Growing Deep in Christ

A local newspaper spoke with a farmer regarding the impact of recent weather conditions on his crops. Thanks to ample rainfall, his soybean and corn fields flourished and appeared vibrant. “My crops are particularly susceptible right now," he said. This statement surprised the reporter, who originally intended to center the article on the beneficial harvest and the economic boost it would provide for the small town. The farmer elaborated, “Even a brief drought could sever

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Your Breakfast Invitation

In the early morning, as the sun began to rise, the fishermen returned from their overnight fishing trip with nothing to show for their efforts—not a single fish! As they rowed their boat to the shore, they heard a man calling to them. “Do you have any fish?” they replied, "No," feeling exhausted from their long night. The man on the shore then suggested that they cast their net on the right side of the boat, promising they would catch some fish. Following his advice, the

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Make It Count While You Can!

Jesus, in John 9, right before He’s about to heal the man born blind, says these words in verse 4:

 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

We all have good intentions—at least I know I do. Looking back, we can identify moments when we failed to follow through on our goals. Someone once remarked about good intentions: "Good intentions are the seldom-used exercise equipment that needs dusting.” Ouch!

I could mention

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Need a Boost?

Need a Boost?Rising in the morning is challenging, but being ready to tackle the day’s uncertainties is another. I came across research indicating that regular exercise—thirty minutes, three to four times weekly—enhances confidence in both men and women. This boost is attributed partly to exercise's role in strengthening, toning, and enhancing physical appearance and its impact on brain chemistry.When we exercise, endorphins are released, and individuals generally feel mo...
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How Content Are You?

Once, there was a wealthy man who spent his days fishing in the lake beside his mansion. Every day, he noticed a poor man living in a dilapidated old shack in the woods. While the rich man boasted the latest fishing gear, the poor man used only a string tied to a stick. He fished for about an hour, rarely catching more than two fish before returning home.

After many years, the wealthy man chose to approach the poor man. He remarked, “Please forgive me, but we’ve fished tog

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Commitment Has a Price

When I reflect on commitment, I frequently think of Old Testament prophets such as Jeremiah. His messages were so unpopular that some aimed to take his life, yet he continued to proclaim God’s words. As if that were not enough, others slandered him, while some ridiculed his faithfulness and commitment to God. The ridicule seems to have bothered Jeremiah most as he writes in Jeremiah 20:7-8;

7 O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and yo

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Listening With The Heart

I love this story about spending QUALITY time with God in His Word:

Like many Christians, Frank learned that to truly have God guide his daily steps, he needed to spend time with Him each morning. He found a plan titled “Through the Bible in One Year" and committed to reading three chapters in the morning and two at night.

However, the inspiration he anticipated eluded him. He discussed this issue with his friend Carl, mentioning, “I wasn’t sure how I could fit Bible readin

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The Offer Still Stands

Take some time this week to read Isaiah 65. Two main themes flow from the passage: Judgment and Salvation, along with when the Lord will bring about a New Heaven and a New Earth. I can’t escape the fact that hell is a real place that many do not believe is real. How many times have you heard the question: “How could a loving God send anyone to hell or, as Revelation calls it, the lake of fire, for all eternity?” In this chapter of Isaiah, he expresses a heartfelt plea for

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Take The Time

We mutter and sputter,

We fume and we spurt,

We mumble and grumble,

Our feelings get hurt.

We can’t understand things,

Our vision grows dim,

When all that we need is:

A moment with Him. ~  Author Unknown

Let's be honest for a moment: we get so caught up in our daily lives that we often neglect to carve out time for prayer, even just a brief thank-you. If I want to deepen my relationship with Him, it’s only logical that I need to dedicate time to Him. If I can easily spend hours o

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What's In A Name?

Isaiah 50:6 states, 6 I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.

I was named Eugene at birth to honor my uncle Gene, whom I never had the chance to meet. He was my father’s younger brother, tragically shot down during WWII. Each Memorial Day, I reflect on my namesake and hope I have lived up to that legacy.

No greater love exists than to sacrifice oneself for another! Today isn’t for ho...
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Seek

God neither competes for our attention nor will He. He typically does not overpower us, although He did knock Saul to the ground on the road to Damascus. While we need to remain receptive to His communication in any form He chooses, as God, we must approach the burning bush like Moses did instead of fleeing from it. However, we must be cautious not to confuse the voice of God with just another one of our own thoughts!While the truth of God’s voice and His Word signifies H...

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God’s Love

23 for fall have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ~ Romans 3:23-24I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Stephen Olford in person when I was in Bible College. He was a pastor who influenced many men, including Charles Stanley and Adrian Rogers. In his book The Grace of Giving, he tells the story of a Baptist pastor, Peter Miller, who lived during the American Revolution. One

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Never Give Up, Never Give In!

Several years back, I read a book by Stephen Mansfield called Never Give In: The Extraordinary Character of Winston Churchill. For some reason, I have always been intrigued by Sir Winston Churchill. He transformed a nation that seemed on the brink of destruction, rallying its people to secure victory for England during WWII.One of his most famous speeches, arguably the best he ever delivered, was titled "Never Give In!" He presented this speech on October 29, 1941, to his

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Abide!

The story recounts the tale of a missionary family who paused for lunch during a safari. While the children played, the father suddenly shouted to his son, “Drop down!” and the son immediately obeyed. Those accompanying them were stunned to discover that a venomous snake was slithering down the tree, poised to strike the child, which would have meant certain death if the snake had bitten him. Only the father noticed the snake.

Everyone present was astonished by the boy's

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Shepherd or Sheepdog?

Good morning, my friends,I’ve observed that in life, there are both drivers and leaders, whether in ministry or the workplace. It is often stated that “To lead people is not to manipulate, or drive them!” In our Sunday study of John 10, I discovered that sheepdogs often forcefully guide the sheep. In contrast, a biblical shepherd is meant to walk gently ahead of the sheep, guiding them to their next destination.The difference between the sheepdog and the shepherd is cruci...

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