“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” (Philippians 1:20 KJV) In this season of my life, I want the above verse toContinue reading “Christ Be Magnified (Cody Carnes)”
Tag Archives: Jesus
Looking at What’s Left
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”Continue reading “Looking at What’s Left”
You WILL Run Again!
“Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for His own sins!” (Isaiah 53:4 NLT) While in high school I played basketball in a summer league. While jumping for a rebound I came down wrong onContinue reading “You WILL Run Again!”
Gladiator or Spectator?
“For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” (Philippians 1:21 NLT) Being a Jesus follower isn’t only important in teaching us how to live, it’s vital in preparing us to die. We may never be put in a literal arena to face an opponent, but unless and until we understandContinue reading “Gladiator or Spectator?”
Becoming Eyes
“Then Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!’ The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.” (2 Kings 6:17 NLT) Fear can blind us to the presence of God and His deliveringContinue reading “Becoming Eyes”
Death Is So Final!
“As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.” (Luke 16:21 NLT) Increasingly, in America, there is a shrinking “middle class,” while poverty and homelessness increase their ranks. Like the rich man in Jesus’ parable, we’re so accustomed to seeing someone begging atContinue reading “Death Is So Final!”
Faithfulness Leads to Fruitfulness
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NLT) As I look back over my life, I can very often gauge the fruitfulness of my life by my faithfulness. In otherContinue reading “Faithfulness Leads to Fruitfulness”
Are You Turned Off by Worship?
“’Get out of here, Satan,’ Jesus told him. ‘For the Scriptures say, “You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.”’” (Matthew 4:10 NLT) Our life-defining worship isn’t what we do when gathered with others, it’s how we live our lives from day to day. Many can get excited about the compelling musicContinue reading “Are You Turned Off by Worship?”
What Is Your Desired Outcome?
“And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.” (Romans 8:17 NLT) We all have, or at least had at one time, desires for how we wanted our lifeContinue reading “What Is Your Desired Outcome?”
What Will Unite A Struggling Church?
“So the crowd was divided about Him.” (John 7:43 NLT) Having pastored mostly small churches, I understand disagreement and division. It’s hard to keep a “ship” on course when you can’t agree on its destination. Whatever measure of success I had in helping churches to grow was rooted in two things. First, keeping their attentionContinue reading “What Will Unite A Struggling Church?”
Walking With Jesus 