Private Prayer Walk
Praying Outdoors When Praying Indoors Is Difficult Jesus told us, “When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). Now, he said…
More Tough Skin and Tender Hearts
In honor of Black History Month, organizations, churches, and even private businesses will set aside time to engage in conversations about ethnic division and racial injustice in our country. I’ve been a part of this conversation on a small scale for the last ten years,…
The Greatest Joy Is Still to Come
When we say that joy is not optional in the Christian life, we don’t mean that we ever have it in full in this life. We can promise joy in all its fullness, but that doesn’t mean we minimizing the significant hurdles, barriers, and infringements we…
The Lord is My Shepherd
Very few passages of scripture offer more words of comfort and has touched more lives than this little psalm referred to as the “Nightingale Psalm,” Psalm 23. It has gone into more homes, hospital rooms, churches, funeral parlors, nursing homes and counseling centers than any…
Saved and Lost?
Can the Saved be Lost? Many believe and teach that once an individual is saved he cannot be lost. However, the Scriptures clearly teach that a child of God can forfeit his salvation and be eternally lost. Many passages speak of the conditional nature of…
Anger & Sin
In discussing the differences between the Christian and the worldling, Paul writes, “Be ye angry, and sin not…” (Ephesians 4:26). This is a quotation from Psalm 4:4 where both the King James and the American Standard Versions read “Stand in awe, and sin not….” Moreover,…
The Purpose of Congregational Worship
Many of us were raised to attend church service on Sunday. On the other hand, many were not. Those of us who were understand how important it is because that mindset was instilled in us by our parents, guardians, or others who loved us and…
How Your Choices Affect You
I don’t believe that God puts His people in hard places nor do I believe His divine plan has curses or tragedies in it for them. He portrays Himself as the Good Shepherd. The twenty-third Psalm describes the duties of a shepherd. Nor only that,…
Forgiveness versus Reconciliation
Many choose to forgive (based on Biblical precepts) because forgiveness has benefits for the forgiver. Forgiveness is a canceling of a "debt". One can choose to forgive so that anger doesn't destroy one's own sense of well-being, though this may require a grieving process. To…
Praising God With the Wrong Spirit
It happens in churches all over the country every Sunday. Yes, we're singing, clapping, playing instruments, waving hands, dancing, and saying we're enjoying Jesus. But something's wrong: God doesn't have all of us; He only has that part of us that likes the song being…