Insights on Scripture from a Member of New Hope MBC
Division in church is bad. Everyone will tell you that. I won't disagree, but I would like to point out that perspective is everything. And in Acts 15 division led to multiplication and growth. So should we condemn the process when it results in positive outcomes? Division in church is not what God wants. But …
Sometimes I read the Bible and get a bit intimidated by the giants of faith I see there. Okay, most of the time I get a LOT intimidated by them. That's one of the things I appreciated about a recent sermon about Mark. For those of you who haven't counted, Mark is mentioned by name …
Over on the Facebook page, we're coming to the end of Forty Days in the Psalms. Reading and meditating on these poetic interludes made for a perfect way to spend the summer. It might surprise you to learn that I wrote a study book about this Psalm. That was five years ago, and each time …
Anyone who knows me, knows I’m competitive, and I’m sad to say I compare myself to others too often. That’s why I can say with complete authority that neither competition nor comparison belongs in church. Needless to say, this has been a lifelong struggle for me. It started innocently enough with the mindset of “be …
Continue reading "Why Competition and Comparison Don’t Belong in Church"
In this day and age, letter writing is a lost art. And I have to say, I miss those carefully written pages my grandmother used to send when she was my first pen pal. A letter from the Lord Jesus would be even more valuable. That’s what He left for us in Revelation chapters two …
Who looks for a mediocre employee or a job with mediocre benefits? No one I know. But for some reason, we settle for mediocrity in our spiritual life. Is there a single thing in your life that you wish was mediocre? A mediocre tax bill, maybe? Nope. We’d wish for a minimal bill or better …
This year, I'm reading through the New Testament using YouVersion Bible app. And I’ve been under conviction about plenty of faults. But one thing keeps echoing over and over: my lack of faith penalizes me.
Seriously.
I was reading along in my Bible like a good Christian should. Things were exciting until The Book stopped me in my tracks. I’m minding my own business, and Jesus says, “According to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29).
A woman would not be considered praiseworthy if she didn’t have an exemplary spiritual life. After all, God’s reckoning of a person is the only one to make an eternal difference.
With all the duties a woman has, when is there time to build a relationship with her Lord? Like anything else of importance, this essential relationship must be given top priority. Before a woman can consider her role as wife, mother, worker or community member, she must find herself at the feet of her Maker being outfitted for these monumental tasks.
Psalm 70 is a major plea for help. In fact, it’s a request for speedy delivery. The writer says make haste three times and ends with “make no tarrying.” Nothing like demanding the Lord hurries up and answers our prayers. I really love the honesty of this song.
This year has been a cacophony of plans gone awry for most of the residents of our world. Travel plans got cancelled. Regular daily activities got halted. Anxiety rose for many people. Relationships weren’t cancelled but some of them felt distant like there was a giant “hold” button pressed above us.
A Pew Perspective 