Matthew 5 ends with Jesus saying, “Therefore you shall be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (v 48) He completely knocks the wind out of us who compare ourselves to others and feel like we’ve obtained some sort of religious superiority. For anytime my eyes turn to the Lord, as my standard,Continue reading “The “be perfect verse” and the freedom it actually gives!!”
Tag Archives: live for Jesus
What if he said this?
“Brood of Vipers” …can you imagine being called that? Imagine the preacher walking up to the podium, looking the congregation square in the eye and saying, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We haveContinue reading “What if he said this?”
Have you ever laughed out loud as you’ve read your Bible?
I laughed out loud as I read my Bible. This doesn’t usually happen but sometimes, I find myself chuckling. Luke described the time Jesus healed a boy possessed by a demon after His disciples failed to do so. Jesus, then, prophesies His coming death and steadfastly sets His face to go to Jerusalem. Along theContinue reading “Have you ever laughed out loud as you’ve read your Bible?”
He is RISEN!! Go and tell!
The ground shook.The angel appeared.The stone rolled away.The soldiers fell like dead men.The grave empty.Death defeated!The Way Made!Victory complete. JESUS IS RISEN! “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”. John 20:6 Oh, believer, you may not have seen the resurrection with your human eyes, but you know it is all true.Continue reading “He is RISEN!! Go and tell!”
I woke up early thinking of those I love in this hard world…
I woke up early thinking about my young adults, and several others that I love like my own. They are trying to make big decisions in a hard world. They are fighting discouragement as many of the normal things, we who are older, took for granted, now seem so very far out of reach. TheyContinue reading “I woke up early thinking of those I love in this hard world…”
Love Thoughts
Love thoughts…this Valentines Day… It’s not enough they thought …the love of God. They needed God plus….an apple for Eve, a bowl of stew for Esau, If only Sarah could have a child of her own when she wanted it, if Joseph’s brothers could have Jacob’s chief affection… If the children of Israel could justContinue reading “Love Thoughts”
Like it or not—Others will judge Jesus by how we act.
When Paul wrote these words, about half of the people he’d pass on the Roman streets were slaves— “Bondservant, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not toContinue reading “Like it or not—Others will judge Jesus by how we act.”
A couple thoughts on parenting…
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. (Col 3:20) The Enduring Word commentary says, “Paul has in mind children who are still in their parents’ household and under their authority. For these, they must not only honor their father and mother (as in Ephesians 6:2), but theyContinue reading “A couple thoughts on parenting…”
How do I stop the sin cycle and just love Jesus so His ways become my ways?
As I come to the end of Chapter 2 of Colossians, I’m struck by Paul’s last sentence. “These things have the appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are no value against the indulgence of the flesh.” If I don’t want to indulge my flesh, I can’t relyContinue reading “How do I stop the sin cycle and just love Jesus so His ways become my ways?”
Don’t get overly confident in your own pretty goodness.
Do not share in other people’s sins and keep yourself pure (1 Tim 5:20) The Apostle Paul knew there could be no peace, and no healthy church, where sin was allowed to go unchecked. As we look around us, and even inside our churches, we see sin going unchecked. Paul had seen this too.Especially inContinue reading “Don’t get overly confident in your own pretty goodness.”
Jesus was enough on the day we were saved and He will be enough every day we ever live.
Jesus was enough on the day we were saved, and He will be enough every day we ever live. The Apostle Paul, who walked in such victory, through the hardest of circumstances with real joy, says, in Christ “dwells all fullness of the Godhead bodily and you are complete in Him, who is the headContinue reading “Jesus was enough on the day we were saved and He will be enough every day we ever live.”
I wonder if it was Christmas when they did what they did…
I think of this story every Christmas. I guess I wonder if it was Christmas-time when they did what they did. I am forever thankful. How I wish I knew their names. I’m sure they are walking the streets of glory now with the Savior, but I wonder if they know how very much theyContinue reading “I wonder if it was Christmas when they did what they did…”
She did mention she had only ever lost two bar fights…
She was a drug dealer. So, how could we have possibly imagined what happened? Everyone in her small town knew just how bad she had wrecked her life. She had even lost her kids. Many, probably thought her addictions too strong, and that she was a lost cause. TooFarGone But as she walked about town,Continue reading “She did mention she had only ever lost two bar fights…”
As he raised his hands, I cried.
The service had already started when two men helped him through the side door. The old man’s legs did not seem to want work on that cold Sunday morning as they half-carried him toward the front. We all kept singing, but tears filled my eyes as I watched him stumble as he tried to willContinue reading “As he raised his hands, I cried.”
You don’t need a title when you have a calling!
Her presence filled the room like royalty. She held the mop like a queen’s scepter as she prepared to clean the hospital restroom. I immediately noticed her dazzling smile as our eyes met and something in me told me she was a daughter of the King. (Have you ever wondered if God has given usContinue reading “You don’t need a title when you have a calling!”
We need these kind of leaders
Like me, you probably know of people who have left the church because they’ve been hurt by another in some sort of church leadership. You may be one. Or, you may have watched as someone, in leadership, has very publicly fallen. The evil one gets a lot of bang for his buck with this and,Continue reading “We need these kind of leaders”
Remember this today
I am convinced it’s not the dramatic stories, trials and testimonies where our Lord most often chooses to show Himself through us but in the common, every day living. So often, we miss holy opportunities waiting for the big event, the mission trip, or the planned church program. But so often holy moments, with eternalContinue reading “Remember this today”
Small Paul
You may know this, but I didn’t. While Abraham, Sarah and Peter were all renamed by God, Paul renamed himself. His former name, Saul, means “asked for” or “prayed for”. Saul had lived in the “big time”. He was smartest of the smart, a leader…people knew his name and revered him. Then he meets Jesus.Continue reading “Small Paul”
Some questions I’m asking myself.
If I’m trying to please men, I can’t walk worthy of the God who calls me. (Read Thessalonians 2:4-12) It’s so easy to want others to affirm us, to like us, to praise us. We long for position and power. And those in ministry are not immune. Book sales, social media likes, twitter followers, speakingContinue reading “Some questions I’m asking myself.”
Where hope is still found…
I needed to read these words from the old preacher-teacher, Oswald Chambers, today (pictured with his daughter)– “Put Trust in God First. Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutelyContinue reading “Where hope is still found…”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 