Presence of God

When we come into the presence of God, we may feel full of joy and gratitude. At the same time we can be overcome with grief or be sobered by an acute awareness of our shortcomings (i.e., sinful nature). Both emotions are appropriate in the presence of God.

Encouraging Leaders

A leader needs to provide not only the initial motivation for a project - but the continued encouragement necessary to keep the project going. At the same time, that leader must find his or her own dependable source of encouragement.

Loyal Fan

While it is good to show respect for an organization (such as a country, church, or school) our loyalties always carry a hidden danger of arrogance. Pride is something that becomes harmful when it causes us to look down on others, be selfish with our resources, force our solution son others problems, think God is blessing us because of our own merit or just be content with our own plans instead of seeking the plans of God.

Character Depth

We cannot know the depth of our character until it is tested and we see how we react under pressure (of adversity or hard times).

Real Love

Real love for others produces tangible actions such as kindness to strangers, empathy for those who are suffering or mistreated, respect for your marriage vows, contentment with what you have, etc. Make sure that your love runs deep enough to affect your hospitality, empathy, fidelity and contentment.

Fearless Life

Fear of God will always lead to a fearless life. To fear God simply means to respect and appreciate Him for who He is. It means to revere Him as Lord. When we trust God completely, we find that our fears subside. They are overcome with our reverence for God.

Soul Filters

Our souls become filters through which we perceive goodness or evil. the pure - those who have Christ in control of their lives - learn to see goodness and purity even in this evil world. But corrupt minded and unbelieving people find evil in everything. This is because their flawed thinking and broken hearts color even the good that they see and hear.

Teaching Truth

Teaching the truth is a great responsibility that goes with leadership. For sin is always judged harshly by God, but the very worst sinners are those who lead others astray - regardless of the reason (including their own ignorance).

Opportunity Destroyed

Great opportunities - which are given to us by God - are often destroyed by small decisions - that were made without God.

Sin's Guarantee

Sin's consequences are guaranteed in God's Word. But the timing of those consequences is a deep mystery that is usually very hard to predict. Only God knows when the guarantee will be delivered upon.

Turning from God

A little sin can be the first step in turning from God. It is not the sin we don't know about, but the sin that we rationalize or excuse that really causes us the greatest trouble. We must never let any sin go unchallenged in our lives. It is the unchallenged sin that has the greatest potential to turn us from life with God.

Separation from God

It has been said that sin separates us from God (and it does). But sin is not the cause of that separation. Rather it is the result of that separation. We abandon God and/or His ways in our hearts first --- and then we sin because of our indifference to obedience and righteousness.

Leadership's Threat

Effective leadership can be nullified or rendered impotent by an ineffective personal life.

Right Living

The right path for living is ancient, and has been marked out for us by God Himself. Don't be misled or ignorant about that fact. The only way to find peace and to be truly happy is to live life God's way.

Temptation

Temptation comes from evil desires within us. It begins with an evil thought and it becomes sin when we dwell on the thought and allow it to move into an action. then sin becomes more and more destructive as we let it have its way. So sin really is just as dangerous as we allow it to be.

Strong Nations

The strength of a nation is in direct proportion to the strength of its families.

Child Discipline

An undisciplined child may seem cute and harmless enough. But they grow up to become undisciplined adults --- which is quite another matter indeed. An undisciplined adult will always destroy his or her self - as well as those around them.

False Gods

In the Old Testament times, starting from at least 930 B.C., the kings of Israel encountered (and sometimes entertained) many false gods. these gods represented war, cruelty, power, greed and even sex. Ironically, they are the same false gods that stalk us today!

True Repentance

True repentance is not fulfilled with confession. It must lead to corrected behaviors and attitudes. Without these changes, the so-called repentance is just a fraud. So let us not be deceived by our own sorrow for having done wrong. Rather let us be determined enough to make the changes in our lives that represent true repentance.

Prophetic Calling

The Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, was called by God to be a prophet. His role was to confront the church leaders and the church people with their sin. He remained faithful to that calling in the face of great adversity. Years of obedience made him courageous and strong.

Are there people in such roles today? If so, who are they? Where are they? Might you or I be one of them?

What To Expect

Christ-followers can always expect opposition when they obey God and do His work. Non Christians and even spiritual forces acting among Christians will work against God and His people. The opposition may not always be obvious, however. It can come in the form of compromising alliances. But usually it will seek to discourage, intimidate or accuse us unjustly. We should expect these tactics so that we are not deterred by them. Never act as if they're a surprise - for your surprise then would be your ignorance.

What Matters

It is far more important to God who we are than what we do or accomplish in life. So the emphasis for Christianity must turn from "do" to "be."

On Pride

Pride is the unwarranted self-esteem that we all possess some measure of. It is setting your own judgment or perspective above that of others and even above that of God Himself. God opposes the proud though, because it is sin.

Revealing Giving

What we give and how we live reveals or reflects the sincerity of our relationship with God.

Revealing Speech

Accepting God's wisdom will affect your speech. Your words will convey true humility and lead to peace. Your wisdom will reveal itself in wise speech.

American Idol

People become like the idols they worship. So, for example, worshipping a false idol will make you become shallow and insensitive to people - just like that idol is. But if the true God is worshipped you will become more like Him as you truly worship Him.

Beginning & End

The beginning of faith is believing in God's character - He is who He says He is. The end of faith is believing in God's promises - He will do what He says He will do.

Getting Blessed

Many blessings are available to us --- if we fear the Lord (revere Him) and delight in obeying His will for us. So if you expect God's blessings, check your reverence and deference to Him and His ways. Do you obey the one you expect to bless you?

Changed Hearts

If our hearts are not changed, following God's rules will be unpleasant and difficult. But the Holy Spirit gives us new desires - helping us to want to obey God. With new hearts, we find that serving God is our greatest joy. It's all about the changed heart.

True Belief

Mental agreement with Christ's leadership is not sufficient to qualify as Christ's disciples. Obedience is required. (James 1:22-25) Don't assume that people who comply with and conform to religious traditions are truly committed to Christ either. Each of us must be challenged with the truth and the implications of commitment to Christ. We should never surrender anyone (including ourselves) to casual belief in Christ. We must press on to obedience ... the highest goal.

Aligning Desires

A sincere purpose to please God will result in an alignment of your desires with God's desires. You will come to love what God loves. You will come to hate what God hates. So the only question is whether or not you sincerely want to please God!