Always Rejoice

Want to know God’s will for your life? Part of it is that you are full of joy and peace. The Apostle Paul tells you how to accomplish God’s will for your life, always rejoice, and pray without ceasing. Focus on this, and you will notice the change.

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Sometimes we need to be told to do things that produce a positive result in our spirit. It’s too easy to focus on what is wrong or what could happen and then sink into a funk because it seems like everything is caving in. As Christians, we are to walk in joy and peace. Those come from us rejoicing and being in constant prayer. A warning, though, don’t take this verse too literally. I knew someone who walked around doing this. He wouldn’t respond to you if you asked him a question. When it says, “without ceasing,” it means consistently.

Walk This Way

Children all over the world dream of being like their heroes. That could be a sports star like Ronaldo or Messi or an entertainer like Adele. They buy t-shirts with their image on the front, watch every performance, and discuss endlessly with their friends how great they are. Whoever it is, they will try to…

Can’t You See I’m Busy?

It is difficult saying no sometimes. In our heart, we know its not the right thing to do, but we don’t want to disappoint people, so we go along and regret it later. It’s okay to tell people no. Nehemiah was a busy man, and when someone asked for a meeting that would take him away from his work, he replied, “Can’t you see I’m busy?”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭6:3
“So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

A Full Plate
Nehemiah had a lot of pressure and tree rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem. He got halfway done and ran out of materials. There was only rubble to rebuild. There were also organizing all of the tribes and getting them on the same page. The last thing he needed was the distraction of his enemies. His doubters wanted to him to stop the work on the wall and have a meeting with them. Nehemiah’s response? “Can’t you see I’m busy doing the Lord’s work?”

Don’t Get Distracted
We can learn a lot from Nehemiah. Too many times, we let little distractions take us away from what the Lord is doing. People we hope will respect us will often drag us away from what is most important. We must remain focused on where God has us and have the courage to be able to tell people we are busy. If we don’t we will end frustrated.

Increase in Love

There are going to be times when you have nothing left to give, and the people around you are demanding more. You will be at your wits’ end because you have given so much already. Jesus wants to let you know that you can increase in love. He wants you to abound in it for…

Are You Flourishing?

Ever pulled a stump from the ground? If the tree is dead, it is pretty straightforward, but it is thriving its roots don’t let go too quickly. Roots are a good symbol of the condition of our hearts. When we are tapped into streams of living water, we thrive; when we aren’t, we shrivel up….

Give Your Life Away

One of the joys of ministry is running into someone you ministered to years ago. It’s great catching up and seeing what God has done in their lives. You walk away, thankful that He used you for a brief time to guide them. Wherever Paul ministered, the people became dear to him because he invested…

Symbol of Christ’s Body

This last Sunday, our church experienced something new. Sure, we met outside in a tent, because we are prevented from meeting inside because of COVID-19, but that isn’t it. We partook of communion as a church with individually sealed communion cups. The top layer had a wafer that was covered by a thin barrier of…

More Than Words

There is a lot of people talking today; in fact, too much. Everybody has an opinion, and very few people accomplish anything. It seems like it is more important to talk a good game than actually to have one. Serving Christ is more than words. We have to serve in the Holy Spirit’s power and…

Well Done Faithful Servant

Investing in the Stock Market is risky. You could lose all of your money in a matter of hours and have nothing left. At the same time, you could see your money grow by over 20%. Over the long haul, you can see your initial investment more than double. The same is true for your…

Season Your Speech with Grace

Do you know what makes a great BBQ? It’s not the fire or the meat; it’s the salt. When the meat is seasoned with something like garlic salt, it brings out the flavor of the meat the fire. People have been seasoning meat for centuries because it preserves it. That is why Paul tells you…