Could a morning devotion be a breath of fresh air? In this Sunday's message we are looking at a passage that calls every Christian to never dismiss the divine power of scripture to speak powerful to us exactly when we need God's voice. 2 Timothy 3:16: 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. If you regularly start your day with time in God's Word, he can infuse you or breathe into a difficult situation

A powerful thunderstorm rolled through our area as I wrote this. There are a variety of forces at work in our world. Sometimes we witness the volatility of a changing stock market. Sometimes the up and down emotions of a teenager reek havoc on our tranquil home life. Change and uncertainty can rob us of God's peace. Some have said nothing enters in our purview without the challenge filtering first through the fingers of God. A passage from the Gospel of John has long be

Do you need a warm up on that coffee? My mom loves her warm coffee, but she drinks it very slowly. She is often saying to me, "That hits the spot!" But after her third or fourth bite of her egg and the same of her toast, the cup is not even a third finished. And guess what she asks, "Can you stick this in the microwave for me?" It's no problem. The microwave is 15 feet from the dining room table! We might repeat the process a couple times during a more leisurely meal

11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:11 Never ever walk through your week alone. Our God sees us and delights to show himself strong on our behalf. We will start our service this Sunday with Psalm 46. I have copied the Psalm below for your encouragement. 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 tho

An on time God who brings us a message of hope, correction and instruction The times we live in can be confusing. People proclaiming emphatically that know exactly what you need. And sometimes they may just be right. But as believers who have been rescued from a sin corrupted future, we have been granted access to the counsel of God. Life will confound us at times and new obstacles (sickness, financial struggles, damaged relationships, bad news) occupy our minds and can

"The decrees of the Lord are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb," according to King David in Psalm 19. It is hard to find anything that tastes sweeter than fresh honey straight from the honeycomb. God's decrees should be viewed as a sweet and special infusion to our souls. They have the power to do a work that is transformative and satisfying at a very personal and deep level. In 2 Timothy 2, Paul declares that even opponents of the gospel message can be gen

My grandpa had a couple of sheds and one of them I was told not to ever enter. That instruction sure made me curious! I am not a 100% sure on this, but I believe the reason I was asked to stay out is that he stored some of his sharpest knives there. He used them to butcher his livestock. This particular shed also doubled as a smoke house for the hogs that he would cure. The first time I saw that hog hanging from the rafters in this small space, I could not believe how big

Prayer, a privilege of great value, that challenges us to ask our loving God for even more. Jim Cymbala, “When I stand before the judgment seat of Christ, he is not going to ask me if I was a clever orator.  He is not going to ask me how many books I wrote.  He is only going to ask me whether I continued in the line of men and women, starting way back in the time of Adam’s grandchildren (Gen. 4:26), who led others to call on the name of the Lord.”  Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire p

The one who began a good work in you will complete it (Philippians 1:6). When God begins his work in us, it is His Holy Spirit that takes up residence in our heart. John the apostle in his gospel likens this creative power in us to a spring of living water. John 7: 37-39: "... Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39  By thi

What are you building? Are you looking to add to your schedule the practice and study of a discipline which you want to pursue in the new year? Peter, in his second letter, calls believers to build up their faith by adding virtuous practices. 2 Peter 2 : 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godlines

Time for a fitness change? Physically, Mentally or Spiritually? People are constantly looking for something to make life work and to see the void in their hearts and minds filled with something fulfilling.  It’s the new year, so you know it’s time to get in shape all over again.  Start a new exercise regimen or a new diet.  Or, or…  forget all that and just check out completely and get wasted!  (you know I don’t mean that).    Isn’t that what some do just to escape life and

Merry Christmas to you one and all! Here we are the day after Christmas.  I hope you have been able to slow down just a little to reflect on the precious gift that God lavished on us in sending Jesus.  God did not withhold his very best from us, he freely offered his son.  The Son of God not only walked the earth, but he also clothed himself with flesh and blood. God sent us a Messiah who would be well acquainted with the struggle we would face to live out a life of obedience

Ten of us went Christmas caroling last night and experienced a great blessing as we visited four homes of those shut in due to illness. We also sang for the residents at Timbercreek Nursing Home during their evening meal. I was so encouraged by the comment of one resident at Timbercreek who said very emphatically, "Thank you so much for coming out to sing for us." Sometimes it's just a simple acts of kindness that give us the most joy. You may not be the best singer, y

O come let us adore Him O come let us adore Him O come let us adore Him Christ, the Lord. We'll praise his name forever We'll praise his name forever We'll praise his name forever Christ, the Lord. We'll give Him all the glory We'll give Him all the glory We'll give Him all the glory Christ the Lord. For He alone is worthy For He alone is worthy For He alone is worthy Christ, the Lord. I came across an article from Haven Today about this carol and I would like to share some e

If Christ made a return visit in 2025, would we welcome Him? John 1:11: He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. Luke 13:34: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!". It should not surprise us when some of the gifts we give to our children or grandchildren are not well receiv

Please stay home, safe and warm and grab a service on line or on TV!

Thanksgiving is a special time to reconnect with loved ones and reflect on the blessings in our lives. This year, the joy of gathering felt even greater as our family welcomed four new grandsons over the past three years. Being able to see all of our children and celebrate together brought a deep sense of gratitude and warmth. In this post, I want to share the meaningful moments of our Thanksgiving, how family growth enriches our lives, and ideas to make your holiday gatherin

If a picture says a thousand words, I think this one does. Here is a representation of a determined prayer warrior. If the battle belongs to the Lord as I Samuel 17:47 teaches, then we need to be on our knees. We will only consistently take advantage of the Lord's desire to be attentive to our prayers, if our hearts are in a healthy faith posture. Jeremiah 33:3, " Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know (NASB

Is love lost and wasted if it is not accepted and reciprocated? If you love someone and they don't love you back, is it a wasted effort? Jesus would say, "No!" The powerful statement made by the gospel is that God loved us unconditionally. Romans 5:8 : But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Christ offers his life to make sure we understand that he loves us first. He takes the initiative to heal the sin problem

A peaceful forest path symbolizing the journey with Jesus Life often moves faster than we expect. Days fill up with tasks, responsibilities, and unexpected challenges. In the middle of this rush, it can feel like we lose touch with what truly matters. Yet, Jesus promises a constant presence with us. In Matthew 28, He says, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." This assurance invites us to find joy in the journey, no matter how hectic life becomes. How