Dec. 15, 2022 This week in church we will be learning about God’s love for us. One of my favorite promises in thescripture is Romans 8:35: “nothing can separate us from God’s love.” That is a great verse to hang onto in good times and in bad. If you read the whole passage in Romans…

In listening through the Old Testament again, I heard words many of us have read in the book of Daniel.  Three Godly men refuse to bow to the idol Nebuchadnezzar erected in the desert and are about to be thrown into the fiery furnace.   "Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  So these men…

Until recently, I had not realized that one of the things Jesus does is use my encouragement for you not only today as you need it, but he saves it for tomorrow.  That is such a comforting thought and it adds a new dimension to my work as a pastor.  So today I would like…

“We must not be led to believe that the Disciplines are only for spiritual giants and hence beyond our reach. Far from it. God intends the Disciplines of the spiritual life to be for ordinary human beings: people who have jobs, who care for children, who wash dishes and mow lawns.” Richard Foster, Celebration of…

I am encouraged by my God.  Every day!  A great lesson for me right now is, “today is the only day you have right now, so make it a good one.”  It is not like there are not days when I feel discouraged.  There are.  It is just that now I know what I need…

For Paul, each church he started has its own feel. The people in the church set the mood and the church rises and falls on the work of the people.  Paul just loves the way the Philippian church works, the way the people make good things happen. He says, "If you have any encouragement from…

How many times have you said to someone "I am afraid________?" I am afraid the meat was overcooked, or I am afraid I will be a bit late, or I am afraid I will never find a job. The more important the _________ is, perhaps the more afraid we are. So what does Jesus tell…

In the midst of life there are a few moments we remember vividly. Sometimes sparked by a sound or a smell, a photograph or a curve in the road, these memories come at us like a flood. As I watched Brenda struggle to regain some function, open her hand, move her foot, then her leg…

We began to talk Sunday about having a Godly voice, one of authority.  I suggested to everyone that it is ineffective to get louder and even called it ungodly.  Then I shared the story of getting my NIV devotional text just as I was about to launch into a tirade.  It read, "be still and…

As I was sitting in the hospital working through setting up a safe environment for Brenda at home, my son Matthew sent me this article.  I thought it might speak to many of us, so I wanted to share it: Read Article: I asked God to end the suffering in my life – What happened next…