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.

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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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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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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A Prayerful Life

¹⁶“Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

The Bible has much Scripture that encourages us to seek God through prayer. The Gospels and the Epistles are particularly filled with Holy Scripture that encourages us to seek God’s face through prayer. Our direct line of communication to God is prayer. It is a deeply personal process by which we bring Him our prayers of thanksgiving and supplication. We go into our inner room and pray to our loving Father with full confidence that He hears us and will act on our behalf in the perfect manner and time.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 calls us to “pray continually” and other translations will indicate “without ceasing.” I don’t think we are expected to spend all of our life on our knees in prayer. I do feel

that we can and should lead a prayerful life. This includes having a prayerful attitude. Look at the context of “pray continually” in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. The Scripture begins with “Rejoice always” and then tells us how by “pray continually.” It concludes by giving the reason: “for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

A prayerful life has two fundamental components. First, we are constantly aware of the many blessings that we have because of Him. Second, we are able to be grateful in any circumstance. We are not grateful for all circumstances because some circumstances are evil and not from God. However, just as Paul was able to find joy while shipwrecked or in prison, we can find joy in our adversity because we wait with child-like anticipation of how He will use it for good.

A prayerful attitude is developed by acknowledging our dependence on God (Proverbs 3:5-6), realizing He is always with us (Isaiah 41:10), and choosing to trust and obey (Psalm 9:10). Prayer then becomes a continual process of offloading our fears and worries and uploading His love and grace. In a prayerful life, we put God first not out of obligation or fear but out of faith and love. Matthew 6:33 instructs us to, “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.” If we do put God first, then He will surely give us His provision and protection as the good Father.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you for the gift of prayer and the comfort of knowing that you hear all of our prayers. We thank you for the comfort of knowing that you desire greater things for us than we can ever imagine. Help us to develop a deeper sense of appreciation for our blessings. Keep us mindful that we can find joy in all circumstances because we know that any adversity we face on earth is temporary and will be used by you for our good. Help us to always prayerfully proceed in life and seek your kingdom first in all that we do. Amen.

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Acceptance is not Approval

“Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory” (Romans 15:7 NLT).

The blood of Jesus provides us the opportunity for forgiveness of our sins. Our sins will be cast as far as the east is from the west once we earnestly repent and ask His forgiveness. However, our society has slowly tried to redefine what is and is not a sin. In the political world, these are known as wedge issues that force people to one side or the other. By design, there is no common ground. Similarly, the enemy seeks to find issues to divide us because he knows we are weaker when divided.

Some people living a non-repented sinful life want the Body of Christ to categorize their sin as acceptable. The exact type of sin is not necessarily as important as its reclassification. The goal is to allow the sin to become acceptable and label those that do not approve as intolerant.

I have a friend living in a sinful manner with no desire to change. I do not feel it is my place to judge him. However, I do feel it is my place to love him. I know that by showing him love, I am giving glory to God. I know that God is love and great glory comes from revealing God to others without judgment. I have my own sins so I am in no place to judge anybody else, but I can and do offer intercessory prayers for my friend. I hope he prays for me too!

You can show love to others just by accepting them. Just because you don’t like what people do doesn’t mean you can’t accept them. I think that non-repented sinner need our love and acceptance the most. Jesus said in Luke 5:32, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Most of us are familiar with the story of Jesus encountering a woman accused of adultery in John 8. The men left after Jesus told them that whoever is without sin should cast the first stone. I feel that Jesus was indicating that if you are without sin, then by definition you must be God, and as such you are free to render judgment. His last words to her were, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (John 8:11).” Our Lord had every right to offer judgment, instead offered mercy and grace. It is critical that we all recognize that He did not condone the sin and instructed her to “sin no more.”

Jesus was modeling for us the difference between acceptance and approval. We can accept people without approving of everything they do. We are called to accept everybody; we are not called to approve of everything everybody does. God loves us, but it doesn’t mean He approves of everything we do. Love is not saying I approve of everything you do. Love is saying I accept you in spite of what you do.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the unconditional love you bestow upon your children. Help us to show that love to everyone we meet. You are our sovereign God, and we trust in you and you alone.

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Are You Living To Do or Living To Serve?

“…choose this day whom you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15 ESV).

I like to make “to do” lists. I don’t trust myself to remember the various big and little chores I need to do at home or at work so I always have a list for both. The list is great for helping me keep track of projects and staying on top of things. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I can cross something off of the list. A close friend recently asked me about my attention to my list. I appreciate his candor and honesty, and it has really gotten me to think about things.

In short, his point was do you control the lists or they control you? They can certainly be a useful tool, but they also have the potential to control you and dominate your thoughts and time. I began to wonder if my lists were a false idol. I have used the lists to organize my time and how you spend your time is how you identify your priorities. Household chores and work tasks are critical and should not be taken lightly but nobody on their death bed ever claimed that they wished they had done a better job of mowing their grass.

A workaholic is not honoring God. If you make your work at home or at work your master, you have in essence place another god before Him. My friend and I both had our houses flooded in 2016. I admire his ability to go on a vacation during the recovery and rest and renew his physical, mental, and spiritual strength. I have tended to take on a pit bull attitude with big projects – bite down and stay with it until the end. I also don’t think approach is consistent with Holy scripture.

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work but the seventh ay is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Exodus 8-11).

Living according to lists is living a life “to do.” However, we are not called to do but rather “to serve.” Perhaps instead of numbering my chores I should consider the prayer of Moses in Psalm 90:12. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Living a life to serve takes away the inward focus and replaces it with an outward focus to be the Body of Christ.

We can number our days by asking God each day “What can I do this day to advance Your kingdom? How can I make my life a living sacrifice? Numbering your days does not require moving mountains. But when you realize that your days are numbered and time is precious, you begin to want to use your time wisely. Using your time wisely is certainly the fruit of a heart yearning for God’s wisdom.

Prayer: Dear God, Help us to choose each day how we can best honor you in our actions and thoughts. May others see Christ when they see us, and may we see Christ when we see others. Amen.

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Who Do You Trust?

“‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT).

Many years ago, I was an undergraduate student. I took a few Philosophy courses to fulfill the degree requirements in liberal arts. I loved the classes because they forced me to attempt a deeper level of understanding. One class was on Logic and Reasoning and we (students) were given an assignment to use logic and reasoning to write an essay that supported our belief or non-belief in God. I thoroughly enjoyed the teaching assistant that taught the class. She was very knowledgeable, laid back, and approachable. We had some great conversations, and I learned a lot. She was an atheist and we had great talks to challenge each other in a kind but profound manner, which I enjoyed. I used the above Holy Scripture as the basis of my position as a Christian. I recall I got an A on the paper and the class, which likely influences my fond memories of the class.

This Scripture is critical to my Christian faith. How can we as mere humans pretend to understand the ways of God? It is as silly as expecting a single cell organism to understand macroeconomics. If we were to fully understand the ways of God, then there would be no need for faith. Christ wants us to walk with Him by faith and not by sight. Do you recall His words to Thomas after He appeared following His death? “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Jesus wants to bless those that are following Him based on faith.

Some may lose trust because they feel that God has failed to hold up His end of the deal and allowed tragedy to enter our life. It is not God’s job to make every moment of your life easy. If He did, we would never mature but would be spoiled and self-centered. That is clearly not what God wants for us. We live in an age of instant gratification. So, when we are in pain and pray and don’t immediately see the results that we want, we may be tempted to lose trust. However, His grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in our weakness.

God is more interested in drawing us closer than in making us comfortable. We will be comfortable for all of eternity in heaven. I know He wants good for our lives even more than we do. Psalm 118:8 tells us, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” So, I trust Him more than I trust any person, especially myself.

Prayer: Dear God, We often do not understand your ways. We lack your vision and perspective. Forgive us when we cry out for you during times of tragedy but yet fail to thank you for the many blessings that you have given us. Help us to realize that any tragedy that comes to us is not from you but will be used by you to bring about good for us. Give us the courage to walk with you in faith regardless of the clarity of our sight. You are the Good Father and we trust in your provision, protection, love, and grace. Amen.

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Five Keys To Balancing Home And Work To Be A Good Parent

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV).

Most, if not all, of us have a job in order to supply for the needs of our family. Hopefully you enjoy your job but at the end of the day, you are working to provide for your family. We often feel the struggle between balancing work life and family life. As such, our work may sometimes cause us to miss ball games and other events and we’ll feel guilty that we’re not being a good parent. I have gathered five keys to help you balance your home and work life and be the parent that God has called you to be.

Focus on being a Godly parent. Children are always watching their parents and they put much more importance on actions than words. One of my favorite sayings is from St. Francis of Assisi: “Speak the gospel wherever you go and use words when necessary.”

You cannot lead somebody to a place where you are not. Complete and honest self-examination is one of the most difficult things that we can do. However, it is necessary to do this so we can continue to grow in our relationship in Christ. We must continually examine and then prune ourselves. We should pray for each day to grow closer to Christ by allowing the Holy Spirit to remove more of yourself from your soul and allow more of Christ to fill the void.

Remember the First Commandment. We know that we are not to have any gods before God. However, work and home life should not be put before your spiritual life. Matthew 6:24 tells us about the dangers of trying to serve two masters.

Pray for discernment. A life out of balance is often due to us trying to lead God and not following. We can seek discernment from prayer, Christian friends, local pastor and The Bible.

Raise your children right. We all love our children, but we must be careful not to spoil them. They need to see that in our words and actions, we are putting God first, spouse second and children third. Scripture reveals that our primary responsibility is to train our children to honor God and follow His teaching. Proverbs 7:2 reads, “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.”

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for being our Father. Help us to find balance in our lives. Amen.

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Joyful Obedience

“If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15 NIV).

If you were to list ten words to describe yourself, do you think “obedient” would be one of the words? You probably hope that when others describe you that they see some evidence of the Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

“Obedient” is not a fruit of the Spirit but is the conscious use of our God-given free will. God has given us free will to either obey His commands or not. Since the beginning of time in the Garden of Eden we have failed to be obedient. The Prayer of Confession prior to Holy Communion at some churches includes, “We have failed to be an obedient church.” The prayer also includes “Free us for joyful obedience.” We need to acknowledge our failure to obey (our sin) and seek joyful obedience (a Christ-centered life).

The Bible contains 5467 promises to us. The promises of God reveal His divine purpose to which He is committed and upon which we can depend. These promises are, however, conditional upon obedience on the part of believers. With every promise, there is a premise, conditions, and requirements.

As a child, you probably obeyed your parents out of fear and obligation rather than joy. You may not have seen the benefits of obedience but only the consequences of failure to obey. The benefits of obeying God are His provision and protection.

Isaiah 5:21 warns us, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” The Prophet can see the future ruin of God’s people because they have turned away from God. Proverbs 3 is an excellent part of the Bible for understanding the benefits of a life in Christ. For example, Proverbs 3:7 reads, “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” One of the better known Proverbs is, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” This is the provision of God. The Psalmist teaches of the protection of God. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

We are freed for joyful obedience as the Holy Spirit works within us and our will is the same as His will. As we obey God, we receive His blessings of provision and protection. We most certainly will still have adversity, but we can be comforted that the battle is not ours, but God’s (2 Chronicles 2:15). What a friend we have in Jesus!

Prayer: Dear God, Forgive us dear Lord for not being an obedient church. Pardon us for our sins and transgressions against you. Renew in us a pure heart that seeks to obey and please you.

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Who Do You Listen To?

“Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say” (Isaiah 28:23 NIV).

Listening is essential to learning. I hear many voices, especially on television, but I don’t really listen to them. I hear them but am not listening. I feel that much, if not all, of what they have to say is not important and/or is too depressing or divisive. The story of The Transfiguration in Matthew 17 is a powerful reminder of the importance to listen to Jesus.

“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.²There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. ⁴Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁵While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” ⁶When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.”

There are many pieces of this story that are important for us to understand. One particular area of interest to me is that Peter offered to put up shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijiah. surely did this out of love and respect for them all. It is noteworthy that the following verse is the voice of God saying “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Listen to Him!” The last three words particularly resonate with me – “Listen to Him.” The disciples fall facedown to the ground and later arise and only Jesus is present.

I wonder if the words and timing of God’s words were meant to not only send a message to Peter but to all of us. Perhaps that message is do not put good men on the same level as Jesus. Do not worship your pastor, the preacher on television, or your favorite football player. They are merely men and as such are sinners and no better than anybody else. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

This story reminds me of the first public miracle of Jesus. The transformation of water into wine at the Marriage at Cana or Wedding at Cana is the first miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John. In the Gospel account, Jesus, his mother and his disciples are invited to a wedding, and when the wine runs out, Jesus delivers a sign of his glory by turning water into wine. Many of us know this story and marvel at this. The part of the story that stands out for me is what his mother said to the servants when she noticed they had no wine. “Whatever He says to you, do it.” The counsel of a mother is always wise, especially that of Jesus. I wonder how simple and blessed my life would be if I followed the advice that God gave to Peter and Mary gave to the servants. Listen for His voice and be blessed my friends.

Prayer: Dear God, There are some many voices competing for our attention. Help us to avoid anything that hinders our ability to hear Your still, silent voice. Amen.

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The Best Christmas Present

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The New Year

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Who Is Responsible For My Salvation?

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A Prayerful Life

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Acceptance is not Approval

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Are You Living To Do or Living To Serve?

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Who Do You Trust?

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Five Keys To Balancing Home And Work To Be A Good Parent

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Joyful Obedience

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Who Do You Listen To?

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