“Today” is a word that reflects being in the moment or living in the present. There are opportunities and decisions we make each day or today that impact us and shape us into who we will be tomorrow. Hebrews 3 is both an encouragement and a warning for us to make the right decisions today so we can be who God wants us to be in the future.
How can our lives make a real impact in the world around us? Listen in as Mark and Connie Mancini explain why the message of the cross is so important for galvanizing faith. They remind us that, as Christians, we are not the center of our universe; Jesus is. Therefore, if we are truly going to follow Christ, we need to go ALL IN.
We cannot avoid the storms of life, so where is your safe place in the midst of it? In Matt. 14 (22-33), Peter learned that the safest place was not in the boat with the other disciples but rather on the water in the middle of the storm in the presence and connection of Jesus. He understood that, the moment of trial is the moment we NEED to connect with God and that hard times won’t last forever; the storm will end eventually.
How can we be safe in the COVID world? The Israelites wandering in the desert also worried about where the safest place would be. They were so worried that they took their eyes off God and wanted to return to slavery while rebelling against God. But God often uses the thing that is hurting us to actually bring about our salvation. Therefore, the safest place is when we are gazing upon God (no matter what is going on around us).
A new year doesn’t necessarily mean that everything magically gets fresh, new, or better. Change can’t come from a date in the calendar and a promise (resolution) is only a good as the person who makes it. God has the power to fulfill ALL his promises. Trust him!
Christmas can be a time of anxiety over gift giving and receiving, but God is not concerned about us giving what we do not have. Christmas is about honouring Christ and sharing in the good news and great joy about his birth.
Do you ever feel like your life/future is hopeless? We all struggle with hopelessness at some point, those are the moments when we need God the most. If you give yourself to God faithfully, your future will be much more secure. So let God take your anxieties through prayer, song, and talking with other for support.
All the Bible is the plan of God laid out for us; his promise made full in Christ who gives his power to those who follow him. However, the power of Christ within us must be fed, trained, and used for it to grow.
As our Redeemer, God paints a picture of hope by reminding us that our story is not over. Like the Israelites, God‘s work in our lives is a consistent and continual process of renewal. Why? Because of the covenant of redemption that promises us as his people, and He as our God.
In order to imitate the ministry of Jesus, we need to be in the right place to do so; both personally and as a church. However, like any good recipe, we need to make sure that we are working intentionally and that the timing is right in order for things to turn out best.