What Are Your Priorities

What Are Your Priorities?

Perhaps our greatest power is to establish our priorities. These are the things that motivate us. Priorities are based on values, beliefs, ideals, and commitment. They define each of us as a person. Some are motivated by fame or money. Others are motivated by their friends or family. In short, there can be hundreds of reasons that motivate us each day. It is critically important to recognize that we alone have the power to set our priorities and if we do not set them, then society will set them for us. Popular culture will set our priorities to feed our flesh.

If we prayerfully chose our priorities we will use our imagination, intelligence, and desire. An authentic priority will give your life meaning and will be well defined, provide enthusiasm, and be free from the force of our current circumstances. A priority must also be realistic. Some people wait until they are on their death bed to establish their true priorities. This is a shame. Nobody with terminal cancer ever wished that they had spent more time at work.

Our priorities are a product of how we spend our time, money, and thoughts. As a Methodist, all members are called to faithfully participate support the church with their prayers, presence, gifts, and service. Doesn’t this sound very similar to time, money, and thoughts? In short, the church is calling its members to make God a priority and be a disciple of Him

Scripture teaches us that time is important. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Each day is a gift from God and should be used to bring honor to Him, not ourselves. I think time is our most precious priority. If we use our time to help others, are we not showing the love of God? Consider these holy words from Matthew 25:40. “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Money is important for all of us to provide for ourselves and our families, but we should not treat it as a “golden calf.” We often pursue earthly wealth with little to no consideration to God’s blessing. The pursuit of wealth is beautifully addressed in Matthew 6:19-21. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Our thoughts have tremendous power and often lead to action. Perhaps this is why the Apostle Paul instructed us in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Paul elaborates on this concept in 2 Cor. 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).

We would all be wise to prayerfully set our own priorities. Be blessed.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Make Today Count

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV).

Time is a precious commodity. It is a gift from God, and we should be good stewards of our time as with any other gift. Certainly, the devil is interested in misuse of your time. If he can cheat you of your time, he can cheat you of your heavenly treasure. Perhaps the last thing that he is loath to let go is time. His game is to cheat you of today and the next day by whatever means necessary. For some it is procrastination – let’s do that tomorrow. For others, it may be to conjure up past mistakes and keep your focus on past problems and rob you of the joy of today and the forgiveness and grace that comes from Jesus.

Our focus must be on the present if we are to be good stewards of our time. This was the message of Paul in Hebrews 3:13, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,”

so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” We should be intentional in using our time to honor God. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

Each day we decide whom we will serve as we are taught in Joshua 24:15. “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

To make the most of your time, you must discern what’s most important. Yes, it is impossible for one person to “do it all.” God does not expect you to do everything. He does expect you to use your gifts and talents to make wise decisions that will have a meaningful impact on His kingdom. The greatest gift that God has given you is salvation by Jesus Christ. The second greatest gift you were given in life is the freedom to choose.

When you haven’t clarified what you want out of life, you’re indecisive all the time because you can’t do what’s good until you decide what’s good. You can’t do what’s important until you decide what’s important. Pray and talk to your pastor about how you can use your time to honor God. Maybe your pastor has been praying for somebody with a heart for evangelism to join the evangelism committee, and you have such a heart. When you use your time wisely, you are honoring God, and He will certainly bless your efforts.

Prayer: Dear God, We live in a world with so many distractions that take our focus away from you. Help us to honor you with all that we do. Amen.

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Wrestling With God

“Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me’” (Genesis 32:26 NLT).

I love the visual image of Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32:22-32. This is a powerful story, and it raises many questions. Obviously, God could have overpowered Jacob and ended things instantly. Why did God let the struggle go on?

Here’s the lesson: When God allows, note-He does not create the crisis, a crisis into your life, He doesn’t solve it immediately. He uses the crisis as an opportunity to see if you’re really serious about seeking Him. If God answered every prayer immediately, you’d begin to think God was a big vending machine: Put in a prayer, pull out whatever you need.

If God just instantly bailed you out of a crisis rooted in your poor choices, then tomorrow you would likely do the same thing again. You wouldn’t learn discipline, or money management, or wisdom, or persistence. God is not just going to bail you out of the debt you got yourself into; He will help you get out of debt, but He wants to build your character in the process. We have many struggles in life, but perhaps our biggest struggle is with God because we want control of things. In short, we want to play God.

Jacob tried to control his life to such an extent that he even wanted to change the order of his birth. Jacob was a twin, and the Bible teaches that when he came out of his mother’s womb, he was clinging to his older brother’s ankle, grappling to be the first one out. He spent a lifetime in conflict with his brother, Esau, but his biggest battle was with God. One night he even tried to go one-on-one with God. Some people want to debate whether Jacob actually wrestled with God, but the Bible tells us in Hosea: “Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God” (Hosea 12:3).

One thing that is certain from the beginning of time to the end of time – humans have problems. Our problems provide with opportunities for great spiritual growth. However, for that growth to happen it requires a response on our part. We must choose if will we obey God in this situation and follow Him regardless of our desires. Also, we must choose if we truly trust God and will turn the problem over to Him to resolve in His time and His manner.

No matter what our problem is—financial, physical, relational, social, or vocational—we tend not to focus on the real problem. The real problem is not obeying and trusting God, and that makes the problem bigger.

Prayer: Dear God, please draw us close to you as we struggle with our problems. Give us the confidence that you walk with us in the darkest of valleys. Amen.

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The Best Christmas Present

¹⁸ “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of
Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

I love Christmas and the Advent season. It is a special time of year for families and the church. The Advent season allows us to prepare our hearts for the birth of the Christ child. I also love all of the traditions that come with Christmas – decorating the tree with ornaments that have been passed down from generations, giving and receiving presents, candlelight service at church on Christmas eve, the smell of ginger bread baking and a fresh pine tree in the house, and the anticipation of Christmas day.

One of the traditions of Christmas is the Nativity story. The New Testament contains two Christmas stories. They appear in Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2. In the familiar version of the Christmas story, Mary and Joseph travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Because there was no room in the inn, the baby Jesus is born in a stable and placed in a manger. It is important to tell the Nativity story each year to help us better understand the Christ portion of Christmas.

I think as fathers and priests of our houses we should also teach our children about the best Christmas present ever – the blood of Christ on the cross at Calvary. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” We are reconciled to the Father by His sacrifice of His son. God has provided us a path for forgiveness of sins that leads to life everlasting and salvation. We do not deserve this, but we receive it as the ultimate blessing. Ephesians 2:9 instruct us that “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

So, this Advent season I encourage you to enjoy your family, church services, and all the special traditions of your family. Tell your children or grandchildren the Nativity story but also tell them that Jesus himself is the best present. A life lived in Him and for Him will help build His kingdom on earth and will lead to life everlasting. Now that is some gift!

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for sending your son to earth. Thank you for giving us the way, the truth, and the life. Help keep us mindful that His blood is the most precious gift that we can ever receive it. Amen.

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The New Year

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19).

As the new year approaches so does a surge in membership applications to local fitness centers. Many of us make a new year’s resolution to lose weight, and this is a great resolution. Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are to honor God with our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

At this time of the year, I like to reflect on Isaiah 43:19. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” The prophet Isaiah is referring to the past deliverance of the Jews from Egypt and giving assurance that He will return them from captivity by the Babylonians. I wonder what “new thing” God wants to do in my life. I look forward to each new year with joyful anticipation to see how God is going to move in my life and those around me.

So, what new thing do you have planned for the new year? Researchers have found that 80% of all New Year’s Resolutions will fail by February. This begs the question of why? I would like to offer up the following possible reasons for your consideration.

1. No plan. If you do not make a plan to succeed, by default you have made a plan to fail. The Word teaches us in Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”

2. Not realistic. A foolish person does begin by seeking first “His kingdom and His righteousness” as we are encouraged to do in Matthew 6:33. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15).

3. Not known. We must be in community with others. If we disclose our goals to our small groups, they can help us refine them and keep us from going astray. Matthew 18:20 teaches us, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

4. No reward. Many of us are not motivated if there is not a reward. There is no true reward on this earth. Our real reward awaits us in heaven, and is described in Matthew 6:19-21. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I try to avoid the typical New Year trap by prayerfully setting goals that I know will bring honor to God and therefore He will honor in His way and in His time.

As you set your goals and resolutions for the new year, I ask you to consider the following guidelines.

1. Find a secluded quiet place and ask God what do you need to prune to become more like Him?

2. Talk with your pastor and share the results of your time of prayer and listening. Do not be discouraged if you are unable to discern His will. Be open and honest with your pastor, and God will speak through him or her to you.

3. Find a small support group at your local church to keep you on track with your goals.

4. Check in with your pastor as often as you are moved by the Spirit.

Prayer: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV). Amen.

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Faith is the Cure for Stress

“Since He did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t He also surely give us everything else?” (Romans 8:32 TLB).

The major cause of stress in your life is worry. Worry is a sign that we do not have faith in God to meet our needs.

Worry can come from three sources:

1) Ourselves- We worry about our ability to survive tomorrow and neglect the blessing of today. Matthew 6:26-27 teaches us, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

2) Society- We worry about our ability to keep up with the neighbors. “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2).

3) The enemy – The devil plants worry and doubt in our minds through any means necessary (television, music, dreams, etc.). “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

We all have stress and anxiety. I think what is important is how we deal with that stress. A little bit is natural and no problem. It can be helpful and protect us from dangerous situations. But when chronic stress is experienced, the body makes more of a drug known as cortisol than it has a chance to release. And that is a bad thing. Because stress can kill brain cells and even reduce the size of the brain. Chronic stress has a shrinking effect on the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning. And yes, sadly, stress can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and death. I have seen people consumed by stress and you probably have too.

If you want a cure for stress, learn to look to God to meet your needs. We should never put your security in anything that can be taken away. We can lose a job, health, spouse, but you cannot lose your relationship with Christ. These are all fine but can all be destroyed. God certainly wants us to have a good job, health, and family. However, if our identity is based on these things then that is bad because of the fragile nature of anything earthly. The Word teaches us in Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Every time you start to get stressed out, pause and say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). God has promised in the Scriptures that he will meet your needs. We honor that promise when we walk with Him in faith.

Prayer: Dear good and gracious God, we are your children. We know you love us. Help us to walk with you in faith. As the anxiety leaves our souls, we ask you to fill the void with your grace and love. We long for a peace that transcends all understanding. Amen.

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Finding Peace

“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:25 NIV).

One of my greatest desires is peace. However, it also can be one of the most elusive. I “postpone” peace until some task is completed. The problem is that some tasks can often go on for years, if not for a lifetime. As I hurriedly try to check items off my “to do” list, more items are added.

A friend recently told me that I should focus on discerning what it is that God wants me to learn, see, or do while waiting for Him to act rather than trying to prayerfully “nudge” Him to move faster. This was God-breathed advice because he was providing me a roadmap to both honor God and find peace. I later read my favorite chapter of the Bible, Romans 8, and was particularly struck by the 25^th verse. “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:25).

I shared a recent devotional on patience with a close friend and asked for his comments. I shared with Him how I was seeking peace but lacking in patience. He told me that we cannot dwell in peace without some semblance of patience. Perhaps when I am waiting on God, He is waiting on me. Isaiah 30:18 tells us “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.” I don’t think any of us want to get into a “waiting game” with God. Time is meaningless to God as indicated in 2 Peter 3:8-9. So even though we may be impatient with Him, He remains patient with us.

James 5:7 encourages us to be patient and know that there will be a great harvest. “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.”

A lack of patience is a mental, physical, and spiritual drain. This is a fruit of the enemy. This is not what Jesus intended based on John 10:10. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” An abundant life is one in which we wait upon the Lord and renew our strength. We mount up with wings as eagles and run and will not be weary. We walk and will not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

Prayer: Dear God we confess that all too often we seek to do things our way and do not prayerfully consider your will for us. Help us to seek your will in all that we do and to have the courage, confidence, and strength to knowingly wait for you to act at the perfect time and in the perfect manner. We love you, need you, and trust in you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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Understanding Our Emotions

¹⁶“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:16-21 ESV).

As Christians, we all want to follow Jesus but often struggle to actually put it into practice. The day to day grind can lead us astray and put our focus on earthly desires. For example, Peter loved Jesus, but his focus was temporarily on himself and not God. Peter did not want Jesus to die and was rebuked by Jesus. ”Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns (Matthew 16:23).” Peter, a disciple of Jesus, was living in the flesh in this moment.

Paul identifies the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19 and they are often evident in our life when we are distant from God. In these circumstances, we are prone to anger, jealousy, and engage in divisions. In short, we tear each other down rather than build each other up. However, no

matter how much you tear somebody else down, it will never bring you up. Sexual immorality and alcohol will feed the flesh but ultimately leave us empty. In the flesh, we are jealous of our neighbor’s accomplishments and we seek out divisions based on race, religion, gender, etc. as means to attempt to comfort ourselves, but such actions will always fail us.

Our emotions are a gift from good and can provide us with many benefits. However, our emotions also have the potential to generate actions and words that divide us rather than unite us. When we feel hurt, angry, betrayed, or jealous, we should ask ourselves a few questions to better understand the situation.

“What’s the real reason I’m feeling this?” Maybe the answer is an unresolved past event. Maybe it relates to something a family member or friend member said or did to you years ago. When someone else says something similar, and even though it’s been decades, that person becomes the target of all your pent-up anger.

“Is it true?” Is what you’re feeling at that moment true? Anger by itself is not always bad. Jesus was angry at the money changers at the temple for cheating the people with unfair currency exchange to enter the temple. It was true that His Father’s house had become a den of thieves. However, often our anger is based on false assumptions. The Bible tells about a time when the world was in anarchy because of our reliance on our personal feelings: “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25 ).

“Is what I’m feeling helping me or hurting me?” Many of our feelings we have seem natural, but they’re actually self-defeating. This is why Scripture teaches us to “take each thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5) and exam it.

“Who is the author of this feeling?” If you watch an advertisement on television that shows children dying due to lack of food and water and you become angry, then God has placed that emotion into your brain. However, if you watch television and see a beautiful house of a Hollywood actor and feel jealous, then that is clearly the work of the enemy that is seeking to divide and destroy.

Prayer: Dear God: We thank you for the gift of our emotions. Help us to use them wisely so that they will stir us into action that builds up our neighbors. Amen.

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Self-Control Can Vanquish Weakness In Trying Times

“A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back” (Proverbs 29:11 NASB).

The Bible teaches us that self-control is essential to living a Christian life. We must exercise our self-control or we become controlled by our weakness. Whether it is food, alcohol, drugs or pornography, the enemy knows our weakness better than we do and will encourage us to go to it rather than to God in times of need. Our lives can soon be dominated by our weakness and we are living completely in the flesh rather than in the Spirit. Self-control is the very essence of “dying to self” and living in righteousness with God. Our righteousness cannot and will not ever come from ourselves, but only as a means of grace from God as a result of totally surrendering ourselves to His will and becoming His disciple.

If you are struggling with self-control, first begin with prayer and ask God for His help. Then, go into the Bible and study and memorize some particular verses that speak to you and your situation. My “go to” verse when my patience is growing thin is Proverbs 29:11. “A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back.” We must remember that all wisdom comes from God. So how does one obtain wisdom? James 1:5 tells us that “if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

The exercise of self-control will not only keep us away from our temptations, but will allow us to be a powerful witness for God. You may wonder how can I be a good witness for God by exercising self-control? The best witness is one who demonstrates his faith with his actions. St. Francis of Assisi encouraged people to speak the gospel wherever they go and use words when necessary.

Self-control will allow you to remain silent when verbally attacked. It will allow you to respond with love when confronted with hate. Self-control will also keep you pure when you are alone. Self-control will also keep you sane in times of great adversity such as a flooded home, divorce or loss of a family member. We freely and willingly yield control of ourselves to God. Instead of worrying about what will happen, we should stand steadfast in His promise of Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Self-control does not mean that we are to go it alone. Life is tough and we need fellow Christians for the journey. We need accountability groups that are small, honest and safe so we can be vulnerable and encouraging to each other. Christ encouraged us to come to Him with our burdens and He will give us rest. Read Matthew 11 and then fasten your yoke to a friend.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the Fruit of Spirit of self control. Please help us to display self control in all situations. Amen.

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Who Is Responsible For My Salvation?

“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” Romans 14:12 (NIV).

Throughout the Bible we are encouraged whenever possible to live in peace with our neighbors. For example, Scripture teaches us to live in harmony (Romans 12:16), carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), and help others in need (Deuteronomy 15:11). Godly living calls us to turn the other cheek and returning evil with love. We have the ability, and the Christian joyful obligation, to positively impact each other’s spiritual lives. There is certainly strength in numbers. You may recall the Scripture from Ecclesiastes 4:12, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

As a young man I took piano lessons and had a team. My teacher and parents were my support team. I was dependent on my teacher’s expert instruction to improve as a pianist. Similarly, I treasured the moral and financial support from my parents. Their encouragement and support meant everything to me. Each year all of the teacher’s students would participate in a recital performance. One by one we would go to the piano and play a song. At that moment, each student stood alone.

I shared that story because it is similar to our path to salvation. In this fallen and temporary world, we do indeed carry each other’s burdens. We live out Proverbs 27:17 in formal and informal small groups. Teamwork is essential to build God’s kingdom on earth. We are called to live in community. Matthew 18:20 encourages small groups by teaching us, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

However, we are ultimately responsible for our own salvation. The Apostle Paul addresses this in Philippians 2:12. “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Please note the wording “work out your salvation.” Paul is clearly telling us that nobody except you can achieve your salvation. This is consistent with his letter to Romans. In Romans 14:12 he tells us exactly who will ultimately give our account to God. “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” My account will be given by me, and your account will be given by you. Your pastor, parents, friend, or Sunday school teacher will not give your account to God. I certainly don’t want to die today, but if I do I am confident in my salvation through the grace of God and the blood of His son. I stand firm on the promise of Romans 10:9-10. “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Prayer: Dear good and gracious God, You have blessed us with community. From the beginning, you knew it was not good for man to live alone. We thank you for fellow Christians that help, challenge, and sharpen us. We joyfully confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus in our Lord and savior. We take comfort in knowing that on the day of your choosing we will hear your words “Well done good and faithful servant” and we will join the great cloud of witnesses. Amen.

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What Are Your Priorities?

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Make Today Count

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Wrestling With God

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The Best Christmas Present

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The New Year

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Faith is the Cure for Stress

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Finding Peace

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Understanding Our Emotions

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Self-Control Can Vanquish Weakness In Trying Times

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Who Is Responsible For My Salvation?

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