An exclamation point......

.....That is the way we should end our lives. We should live our lives in such a way as to leave no to Whom we belong. We need to be constantly striving to grow in our faith.

Today we said goodbye to a man at our church who lived life in such a way. James Kinard was one of the best men I've ever known`. Watchingv his lfe inspired me and many others to live a life for Jesus with passxion. God delivered James both s[piritually and physically many times. God protected him in Vietnam. He cxould have died there but God was merciful. God allowed him to live and raise a family. All his life, James dealt with great fear over many things. God helped and delivered him in many ways. Pastor made a point at the funeral this morning that in the year plus since James was diagnosed with cancer, James showed no fear but was at peace. He was not afraid to die because he knew his destination. He grew in the Lord, living his life in such a way as to end it with an exclamation point. "I AM A CHRISTIAN!"

How will your life be punctuated?

Want to be God's Friend?

"Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you." John 15:12-14

Is God's Word in Your Heart?

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11 (KJV)

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11 (NIV)

Meditating on and Obeying the Word of God Brings Success

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have success." Joshua 1:8 (KJV)

Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and succesful." Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

What is Faith?

One great definition comes from GOD Himself:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Sleep in Peace

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Ps. 4:8

I Want to Praise Him!

Do you ever just feel an overwhelming urge to praise God? I hope so! All Christians know it is something that we should do, but how often do we feel like it? I'll admit that I don't always feel like it. But my favorite moments are when I'm alone with God and there are no distractions and I have an unusually great awareness of his presence. I get that often when I go for walks. I enjoy the solitude; just enjoying a quiet time with the Lord and his creation. It's at these moments that I often praise Him, worship Him, and adore Him, not only for what He has done, but who He is. God is awesome and deserves more praise and thanks than we could ever muster in this life. It's never totally adequate, considering His greatness and holiness, but it is a wonderful thing to even be able to give Him praise. The only way anyone can do it "in spirit and in truth" is a result of His grace and mercy that he gives when we surrender to Him and invite Him into our heart. He changes us and helps us see His purposes and sets us on the path to eternal life. Thank you, Lord

Easter

Something on my heart I'd like to share tonight.

Everybody love Christmas and rightly so. I do too. However, I've been meditating on something off and on for the last several years,

Too many people love to kneel and worship the babe in the manger without coming through the cross. You see it is uch more comfortable for us as humans to embrace a cute babe in a manger that than a beaten bloody saviour on a cross. See the cross reminds us of what it took to save us.

However three days later, God remindedc usa of Who the ultimate Victor is. Jesus rose from the dead and that is ultimately where our hope lies.

Tonight I urge anyone reading this to go all the way with Jesus. Do not simp[ly worship the babe in the manger but embrace the His death on the cross and the ultimate hope, His resurrection.