Encouragement

That’s because we Believers are hypocrites. Much like non-Believers, Believers are unable to live perfectly according to the commandments of God. However, I would rather be a Christian accused of hypocrisy than a non-Christian who might never be called a hypocrite.

If it seems like the entire world has turned against you including everyone’s dog, cat and guinea pig, free yourself from that heavy burden by turning to God who loves you without conditions. From this moment, live in the glow of this reciprocal glorying in which your life is spent glorifying Him in every way. In return, He brings His glory to you by affirming you as His and giving you the best purposes ever. Embrace that. And sleep well.

There is no law? Yikes! That’ll leave a mark. Without law, the world descends into a constant Black Friday frenzy at WalMart.
Yet, in Galatians 5:22-23, the Bible declares no law exists if certain conditions are met: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

When we think of the law, images of being arrested and handcuffed fill our minds. Then come images of jail cells filled with other ‘criminals’ who look like they would eat us alive if given the chance. Men with tattoos the size of Texas who got their start in crime by stealing milk money from first graders. Next, we’re brought before a judge, who passes a sentence upon us because we’ve transgressed the law. How is any of that an ‘easy yoke?’

Five addictions—five nooses around his neck. Nooses not meant to destroy him immediately, but nooses intended to slowly carve him into nothingness. The addictions desire that he still breathe. But they want him to always be willing to trade his last breath for another ‘fix.’

Maybe we should follow Voltaire’s advice and invent ‘God.’ However, that’s been done over and over, and, honestly, we still have evil everywhere. From boys throwing missiles from overpasses to dictators slaughtering millions. Inventing ‘god’ after ‘god’ hasn’t helped at all.

The world compares Paul’s life and Ben Franklin’s life, and comes to the conclusion that Franklin’s life is far superior to Paul’s. What the world sees is Franklin’s life overflowing with prestige and power and worldly comfort. What the world doesn’t see is Paul’s life overflowing with peace.

Upon my introduction to disc golf, I became enthralled by it. It’s an individual sport with innumerable intricacies. My emotional enthusiasm erupted, and I purchased so many discs, I could have wallpapered a herd of buffalo with them.

“Stay on the road,” came April’s voice from the co-pilot’s seat. She spoke in the nick of time because a plan was formulating in my head to not stay on the road. At that moment, for some unexplainable reason, I was itching to veer the pickup right and enjoy the two hundred foot drop to the bottom of the canyon. A new kind of sight-seeing—one with adventure and danger attached to it

Being a Believer means extending your life into the lives of others. Your first focus should be helping and supporting the believers in your church family. Where can you plug in? What ministries can you help out with? Who in your church family needs encouragement and support.