As long as Jacob had one more ace up his sleeve, one more rabbit to pull out of the hat, one more alternative to rely upon, he gritted his teeth and pulled up his boot straps. But at length he realized that the well had run dry. At last, Jacob, the trickster, ran out of tricks. When Jacob had nowhere to go but God then he finally started getting somewhere.
Two thousand years ago God added a new letter to our alphabet in the Virgin
Conception. God had to add a new letter because no existing letter could spell
Immanuel, which means God with us. Therefore, if you want to find Christmas you’ll
have to journey beyond zebra.
Do you want to get the most ever out of Christmas? Then forget – at least for a while – what’s out there to buy for others, or what’s out there for others to buy for us, and spend time focusing on the people who normally cross our paths during the Christmas holidays. Paul shows us exactly how to make that happen. Prepare yourself for something extraordinary.
I have a distaste for the word religion. In fact, I object to the use of the term, especially when it comes to Christianity. Yet, James used the words religion and/or religious three times in two consecutive verses. Yikes! What do you think he meant? Is Christianity nothing more than a religion? Are you religious, and is being religious enough? I wonder. Do you?
Did you know that the habit of offering thanksgiving to God can produce mental and
emotional healing? Someone has said that truly grateful people bubble and overflow,
bringing refreshment not only to others but to themselves. Perhaps it’s time to let
loose with a celebration of thanksgiving. Someone just might discover that life is
worth living well – and that someone just might be you.
Those who hear without doing, deceive themselves. Those who listen without acting, remain themselves. Those who enjoy the sermon without making application, cheat themselves.
James presented to his readers an essay on how God works in a believer’s life when facing the onslaught of hardships, difficulties, persecutions, weaknesses and insults. Yet – what about us? Do we have any responsibility when hardships and difficulties, come upon us? Of course, we do – but what are those responsibilities? What does God expect from us in times of great adversity? Stick around to discover precisely what is under our column. You just may find mental and emotional healing for your psyche.
Could you summarize Christianity in one simple sentence, 15 words or less? Here’s my simple sentence: The heart and life of Christianity is confessing Jesus as Lord. Romans 10:9a is usually discussed in an evangelistic context due to the second part of the verse. However, Romans 10:9a impacts, not just the moment of conversion, but all of life. Confessing Jesus as Lord is a daily exercise for the believer, an exercise that keeps us perennially connected to the presence and power of God.
Paul had a problem. His tendency toward arrogance could easily get in the way of his kingdom usefulness. So, what did God do? God gave Paul a gift, actually, several gifts. What were those gifts? Here’s the answer: weaknesses, insults, distresses, persecutions and difficulties. If that seems unacceptable, stop here and go no farther. The weaknesses, insults, distresses, persecutions and difficulties will not go away. However, if you proceed, what has been a gut-wrenching grind just may be transformed into a life-changing, energy-charged gift.
According to the Weather Channel, Hurricane Ian was headed straight for Tampa Bay, but then turned more eastward and moved through Florida to the south Clearwater and the surrounding area. Why? Why not here instead of there? Why were we spared and others weren’t? Does the Bible have anything to say about such catastrophes? The answer is a resounding, Yes!