When you hear the theme song or see the title Mission Impossible, depending upon your age, you automatically think of either Peter Graves or Tom Cruise. These two actors are most famous for the Mission Impossible Series. This series of television shows and movies has given us all a glimpse of the world of espionage. If we look at it even closer it has also given us some key things we can use as believers in Christ, as we live life and share the gospel:
- You must be able to focus….even when in enemy territory…
- Everybody is not neccesarily who they appear to be…..
No one should know more about rejection than the Apostle Paul. Time after time in the book of Acts we see him being persecuted for his desire to share the gospel. From Philippi, to Thessalonica, to Berea, Athens, to Corinth Paul causes a stir whenever he preached Christ and was constantly being driven from these places.
Hearing the word Ignorant usually conjures up feelings of anger and may even invoke a feeling of retaliation against the person who uttered it. It is my prayer however that the true understanding and the word itself is embraced. I have come to this conclusion after taking a closer look at scripture written in Acts 4:13-14.
A group of farmers came together to pray for rain, only one boy came with an umbrella: THAT’S FAITH
When you toss a one year baby in the air, he laughs, he knows you will catch him: THAT’S FAITH
When we go to bed at night, we have no assurance to wake up in the morining…
Yet we have plans for tomorow: THAT’S HOPE
May God Always Be……………….
ABOVE YOU………….for blessings
BELOW YOU………….for support
BEFORE YOU…………for guidance
BEHIND YOU…………for protection
BESIDE YOU…………for comfort
INSIDE YOU…………so you can let others see the love of Christ living inside of you.
I love the way Jesus Christ used the most normal, mundane things in life to teach extraordinary biblical truths. In Luke Chapter 5, he does just that as he talks with experienced fisherman who after a long night of fishing were ready to wash their nets and call it quits.
How many people have missed out on the blessings of God because they gave up and “washed their nets”? Don’t give up! However, thank God that they recognized the authority of the Prophet…as Jesus tells them to launch out into the deep and launch their nets for a catch. Isn’t it great that they did not let their titles and positions as master fisherman get in the way of receiving instruction from the one who made them and the fish they were attempting to catch? Jesus is better than you at what you do than what you think? One word from Jesus can turn your life around.
The Water Baptism of Jesus Christ is so important on so many levels. Immediately after He was baptized a dove descended upon him and a voice from heaven said “you are my beloved Son, in You I am well pleased. I know that when I was baptized that did not happen and there is a good chance it did not happen with you as well.
However, I believe, if not in the natural, then surely in the spirit it did. If we examine the text we might see some important people and steps to insure that heaven is pleased.
The Miracle of the Loaves is easily one of the top miracles of Jesus Christ…If you were ranking miracles this would be in the top three. This miracle demonstrated His ability to provide for His people.
After the feeding Jesus instructs his disciples to get into the boat and go to the other side. Please note how the disciples did not argue or doubt him…they got in and went! What would our lives be like if we heard what HE said and did what HE said do?
The disciples are now tested as the boat encounters heavy winds and they are straining to row. You might find yourself straining and struggling now in life? Here are three points to help you navigate this time in your life:
Glorious Light Church
Life has a way of beating you up…the situations and circumstances of life can be cruel. However through all the roughness and challenges God has a way of still getting glory out of it. He created each and everyone of us to do good works, and there are times when He has to push us into those good works. There is nothing worse than living a life devoid of purpose.
Jephthah was one who in spite of the environment and hostility toward him, still overcame those issues. Jephthah had to leave a place Gilead, which means rough, to go to a place called Tob, which means good. What can we learn from the life of Jephthah? Here are four examples:
Friends, we cannot deny that we are living in an era of despair and in some cases depression. It is for some of the obvious reasons one might associate these times with despair….bad economy, crime and violence and failing relationships. Yet as believers we are not supposed to be subject to these same feelings of despair because of the hope that lies within us as children of God.
As I think of this level of hopelessness, I can only imagine what the early followers of Christ must have felt as he was crucified on the cross on Friday. What was it like between Friday and the Sunday they didn’t know was coming? In Luke 24 we see some nuggets that will encourage us to NOT live between the Cross and the Tomb.
Dear Friends,
I must first make sure that no one is offended by this title or my suggestion to follow…..because as we enter this season of Lent I know how important and sacred it is to some and the last thing I would want is to make light of someone’s desire to get closer to God. However, I am proposing a different course that I feel will give the same results….getting closer to God.
