Potpourri
Essays and Stuff Blog
LESSONS FROM the BEGINNING AND ENDING OF JESUS’ EARTHLY MINISTRY
LESSONS FROM THE BEGINNING AND ENDING OF JESUS' EARTHLY MINISTRY LUKE 5:1-11 (CSB) As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, he was standing by Lake Gennesaret. He saw two boats at the...
THE GRACE OF ACCEPTING YOURSELF AS A CHILD OF GOD
Accepting Yourself is Biblical. From Matthew, we read, "An expert in the law tested Jesus with this question: 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your...
The Promise: You Are A Child of God
God’s Promise to Abraham The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I...
Ministering to One Another In the Christian Marriage
The term "one another" appears throughout the New Testament and applies beautifully to the husband and wife of a Christian marriage. The Bible’s advice on how to encourage, admonish, or instruct one another in matters of conduct and response is for the mutual good of...
The Easy Burden of Jesus’ Yoke
One morning while my friend Gordon and I were having coffee, he said, “Y’know, every morning I wake up feeling tired. Can’t remember the last time I woke up feeling rested. It’s not the physical side of doing the job, I can do that just fine. It’s all those...
SHALOM: The PEACE of GOD
Excerpted from Shalom! by Douglas James Harris Baker Book House, 1970. Shalom: The Peace of God When I read Douglas Harris’ book, Shalom, in 1988, I was so impressed with its scope and comprehension of God’s peace that I very presumptuously excerpted the more salient...
The Servant Who Leads, The Leader Who Serves
A word study on the essentials of Christian servant-leadership The Servant Who Leads, The Leader Who Serves A word study on the essentials of Christian servant-leadership Peter Schipper, M.A. For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give...
SALVATION IS A SURE THING
AM I SAVED? HOW CAN I BE SURE! Your salvation does not depend upon the strength of your faith, for your salvation is found completely in Christ and his saving work for you. Take heart in God’s own words as he assures you of your salvation. Jesus said, “I am the living...
Practicing the Presence of God in the Midst of Pain and Illness
Excerpted and paraphrased from The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. Brother Lawrence (Nicolas Herman, 1614-1691) came from a French peasant family. Following his army service during the Thirty...
Forgiveness: What It Is, What It Isn’t
Forgiveness: What it Is, What it Isn’t In the sermon, the pastor spoke of Maria, who had come to him for counsel and prayer several years ago. “Maria came to me seeking help in dealing with the abuse she had suffered as a teenager,” the pastor said. “If that wasn’t...
The Promise: You Are A Child of God
The Promise from God’s Word: You Are a Child of God God’s Promise to Abraham The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will...
The Question of Comfort
The Question of Comfort Loyd said, “I like that verse, the one about comfort. It’s, uh … comforting.” Our Bible study group had just read 2 Corinthians 1:3 and 4: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the...
Husbands & Wives & Ephesians 5
A Biblical Encouragement for Marriage As my first appointment of the morning entered my office, it was hard not to see they weren’t happy. Wife sat at one end of the couch, husband on the other. Plenty of space between them. Arms crossed over chests. Frowns and scowls...
The NATIVITY STORY and CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said,...
An ATTITUDE for MINISTRY
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2. Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as in...
Three Questions
Who am I? I am a child of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for I have been baptized into Christ and have clothed myself with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus. If I belong to Christ, then I am...
On this day ~
On this day ~ Mend a quarrel. Search out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a love letter. Share some treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in a word or deed. Keep a promise. Find the...
Ten Good Gifts
Ten Good Gifts Hugs . . . to someone who is lonely Love . . . to someone who has nothing to give in return Patience . . . to someone who is struggling with life Freedom . . . to someone who needs to find their own destiny Guidance . . . to someone drifting...
Saddlebacks Faith
God is bigger and better and closer than we can imagine. The Bible is God’s perfect guidebook for living. Jesus is God showing himself to us. Through His Holy Spirit, God lives in and through us now. Nothing in creation ‘just happened.’ ...
A PARABLE
A PARABLE The Kingdom of God is like golden threads, woven through a tapestry. A large celebration was held in the Kingdom of the Earth, in which people from many cities and towns came together. Those of many different colors and...
Names of God
Adonai Yahweh Sovereign Lord El-shaddai the Almighty Elohim the Strong One El-roi the Strong One who sees El-yon the Most High Elohim-Sabaoth Almighty Lord of the Sabbath El Elohe Yisrael the God of Israel Elah Illai Most High God Yahweh Sabaoth the...
LET GO . . .
To let go does not mean to stop caring; it means I don't need to do it for someone else. To let go is not to cut myself off; it is the realization I do not have the right to control another person. To let go is not to enable; but to allow learning from natural...
I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise.
I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise. Luke 23:43 No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. John 3:3. Whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed over from death...
Desiderata Christus
Go peacefully amid the noise and haste. Remember what solace may be had in silence, for that is where God is known. As far as possible, serve all others. Speak the Lord's truth quietly and clearly. Listen to others with your heart, most especially the poor and...