Light on a Hill
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” – Matthew 5:14 1. We who are saved are a witness, a reflection of Christ and His light. Our job is not to be the light in our own strength. Our job is to simply stay clean…
Wholly Lean on Jesus’ Name
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. – Edward Mote (1834) What does it mean to “wholly lean on Jesus name”? The opening lines of My Hope is Built on Nothing Less by Edward Mote provide a beautiful declaration of dependence…
The Patriotic Christian
“Proclaim LIBERTY throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” – Leviticus 25:10 and inscribed on the Liberty Bell In this patriotic season, it is a good time for Christians to reflect on the vital role our faith has played in the founding of our nation. Our modern secular society would have us believe that…
CPR: A Quick Study on Prayer
When I worked at a summer camp a few years ago, we had a midweek service that would focus all the staff and campers on prayer. I decided to make my own adaption, and I hope you take the time to use this simple study as a way to pray with your family this week!…
Finding the Stars
Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee…
”The Labyrinth, the Tire, and Gratitude (all in one week)”
Has anything in your life ever gone differently than what you expected? What did you think? And how did you respond? I recently attended the Bridgepoint Breakaway retreat for solitude, reflection and prayer. The setting was a retreat center in rural Maryland, withlots of nature to bask in, and the weather was near perfect. My goals for the retreat were to enjoy the beauty…
A Hopeful Prayer
A hopeful prayer is a submitted prayer. A hopeful prayer often feels naïve and audacious—even a bit greedy. After all, how long should you keep praying for something, even a good thing, if your prayers remain unanswered? Should you take the non-answer as a sign? When does prayer stray from confidence in God’s miraculous, redeeming power to self-serving…
Get Back Up
Peter was one of Christ’s closest disciples, was with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, and was in the garden of Gethsemane. Yet, he failed Christ. Most notably, he denied Christ three timeswhile Jesus was on trial. Yet, Jesus forgave him, and Peter wenton to lead countless people to Christ. Therefore, it is important to realize that our failures do not define us in Christ. There is a flawed…
The Significance of Language: Why Christians Should Be Mindful Of What They Say
“Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.” These words, spoken by Ralph Waldo Emerson, reveal the importance of the topic today. If you haven’t guessed yet, the topic is speech or language. When most pastors, Sunday school teachers, or devotionals talk about what we as Christians say, their focus is typically on…
The Deciding Factor
Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Psalm 31:15 “My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.” Matthew 16:17-18 “And Jesus answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son…