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

How will this be?

Have you ever asked God this question?

Well Mary did after the Angel Gabriel told her that she was going to give birth to a Son.

This was impossible humanly speaking. She was a virgin after all.

But the angel answered, “The Holy Spirit”

He would bring it about

And after explaining how, the Angel said, “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Maybe you are in a “how will this be” circumstance right now.

And humanly speaking, there is no way through.

If so, remember, you have the Holy Spirit living in you.

Trust him to will and to do of his good pleasure through you.

Why? Because with him, nothing is impossible.

Categories: Jesus Christ Hope Love

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

To all the married people.

Have you ever taken the time to see your mate as God sees them?

If not, let me encourage you to do so today?

Open your bible to Ephesians 1 and read verses 3-14.

As you do, insert your mates name into each verse.

I’ll show you what I mean by inserting my wife’s name in verses 7 and 8.

In him, Jeanna has redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of her trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished on her in all wisdom and insight.

Here is the truth about your spouse.

God blessed him or her in Christ with every spiritual blessing.

Which means your mate is awesome in God’s sight.

Walk in this truth and your marriage will never be the same.

Categories: Love Marriage

Do you know that your salvation is much more than the forgiveness of your sins?

Yes Jesus died for your sins. But that is the first chapter of the story.

He was also buried and raised back to life.

And then he ascended to the right hand of God the Father.

He is your total and complete salvation.

When you believe, you receive Him as your life.

Jesus Christ took up residence in you to reign in your life here and now.

This is why your salvation is a story of hope.

If it was only forgiveness, it would be left up to you to live the Christian life.

And as Paul wrote to the Galatians, human effort just won’t do.

So today rejoice. You not only have forgiveness of sins.

You have Jesus living in you!

Categories: Jesus Christ Faith Hope Love

Husbands, here is one thing you can do today to show your wife you love her.

Sit down with her, look her in the eye and ask her about her day.

When she starts to talk, listen.

That’s all.

Just listen.

Don’t interrupt,

Don’t offer solutions or counsel.

She doesn’t need to be fixed.

Take off that “Mr fix-it” t-shirt and simply listen.

Why?

Because love listens.

And for your wife, this one simple acts shouts to her that you care for her from the heart.

Don’t underestimate the power of listening.

It will do your marriage good.

Categories: Marriage Love

Love does not keep records of wrongs.

Which means that God does not keep a record of your wrongs.

He doesn’t have a list of every sin you’ve committed.

No, he took away your sins and nailed them to the cross, along with the record of the law that stood against you.

He forgave your sins, all of them.

And in this New Covenant, he remembers your sins no more.

Like everyone, you’ve suffered many wrongs — some more painful than others.

And sin tells you to even the score, or to do something worse to those who have wronged you.

That’s keeping a record of wrongs.

That’s not love.

Love forgives, and the first step is to nail the record of wrongs against you to the cross and leave it there.

You will be glad you did.

Categories: Love Forgiveness/Repentance

What does real greatness look like?

In God’s kingdom. the great ones serve.

They don’t live to be served.

Rather, they care for the needs of others.

This is how Jesus said it.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Through his death, Jesus served you.

He cared for your deep spiritual needs.

Specifically, he gave himself as a ransom to set you free from the powers of sin and death.

The greatness of the Son served you to the fullest extent and he gave you a place among his people.

And the Father exalted him to his right hand, the place of honor.

And we will bow down and worship him forever.

Categories: Love Christian Living

Thankfulness is one of the ways we express our faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul penned it this way — “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

Think about it… we are fully alive in Christ, forgiven and free all because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

So when you and I hear, believe, and live the Good News of God’s amazing grace, a hopeless culture sees eternal hope in us.

And it’s this hope that can truly turn the tide for this desperate culture in which we live.

So this Thanksgiving remember that the thankfulness in your heart just may be the catalyst for someone to take notice of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Categories: Faith Hope Love

A word to husbands.

Did you know your role as a husband is the most important role you will fill in your life.

In it, God calls you to love one person in a way that reflects and models Christ’s love for the church.

Impossible to do through human effort.

So husbands, let me encourage you to walk in dependence upon Jesus, to abide in him.

He will teach you all about his great love for the church and will move in your heart to express that love to your wife.

A love that will treat her as one without spot or blemish, that will wrap her with security and assurance, and that will convince her heart that she is cherished above all others.

So husbands, let’s take the lead and love our wives well and show the world Christ’s love for his church.

Categories: Marriage Love