Tag: love
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Remembering a Friend of God
Jesus said, “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15 ) Last week our church family lost a dear brother in…
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Sin, not a downer, a revelation of glory
“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” I am preparing to head back home from the pastor’s conference that I have been to for the last 3 days. Wow, what an encouragement to marvel at the wonder of God! The subject of…
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Keeper of Promises
As we come upon the Christmas season, we look back at God’s declarations about Jesus. We talk about Mary and Joseph, the Wise Men, and even John the Baptist’s parents. However, God’s promise of Jesus wasn’t a new thing. Yes, we hear of the coming Messiah in the later prophets, but even King David speaks…
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Remembering the Important Stuff
I’ve been reminded over the last month how it is to be a little child. With Bible School a month ago and Children’s Camp last week, I have been reminded of the truths that we teach children. Those truths aren’t minor. Nor are they little. They are the most important truths that we have. They…
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The Mystery of the Resurrection
As we think this week about the resurrection, I want us to consider that the resurrection is God’s declaration about the cross. It is the declaration that the cross is not a failure. It is not a loss. It is victory. First, it is a victory of mystery. What is that mystery? It is the…
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Loving for Real
Over the last couple of weeks, we have been examining Paul’s challenge to the church in Rome regarding love. He calls us to love without hypocrisy. He calls us to commit to loving in a profound way. Love is different from being nice. Love is real. Love is committed. Love rejoices with those who rejoice.…
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God’s Love Shown
How do we know people love us? Sometimes we know because they tell us. However, most often we know that people love us because of what they do. These actions are pictures of love. One of the great surprises we experience in life is the love of others. We are surprised that others value us. …
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The Needed Mercy of God
I was contemplating mercy this week. Mercy is unusual. It is a reality that can only be accepted by those who need it. And yet, many who need it refuse to admit that they do. Why do we need mercy? We need mercy because of sin. Sin make us lost. Being lost makes us separated…
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Loving the Lost
My wife says often, “If wishes were fishes we would all be in the sea.” We wish a lot of things. As a Christian, I wish often that the people around me all knew Jesus. Sometimes, I even think so highly of them that I avoid thinking about their lostness. I avoid seeing that they…