Psalms 100:5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

If there is one holiday that generates wonderful thoughts of family traditions, it's Christmas. As we near this special day, many of you, myself included, recall those memorable times your family gathered together, year after year. As adults, those traditions often change as family members have passed, family dynamics change, and your location has probably made it impossible to go back to those welcoming homes for the traditional Christmas. 

Although traditions change, there is one that has never changed, nor will it, that is God's love for you. God loved you enough to take care of the one thing that separated you from Him, your sin, by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to make payment for your sins. Once you believe and accept Christ, your life will be forever enveloped in His love for generations to come. 

Family members and the Christmas traditions come and go, but the love of God and personal relationship with Him is enough to replace the missing pieces of family traditions long ago. God bless. 

 Blessed is the man who trust in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

 How confident are you with regards to your state of financial stability, health, employment, and possessions? When your bank account has plenty of cushion, job secure, health is good, and there’s many possessions to keep you satisfied, you are content, maybe even happy. But one bad thing could happen and those things you’ve put your trust in might simply be your downfall.

 Today’s passage (Jeremiah 17:7-8) encourages us to trust in the Lord to meet our essential needs. He is the God of this universe and has all the resources you need to provide you a life of satisfaction, even joy. Even in the hard times, His provisions come through at just the right time to give you strength to carry on another day. Can you find something in this world that does that for you?

 Cursed is the man who trust in man and makes flesh his strength. Jeremiah 17:5

 Pretty soon your health will fail, bank account will shrink, and all those “things” you possess will break down and be discarded. But, your faith in God will never leave you empty, but will fill your soul to overflowing, even in times of desperation, like sickness, unemployment, and financial struggles. God never intended for His creation (that’s YOU) to go at life alone. Why not put your faith and trust in Him, so you can live on the promises of God to provide you everything you need in this life and life eternal. God bless!

 

 

 Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

When someone offends you, how long does it take to forgive them? I'm sure the degree of pain you felt determines the length of time to find forgiveness. Sadly many today have gone years without acknowledging forgiveness, thus keeping them in a frozen state of bitterness. 

Today's verse is a great reminder that when we sin against God and ask forgiveness, He does so immediately. He even takes it a step further by not remembering your wrong doing. You won't find that quality of forgiveness in any human being. 

The freedom that God's children experience, feeling guilt free is refreshing, especially in this day and time when people’s skin is so thin, one word or one wrong look will bring division and hurt. If you are tired of trying to live your life without offending others, focus on your relationship with the One who has already made a path of forgiveness through faith in Christ. Your days will be filled with an unspeakable joy. God bless. 

 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed – always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

 God’s blessings are always welcome, and quite often they occur without notice. Let’s face it, when things are good in life, we almost expect good to come our way, and those blessings God showers down sometimes become routine. This is until something tragic happens.

 Hurricane Helene came and left destruction along her path. Many lives were lost, and some still missing. Social media has provided us a front row seat to the actual devastation and loss people experienced. But through the horrific tragedy, many Americans have come to the rescue, providing much needed food, water, clothing, and embracement of love. I follow several people I know who’ve experienced loss, and they have stated on many occasions how they’ve been blessed by the little things people have done and shared.

 I encourage you to always be thankful for the good times God allows in your life and appreciate the blessings He bestows. But, don’t let those become routine and unnoticed. God often allows a change in course so we’ll recognized our dependence upon Him during the worst events of life. No matter what happens, God has your back and will always find ways to bring light to the darkest moments of life. God bless!

 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

 Have you ever looked through a dirty mirror? Everything in it becomes distorted and many of your features are blurred by the dirty film covering the mirror. Time has a way of dirtying the surface of the mirror, and unless you clean it, the image you see won’t be the perfect reflection of you.

 Here’s a question to ponder: If your life was a mirror, how would Jesus see His reflection? Would He see a perfect image of Himself, OR would there be imperfections and blurriness? Sin has a way of dirtying our life and severely distorts the image of Jesus, which we are to reflect outward. As children of God, we have the blood of Christ who washed us clean. It’s when we live in purposeful sin that we distort that image and others get a not so perfect view of Jesus Christ.

 What others see in you matters, by how you live, talk, think, even communicate on social media. We need to always do our best to reflect the pure image of Jesus Christ, otherwise, no one will see how wonderful He is, living in and through your life. Maybe it’s time to clean up your life, so the reflection Jesus sees is accurate, and welcoming to those who live in your corner of this big world. God bless!

 In Him, we have redemption though His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7

 When you have a spat (argument) with someone, there is usually a period of disconnect, where neither speaks to one another, sometimes even avoidance plays into the mix. Only through time, grace, and forgiveness, is the relationship restored. Maybe you’ve experienced this yourself.

 As humans, we are created in the image of God. He loves us and wants to have a personal relationship with all of His creation. Because He is holy and righteous, our sin separates us from having a relationship with God. Today’s verse is a great reminder that Jesus Christ took care of the separation between us and God on the cross. Jesus bridged that gap between us and God, through His sacrifice on the cross, making payment for our sins.

 Maybe you’ve never experienced the blessings of having a personal relationship with your true creator. You don’t have to “try your best” to gain His approval, just believe in what Jesus Christ did on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins, ask for His forgiveness, and commit your life to Him every day. The only thing holding you back from receiving an eternal relationship with God is yourself. Why not ask Him to come into your heart today and know that you will enjoy the blessing of a friendship that will never end, no matter what happens in your life, when you welcome Him into your heart. God bless!

 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.  Philippians 4:8

 Have you ever thought about what you think throughout the day? I know that sounds like a corny question, but there is something to be said for what goes on in your mind. Theres an old say, “what you think, you become”. If you don’t believe me, go to any bookstore, and you’ll find all kinds of inspiring books on how to become successful by what you put into your mind.

 Although today’s verse was written well over 2,000 years ago, Paul encouraged believers to think about the positives: truth, noble, just, pure, lovely, good news, and praise. By filling your mind with the spiritual positive traits, you won’t ‘have any room in your mind to entertain the filth of this world, and there is a lot of that for everyone. I find the internet is a good source of information, but left without going into it with a purpose, you can find yourself meandering into some dark and negative places, filling your mind with temptation, lust, greed, and anything else that can influence how you live.

 For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

 There’s plenty to think about in today’s world. Make it a priority to think upon the good things God has for His children, and you’ll have no problem living out your faith every day! God bless!

 The idols of nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear; nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them.  Psalm 135:15-18

 We live in a world where everything is available to us via the internet. From Amazon, to Instacart, to Carvana and everything in between, you can have it all, delivered to your location. Everything you shop for online is stored in your computer and somehow shows up on your Facebook news feed and internet pages you view. This entices you to consider buying things you probably don’t need (when my wife reads this, she will say this blog was for me). But with the click of a few buttons, it’s one and done, on its way to you.

 Online browsing and shopping can become an idol. As a result, finances are tighter, bills might not get paid on time (or paid at all), enslaving you to that common phrase we call “debt”. God never intended for you to be a slave to money and businesses seeking to fulfil your wants with their temporary products (whew, I’m even feeling guilty now).

 Years ago, I became debt free (for the most part), and it has allowed me to tithe on a regular basis and occasionally give to a special charity or friend/family member in need. Yea, money is still tight, but there is a little room to give and God has blessed me in return by remaining obedient and keeping myself from owing everything I make to someone else.

 If the Amazon delivery guy shows up more on your Ring door bell than family members living in your home, you might have an issue with spending. Seek out God’s help to control spending, stop looking online at things you don’t need and find ways to share your blessings with others. God will reward your obedience with the provisions you really need in life. God bless!

 Then Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do”.  Luke 23.34

 Do you ever wonder if God runs out of forgiveness for your sins? As humans, we are creatures of habit and the same temptations seems to follow us daily. Trying to stop the process of sin can be very difficult, especially today, as we live in an environment where temptation to pursue worldly living is more accepted than living in righteousness. Satan does a great job at whispering lies that God’s forgiveness runs out, especially when we commit the same sins.

 In my personal opinion, one of the most powerful messages Jesus delivered while on planet earth was His last words, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”. Jesus came here to live a life that we should model our lives after, but the most important thing He did was make payment for our sins on a cross. God loves His creation (you and me) and He wants to have a relationship with everyone, but sin is what separates us from Him. That’s why Jesus came here, to provide a bridge between us and a holy and righteous God.

 If we confess out sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

 God’s forgiveness, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, does not give you permission to continue in sin. He gives us His Holy Spirit to help us in our battle with the sins that seem to show up unexpectedly. But, when we mess up, He is willing to forgive you and restore that relationship when you acknowledge your wrong doings, and ask for His forgiveness.  

 he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:42-43

 As Jesus hung on the cross, waiting to die, He had a conversation with one of the others who was being crucified with him. He assured this man would be with Him in Paradise because of His faith in who Jesus was. Up until that moment in time, that criminal had no chance of eternal life in Heaven, but Jesus was willing to forgive him at the final moments of his life. He will always be ready to forgive you as well. God bless!

 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. Romans 13:13

 Our Sunday School lesson (or life groups as we call them now) was focused on “What would Jesus do”. This famous saying originated back in the late 1800s to encourage people to think and act like Jesus. Modern culture often defines how people dress, act, speak, and what determines “success”. If you look back to the 1940s-1960s and compare how things are today, we have drifted backwards from high levels of respect for self, others, and general courtesy to our fellow man.

 Today’s passage hits some of the rough behaviors, many of you might not partake, but it accounts for what some were doing back during the time the bible was written. As a child of God, you are to reflect the behaviors of your Savior, Jesus Christ. You have the Holy Spirit living inside you, and that Spirit equips you to reflect His love, grace, mercy, and wisdom. Are you applying His resources in your every day life? If not, you are not giving God your best, and blessings will be withheld until you turn back to the way Jesus lived; a selfless, caring, loving, and righteous person.

 You don’t have to be considered old fashioned by living the way God wants for your life. You are a human being, created in His image, with specific gifts and talents to be the light of Christ in this dark world. How can you live today like Jesus?

 Psalms 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

With another deadly hurricane on the horizon, many in its path are praying for God's hand of protection. We, who are safe and in the comfort of our homes, should be joining them in prayer. The question to ponder, will God truly intervene? 

With every disaster you hear stories of incidents where a rooftop saved one's life, a brief opening in the debris led someone to higher ground, a passerby who ran into a burning home and saved a disabled person who was unable to escape. Media likes to focus on the worst, and it's good to know the level of devastation, but the real story is in the small miracles that God works at the prompting of someone's prayer. 

Will God turn this hurricane away, probably not, but He will answer the call for help when faithful prayers of protection reach His ears. Take time today, and throughout the rest of this week, to pray for those in harm's way that God will help those who call out to Him. God bless. 

 II Thessalonians 3:14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 

Over my lifetime I've witnessed people I know, even friends, make poor choices that have resulted in broken marriages, loss of jobs, even brought through the court system and jailed. I've wanted to offer some encouragement to change their ways, and at times I've done that, but other times sat in silence. It pained me to see the brokenness from the fallout of their wrongdoing. 

Today's passage encourages us to be observant of others' misguided ways and put some distance between them and us to show our disapproval and bring them shame. If the opportunity presents itself, it's good to “speak up” and encourage them to turn from the doom they are headed towards. Praying for them is essential, because God is most likely working in their life, outside your view, to bring conviction and hopefully repentance. 

II Thessalonians 3:15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 

God put people in our lives as friends, mentors, and spiritual guides, to help us navigate life. Although your acquaintance might be offending you by their actions, don't make them an enemy, but use this time to show them grace and mercy, through tough love and leave the rest up to God. 

 Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. 

One of the dangers of serving in the church is to get caught up in pleasing those in leadership. Finding gratification from the preacher or other leaders will result in failed expectations. They are men (or women) who God appointed to lead, but they are also human, and they are not capable of seeing your heart’s desire to serve. 

I sometimes find myself guilty of seeking the acknowledgement from my church leaders, whereas my focus should be on God. They might not see the literal blood, sweat, and tears, I've put into the work of the church, but God sees and keeps record of my loyalty and will reward me in ways that far outweigh any human recognition. 

Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 

Maybe you are seeking some approval from leaders in your church. Just remember, that will never fill your cup like the blessings of God. Stay prayed up and seek after God's approval and you'll have the motivation to give Him your best.