Month: March 2017

eternity, heaven

Living In Eternity Every Day

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We naturally think more about the present moment than our eternal future. But if we are not ready for eternity now, then how will we be ready tomorrow? Now is the time to live with an eternal perspective. This is essential to our discipleship training. Even if we live a long life what good is it if we have not devoted ourselves to being conformed to the image of Christ? Consider how many Christians have believed for many years but show little spiritual growth. Do we want to enter heaven that way? How great that tragedy would be. “if we keep our eternal hope constantly before us then our actions will quickly harmonize with the Spirit” Death is not our enemy, but a wasted life is. True discipleship leads us to meditate on the end of our earthly life so that we can live an earthly life that we will Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

Everyone Matters: Weekly Words of Encouragement

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“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” Rom 12:4-5  (NLT) Everyone gets to play.  God loves us enough to make everyone important. He does this by giving everyone specific gifts and functions in the body of Christ. This encourages us because we know that regardless of whatever limitations we think we have we are still valuable in the church. But this is also a powerful tool for encouraging others. We see people come into our congregation who are new to Jesus and all beaten up by the world and they are wondering if they even fit in. They feel completely inferior to whoever is speaking up front. But when we Continue Reading →

spiritual profits

Spiritual Investments Produce Astonishing Profit

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It is the end of the day and you are tired. You rest for a few minutes. Your mind wanders and you realize you are thinking mostly about food and buying a new car. You haven’t really thought about your connection to God. It would be good to get alone and pray for five minutes but that means making a little sacrifice. Do you go to pray…? The riches of the world are nothing compared to riches of heaven. If we have a moderate share of worldly things then we have enough wealth. Any more than that produces materialism and anxiety. As we develop a heavenly mindset we see how twisted people become as they fall in love with the riches of the world. Even all the necessities of life – eating, drinking, working, finding shelter – are a burden compared to the joy and lightness of our future to Continue Reading →

Our Victory Regardless Of Circumstances – Weekly Word of Encouragement

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“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Rom. 8:37 (ESV) In all these things (tribulation, distress, persecution etc.) we ARE more than conquerors. It doesn’t say we will be one day (though we will). Rather, it says that we are now more than conquerors. No matter what happens to us now we have victory. We are like the Roman generals who return home in a great victory procession, displaying all the fruits of their victory. What is our victory? That nothing separates us from the love of Christ. That in spite of whatever happens our hearts are safe and victorious; we still have peace and holiness. We are still connected to the Ruler of All. He maintains our goodness. Trials don’t defeat us; we are still lights in the world. In Christ we always have spiritual victory. Simple application: put your name in Continue Reading →

sorrow for sin

Finding Holiness Through Sorrow

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If we preserve proper respect for God and His instructions then we will also preserve our spiritual growth. This means choosing a remorseful heart when we sin. It is easy for some of us to allow too much freedom to the point that we follow destructive passions instead of a disciplined heart. Make it a practice to ask God for a holy heart, and for a sorrowful heart when you sin. After Paul corrected the Corinthians he wrote: “Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal.” I Cor. 7:11 (NLT)  Be careful not to take unholiness too lightly. Do not laugh when you should mourn. Remember the words of James: “your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and Continue Reading →