My Take

This evening, we need to pray for our country. Pray for the Charlie Kirk’s family in his political assassination today. It is a horrible tragedy and should hurt the heart of every American that his he would be murdered like he was today. It breaks my heart for his family and for our country. It is a reminder to us all that evil exists. That hate exists. That sin and the devil are real. Notice how often right is persecuted and good is mocked in our country. People are not better than they used to be. They still need Christ; they still need the Lord. They need people who will stand up and do right. Just take note of the young Ukrainian woman brutally murdered on the rail system in North Carolina – and no one assisted her. People fear to do right and fear to help these days. Don’t you be one that fears to do right, be right, and speak truth. It is better to die for a cause than to die senselessly. It is better to die for right than to die for nothing. Charlie Kirk died well....

I had an old preacher many years who gave many pearls of wisdom, some were very helpful and some were very funny - but they all had a good application.  Once he simply defined tithing thusly: “Tithing is God’s way for God’s people to do God’s business.”  Sometimes his wisdom would end up contradicting other wise statements he would make.  For instance, he would say: “Tired men rule the world,” but then two weeks later he would say: “Never make a decision when your are tire.”  Both are wise statements, but they just don’t go well side by side.   There was another statement that he made that has stuck with me for all these years.  He would say (and very directly): “I DON’T DEAL IN WHAT IF’S.”  He would say this in response to people when they gave an excuse in the form of “What if this happens” to allow justification of some sin or why they could not commit to something. I’ve thought a lot about that statement through the years and how to apply and even ...

John 11:5 " Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus." Yes, this is an odd verse to quote from my devotions, but it reminds us of a great truth: God's love for does not change in the midst of a trial. Remember, Mary, Martha, & Lazarus were going through the great trial of their lives in this chapter. They may have been inclined to question God's love. BUT THE TRIAL ACTUALLY PROVES HIS GREAT LOVE! It shows us His love is not altered because we are facing a trial. The trial is always meant to grow our faith, strengthen are walk, to correct us or to guide us - but never is it meant to question His love for us.

I was thinking about how that Lord is the Groomsman and the church is the bride.     He calls us unto Himself.     He calls us to fellowship.     We get that primarily through daily walking with God and through attending church.   The Song of Solomon is beautiful book that illustrates not only what marriage between a man and a woman should be like – but also what the church should desire in meeting with Christ.     Each day may God help us to seek Him with passion and when our church meets – we would come with the zealous spirit to meet with Him there as well.     I look forward to seeing you all in church tomorrow so we can zealously pursue the Lord. Song of Solomon 2:10-13 10  My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.  11  For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;  12  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds...

Praise God for His mercy and grace upon America this election season.  We need to recognize that we have been blessed by the Almighty.  He has given us more time to enjoy our freedoms.  While our hope rests in the Lord always – we do thank Him for allowing us to enjoy our freedoms in our country into the near future – freedom to worship, freedom to assemble peaceably, freedom of speech, and the right to bear arms.     BUT NOW…   LET"S DO THE WORK!  With these freedoms come responsibilities.  We have asked God to give us the outcome we have received – but that same merciful God has a will for our lives that involves loving Him and serving Him faithfully.  If those who proclaim to be “born again” believers in this nation do not use these liberties we have been afforded to live for God and instead continue to use them for license to selfishness, greed, and pride – then this nation is doomed for we have already tested God...

Often, I hear complaints about what is going on in the world today and in churches.  People have become disillusioned with society and even with church.  They are mad at their government, upset with society with its wicked pop-culture, critical of churches, and always blame someone else for whatever woes have come there way.  We blame politicians for their corruption, the government for deceiving us, the schools for brainwashing the children, the church for not being exciting enough or having enough ministries and the pastor for not being deep enough/hard enough/soft enough/or inspiring enough or whatever criticism we have.  Then everyone seems to have a “disease,” a trauma, or a disability, giving themselves an excuse for what they do or why they allow sin in their own life.   As bad as all these things are, they are going to continue. The world will still be wicked and hate God as the Bible says.  When the world speaks well o...