Just a Minute!

When Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment, He answered,

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

Well let me ask, how well are you doing with that one?

Well if you’re honest you already know it’s impossible to live out through human effort .

But God knew that and he had a plan in place all along to make it possible.

“A day is coming when God will circumcise your hearts…so that you might love him.”

Here is the good news, if you are a believer, that day has come.

Your heart was circumcised by Christ the moment you believed.

And now by the power of the Holy Spirit, you can live out daily the greatest command, to love God with all your heart.

And that’s good news.

Categories: Love Jesus Christ Jesus Christ

After Moses had finished all the work on the tabernacle, something spectacular happened.

A cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

Can you imagine being there that day?

But that was not all.

When the cloud lifted and moved, the Israelites would set out and follow. The Lord was leading and guiding them in their journey to the promised land.

Now you may be wondering why this is relevant to you.

Well in the same way the glory of God filled the tabernacle, he has given you his Spirit to lead and guide you in your journey just as he did the Israelites.

As Paul put it, those who are led by the Spirit are children of God.

So rejoice, something spectacular has happened to you.

Categories: Faith Holy Spirit

The Bible is filled with acts of bravery by men and women just like you and me.

Like Rahab hiding the spies or David fighting Goliath.

But one act of courage stands out to me.

Moses asked to see God, to see the amazing glory of the One who spoke the world into existence.

No one had ever seen his glory up front and personal. As God said, “no one may see me and live.”

Yet Moses asked and God passed before Moses showing him only his back…

And his glory radiated Moses face…

Maybe its time for us to be courageous and ask to see the glory of God.

As Paul said, seeing the glory of God in the face of Christ will transform us into his image.

Categories: Faith Hope Love

What makes you different, or distinct?

Yes, you are unique, a one of a kind.

But what makes you distinct as a Christian?

Are you different because you pray, or read the bible or give your money?

Are you different because you try to follow the ten commandments?

What is it that distinguishes you as a believer in Christ.

Moses knew the answer.

And it wasn’t the law that set the people of Israel apart.

It was this one simple truth.

God’s presence.

As Moses said, “what else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

The same is true for you. You’re distinct because Christ lives in you and fills your life with grace and truth.

And that’s good news!

Categories: Identity/Self Image Jesus Christ Holy Spirit

Here is one of the most encouraging promises in the Bible.

My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

Now God gave this promise to Moses at a time when he needed a heavy dose of hope and a fresh supply of courage.

While he was on top of Mt Sinai meeting with God, the people were down below fashioning a golden calf.

When Moses saw what was happening he became so angry he broke the tablets of stone.

It left him wondering if he still had God’s favor.

Maybe you’ve felt that way.

Here is the good news believer. Jesus Christ is always with you, living inside of you and walking with you every step of your journey.

It’s a reality that will bring rest to your heart and courage to your soul.

Categories: Hope Holy Spirit Jesus Christ

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

That’s what the Bible says.

Now you may be thinking, “I wish that verse described my prayer life.” Well it can.

Just look at Elijah. He was human. Yet when he prayed for the stop, it did for three and a half years. And then when he prayed for rain, the rain poured down and the earth produced crops.

Well how did that happen?

Because Elijah simply prayed God’s Word.

You see, God was the one who said he would dry up the skies if the people rebelled. And that he would open the heavens if they returned to him

It’s His Word that is powerful and effective.

So if you want you prayers to be powerful and effective, let the Word of God shape what you ask for.

That’s the prayer of a righteous person.

Categories: Prayer God's Will Righteousness/Justification

Tragically, many people are confused about how prayer works.

Maybe you can identify with this person’s question.

I don’t understand why some people think that when they pray for something and get it, it was because of their faith. And when they don’t get what they prayed for it was because of their lack of faith.

Well this is the most common misconception about prayer… that if you have enough faith you’ll get anything you want from God.

Well prayer is not a magic wand or a quick fix, it’s merely a conversation with God.

So talk to him. Tell him about your fears, your pains, your desires, and dreams. And then trust him to answer according to his will and plan for your life.

This is the kind of prayer that will help you experience the peace of God that passes understanding.

Categories: Prayer God's Will Christian Living

Does God answer prayer?

Sometimes you wonder, right?

Well, let me encourage you with this promise from 1 John 5:14 & 15:

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him."

Well if you’re asking according to his will you can count on the fact that he hears you.

Think about that. God, the one who spoke the world into existence, hears your prayers.

And here’s the best part, you know you have what you asked of him.

So dig into the Word. Trust the Spirit to teach you God’s will, and then pray with confidence knowing God hears and answers.

Categories: Prayer God's Will

God is your heavenly Father. And that changes everything about prayer.

First it makes your prayer more personal. You’re praying to someone you really know and to someone who really knows you.

So you don’t have to be like those hypocrites who pray just to be noticed on to look more spiritual. You can simply share an intimate conversation with your heavenly Father.

And second, you know he cares about you. He is interested in every detail of your life and already has his ear turned your way.

That means you don’t have to beg and plead like the pagans do just to get him to listen. He’s so interested in you, he already knows what you need even before you ask him.

So when you pray, you are praying to the one who loves and cares for you most.

Categories: Prayer Christian Living

Prayer is simple part of being human. Think about it. In times of trouble you cry out to God. When life is good you thank him for the many blessings.

And this is true for people from every walk of life and every belief system. Everyone prays.

So as far as the Bible is concerned it’s not a matter of if you pray, it’s when you pray.

And when you pray as a believer you pray to your heavenly Father. This is what makes your prayer so radically different.

And you know him as such because you have been born of God and by his spirit you cry out “Abba, Father”.

And crying out to God was your Father changes everything about prayer.

Categories: Prayer Christian Living