“for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.  Acts 17:23

 The Apostle Paul traveled the countryside, going from city to city, preaching about the salvation of Jesus Christ. During many of his journeys, he discovered communities with idols they worshipped. One community even had an idol of the unknown god.

 What is an idol? It’s anything that you worship, treasure, put before everything else, and most of all it consumes most of your time. Wither you choose to accept it, you too have an idol (possibly more than one), that you prioritize above everything else. Maybe it’s your children, your spouse, your significant other, your hobby, finances, the list is endless. What comes to your mind when you consider your idol?

 Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37

 Now, take that idol and ask yourself, is it more important than your love for God? Does it consume more of your time than praying, reading the bible, attending worship? If the answer is yes, then your priorities are out of line with God’s command to put Him first in your life.  God doesn’t mind you having things you enjoy doing, He just wants to be the Lord of your life. When you put His ways and will for your life above those things you deem important, He blesses your interests in ways you could never have imagined.

 Just sharing a personal experience, I enjoy woodworking, specially making writing pens on my lathe. I sell them at 3 local stores and they do fairly well. This past October our church held a month-long event and had a gift shop. I asked if I could sell my pens at the event, and give 50% of the sales to the church. Over the course of those 4 weekends, they sold 29 pens! That’s more pens sold than the three stores I normally sell at during a year.

Ask God to help you put Him first in everything you do in life and He will certainly bless you for loving Him above all else. God bless!

 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24

 A few nights ago, my wife and I were awakened at 2:30 AM with a burden to pray. We both prayed for our families, and I even prayed for one of our kid’s extended family with the thought that someone was in trouble. Later that day we checked with all of our kids and no one reported any issues. Later in the day though, we found out that one of our extended family members had made a trip to the Emergency Room with heart issues. After being evaluated, he was released at 2:30 AM, the very same time my wife and I were burdened to pray. Thankfully he is ok and seeking medical help from a cardiologist.

 Have you ever had a similar experience, where God laid it upon your heart to pray for someone? As children of God, we are all connected to one another through His Holy Spirit living inside of us. When one of God’s children is in need, it’s like God sends out a call for His family to pray for that one individual (or group), and God answers the call because of our faithfulness to pray. I can assure you, when you are obedient to pray, God hears your prayers and answers according to the immediate need. You might not see the actual workings of God’s hand, but by faith, you can have the confidence in God that He is actually responding.

 The next time you feel a burden to pray, don’t put it off for a single moment. God is working at that very moment in a specific situation and without your prayers, who knows the negative outcome that could happen. Be faithful to pray when the call goes out to your spirit, there will always be a positive outcome for your obedience to pray. God bless!

 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

 For most children of God, we wake up with the desire to do the right things that pleases God. But somewhere in the day, as hard as we try, we fail in our pursuit of living sinless. Deflated and ashamed, we worry ourselves if God will truly forgive us, especially those sins that we struggle with on a daily basis. How often will God forgive me?

 Today’s passage is a wonderful reminder of the grace and mercy God shows His children. Jesus used some multiplication to ensure Peter and His followers knew forgiveness is just as much a part of God’s everyday life, as the struggles we battle daily. Don’t take me wrong, God’s grace and mercy doesn’t give you the right to live unhinged from His commands to live an obedient life. The struggle is real and some days it can be overwhelming….but just remember there’s no limit to His forgiveness.

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

 God created you and knows your human frailties, that’s why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who made payment for your sins by dying on a cross and rose again 3 days later, defeating death and sin. He loves you and wants you to have a life full of joy and not be weighted down by guilt. Come to Him in sincere repentance and know that your past sins (even what happened minutes ago) are completely removed as far as the East is from the West.   

 “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” John 13:15

 Many years ago, we took a family vacation to Florida. One of the places we visited had a theatre style turntable, which we sat in seats and watched the various decades pass by from the 40s and 50s. One thing I noticed, each scene had a national hero, someone Americans looked up to. Moving forward to our current time, I’ve given much thought about who our national hero is and honestly, I can’t think of anyone who I’d model my life after.

 Today’s verse comes from the mouth of Jesus Christ. He just finished washing His Disciple’s feet  during the Feast of the Passover (John 13:1-17) and encouraged them to live a life of servanthood. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to give us the perfect example of how to live our life. If you consider yourself a child of God, then your hero should be Jesus Christ. You’ll find His ways aren’t popular in today’s society, but that’s ok, because as a child of God you are not of this world, but separate from others, yet in the world to serve others and bring awareness of Christ. II Corinthians 6:17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

 Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28

 One question you should ask yourself, is your life one that expects to be served OR are you serving others? That’s a though question and cuts straight to the heart. Serving others through love, grace, compassion, and giving, are perfect examples of how Jesus Christ lived and wants you to follow suit. Ask God to help you transform your mind and heart to resemble how Jesus Christ lived and you’ll receive God’s blessings for your faithfulness and in the process bring awareness of God’s saving grace to the lost. God bless!

 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 1 John 2:3

 How well do you know God? If you are like most Christians, you are like a student, continually learning more about Him as you go through life. God came to earth over 2,000 years ago in human flesh, His name is Jesus Christ, and He lived in a manner He expects us to live. Jesus is the perfect example of God and His character. As we grow in our understanding of Him, His actions, His thoughts, and His beliefs, they will be reflected in our character. Do others see Jesus in you?

 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:4

 Sadly, there are Christians today who have the knowledge and understanding of God, yet fail to live an obedient life. It's more than just accepting Jesus Christ.  Living in purposeful sin is eternally dangerous and many on the day of Judgment will hear Jesus say, “I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” Matthew 7:23.  Jesus did not make payment for your sins by dying on the cross for you to live a worldly/sinful lifestyle. Your choice to accept Jesus’ sacrifice is a decision you made, and you must continually engage your life and understanding of His will and purpose for you! Otherwise, you are simply a human with the title “Christian”.

 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 1 John 2:5

 If you consider yourself a Christian, you must read and study God’s word so you can truly understand His character and live in a manner worthy of Jesus sacrifice for your sins.

 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:17

 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:14

 If you are like most people, you love to receive God’s blessings. They come in a variety of ways to help you with your finances, relationships, necessities for life, spiritual….the list is endless. But, how can you obtain God’s blessings?  

 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17

 At the beginning of time for humans, God created a beautiful garden for Adam and Eve to live in and eat all the fruits from the garden, except from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Think about it, they had God’s blessings all around them, yet there was only a narrow way to disappoint Him. Sadly for them, and mankind, they chose the narrow path of disobedience and paid the price for their sin. The road to receiving God’s blessings was wide, and they missed the mark.

 If you love Me, keep My commandments. Luke 14:15

 One of Dr. Charles Stanley’s famous sayings, “God blesses obedience”. Today, the route for God’s blessings has narrowed down to a single path by living an obedient life in Christ. That pathway is illuminated with the light of Christ, and anything off that pathway is darkness. God does not and cannot bless you when you are walking in darkness. As this world grows more cold and evil, that pathway seems harder and harder to walk, but with the Holy Spirit guiding you, you can navigate through every temptation known to man, so you can stay in God’s graces and receive His blessings. Chose the narrow way, chose life! God bless!!!

 Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken! Psalm 55:22

 Back in 2013, I moved into my new home after my divorce. Living single, money was tight and the bills never seemed to end. I recall one week all I had was $20 in my wallet and it was a Monday with payday 4 days away. I prayed for God to help me get through the week. Not too long after that prayer, I looked in my fridge to find it full of food, more than enough to get me through the week, my gas tank was full in my truck, and all the bills that week had been paid. I literally broke down and thanked God for His goodness.

 What burden are you carrying into 2025? May be a health issue, financial, relational, or more of an emotional crisis and you feel like the world is against you. Today’s verse is a great reminder that God is ready, willing, and capable of handling any burden you carry. All you have to do is give it to Him through prayer and faith, with the belief that He will do what’s necessary to ease its weight. Trusting God is what He wants from you, so you don’t try to sustain life’s burdens alone. His love has a way of brining you back to dependence upon Him.

 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

 Friend, trust me when I tell you, God wants to be involved in your everyday life. When you depend upon Him daily to meet the needs and carry the weight of your burdens, He works in ways that are beyond your sight, but all for your benefit. I’ve seen it time after time in my life and He will do the same for you! What burden can you release into His loving hands today? Happy New Year!