Posts with the tag “peace”

"But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up." - Jonah 1:4    When God calls you to something, it’s tempting to let fear hold you back. Maybe the task seems too big, too risky, or too far outside your comfort zone. You might be tempted to run, to avoid the calling, or even convince yourself that it’s not really f...  Read More

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."- James 4:10   Humility isn’t something that comes naturally to most of us. We live in a world that often praises self-confidence and independence, where admitting that you don’t have all the answers can feel like a weakness. But in God’s eyes, humility is one of the most powerful traits you can possess. It’s the key that unlocks the door ...  Read More

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:4   There’s a powerful connection between spending time in God’s Word and the desires of your heart. When you drift away from regularly reading the Bible, it’s easy for your desires to start pulling you in a direction that conflicts with what God wants for your life. You might still know what’s right, but th...  Read More

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."- Psalm 1:1-2   There’s something powerful about starting your day with God’s Word. When you open the Bible each day, you’re not just reading words on a page; you’re inviting God to ...  Read More

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."- James 1:2-3   When adversity comes your way, you have two choices: You can run from it or embrace it. This decision can define the trajectory of not only your spiritual journey but your entire life.  Running from adversity will often seem ...  Read More

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life."- Matthew 19:29   Living a sacrificial life isn’t easy, but God promises to take care of those who give of themselves for His sake. He calls us to lay down our own desires and ambitions, to surrender to His will, and to tru...  Read More

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7   Life has a way of throwing us curveballs. Just when we think we have everything under control, something unexpected happens, and sud...  Read More

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." - Ecclesiastes 2:10-11   Have you ever found yourself chasing after the thin...  Read More

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4   Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you're comforting someone who is going through a struggle you've already faced? In th...  Read More

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. – Matthew 18:20  There's something truly special about coming together in the name of Jesus. It's a reminder that we're not meant to walk this journey of faith alone, but rather, we're called to support and encourage one another along the way. The verse from Matthew 18:20 reminds us of the strength and presence of God when beli...  Read More

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." - Revelation 21:4    Life on this earth is filled with trials and tribulations. We face pain, suffering, and heartache on a daily basis. But as followers of Christ, we have a hope—a hope that transcends our present circumstances and points us toward a f...  Read More

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'" - Luke 2:10-11   Christmas Day, the culmination of our Advent journey, is a time of great celebration and joy. It is a day when we come together to commemorate the birth of Jesus, our Savior. Whi...  Read More

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33   Hard times come in various forms — trials, disappointments, losses, and challenges that test our strength and endurance. Yet, as believers, we possess a source of hope that sets us apart from those who do not know God. Hard times are a...  Read More

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" - Romans 11:33    In the grand tapestry of life, God weaves every thread with precision and purpose. His perfection knows no mistakes, and in His infinite wisdom, He orchestrates every event and circumstance for a reason. It is easy to become disheartened when we face...  Read More

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." - Matthew 5:14 (NIV)   As followers of Christ, we are called to be different from the world around us. We are to shine as lights in the darkness, reflecting the love, truth, and compassion of our Savior. In a world that often embraces darkness and confusion, let us stand firm in our faith and convictions. We are not called ...  Read More

Deuteronomy 28:2 (NIV) - "All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God."   When we choose obedience to God, He pours out His blessings upon our lives in abundant measure. Our obedience opens the door for His favor, provision, and grace to flow freely. The path of obedience is not always easy, but the rewards it brings far outweigh any sacrifice we may make. ...  Read More

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10b   Life in Christ is more than mere existence; it is a vibrant and abundant journey. When we are united with Christ, we experience a transformative awakening, where we move from spiritual death to eternal life. Let's explore what it means to be alive in Christ and embrace the fullness of the abundant life He offers. Befor...  Read More

 "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." - Psalm 51:10   As we draw nearer to God, something remarkable happens: He transforms our desires and cravings. The closer we grow to Him, the more our hearts align with His will, and the old desires that once consumed us fade away. Let's explore the profound work of God in reshaping our hearts and molding our desires. In...  Read More

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." - Psalm 56:3   Fear has a way of gripping our hearts, paralyzing us from stepping into the fullness of life that God has designed for us. But there is a powerful truth that can set us free: Trusting God with our fears. Let's explore what it truly means to surrender our fears into the hands of our loving and faithful God. Trusting God with your fears begin...  Read More

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." - Romans 12:18    Today, I want to talk to you about something that is on everyone's minds: peace. We live in a world where conflict and chaos seem to be the norm, but as believers in Christ, we are called to pursue peace.  In Romans 12:18, Paul encourages us to "live at peace with everyone." Notice that he says "everyo...  Read More

“Yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” - Provers 2:3-5  What would your life look like right now if you could think like God? You could take this question in a number of different directions...but just think about it....  Read More

“But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.” - Isaiah 53:5  I want to ask you a question today...do you remember what Jesus did on the cross? You might be thinking, “Pastor, of course I remember. How could I forget?” But I didn’t ask you if you forgot. I asked if you remember....  Read More

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” - Colossians 3:15  When you change your perspective from a glass-half-empty mindset where everything is going wrong in life...to a glass-half-full attitude of gratitude, your life will change. When your perspective changes, it allows you to see things the way God sees them.  And as you ...  Read More

“No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” - Isaiah 54:17  Did you know that when you belong to God, you belong to the most powerful being in the world? Yesterday, we looked at the story of a normal guy who could not...  Read More

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7  Do you have peace in your life? Do you live a life that is worry-free? If not, it could be that you are tr...  Read More

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” - Ephesians 3:20   God’s providence will always get you to His purpose. You aren’t powerful enough to stop God in your life. God’s going to get you to where He wants you to be. He’s made a commitment to do so, but sometimes you’ve got to take the long way to get there because...  Read More

“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.” - 2 Corinthians 3:5   Have you ever felt like God has you in over your head? Like you know you are following His will, and you are at peace with where you are because of your obedience, but you aren’t at peace when you think about performance?   You just don’t know if you have what it ta...  Read More

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” - John 14:27   Has someone ever told you to do something, made it seem so simple as if anyone can do it, and then added the end, “No pressure”? It’s like just by saying that, your blood pressure rises and you begin to feel uneasy. They said no pres...  Read More

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33   Are you in the midst of trials, difficulties, or heartache? Has life thrown you a curveball that is just too much to handle? If so, I have good news for you. Yesterday, we were reminded that victory is on the horizon, th...  Read More

“Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ He said, ‘why did you doubt?’” - Matthew 14:29-31   Yesterday, we read a good reminder that the God you serve is bigger than the problems you face. ...  Read More

“Because of this, I say to you, whatever you ask for when you pray, have faith that you will receive it. Then you will get it.” - Mark 11:24   Yesterday, we talked about how we often do not realize what we have in our hands. By hands, more specifically I mean what we have access to. As faithful believers, we have direct line access to God the Father.   This is a God who is all-knowing. He knows ab...  Read More

“But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” - Revelation 5:3-5 Yesterday, we discu...  Read More

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).  Peace on earth—we have all prayed for it. We all wonder how different the world would be without violence or hatred and how different people would be without jealousy or strife.            We all dream about an ideal world where there is ...  Read More

“He is before all thing, and by Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). As we’ve discussed before, the Christmas season has an effect on the world like no other time of the year does. We’ve explored how everyone seems to live in a state of anticipation at Christmas, not just for presents or for big dinners. Everyone seems to have a deeper, more supernatural anticipation. Christmas is the...  Read More

“Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).   The Christmas season is a time of expectation. We discussed this...  Read More

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel” (Genesis 3:15). We live in a broken and bitter world, but ever since the fall of mankind, God has been pursuing us. So often we wonder why our circumstances are not more ideal. Perhaps you ask why God would allow you to go through the season you’re in or wh...  Read More