August is a month of preparation for us. With classes starting at the end of the month and time to put syllabi together and post online, August can be very busy. There are many opinions and views about the return of Christ. But two things are absolutely certain: Christ will return, and we must be ready! While there is a lot of debate over various approaches to eschatology, all views agree with these two certainties. But many often neglect being prepared for His return by spending lots of time searching the Scriptures to find a prophetic clue about the time of His return instead of using the time to serve Him more fully. Jesus warned: “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” He then reminds us about what is most important: “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” What matters most is not our eschatological view, but being ready—waiting and watching and serving while we are waiting for His return. Continue Reading »
Rest … (July 2018 Update)
Probably nothing is more difficult for me than learning to rest. Even when I take a vacation, it takes me a few days to slow down and stop thinking about the things I need to get done! This is doubly true spiritually. If you ask me, “What is the hardest thing for you spiritually?” I would answer, “Learning to rest in the Lord.” I think most other believers would say the same. While the Bible is full of admonitions to rest in the Lord, it is the one area we struggle the most with. So, I’m learning to rest – but it is the hardest thing for me to do! Continue Reading »
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Progress … (June 2018 Update)
In 1 Timothy 4:15, Paul tells Timothy, “Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all” (Christian Standard Bible, Holman). He is speaking about the importance of developing and using the spiritual gifts that God had given to Timothy. Progress is essential to the Christian life — If we are not growing, we are actually slipping back. While this is most important spiritually, it is also important in every area of our lives.
If anything could describe this last month, it would be the idea of progress. This month has been a difficult one but thankfully, not as tough as last month! In every area, we have see much progress — hopefully, our spiritual progress however, will be most evident to those around us. Continue Reading »
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Grateful for God’s Small Providences … (May 2018 Update)
I thought about titling this, “How a Nose Bleed Saved My Life.” But that would be like Jonah saying the plant protected his head when the Bible says, “God appointed a gourd.” The reality is that God’s small providences have a way of reminding us that He is in control. Continue Reading »
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Colossians 1:10 is one of my favorite verses. Many times we are involved in doing good things that are not fruitful for the sake of God’s kingdom. Often it is difficult to tell if our labors are fruitful in the present and we have to wait to see fruit in the future. Sometimes God gives us a glimpse of fruitfulness even in the present. But it should always be our desire, not just to do good works but to be fruitful in those good deeds. So Paul prays for the Colossians: “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” That is our prayer also – we have much to do, but most of all, we desire to walk worthy of the Lord and to please Him in every way. But especially that we might be fruitful in our work.
April is a time of preparation, getting things ready for the fruit that is to come. Sometimes it seems like a lot of work without seeing fruit. But every now and then, God gives glimpses of fruit for His kingdom in every good work. Here are a few glimpses of our work in April. Continue Reading »
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