Helpful instructions for developing meaningful conversations with God
Monday, April 30, 2012, Part 1
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:5-6).
IDEA: Not all praying may be prayer.
PURPOSE: To help listeners pray with the right attitude and in the right way.
My Way?
Think about the worst intellectual matchups possible. For instance, what if we put Albert Einstein in a room with a first-grader to debate the theory of relativity? Or how about George Washington Carver versus a middle-schooler discussing biochemical engineering?
fair wages
That’s not fair. Why did she get a raise and I didn’t? I do just as much work as she does!” “Why was he chosen to lead the project when I’ve been here longer?” I should get what I deserve is a work ethic that many of us live by. So we easily identify with [...]
A Modern-day Nicodemus
By Oluwaseun Fayemiwo, Nigeria When I was at the national youth service camp, I hung out with my guy friends most evenings at the mammy-market*. We had the time of our lives boozing, dancing and talking about girls. But on some evenings, I would sneak out from the midst of my friends to attend a [...]
A Long And Winding Path
Sometimes the path of life seems impossibly steep and lengthy. I have no strength and no will for the journey. Then I remember God knew this path long before I was called to walk it. He has always known the difficulties I would experience, the pain that I could never explain to another. He knows and offers His presence.
flexible
With power outages, blown debris, and downed trees, recent storms left their mark around our town. While certainly not the devastation experienced by those enduring more significant and destructive displays of nature’s power, it was a mild reminder of man’s limited power. On our way to church the next day, my son asked why the [...]
Self-Destructive Hatred
George Washington Carver (1864–1943) overcame terrible racial prejudice to establish himself as a renowned American educator. Spurning the temptation to give in to bitterness for the way he was treated, Carver wisely wrote, “Hate within will eventually destroy the hater.”
word of God speak
Last year, as I was driving to church on a Sunday morning, I was in a deep funk. For many reasons, I was experiencing an emotional and spiritual valley. I prayed, trying to tell God where I was emotionally and spiritually, but the words didn’t come easy. As I struggled, the song “Word of God [...]
Let’s look at the way God answers, and doesn’t answer, prayer
Friday, April 27, 2012, Part 2
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:5-6).
IDEA: The issue in the Sermon on the Mount is not our prayers but the motive for our prayers.
PURPOSE: God meets us when we pray with only Him in mind.
A Call To Commitment
Many health and fitness centers expect a flood of people to join every January who will come only a few times. They don’t mind if people pay the fee and never return. But fitness trainer Jesse Jones takes the opposite approach. If you sign up and don’t show up, he will terminate your membership. Jones says, “Save your money. Come see me in a few months when you’re serious. My passion is not for another three-month payment . . . we’re making people accountable to reach their goals.”
the stories we tell
I’m often disappointed with kids’ Bible story books. They usually paint a sugary picture that presents the Bible as a very safe and manageable book. Often, you get a collection of pithy moralisms that you could get just as well (better, perhaps) from Aesop’s Fables. With this posture, the Bible’s truths have lost their scandal; [...]
The pursuit of Love–Kevin’s Story
Perhaps you or someone you love has heard about Jesus but just can’t seem to make the decision to follow Him. Hear how God pursues us even through the toughest resistance.
Will You Serve Others If You Have Power?
By Beth, Singapore Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon [...]
Find answers that impact your conversations with God
Thursday, April 26, 2012, Part 1
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:5-6).
IDEA: The issue in the Sermon on the Mount is not our prayers but the motive for our prayers.
PURPOSE: God meets us when we pray with only Him in mind.
True Religion
I recently saw an ad for a brand of clothing geared toward youth. It consists of blue jeans and all the accessories designed to go with them. There is nothing novel about that. What got my attention, however, was the name of this clothing line. It is called “True Religion.” That caused me to stop and think. Why was that name chosen? Am I missing some deeper significance? What is the connection between a brand of jeans and true religion? What do they mean by it? My musings left me with questions for which I had no answers.
