Discipleship

  Our history is full of periods of trouble: wars, plagues, famines, and injustice. I don’t know about you, but it has affected, nay suffocated my normal optimism. The prophets in the Old Testament have gone through these same things. Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet because of Israel’s abandonment of God, resulting in wars, plagues, famines, and injustices. We wonder if God has forgotten us, or is punishing us, or is teaching us some lesson. Three short years ago, my life was much better. There was more peace in the world, the economy was strong, and I felt our votes counted. Today, like Jeremiah, many are weeping due to wars, government oppression, increased inflation, and lack of control over their lives. But there is good news! Psalm 78:7 says, “That they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments.” (NASB95) Written by Asaph, a prominent Levite singer in King David’s court. He reports what God wants His peo...

  Saturday morning came with brutal force, Hamas had attacked Israel. Scenes from the battles turned my stomach, much like scenes from the Benghazi massacre. People being brutalized and killed. Just another atrocity in our world today. It seems they are occurring with greater frequency. Instant digital connections, like intravenous drips, feed us news that is sensational and the gorier the better. What can we do to dampen the evil input we are subjected to each day and bathe in the grace of God’s righteousness? Where to find our Joy? In 2 Corinthians 5:21, the Apostle Paul says, “For He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” With no input from man, God gave all the past and future sins of the world onto the shoulders of His Son, Jesus. Why? Because He loves us that much. God wants His creation to understand the depth of His love. Just as a parent forgives a child’s misbehavior, God forgives us. Not only forgive...

  God is calling all Christians to live into their freedom, to stand for what is right and true without fear. The time is now to stop the satanic insanity gripping America. Lies must be called out for what they are. They come from the “father of lies,” Satan himself. Jesus is speaking in John 8:44, and says to the Pharisees and religious leaders, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (He knew they wanted to kill him.) When we see such despicable actions committed by world leaders advocating for abortion and transgender surgeries for children, we wonder why? Extorting money and destroying our economies while pretending we can control the climate, we wonder why? Why would they make such harmful decisions? Can it be only for money and p...

  Imagine going through the day thinking more about your heavenly home and less about your earthly abode. For most, our earthly abode contains all the things we have accumulated and love. Favorite chair, couch, bed, table, and knickknacks. Maybe you are fortunate enough to have a backyard with trees, flowers, and a vegetable garden. This abode can also contain friends, people we enjoy. I have found that earthly things can distract me from my spiritual journey. How about you? Who doesn’t like the pleasures of this earthly life? Especially friends to share these things with. But our life isn’t about this life. In 2 Corinthians 14:8 the Apostle Paul says, “So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (CSB) Although we know this, it is difficult to consider it. The “seen” is here and now, not so much with the “unseen.” Our motivation can come from 1 John 2:16-17, “For all that is in the world, the lu...