8 I have always enjoyed looking at stained glass windows in cathedrals and old churches. The details that are displayed are remarkable. Many windows in cathedrals depict bible stories such as the nativity, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. They display the stories in the most amazing colors both inside and outside of the buildings. Many people are drawn to these iconic structures to take in the beautiful images produced by the light that passes through them. This week I came across…