Posts from 2021

Will My Real Identity Please Stand Up?John 8:34-36 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. In a world full of secrets, addictions, and fears, it’s difficult to truly feel free. The compulsions we struggle with lead us to live lonely…

How will things change for you if you give your grief to God? Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat…

Does your desire for control influence your relationship with God? Some people are afraid of the Christmas season and what it brings. Christmas reminds them of the broken relationships with their family and friends. They hate the nativity scene, and they don’t want others to have joy when they are so miserable, so they might even threaten lawsuits. They hate Christmas because they fear it.Herod was afraid of Jesus and Christmas because he thought it would threaten his kingdom. When…

Joy to the WorldWhat fear has been the most damaging to your life? There are hundreds of different known fears that we can have. Fear takes away our joy and is something that all of us struggle with, but God’s word makes it clear that we don’t have to be afraid if we have God on your side! Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?…

Mary’s Christmas GiftLuke 1:26-33 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.…

What Is God’s Purpose for Difficult Seasons in Life? Life’s journey is full of mountain top experiences and deep dark valleys that sometimes, seem to go on forever. This last week in Seattle, WA we have had nothing but rain and wind along with it starting to get dark at 4:00pm. We know we have a few months of this weather ahead of us and that can be challenging, but as we all know, the summers here are some of…

As we are seeming snowballing down towards End Times, we are more divided then ever. This division is finding every nook and cranny to fill with resentment, bitterness, and hostility. People are ending relationships with friends because of this political divide. I know we want a magic pill to make everything better, but real answers and healing will take more than any government programs or political leaders can give. We don’t have to be overwhelmed with feelings of discouragement because…

As we look around at all the anger and hate in our divided country and around the world, we are challenged with the possibility that End Times could take place in our lives. Some believers are preparing for this possibility by moving to the middle of nowhere, buying guns, and preparing for Armageddon. Others are quietly feeling overwhelmed and emotionally caving. With all the bad information out there on the web, we that we should preach and teach on end…

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where there was no way out? How did you pray? It wasn’t just asking God for help and direction. When we find ourselves in an impossible situation, we fall to our knees in prayer. God, I can’t do this, I need you to deliver me from certain doom. If we are connected to Christ through an intimate relationship, trust and obedience will be a natural response when He calls us to accomplish…

The United States was founded on Biblical principles, but the media, the school systems, and the government are now openly opposed to God’s truth. Believers have gone from being marginalized to being demonized. This is new to us, but it’s not new. Early believers were persecuted more than we are experiencing so far, so we can look to them for direction and encouragement in dealing with a changing culture. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the…

Thank God! Why is being thankful so important? As I look online at how people are responding to the world around them, I can’t help but notice that, in a country where our poor are living like the rich in many other countries, there’s a flourishing sense of entitlement and vengeful bitterness that lacks any sense of thankful hearts for what we do have. I believe this is one of the main reasons why depression and suicide are skyrocketing. People…

Who Do You Really Trust?  How does trusting God neutralize anger, bitterness, and depression?   With all that’s happening around the world, wars, natural disasters, political hatred, Covid-19, etc., is there any healthy way to deal with all our stress, anger, and frustrations? Alcoholism, drug addiction, depression and suicide are at an all time high and climbing, while online bullying is becoming the norm for soccer moms and high schoolers. People are searching for new paths that might lead to peace…

Are You Ready?Are you spiritually ready for when Jesus comes back to take all His beloved home? Do you believe that Jesus is Lord, or are you waiting to see which way the wind is blowing? We read about Christ coming back like a ‘thief in the night”, with no one knowing when it will take place. Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the…

When you watch the news or pick up a paper does it feel like we might be getting close to the End Times? As Christian should we fear that we will suffer God’s wrath during the Tribulation? 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we…