“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) Living in a world with all the challenges and difficulties can cause one to lose heart.…

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) When we come to God through faith in Jesus Christ, we find a…

“So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:14) A familiar story in scripture is God’s challenge to Abrahm concerning the son of promise, Isaac. Fulfilling the promise of God to Abraham and Sarah, Isaac was…

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4) It seems like an oxymoron, to think of being in mourning and be blessed. The second Beatitude, Jesus seems to be saying just that.  Let us start with an understanding of mourning. Mourning is defined as “the expression of deep sorrow for someone…

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) Trust is defined as “firm belief or assured reliance on the character, reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.” (Merriam Webster Dictionary)…

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12) As we address temptation today, let us admit that we have all given into temptation, “for all have sinned…

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in…

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) When we have a hope which is given to us through the promises of Jesus, that we…

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet…

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11) It started in the beginning, when the tempter would apply his schemes against Adam and Eve. He would use deception and misdirection as he…