Addiction and Sin

How many of you have tried to break an addiction on your own? How successful were you? Are you still battling an addiction? Have you considered that something as simple as having one soda a day is an addiction? What about your morning coffee? How can you kick them? We have more addictions than weContinue reading “Addiction and Sin”

Boast in Hope

What do you boast about? Do you boast about your many accomplishments? Do you boast about a significant accomplishment? Do you reminisce about your “glory days” of your youth? What do you think we should boast about? Do you think we should boast at all? Boasting, bragging, or telling others about how good you areContinue reading “Boast in Hope”

Hope In God

How often does peace escape you? How often do you feel anything but peace? Why do you think that is? Is it due to a trial or struggle? Is it due to being frustrated or feeling angry? How quickly does peace return to you? Are you leaning on God? Our peace can be fleeting. EspeciallyContinue reading “Hope In God”

Works vs Faith

Do you believe we should all earn our rewards? Do you believe everyone should work? Do you applaud those who do well, earning promotions? Have you taught your children to be good workers? Are you constantly seeking to work more? Has it become an addiction? Many of us work hard to earn a living. WeContinue reading “Works vs Faith”

Persecuted for Righteousness

Do you believe you are righteous? Do you seek to be righteous? Do you act as though you are righteous? Do you believe your righteousness comes from you? Are you being persecuted because you are righteous or are pursuing righteousness? Have you considered these questions before? Believing we righteous can be challenging. Feeling self-righteous isContinue reading “Persecuted for Righteousness”

Weak and Despised

Thinking too highly of ourselves is problematic. It can lead to pride, pride that is based on a house of cards. When that house falls, it can be catastrophic. Most of us were not born with a silver spoon in our mouth. We do not come from royalty. We are common, working-class people. Since weContinue reading “Weak and Despised”

Grace of God

What does grace mean to you? How do you define grace? Do you think of grace as the opportunity to pay a bill a few days late without penalty? Do you define grace as unmerited favor? Have you considered the many things that come through the grace of God? Banks or loan companies may grantContinue reading “Grace of God”

Greetings

Have you ever needed to give a speech to an organization or a gathering of people you don’t know? Have you spoken at a conference? How did you address your audience? Was it a formal address? Did it feel awkward? Did you model it after Paul’s opening to his letters? Public speaking can be aContinue reading “Greetings”

Step Into the Light

Have you ever looked at a bright light? Did it hurt your eyes? Have you noticed the smallest of lights seems to be bright in the darkness of night? Do you prefer the darkness or the light? Do you feel better during the day or the night? Have you noticed a difference? Our feelings changeContinue reading “Step Into the Light”

Gate of Righteousness

What does being righteous mean to you? It can mean different things to different people. For some, it can mean perfection, never doing anything wrong. For others, it can be the process of moving toward perfection, even if never achieved. What if righteousness did not depend on us? In the strictest sense, righteousness is perfection.Continue reading “Gate of Righteousness”