I like going through cemeteries. My calling as a pastor takes me into them often but I go there regardless. It is an interesting and helpful place for me to visit for two reasons. First, it reminds me of the brevity of life. Unless Christ returns, I, too, will soon occupy a place in the ground in a cemetery. Walking through one awakens me to reality that I am going to die and such awareness should move me to live each day to its fullest as if it were my last. It could be.
Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Ministries
Luke 14:27 – Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
Here you will find activities and information that promotes growth in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and our journey of discipleship.
Today’s nugget isn’t for everyone. If you are a person who has it all together, experience no spiritual struggles, are quite content on where you are spiritually, are oblivious to spiritual warfare, go through your life relatively problem-free and don’t have any concerns over sin, don’t grieve over spiritual inconsistencies in your life and are satisfied with your time in the Word, prayer, and the other things of God, then this nugget isn’t for you.
In today’s scripture, is a portion of the exodus of God’s people from their captivity in Egypt. Humanly speaking, they were between a rock and hard place. They stood on the shores of the Red Sea. Not the “reed” sea of a few inches of wade-able bog or marshland. This was the Red Sea as in deep sea, as in very deep sea, as in way over your head sea. Behind them was a huge cloud of dust and it wasn’t a sandstorm.
Friends, we are as close to the Lord in knowing and loving Him as we want to be. He is eager and ready to be had and known, but not without effort, disciplined effort, by us. In fact, if we don’t give it our best disciplined effort, then we won’t get close to Him. He said, “You will find me when you seek me with your whole heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Christianity differs from other religions in the world in many ways. Two predominant differences are the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promises of God. Take away the resurrection of Jesus and we have nothing. Yes, our faith rises and falls on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The second distinction making Christians different from those who follow other religions is that we are people who exist, live, and hope in a God who has given us promises as the means to exist, live, and hope.
Malachi 3:16 – Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. THEME OF THE DAY: GOD-GIVEN DESIRES. Let’s face it. All believers experience the pain of doubt. We do have those times we struggle…