There are so many things in life that will push us around if we don’t stand up & take control. Our flesh will push us to do what we want to do, fulfilling our own selfish desires, doing what is contrary to the will of God. Other people will push us around, pushing us to please them and keep them happy- allowing them to have a level of control over us. The cares of this world try to push us around, pushing us to constantly gain this, achieve that- controlling our emotions, energy, and our time. There comes a time when we have to stand up & take control.…
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How’s Your Year Going So Far? 3 Tips to Keep Moving Forward.
We’ve entered a new year and time is quickly passing us by. How’s your year going so far? Do you still have the excitement that you had on January 1st? Are you still focused? Surely, we’ve all had things thrown our way that we hadn’t expected- some good, some bad. The daily distractions and responsibilities of life seem to overwhelm us and take all the energy that we have. How do we handle daily life, yet still stay focused on our goals and dreams? Here are 3 Tips to Keep Moving Forward: 1. Create a theme for the year. Pray and think about what you really need to focus on.…
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Jesus Is Compassionate. Are You?
As the Lord is growing me in grace, He is showing me how grace and compassion are intertwined. Jesus is compassionate. Are you? Christ has been so gracious toward us, but we are often so hard on others. We must extend compassion to others, just as Jesus has extended compassion to us. We are only able to extend grace to others when we are compassionate toward them and their situation. So often, instead of being compassionate, we criticize. We have gotten so hard that instead of empathizing, we simply judge. We talk about why people got themselves into situations instead of praying for them, helping when we can. Jesus is…
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RESURRECTION SUNDAY 2018: There Comes a Time
There comes a time in our lives when everyone must flee.There are some things that we have to do that only involve us and God- No one else. There comes a time. Yesterday, Resurrection Sunday, our Pastor taught from Matthew 26:51-56. This passage focuses on the betrayal and arrest of Jesus Christ. It is the scene when Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. The scene when they laid hands on Jesus and took Him. The scene when Peter, disobediently, cut off the ear of one of them that were arresting Jesus. And in the same scene, after all was said and done: all the disciples forsook him, and fled. “Then all…
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Get Focused & Stay Focused
It’s easier to get focused than it is to stay focused. Just as it’s easier to start something than it is to finish something. It’s even easier to decide to do right than it is to stay persistent in doing right. Why is this the case? We’re too easily distracted. If we are to make real progress in life, we must get focused & stay focused. In order to stay focused on the most important things in life, we have to constantly remind ourselves of our priorities. We have to continually reflect to ensure we are keeping everything in its proper place. We have to constantly assess our heart to ensure…
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Why do you do the things you do?
Why do you do the things you do? If we’re honest, we’ll find that we do many things for the wrong reasons. We must constantly check our own hearts to assess the motives behind our actions. Naturally, we are selfish creatures. We have to be taught to share, to care, and to love. We don’t have to be taught to go after what we want, to think about our own desires, to take care of ourselves. Naturally, we will think about ourselves. Consider any 2 year old: Mine! No! I want that! They may be more dramatic than us as adults, but honestly we are just as selfish. It’s imperative…
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LIFE: Much is Required
The more we gain in life, the more that is required of us. It’s amazing how so often we cry “more, more” without realizing what that more will require of us. For every gain there is a cost. To whom much is given, much is required. Sometimes we ask for more out of selfishness and immaturity without realizing everything what will come along with more. Life is all about balance, which requires wisdom. I’m not at all saying that more is bad, I’m simply saying that we must understand that with more comes more responsibility. We often expect to gain more but do less. More can make life…
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Doing Well & Living Well
How do you define living well? Do you automatically think of what you have? Your money and your possessions? What’s most important to you? 2018 has been quite a year for me thus far, and I can honestly say that I’m on a journey to well living. We should all be able to define what living well looks like to us. What does living well look like to me? Being at peace on the inside. Being content with what I have. Being humble & loving. Being positive. Being fully present in each moment. Being free to live, enjoy, and express. Being excited about the future.I believe that doing well…
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Are You Controlled by Christ?
What controls you? Are you controlled by Christ? There are a number of things that try to control us, but as Christians the only thing that should control us is the Spirit of God. “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” – Galatians 5:24-26 This tells us that though we are saved and in Christ, it is possible for us to walk in things other than Christ. It makes sense that the Bible tells us…
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What Sin is in Your Heart?
Are you focused on conquering the sin in your life? What sin is in your heart? It’s so easy to focus on everything and everyone else, overlooking the fact that we have an issue with sin in our own hearts. Most of the problems that we have can be traced back to sin. The apostle Paul wrote the book of Philippians from prison, but he still wrote with joy and contentment: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” – Philippians 4:11 This demonstrates that it’s not about our circumstances, but rather what’s in our heart. Circumstances…
