Have You Tried Prayer?

Many years ago there was a bumper sticker that read, “Why worry when you can pray.” This statement should not be taken lightly. People who sincerely believe in the power of prayer will tell you prayer and worry do not mix. Here’s the reason. It’s either I’m going to worry and not pray, or I’m going to pray and not worry. Prayer will keep me from worrying or worrying will keep me from praying. The Scriptures have much to say and teach about prayer. Prayer is God’s means of His people communicating with Him. He said, “Call to me and I will answer […]

THE KING IS COMING …

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1Thessalonians 4:16-18). The grand theme of the Apostle Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church, […]

Hope in God

Have you ever got to a point in your life where an unwelcome or unpleasant change of circumstances made you feel hopeless and helpless, and perhaps God has abandoned you? These situations do occur. Trials and burdens of various kinds can oppress and distress us  at times. In such circumstances, one may be tempted to throw up one’s hands in despair and wonder, why me? I can’t take it anymore. Where is God when I need him most? Suffice it to say  it may be human to feel that way. However, from God’s perspective it is not the right way to think […]

These Times, These Days

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-4).  In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul lays out a very detailed account of conditions that will actually take place during the “last days.” It’s as if Paul was writing in the 21st century in which we are currently living, instead of A.D. 67 the […]

Past, Present, Future

The past is gone. The present is now. The future is ahead. “Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note, today is the only cash you have — so spend it wisely.”  (Kay Lyons Stockham).   What can be learned from these three tenses? A lot. “The past is history, tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift—that’s why they call it the present.” (Mike Ditka).   The past is exactly what it says. The past is history. It has already occurred, and can’t be brought back. We may learn something from the past, but attempting to “re-live” it is pointless as […]

One Year Ends …

One year ends, another year dawns. Is there a real difference between the old and the new year? Why do people make the so-called New Year’s resolutions? There are 7 days each week, 12 months, 52 weeks, and 365 days each year. Except one extra day tacked on to February every four years giving that year 366 days. Having said that, doesn’t the basic routines of life remain the same year after year? For instance, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, we eat, drink, sleep, wake, work (if we have a job), and on it […]

Jesus Christ the Servant

The Gospel according to Mark, is the second, and shortest of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and presents Christ in His servant character. Mark also puts much emphasis on miracles that Jesus performed. Jesus said, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45). Verse 45 is the key verse of Mark’s Gospel. The greatest example of lowly service is the […]

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

There are numerous meanings of the word worship. People are free to use worship in whatever ways they choose. Generally, some people choose to worship other people, places, and things. However, when worship pertains to the God of the Bible, there is a very vast and distinct difference indeed.  Worship can be described as a deep innermost feeling of profound reverence, honor, devotion, adoration, admiration, and praise, to God — “Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever.” (Psalm 146:6). God is not only our Creator, He is the Christian’s God who has provided […]

The Miracle of Christmas

Christmas is the most wonderful, popular, and well celebrated time of the year. It’s a time when many in America and around the world celebrate the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ and its  significance to Christians. The Bible sets forth details of the conception and birth of Jesus.  Matthew’s Gospel gives us the genealogy of Jesus, beginning with Abraham, founder of the Hebrew nation, and concludes with Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Matthew also writes about the conception and birth of Jesus. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother […]

Thankfulness

Thanksgiving Day is an annual national holiday observed in the United States. The occasion is celebrated as family members gather together to eat and enjoy a special Thanksgiving meal, traditionally consisting of roast turkey, turkey stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, cranberries, and pumpkin pie for dessert.  In 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation designating the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Day has a special place in the hearts and minds of Americans in general. How many people are truly thankful and for what reasons can be anybody’s guess. However, it is an excellent idea to give […]