Archive for June, 2023

VerseD: Isaiah 26:3

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:3, ESV

With how crazy and upsetting this life and world can be, we know we can have peace in God thanks to the death and resurrection of Jesus and the Holy Spirit who fills us.

Church in Word-Starved Places

The title of this post is a play on a group called “Church in Hard Places.” This post isn’t about the group.  But the post is about being in a church where there’s not a lot of sound preaching. I love the Word of God.  It always hurt to see areas where there’s churches after […]

Church in Word-Starved Places

VerseD: Matthew 7:12

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7:12, ESV

Our world is crazy and painful. Christ came to redeem us from our violence and hatred through His death and resurrection.

May we let the Holy Spirit of God make us as lovingly merciful and grace-filled as our Lord.

VerseD: Psalm 27:14

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27:14, ESV

When the world around us is overwhelming, take the time to seek and wait on God. He will strengthen and encourage you, and remind you of te hope of eternity we have in Christ.

VerseD: 2 Corinthians 7:10

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV

The world can leave us feeling guilty and hopeless, but when we feel rightly guilty, it leads us to the Forgiver of our souls who calls us to change our thinking and actions, giving us a clean conscience and hope for eternity.

VerseD: Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21, ESV

Holding onto the things of this world may bring some temporary happiness, but mostly it leaves us feeling empty and alone.

Seeking Christ in all things brings joy and hope for eternity.

This Sunday at Church: If you are preaching and teaching, thank God for the opportunity

Today I am not preaching or teaching, though I regularly do one or the other. This is our first regular service, back to a single, combined service in over 2 years.

We finally have space for all of us!

Instead, I am helping in the tech “booth” with words, sound, and video, getting our volunteers up to speed.

I guess I am still teaching!

Daniel

This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: If you are preaching and teaching, thank God for the opportunity. I’ll be preaching today at church. That led me to think of this point. I thank God for the opportunity to preach the Word of God to the congregation. I think […]

This Sunday at Church: If you are preaching and teaching, thank God for the opportunity

VerseD: Psalm 42:11

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Psalm 42:11, ESV

Life in this world can get overwhelming and depressing.

Our God has given us hope for the future through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Seek Him to find joy.

VerseD: Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6, ESV

God’s mercy is clear when children grow up and follow what good they learned from their parents.

God’s grace is clear when those children grow up and follow Christ.

VerseD: James 1:27

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:27, ESV

In His mercy, God overlooks our man-made attempts to please Him. In His grace, He showed is what is right.

We should seek His righteousness and show mercy and grace to those who most need it.