While pregnant, Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth.

She too was pregnant.

Both were overwhelmed by God’s goodness to them.

So much so, Mary expressed her heart,

My soul glorifies the Lord, She said
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
(Luke 1:46-49)

Today, let Mary’s words encourage you to rejoice in God and to recognize that you are blessed because God has done great things for you.

He made you his child, forgave all of your sins, and raised you up to walk in the newness of life

All through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Categories: Christian Living Faith Hope Love

I’m a Hallmark Christmas movie fan.

It’s not something I admit very often, especially to my guy friends.

But its true.

Those sappy, predictable, feel-good stories get to me every time.

I just wish real life always ended on a happy note.

Don’t you?

Unfortunately, that’s not the way life works.

We face trials of every kind.

As soon as one ends, another comes along.

And many of these trials bring with them pain and sorrow and hurt.

That’s just life.

You may be going through one of those difficult times right now.

If so, take heart.

You have a Savior, Christ the Lord.

One who loves you and gave himself for you.

And that’s the real story of Christmas.

Categories: Christian Living Hope Jesus Christ

The Bible tells us to speak the truth.

When it comes to speaking the truth many of us are like Colonel Jessup, the character played by Jack Nicholson in the movie A Few Good Men.

Tom Cruise’s character, Kaffee, was questioning Jessup in a military courtroom.

The scene was intense and heated, and finally Kaffee blurted out, “I want the truth”.

Jessup exploded, “You can’t handle the truth.”

We don’t think those we love can handle the truth

So we keep it from them, or we tell them a lie.

That’s nothing but fear in action, and as we have all learned that only makes matters worse.

If you want strong relationships, speak the truth.

And when you do, be sure to speak the truth in love.

You’ll be surprised just how well they can handle the truth.

Categories: Love Christian Living

We can do a lot of damage with these tongues of ours.

It’s no wonder James describes it as a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With it we bless our Lord and Father.

And with it we curse people who are made in his image.

As James wrote, “these things ought not to be so”.

This raises the question, how do we tame the tongue.

I can tell you this. It doesn’t happen through self-effort.

I bet you’ve already discovered that truth.

No, the tongue is tamed when it comes under the control of God’s Spirit.

If you want your words to build up and give grace to those who hear, walk in the Spirit.

He will not only give you the words to say, but how to say them.

Categories: Christian Living Faith Holy Spirit

Believer, you are free.

Which means you are free to gratify the desires of the flesh and to follow after the ways of the world like you once did.

You are free, but that is not using your freedom wisely.

Any choice you make to gratify a desire of the flesh is a choice to step back into that jail cell that held you captive when you were lost.

And that’s not where you belong.

If you want to experience your freedom in Christ to the full, walk in the Spirit.

Put off your old self, and your old way of life.

And put on your new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

And through love serve, one another.

Now that’s real freedom, the freedom Christ set you free to enjoy.

Categories: Christian Living Hope

You are the light of the world.

Now don’t try to live up to this high calling on your own.

There is too much at stake.

The reason you are the light of the world is because the light of the world, Jesus, lives in you.

And he is the source of the good works that flow through you.

So trust him.

He saved you by his grace, and you are now his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.

So as you live your life in dependence on him, he will shine the light of his life through you.

Maybe through an act of kindness, or an encouraging word, or a grateful attitude.

Abide in him.

This is how you let your light shine before others.

Categories: Identity/Self Image Christian Living

You are the salt of the earth.

It’s not because you are a good, moral person.

It’s because you are a believer in Jesus Christ.

And He dwells in you.

He is the one who makes you salty &mdash His life in you.

He works through you as a preservative, offering hope to a lost and weary world.

And as a flavoring sharing the flavor of His life to those dead in sin.

So as you live your life in Him, trust him to sprinkle the flavor of his love, grace, mercy and forgiveness on people who need his life-giving touch.

It’s a privilege and a purpose beyond compare.

So today, be ready and available for Jesus to share the salt and light of his life in and through you.

Categories: Identity/Self Image Christian Living

Here is sound advice from the writer of Hebrews.

“Keep your life free from the love of money.”

Now that’s hard to follow in our culture today.

A culture that says you need more money and more things to be happy.

It’s that “always striving for more” philosophy.

Sadly, a philosophy that never leads to happiness or contentment.

Instead of striving for more, the writer of Hebrews says to be content with what you have.

Now he’s not just talking about money.

What you have as a believer is Jesus Christ himself.

He lives in you and walks with you through every situation.

And unlike money, he will never leave you nor forsake.

Today, remember that you have Jesus.

And in him is contentment for your soul.

Categories: Christian Living Faith

In high school and college I wanted to be part of the “in crowd.”

To fit in and hang out with the popular people.

I wanted to be on the inside.

Then I learned something significant.

Jesus was never a part of the “in crowd.”

The religious insiders of the day rejected him.

They cast him outside the gates of their protected existence.

Here is what Hebrews says.

“So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his blood.”

If you want authentic life, eternal life, it’s not with the in crowd.

Go out to Jesus. There you will find what the in crowd could never provide.

Life, forgiveness, and freedom.

Categories: Identity/Self Image Christian Living

Under the umbrella of religion exists many strange teachings.

Some of these strange teachings have an appearance of wisdom; regulations like “Do no handle, do not taste, do not touch.”

Others promise all sorts of physical blessings.

And then there are those that offer secret knowledge, a knowledge they claim is higher than the knowledge God has revealed to us in Christ.

The Bible strongly warns against being led astray by these teachings.

The reason is simple — these teachings are bad for the soul.

There is only one message that reaches deep within the soul and brings contentment and peace.

And that is the grace of Jesus Christ.

Today be encouraged by these words from Hebrews.

“It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace.”

Categories: Christian Living Faith