Steve's Blog
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:33–34 (NLT)
Every generation faces challenges, but it is hard to imagine that life has ever been as hectic and fast-paced as it is today. For me, the weeks seem to fly by. Someone once said, “Time flies by when you are having fun.” But it passes by fast whether we are ha...
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 (CSB)
The venerable song of the church urges us to “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.” The command sounds good until we realize we have more blessings than we could count. What did Paul mean when he told us that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing?
Perhaps instead of mer...
If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored— so clean up your life. Job 22:23 (NLT)
Restoration is big business. People spend countless dollars restoring antiques, fine art, vehicles, homes, and much more. In the end, however, there is often little practical value. For example, certain restored antique cars are valued at millions of dollars but are rarely, if ever, driven. The cars and trucks are hauled on trailers from place to place, and people admire the craftsmanship, but they no...
They will be called “The Holy People” and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.” Isaiah 62:12 (NLT)
When I was a boy, “trading stamps” were a big deal. I remember my mom and grandma collecting S&H Green Stamps and pasting them into books. When they accumulated a sufficient quantity, they brought them to the redemption center to exchange for a desired product. It seemed like a big deal at the time, but it is trivial compared to being “The Redeemed of the Lord.”
According to the dictionary, to r...
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:13–14 (NLT)
Rescuer or rescued? The “American Spirit” was often characterized as self-reliant and independent. It is debatable how prevalent this characteristic is today, but a significant number of us still would rather be a rescuer than be rescued.
We admire “first responders” who risk their well-being to come to the aid of th...
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6 (LSB)
Let us ponder for a moment the significance of satisfaction, and dissatisfaction in the world today. It appears every time I make a purchase online, take my car in for service, or do a host of other activities, I will soon find that email inquiring if I am satisfied.
On the other hand, in the past week, Apple unveiled new iPhones. How many people will be placing their order immediately,...
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
It is spring, and there are signs of new life all around. We may see hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies flitting from place to place. They do not stay still for very long. It is almost as though they have a form of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). But that is their nature. It is what they do. God may not have commanded the birds and the insects to be still, but cl...
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19–20 (NIV)
Jesus spoke these words just before His ascension to describe the church’s primary mission. Mark’s gospel is a little different: He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15 (NIV). Finally, in both his gospel and Acts, Luke emphasized wait...
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