The Old Testament gives a wonderful picture of God as our Shepherd. One Psalm begins, “Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph lie a flock” (Psalm 80:1 NIV). The almighty Creator of the universe stoops to be the Shepherd of His people! A shepherd protects and feeds his sheep, and pursues them when they stray. At evening he brings them into the fold, secure against every enemy. Without the shepherd, the sheep would scatter and wander into…..
Thankfulness is foundational to the Christian life. Thankfulness is a conscious response that comes from looking beyond our blessings to their source. As Christians, we have been forgiven, saved from death, and adopted as God’s children. There could be no better reason for a grateful heart! Lepers in Jesus’ day were social outcasts. Their highly contagious condition ostracized them from those they loved. When ten lepers encountered Jesus, they desperately implored Him to show them mercy. Jesus sent them to…..
“I know not where the road will lead I follow day by day, or where it ends: I only know I walk the King’s highway. I know not if the way is long, and no one else can say; but rough or smooth, up hill or down, I walk the King’s highway.” “And some I love have reached the end, but some with me may stay, their faith and hope still guiding me: I walk the King’s highway. The way…..
The world will tell you that the dominating influence in your life is your past. If you came from a difficult home life, that will determine the direction of your life. If your culture was treated unfairly, that will dictate the condition of your life today. If you were hurt or abused or if your youth was spent in rebellion, the remainder of your life will be spent struggling with your past. The world is preoccupied with the past because…..
God gave us the power to make choices for ourselves, and He created a word in which those choices have consequences. The ultimate choice that we face, or course, is what to do about God. We can cast our lot with Him by choosing Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, or not. The choice is ours alone. We also face thousands of small choices that make up the fabric of daily life. When we align those choices with Gd’s will,…..