Facing the Sometimes Difficult Realities of Life (Part 2)

As I shared in my previous post, life isn’t always kind. Things don’t always work out like we expect. And the reality is usually more difficult to accept, and consequently, grow from, because it’s not the dream we were hoping for. When we are trying to heal from life’s painful blows, the beginning step is to revise our expectations to better fit the reality of our current situation. 

 

Worship Defined

A great devotion from one of my students, Daniel Vincent:

“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” (John 4:23-24, The Message)

 

Life in Christ – Thoughts on Ephesians (Part 5)

I’ve been posting some devotions my assistant, Abigail, wrote lately. This is the 5th and final post.

Perhaps we have heard sermons on the armor of God and feel like we cannot relate it to our daily lives. Most of us are not familiar with war. This armor deals instead with being equipped as a Christian in this world that is filled with spiritual warfare.

 

Life in Christ – Thoughts on Ephesians (Part 4)

Ephesians 4: 1 – 3 says:

1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

From Ephesians 2 we begin to understand this paradox we face: we cannot earn God’s love, and yet a true experience of the grace of Jesus Christ will produce a life filled with goodness. In the beginning of Ephesians 4, Paul highlights five specific Christian virtues that we as Christians should have growing in our lives as we follow Christ.

 

Travel through these five virtues together and take the time to answer the question following each one . . .

 

Life in Christ – Thoughts on Ephesians (Part 3)

The grace of God (as discussed in the last post) is certainly related to the infinite love of Christ. Both of these attributes or actions have proved that Christ gave us – lavished upon us – that which we do not deserve.

 

Life in Christ – Thoughts on Ephesians (Part 2)

My assistant, Abigail, has written this small devotion, and I would like to share it with you. It’s simple, but packed full of wonderful truth. Blessings!

 

Life Without Christ – Some thoughts on Ephesians (Part 1)

My office is preparing to begin two and a half months of intense travel. I will have three teams of students (about 20 total) traveling all over the northeast sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. In preparation for this time of “full-on” ministry, we’ve been encouraging our students to ready themselves. In like manner, I’ve been reading Ephesians lately, as has my assistant. She is an excellent teacher, and minister in her own right and has prepared some devotions for my ministry teams. In the next few posts I will be sharing some of her thoughts. While I’ve got your attention, would you mind to pray for me and my students? This is my third year leading these groups in ministry. I’m always amazed at the depth of spirituality for their age, their understanding of ministry, and the strength within each of these students. Nevertheless, I covet your prayers. This is probably the most difficult time of year. To be traveling more than half of every week all the way until the middle of July is exhausting. My kids often travel with me, and my husband only gets to go some of the time. While there is great reward, there is a lot of sacrifice, and just plain determination that keeps us all going. Thanks in advance! Now on to Ephesians…

 

The 3 T’s

Well, I managed to break my finger this weekend. Don’t actually know how I did it, but between three kids, packing my house, and traveling with a children’s team with a full set, and a band…is it any wonder that I managed that?? So this will be a short post (It’s hard to type without the use of a finger!).

I heard an excellent sermon this weekend and just wanted to share the major points of it with you. It’s simple, really:

 

Raising Christian Families (Deut. 6:6-7)-When you lie down and when you get up

Anyone else been feeling a little crazy lately? Man alive…I’m positive I’m meeting myself as I’m going a different direction these days. But it’s all good, so I can’t complain, really.

I wanted to finish up with my posts regarding raising Christian families according to Deuteronomy 6:6-7. The last part of these verses say to talk about God when you lie down and when you get up. And what does this mean? Well, just exactly what it says. Bedtime and morning time are two of the best opportunities in each day to place your focus upon Christ. 

 

Raising Christian Families (Deut. 6:6-7)-When you walk along the road

I’ve been blogging lately about raising your family according to the verse found in Deuteronomy 6:6-7:

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

I began by discussing what it means to talk about God and a Godly lifestyle when you sit in your home. I discussed how this is intended to be planned time. It is formal instruction. It is INTENTIONAL decision-making, and follow through with your family. And I talked about discipline, responsibilities, social life, and family time & traditions.

So now I want to talk about the next section of this verse which tells us to talk about God when you walk along the road.