Sermons – The Source UMC: Recent Episodes
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From the book: Ego is the Enemy “The pretense of knowledge is our most dangerous vice, because it prevents us from getting any better.” King Solomon (900s BC) wrote: “Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” Proverbs 19:27 A thousand years later, Greek philosopher Epictetus (50-138 AD) wrote: “It is impossible for...
The very act that brought a false judgment about God also brought a false judgment about Adam and Eve, and thus about all of humanity. We cannot reject the truth about God without thereby rejecting the truth about ourselves and our neighbors. And we cannot refrain from loving God without thereby refraining from loving ourselves...
Much has been said about the sin of pride. We have many examples of it in Scripture and way too many in our culture. A little pride is okay. I was proud of my service in the Marine Corps. We can be proud when we do a good job and when we help others. However,...
A new year begins with anticipation and hope. The Psalmist writes: “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” (Psalm 39:7, ESV) However, we are also told that we will face trouble. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV) The...
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. You who are blessed with children of your own can probably best understand how I personally feel about this celebration. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My...
Through the work of the Spirit in our lives and through the discipline of our minds (Romans 12:2), the roots of our lives must become firmly planted in the reality of God’s love as revealed in Christ. Like the ground from which a tree’s roots are nourished, God’s love is the one source from which...
Considering both our study, Repenting of Religion, and today being the beginning of a new year, I think the following video is worth a view. “Finding Peace in Surrender” – Jordan Peterson (38:55) Today is a good day to start anew. Not with some new diet or exercise plan, but with a new perspective on...
Much has been said about the sin of pride. We have many examples of it in Scripture and way too many in our culture. A little pride is okay. I was proud of my service in the Marine Corps. We can be proud when we do a good job and when we help others. However,...
“Honor” is one of those intangible aspects of life. Many of us seek “honor” in various ways. But, as Proverbs says, “Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.” (26:1, ESV) Scripture portrays the honorable and the fool as opposites. So, who exactly is the fool? Scripture...
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Everything we are in Christ, and thus everything we are called to be in Christ, is summed up in the word love [agape]. To truly love God includes loving others with the same love God has for us and the same love God has for them (John 13:34). This is part of what it means...
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I owe this one to my (famous) twin brother Roger. My “Men of Valor” focus was inspired by a message he gave to my church’s men’s group on a Veterans Day weekend. His opening thoughts were from the movie “Gladiator.” As Maximus goes down the line of his commanders, they grab each other’s right arm...
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A “mulligan” is a term originating in golf, referring to a second chance or a “do-over” after an initial shot or attempt has gone poorly. In informal golf games, a player may be allowed to replay a shot without penalty, essentially wiping the slate clean. In charity golf tournaments, buying a mulligan typically means purchasing a limited number...
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By sacrificing himself for us, God ascribes unsurpassable worth to people who in and of themselves have little apparent worth. In doing this, God reveals his nature, which is eternal, unsurpassable love. You’d never know this about God, however, unless your eyes were fixed on Jesus (Heb. 12:2). Hence, every mental picture we have of...
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This post is a bit different than the usual Discipleship Moment. One, it is a video. Two, it is a bit longer than the usual 3-minute read. Please give it the time it requires (11 min).
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“I’ll go the distance; I’ll go the distance!” (“I’ll Go the Distance, Maranatha! Music) This is not the same as Michael Bolton’s “Go the Distance” used in the animated movie, Hercules. In fact, the messages oppose one another. The message of “Go the Distance” is about self-reliance and self-glory. The message of “I’ll Go the...
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“That’s not very smart,” was Lynne’s response when I told her I was going to Airborne Training (Jump School). I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve been given the “not smart” response on many occasions. Some are not valid, but many probably were. When I volunteered to return to Vietnam for a second combat tour, several...
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What does the Bible say about courage? “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 31:24, ESV) There is a reason behind God’s command to be courageous. Nearly every time God says “fear not,” He provides a reason to have courage, and that reason is God Himself. God calms...
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Scripture repeatedly and emphatically commands us to live in love (Eph. 5:2) and to put love above and before all things (Col. 3:14, 1 Peter 4:8). It tells us that if we love, we fulfill everything else the Lord requires of us (Gal. 5:14). But that if we don’t love, nothing else we do is...
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“If America is to have any hope for the future, the men of the church need to humble themselves and return to their ‘first love.’” The Christian classic, The Pilgrim’s Progress, written by John Bunyan in 1678, is an allegory that influenced more writers than any other work except the Bible. In the “dream,” “Christian,”...
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One way to go through life is to turn away from the things that are hard. You can take the easy way, forgoing difficulty whenever possible. Or you can choose to see hardship as an opportunity, as a test or a trial, rather than as an obstacle. It offers a chance to make yourself smarter,...
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This gospel, as titled, is attributed to Lucan authorship “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14) and companion of Paul (2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 24). Its composition is typically placed in the later part of the first century, depending on the source and approach to placing Luke in its historical context though an actual date is not clear. Luke is widely accepted as the third of the four canonical Gospels. This Gospel, like the others,...
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Doctors do it. Detectives do it. Aliens allegedly do it. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the verb form of a “probe” as follows: “to search into and explore very thoroughly:subject to a penetrating investigation.” Probing is a long-accepted military practice. In combat operations, a commander will probe the enemy’s defenses to find a weak point...
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Recently, I ran across this comic. As Christians, are we a people who have forgotten our roots? The church has always existed in a rapidly changing world. Today, it is a world of the incessant chatter of social media and real-time updates on everything from world politics to what your friend had for breakfast this...
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“Are you okay?” asked a gentleman who grabbed my arm. “Are you hurt?” asked another. “Only my pride,” I responded as another gentleman told me, “That was a good recovery!” “Jump school training, tuck and roll,” I replied. As everyone drifted off, I told myself I’m not wearing this sweatshirt for the rest of my...
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This gospel, as titled, is attributed to Lucan authorship “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14) and companion of Paul (2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 24). Its composition is typically placed in the later part of the first century, depending on the source and approach to placing Luke in its historical context though an actual date is not clear. Luke is widely accepted as the third of the four canonical Gospels. This Gospel, like the others,...
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This is a question that we often ask ourselves. Well, the Book of Romans has an answer you should seriously consider. Romans 12:1-2 (The Message) So here’s what I want you to do. God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God...
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This gospel, as titled, is attributed to Lucan authorship “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14) and companion of Paul (2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 24). Its composition is typically placed in the later part of the first century, depending on the source and approach to placing Luke in its historical context though an actual date is not clear. Luke is widely accepted as the third of the four canonical Gospels. This Gospel, like the others,...
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“I never thought about this before,” I said to Lynne as we were discussing a book someone had recommended to us. “Thriving in Babylon” by pastor Larry Osborne presents a unique portrait of Daniel the Prophet. I have always loved the book of Daniel, but like most students of Scripture, I tended to look more...
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The theme of this Bible Study is to focus on the Apostle Luke’s perspective of the life and ministry of Jesus. The purpose of our study is to show that the nuances we often overlook or become desensitized to within the Gospels have a significant impact on our understanding of who Jesus is and the...
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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” – Ephesians 1:3 (NASB) I’ll never forget talking to this dude in Florida who was one of the most lost and arrogant people I’ve ever met in my 59 trips...
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Letter 28 Themes: Fear of and blessings of death; spiritual perseverance; middle aged prosperity and adversity; worldly attachments; spiritual attrition, earthly utopia. Letter 29 Themes: Cowardice; pride; hatred; courage; despair; God’s motive for creating a dangerous world; superstitions involving hypotheticals; relying on God alone. Letter 30 Themes: Duty, purpose, pride, cowardice, fatigue, peevishness, disappointment, total...
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We think we want to be rich – or famous – or powerful. We want to succeed. We want to achieve. We want more of this or less of that. These desires of ours are explicit; they define our goals and order our priorities. We salivate over them. But, deep down, they don’t reflect what...
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When I was a younger Christian, I was eager to add labels to my Christianity. Today, people too often will use labels. I am a High-Church / Low Church, old earth / young earth, charismatic / non-charismatic, pedo-baptism / credo-baptism, Arminianism / Calvinism, liberal / conservative, Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Non-denominational “Christian.” Through the years I...
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Letter 25 Themes: Mere Christianity; novelty; pleasure; fads; discontentment of the Same Old Things; jargon. Letter 26 Themes: Unselfishness (self-denial); charity (agape love); erotic enchantment (eros love) in courtship. Letter 27 Themes: Spiritual distraction; petitionary prayer; the nature of time and prayer; Historical Point of View.
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“Time to get our flu shot,” Lynne said as we drove past our local pharmacy. We blow hot and cold on getting the flu shots. They develop flu vaccines using the most likely flu variants expected the following year. Sometimes they work; sometimes they don’t. They also develop other vaccines to prevent contracting other serious...
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Timothy was a young man who traveled with Paul on his ministry travels and became the pastor of the church in the city of Ephesus. In a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, he offered this warning: “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of...
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Letter 22 Themes: Spiritual dossiers; hedonism; pleasures of God; power of Christian influence; music and silence. Letter 23 Themes: Value of intelligent Christian community; corrupted spirituality; “historical Jesus;” social justice. Letter 24 Themes: Spiritual ignorance and pride; need for social validation; humility; arrogance; the inner ring.
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“At 10,000 feet above sea level, when I pray, I’m practically whispering in God’s ear,” I texted a friend the other morning. “Hahaaaa! That’s really cool,” was his response. As often happens, when I am trying to be clever, I often hear God whisper back to me, “Is that what you really believe?” As a...
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The prophet Jeremiah recorded what God told him. “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord?” (Jeremiah 23:23-24, ESV). There may be times when you...
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Letter 19 Themes: God’s love, competition, being in love, marriage, exploitation of anything for sinister purposes. Letter 20 Themes: Attacks on chastity; unequally yoked marriages; sexual “tastes” of males and females; idealism. Letter 21 Themes: Irritability (peevishness); sense of entitlement; value of time; ownership verses stewardship.
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“It must be that time of year again,” I muttered as I muted the TV during the political ad. “Whatever happened to, ‘If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all’ maxim,” I asked Lynne. She shrugged her shoulders as we waited for the diatribe to cease. Political vitriol has been around as...
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“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1, ESV) However, the New International Version (NIV) translates this a bit differently. “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” (Psalm 23:1, NIV) Why is there a difference in translation? Well, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the original meaning of the word “want” in old English (prior to 1706) was...
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Letter 16 Themes: Church shopping and criticism; being teachable; humility and love on secondary doctrinal issues. Letter 17 Themes: Different facets of gluttony; greed related to sensuality (sins of the senses); selfishness; fasting. Letter 18 Themes: Nature and the role of love; physical intimacy and oneness in marriage; feelings of being “in love”.
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Faith is a habit. Have you heard that before? Often we think of faith as something we have or don’t have in the sense of being either a Christian or a non-Christian. But Lewis says we “must train the habit of Faith,” in the reading for September 18 in A Year with C.S. Lewis. His point...
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Letter 13 Themes: Genuine repentance; pains and pleasures; individualism; increased apathy towards goodness. Letter 14 Themes: Genuine humility; pride; false modesty; self-forgetfulness; anguishing too much over sin. Letter 15 Themes: Anxiety about the future; living in the “real” present with eternity in mind; exaggerated optimism.
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Our life is not found in correct doctrine or in our piety, as important as these are. To get life from these things is religion. Our life is rather found in Jesus Christ, and in Jesus Christ alone. When we repent of our religion and commit to seeing God, ourselves, and every person we encounter...
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Letter 10 Themes: Spiritual significance of friendships and acquaintances; social, sexual, and intellectual vanity; pride; friendship and love of the world; avoiding being two-faced or duplicitous; hypocrisy. Letter 11 Themes: Understanding human laughter and the risk fo sinning through joking; danger of flippancy. Letter 12 Themes: Backsliding; dry times; loss of enthusiasm for spiritual things;...
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“Galveston Beach Patrol confirms fifth tourism-season drowning,” read the headline of the online publication of The Daily News of Galveston County on June 21, 2024. These five drownings in Galveston occurred from Memorial Day weekend until the end of June. In all five incidents, it would appear the drownings resulted from existing “rip current” conditions....
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“It seems there’s an element of ‘church’ in America that shoots its wounded.” First of all, this is not about the Wounded Warriors charity, which I support. This is about the too many Christians across our nation who have been wounded by those they believed to be followers of Christ. It seems there’s an element...
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Letter 7 Themes: Materialism (evolutionary thinking), skepticism, belief in demons; factions and cliques; spiritual distraction through social causes, movements, or policies. Letter 8 Themes: Ups and downs of spiritual life; growing during the dry times; the walk of faith and obedience. Letter 9 Themes: Spiritually dry times; sensual temptations during these times; the enticements and...
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Scripture repeatedly and emphatically commands us to live in love and to put love above and before all things. “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians. 5:2, ESV “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians. 3:14, ESV It tells us...
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Chapter 1 Themes: Complacent and smug thinking; evaluation of truth, reality, and materialism; temptations when draw the patient away from universal (eternal) issues. Chapter 2 Themes: Reality verses expectations; disappointment & disillusionment with church; genuine humility. Chapter 3 Themes: Sanctification; relationships as a Christian; humility, judgmental attitudes; personal blind spots; danger of speech; the focus...
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“This is hilarious! Lynne, you’ve got to look at this,” I said to my bride as I watched the Reel on Facebook play out for the third time. Lynne doesn’t do Facebook (she’s smarter than I am), so she somewhat reluctantly came over to look. The video showed two dogs on opposite sides of a...
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Only Christians know true freedom. Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law through his sacrificial death, setting believers free from the law of sin and death. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36, NLT The apostle Paul explains Christian freedom in this way: “For you have been called to live in freedom,...
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By C. S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters is the most engaging account of temptation – and triumph over it – ever written. C.S. Lewis’s sly and ironic portrayal of human life and foibles from the unique vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to “Our Father Below. Wormwood, a demon apprentice, must secure the damnation...
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♫ “And the rockets’ red glare,the bombs bursting in air,gave proof through the night,that our flag was still there.” ♫ Admittedly, the singing of the Star Spangled Banner was awful, but the room full of Veterans sang it a cappella with heartfelt enthusiasm. We spanned several generations of war fighters, from Vietnam to the more...
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Our life is not found in correct doctrine or in our piety, as important as these are. To get life from these things is religion. Our life is rather found in Jesus Christ, and in Jesus Christ alone. When we repent of our religion and commit to seeing God, ourselves, and every person we encounter...
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“I have no clue what that means,” I thought to myself! I was in our weekly Sermon Club where all of our church staff listens to the theme of an upcoming message and collectively provides their input and perspective on the proposed message. One of our Elders, “Bear” (that is such a cool nickname), was...
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Scripture repeatedly and emphatically commands us to live in love and to put love above and before all things. “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2, ESV “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14, ESV It tells us...
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The following is based on a quote from Marcus Tullius Cicero. Each statement from this quote is compared to the biblical equivalents. “Six mistakes mankind keeps making century after century.” “Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.” Proverbs 22:16, ESV “Do not rob the...
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“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up,” went the TV commercial that aired in 2007. Sadly, it generated a lot of mockery, and it became somewhat of a bantering phrase for many. I can neither confirm nor deny that I may have done so, but as I get older, falling isn’t anything to laugh about....
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“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?” Ecclesiastes 5:10-11, ESV “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with...
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The following is an excerpt from the epilogue of the book, A Time to Kill, a Time to Heal by Roger Helle. The title reflects the words from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. * * * I was in the operating room. Internal bleeding had caused the doctor to rush me to surgery at the Ninety-fifth Evacuation Hospital...
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Hebrews was a sermon for a specific people and culture in the midst of martyrdom and persecution, but is also so relevant for us today, reminding us to continue walking toward Jesus regardless of our culture or our circumstances. Let us journey through this bridge between the Old and New Testaments to get to the...
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I know what you’re thinking! Your mind is going to that epic Gerard Butler movie from 2006, where three hundred buff Spartan dudes held off the entire Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae and saved the country. While that was an actual historical battle, they took theatrical liberties in the film. What I’m talking...
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“The serpent said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’? … But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’”...
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From the book Relational Holiness – Responding to the Call of Love by Thomas J. Oord and Michael Lodahl Contributory Holiness Notions as Expressions of Love. “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You...
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“My father needs a heart transplant,” the text reply said. After several major heart attacks in quick succession, the need for a transplant became painfully clear. I responded with a commitment to be in prayer for the dad and the family. Organ donation is a multi-faceted process. It’s a sad experience because the donor must...
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“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away...
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From the book Relational Holiness – Responding to the Call of Love by Thomas J. Oord and Michael Lodahl Christian perfection is, in its essence, perfection in love. As we defined earlier, love is “To act intentionally, in response to God and others, to promote well-being.” Knowing this definition of love differs greatly from actually...
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“So, you’re a prophet now?” I paused momentarily, trying to determine how I was going to answer the question. We were discussing prophecy, and I was sharing with a friend my understanding of the “last days” invasion of Israel in the book of Ezekiel (Chapters 38-39). With the term “prophesy,” most Christians think of “foretelling”...
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The following is an excerpt from the book, A Time to Kill, A Time to Heal by Roger Helle. The book includes stories about the effort of Vietnam military veterans who help the people of Vietnam after the war, and the efforts to support the underground church in a country that attempts to stop the...
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From the book Relational Holiness – Responding to the Call of Love by Thomas J. Oord and Michael Lodahl “God is Love” is the single most important description of God in all of scripture. The Three-Personal God by C. S. Lewis (13:36) The following are the scripture references presented in the video. The x:xx is...
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“God put me right next to a fellow warrior to let him know God cared for him.” We flew out of Saigon, Vietnam, to Bangkok, Thailand. Nothing unusual was going on in Saigon, but when we arrived in Bangkok, the airport was full of armed Thai soldiers. That’s when we learned the much-anticipated war on...
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In the book of Revelation, John was told to write to the seven churches. He was told to write to them about what they were doing that was correct and good, what they were doing that was wrong and bad, what they needed to do to correct this, and the ultimate result of their choices....
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From the book Relational Holiness – Responding to the Call of Love by Thomas J. Oord and Michael Lodahl Love functions as the core notion of holiness. God made us in His image (Genesis 1:27, ESV) so we bear some of that image in that we naturally love through “Affection” (storge), “Friendship” (philia), and “Romantic...
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“This is my secret catfish spot,” Steve told me as we walked from the road to the riverbank. I had a brief assignment as a Platoon Commander at Officer’s Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, and Steve was my Platoon Sergeant. He was the typical gruff Marine Staff NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) to the candidates, but we...
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In the book of Revelation, John was told to write to the seven churches. He was told to write to them about what they were doing that was correct and good, what they were doing that was wrong and bad, what they needed to do to correct this, and the ultimate result of their choices....
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From the book Relational Holiness – Responding to the Call of Love by Thomas J. Oord and Michael Lodahl “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” Inigo Montoya – Princess Bride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wujVMIYzYXg “The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up...
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I know what you’re thinking – you think this is about Superman, don’t you? Not even close. Superman is a Hollywood creation, as are all the so-called “superheroes.” If you want to talk about a real “man of steel,” you need to look to the God of Creation, for He alone can craft such a...
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In the book of Revelation, John was told to write to the seven churches. He was told to write to them about what they were doing that was correct and good, what they were doing that was wrong and bad, what they needed to do to correct this, and the ultimate result of their choices....
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From the book Relational Holiness – Responding to the Call of Love by Thomas J. Oord and Michael Lodahl Consecrated to God’s service, and conforming all things to the will of God (Romans 6:19, 6:22; Ephesians 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Peter 1:15-16). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. Holiness carries on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions...
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As we navigate this season, my ask is that you mute all of the noise of external sources and the rumor mill. Let’s deal with what is before us as we prayerfully process this historic moment.For more information, we encourage you to check out the news articles and videos from the Kentucky Conference website.
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“You guys loitering for Jesus?” the visitor asked as we passed each other in the church foyer. I stopped and asked, “Say again?” He repeated the phrase and acted surprised that I had never heard it before. As an Elder, I was in the church foyer during the first service, engaging people in conversation as...
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“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship Here is how the Apostle Paul explained this. “What shall we say then? Are we to continue...
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From the book: “Relational Holiness – Responding to the Call of Love.” By Thomas J. Oord and Michael Lodahl. What does it mean to say you believe? (20:54) “14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do...
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By Thomas Jay Oord and Michael Lodahl This study calls us to center our understanding and practice of Christian holiness where John Wesley did – in the love of God and neighbor. It also highlights Wesley’s wisdom about the vital role of spiritual practices in nurturing and shaping this love. Relational Holiness offers insight and evidence...
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“Anything I can be in prayer for you?” My friend and I had just finished our discipleship time and after asking him what I could pray for him he asked me the same question. My initial response was, “I’m good” but before I could say the words, I was convicted that I really wasn’t “good.”...
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“So, are you laying out a fleece on that course of action?” While I understood the question, several of the guys around me had confused looks on their faces. It became a “teachable moment” as I shared the story of Gideon laying out a fleece (sheep skin) as he asked God to confirm His call...
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In 2 Samuel 12 God sends the prophet Nathan to King David to rebuke him for the sins with Bathsheba and the killing of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. King David repented of his sins and wrote about it in Psalm 51. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be...
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“A-h-h-h-h! It feels so good to get this pack off my back,” I whined as I eased down to the ground. “At least it’s not raining,” someone offered. It was late 1970, and we were operating in the Que Son Mountains in South Vietnam. The monsoon season was raging, and to be resupplied, we had...
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The 40 days of Lent are about preparation and repentance. Easter is about our salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This makes it a time of rejoicing. “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be...
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Few things are more uncomfortable than holding a conviction when the world seems hell-bent on sweeping it aside. It’s easy to blend in, to nod along, and to prioritize comfort over conscience. But history tells us a reoccurring truth: nearly every generation faces a moment where silence equates to surrender; where comfort breeds complicity. The...
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Messy - Loving Others Is Not EasyThe Alter Of Self-Sacrifice1 Corinthians 13:1-13 - https://my.bible.com/bible/72/1CO.1.1-13.HCSB
Messy - Loving Others Is Not EasyEnemy TerritoryLuke 6:27-35 HCSB - https://my.bible.com/bible/72/LUK.6.27-35.HCSB
Leviticus 19:15-18https://my.bible.com/bible/72/LEV.19.15-18.HCSB15 “You must not act unjustly when deciding a case. Do not be partial to the poor or give preference to the rich; judge your neighbor fairly.16 You must not go about spreading slander among your people; you must not jeopardize your neighbor’s life; I am Yahweh.17 “You must not harbor hatred against your brother. Rebuke your neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him.18 Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh.
2 Timothy 3:10-17
https://my.bible.com/bible/72/2TI.3.10-17.HCSB
10 But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance,
11 along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all.
12 In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
13 Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you,
15 and you know that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Galatians 6:1-5
https://my.bible.com/bible/72/GAL.6.1-5.HCSB
1 Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted.
2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else.
5 For each person will have to carry his own load.
Acts 2, 42-47, HCSB
https://my.bible.com/bible/72/ACT.2.42-47.HCSB
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.
43 Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.
44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.
45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need.
46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.
Galatians 6:11-16 HCSB
https://my.bible.com/bible/72/GAL.6.11-16.HCSB
11 Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting.
12 Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised — but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
13 For even the circumcised don’t keep the law themselves; however, they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh.
14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.
15 For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.
16 May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy to the Israel of God!
Mark 9:38-41, HCSB
38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”
39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me.
40 For whoever is not against us is for us.
41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name, since you belong to the Messiah — I assure you: He will never lose his reward.
Philippians 1:1-11
https://my.bible.com/bible/72/PHP.1.1-11.HCSB
1 Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,
4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer,
5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel.
8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment,
10 so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Matthew 1:18-25
https://my.bible.com/bible/72/MAT.1.18-25.HCSB
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
19 So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit.
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
24 When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her
25 but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus.
9 Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.
10 Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.
11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.
13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
16 Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.
18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone
Isaiah 9:2-7 (NLT)
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
Exodus 35:4-9; 36:1-7 (NLT)
Then Moses said to the whole community of Israel, “This is what the Lord has commanded: Take a sacred offering for the Lord. Let those with generous hearts present the following gifts to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth; tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chest piece. “The Lord has gifted Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other skilled craftsmen with wisdom and ability to perform any task involved in building the sanctuary. Let them construct and furnish the Tabernacle, just as the Lord has commanded.” So Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and all the others who were specially gifted by the Lord and were eager to get to work. Moses gave them the materials donated by the people of Israel as sacred offerings for the completion of the sanctuary. But the people continued to bring additional gifts each morning. Finally, the craftsmen who were working on the sanctuary left their work. They went to Moses and reported, “The people have given more than enough materials to complete the job the Lord has commanded us to do!” So Moses gave the command, and this message was sent throughout the camp: “Men and women, don’t prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough!” So the people stopped bringing their sacred offerings. Their contributions were more than enough to complete the whole project.
Mark 12:41-44 (NLT)
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
Luke 10:25-37 (NLT)
One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
Luke 12:22-34 (NLT)
Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!
Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)
Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Judges 3:31 (NLT)
After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad
Target On Your Back?
John 12:9-11 (NLT)
When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to
see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised
from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill
Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the
people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.
Carey Nieuwhof - Didn't See It Coming
James 3:13-18 - link
Prove it by living a honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
The "I"s have it!
Pride can be birthed out of our insecurities
Proverbs 16:18 - link
Isaiah 14 - link
Satan was not his original name, it was lucifer - star of the morning
Ezekiel 28 - link
Pride is the deadliest of the seven deadly sins
Humility is a gift from God
Johnathan Edwards
Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil's reach as humility.
Thomas à Kempis
The more humble and obedient to God a man is, the more wise and at peace he will be in all that he does.
This week's passages Genesis Chapter 1, Verses 26-27 Genesis Chapter 2, Verses 18-23Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper as his complement.”Work on having meaningful conversations with both people and God. Slow down, and make the time. Set technology aside and focus on the one in front of you. If you do, you'll get reconnected which will be a blessing not just for you but those who now have your attention.
Luke 18:9-14, HCSB None of us are perfect, and we shouldn't judge our goodness based upon the perceived badness of others.
We apologize for the technical difficulties that resulted in the less than ideal sound quality.
Matthew 7:21-27
When you hear the words of Jesus, you must do the will of his Father in Heaven. Doing so will be like the wise man who builds on solid rock, unlike the foolish man who built on sand.
Hebrews 10:19-25 (The Message)
So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body.
So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
HCSB, John 21:15-17
The original Peter, Paul, and Mary
You are a COGPOW
Child of God, Person of Worth
Matthew 28:1-6, New International Version (NIV)
John 11:17-27, New International Version (NIV)
Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
John 12:12-16
Jesus the Way to the Father
John 14:1-7
Today's sermon was recorded in the office since services were cancelled because of COVID-19.
Stay safe everyone.
Darkness is simply the absence of light
People are drawn to light instinctually
Relationship with the Father is freeing to the population
We stay in the darkness because it is familiar
We have to believe that is who he says he is and will do what he says he will do
How do we step into the light and align ourselves to His will?
If you are going to fast from something this Lenten season, do it so you have more room for something better.
This bible passage happens just after the feeding of the 5,000.
The quest for more "earthly bread" leaves us empty
Jesus first fed their bodies, then he fed there souls
True satisfaction only comes from Jesus
Be like and love like Jesus by being his hands and feet.
At dawn, he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Compassion towards everyone we encounter
Keys to Compassion
Remember that you are not perfect
It is not our job to condemn others
We may not understand their story
To have compassion you need to learn of others needs
Get out of your comfort zone -> no more routine
The testing of your faith produces perseverance, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault. God does not rescue us from our hard times but gives us the tools to survive them, we need to own up to and learn from our mistakes.
Seek out Christians who are further along in their journey because like Farmers Insurance, "They know a thing or two because they've seen a thing or two."
proverbs -> wisdom worth more than silver
trust what you hear from God
It's our job to humble ourselves and be accepting of what others have to say
Be sincere when asking for God's wisdom
When we ask we need to be ready to believe and act on it
Joy is not happiness.
Happiness is based on circumstances.
Instead, we should be
Praising him for who he is
Digging into scripture
Joy can be found in answering God's call
Our generosity is key to our joy
Shalom: noun - completeness
verb - finished, to make peace
Peace is found through God
Ephesians 2:14
4 Steps To Find Peace
Acknowledge the God is who he says he is
Accept God's grace
Forgive yourself
Live obediently
Billy Graham - "Peace must often begin with ourselves"
Max Lucado - "Anxious For Nothing"
C - Celebrate
A - Ask God
L - Let it go
M - Meditate
Before your feet hit the floor, give your day over to God
Christian hope = confidence in God
Hope is faith for the future
Make sure your hope has a legitimate basis
In order to nurture hope, you must choose hope
Psalm 23:4 – Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we don’t have to cave to fear because God is with us.
Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Romans 8:35, 37-39 – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 Peter 5:7 – "Cast your cares upon Jesus, for he cares for you."
Eugene Peterson
Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God"
"Be still, and know that I am"
"Be still, and know that I"
"Be still, and know"
"Be still"
"Be"
Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua by Barb Roose
What If: How to Kill Worry and Anxiety Before They Kill You By Caleb Suko