My Take

WHAT TRULY MATTERS AT CHRISTMAS Isaiah is the prophet who declares so much about the coming of Christ. We especially cherish Isaiah 7:14 , which tells us that a virgin will conceive and give birth to a son who will be called   Immanuel —“ God with us .” This is why the birth of Christ matters so deeply: God became man so that He might die on the cross and save us from our sin. For this, we are extremely thankful. During this Christmas season, let us not forget what it is truly about. God calls us to trust in Him as our Lord and Savior , and then to live   by   Him and   for   Him. He is not seeking another festival or hollow holiday tradition. Scripture reminds us that God is not impressed by our rituals of burning candles on Christmas Eve , it means nothing to Him. In Isaiah 1:10–18 , He tells Israel that He is weary of their religious observances and offerings because their hearts were far from Him. The same can be said of much of Christmas in America ...

Twice the chapter of 2 Corinthians 4 mentions to us to “FAINT NOT” – mentioning it in verse 1 and near the end in verse 17.  It is interesting because verse 1 talks about the ministry we have received of the Lord and the latter reminds us of the glory that is to come of a life well lived for God.   Weariness comes as a result of our working in and focusing on the flesh and the temporal things that accompany that life.  Often ministry is performed this way.  Ministry needs to focused on the TRUTH of God’s Word and dependent on that along with the power of God coupled with a holy walk with God. Today’s ministry often depends on dishonesty; craftiness and using God’s Word deceitfully or manipulatively.  Rather we need to trust God and speak the truth in love.  Let’s depend on God’s power to do God’s work, not our own.  We don’t need to faint.  Let’s go, give, pray, and live a the life wants us to live as we share the Word with others lovingly and in ...

God's Command to Be Thankful “Be Ye Thankful” isn’t just a nice idea—it’s something God actually tells us to do in Galatians 3:15 and other parts of the Bible. We think it’s all about making sure we remember to thank God for what He’s done (which is He has!). It’s kind of like when we taught our kids to say thank you to people who were kind to them, just because it’s the right thing to do. There’s More to Thankfulness But there’s a deeper side to being thankful—it actually helps us too. Thanksgiving isn’t just about what we give to God; it’s also really good for our hearts and minds and shows the miraculous change He has made in us. Being Thankful When Life Is Tough When we choose to be thankful, even when things are hard, it shows we’re living above our circumstances. It’s a sign of a changed life through Jesus. If we let God work in us, He can shape us into who He wants us to be.  Thanksgiving in life (which doesn’t get easier) shows that transformation. How Thankfulness Cha...

"I have not found so great faith..." Whose faith was it? It was the centurions faith that caused Christ to marvel in Matthew 8:5-13. - The centurion did not require Christ to come to his house. - He did not make a show or make a demand of Christ. - He did not ask for a sign from God. - There was only one thing the centurion needed - Christ saying it was so...that was enough for him. What a simple lesson for us today. May God help us simply take Him at His Word on any matter and let that settle it? We can be stablished, settled, perfected, and strengthened (1 Peter 5:10) in the midst of any trial, temptation, heartache, or anxiousness - because the Lord has already settled the matter, whatever it may be, by His own Word! He says, "All power is given unto me...Lo, I am with the alway" (Matt 28:18-20); "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Heb 13:5b); "I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28); and "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shal...

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 ...