Cars line up for miles around the malls all across the country. The TV commercials have started selling Holiday cheer early in October. My husband and I barely talk to each other these days. We are like two passing ships in the night, loaded with activities between our children’s school and our church. ‘Tis the Season! The song says this is the season to be jolly, but I wonder how truly joyful we are during the holidays. Better yet, I wonder how often we forget the true reason for the Continue Reading
Guest Blog Post by Idong Ekandem
Embracing God’s New Gift to You Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 Next to Christmas, my favorite time of year is the Fall season. Striking colors of gold, orange, amber, and yellow strewn around trees, and the cool crisp air are some of the things that make me fall in love with this season. I Continue Reading
Hanging Out With the Wrong Crowd
Key Verse: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 “Diga-me com quem andas que direi quem és” “Tell me who you hang out with and I’ll tell you who you are.” I’d be a rich woman if I had a dollar for each time I heard this from my mom as a young girl. Mom was right. As much as a good friend can help us make wise decisions, foolish or negative Continue Reading
Are You A True Friend?
Passage: Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 Key Verse: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (v.10) I looked up and they were all standing together in that tiny room. Six faces that I have learned to love as dear friends. Their eyes were full of concern, mercy. Their words were healing balm to my tired spirit. As they started praying, hands on my shoulder, I let tears of gratitude fall. “Thank you, God, for my friends,” I Continue Reading
One Day – Two Lessons on Thanksgiving
Passage: Psalm 23 Key Verse: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 It happened last Sunday. As churches across America started celebrating Thanksgiving week, I had a front-seat opportunity to witness thanksgiving attitudes from two opposite altitudes: the valley and the mountaintop. I was walking into the choir room when I saw her. She had her usual smile across her Continue Reading
Guest Post by Carol Kelly – “Need Rest?”
I think it was that great saint, Corrie Ten Boom, who said, "When I look at the world, I am distressed. When I look within myself, I am depressed. But when I look to God, I am at rest." What words to live by! Any systematic study of theology will begin with the doctrine of God...and for a reason: All things begin with God. Nowhere is that more clearly spelled out for us than in Romans 8. When we are "distressed" or "depressed" with the things of this world and the limitations of our human Continue Reading
