From Josh Howerton (to pastors, but applies to us all) —- Pastor friends on election week, We have too long been confused by (accidentally) misleading statements like “We don’t follow a red elephant or a blue donkey, but a slain lamb” and “prophetic, not partisan.” While such statements carry a grain of truth, they (incorrectlyContinue reading “If godly people don’t influence this election, who will?”
Tag Archives: live the Word
Your belief about God should impact your view of everything else.
I believe if you can compartmentalize your faith–your god is too small and possibly a false god you’ve defined in your own imagination. For The Most High God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29). Our theology, our belief about God, should impact everything else in our lives. And it actually does whether you think soContinue reading “Your belief about God should impact your view of everything else.”
We those who know God’s ways are better to find their voices.
Paul says,”hold such men in esteem” (Phil 2:29) Hold such men in esteem. What kind of men? Well, men and women like Epaphroditus. Epaphroditus didn’t only have a strange name, he was a rare one. He’s only mentioned once in the Bible (Phil 2:25). But this much is clear from the text, Epaphroditus was rare,Continue reading “We those who know God’s ways are better to find their voices.”
Right now! He is at work!
Love.Consolation.Hope.Grace.Comfort. Yes, I’ll have a heaping helping of each. Right now.Especially now. And this is just what our Father gives His children. His well never runs dry. Paul penned words of this blessing to the believers being persecuted in Thessalonica. “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has lovedContinue reading “Right now! He is at work!”
Are you walking in FEAR or FAITH?
When Christians lose hope, it’s a sign to the lost world that we don’t really believe what we say we believe. (See Phil 1:28-29) People who have lost hope are driven by fear. But what does fear look like in the day to day? It’s not that we often see fellow Christians running around screamingContinue reading “Are you walking in FEAR or FAITH?”
People Problems?
We don’t have to look too far to see the struggles around us. We are a divided country. Christians are not immune from these struggles—political and beyond. We experience strife in our business and personal relationships and are daily tested to live our lives differently as Christ followers. Especially during people conflicts, we have toContinue reading “People Problems?”
No communes for me.
The Apostle Paul urges believers to live a life that is characterized by an increasing love for others, a steady, quiet calm, and hard work. (I Thess 4:9-12). There is so much to unpack in these few sentences. We are to love others with an increasing love. And that one, hit me hard. (Like rightContinue reading “No communes for me.”
I needed to remember this…
I live in East Tennessee. I used to live in Asheville, NC. These places are home to me, and the stories and photos from Western North Carolina and Upper East Tennessee are gut-wrenching to watch. But there is something else I noticed as I watched. Our government may broken and corrupt, our world may beContinue reading “I needed to remember this…”
Marriage. So good. So hard.
Because marriage is so GOOD and also so HARD, I’m sharing what God laid on my heart a while back— There absolutely will be the days your eyes meet and your heart flutters. The days you melt into each other’s arms and your heart swells with emotion. There will be those mountain-top, romantic moments withContinue reading “Marriage. So good. So hard.”
But what if they say, “Don’t judge me.”?
Like me, you probably hear the phrase “don’t judge” a lot in our world and often out of the mouths of Christians. But the Bible says, “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”Hebrews 5:14 ESV If we wantContinue reading “But what if they say, “Don’t judge me.”?”
No matter what…
If I could explain God, if I could control Him, treat Him like a vending machine, if I could predict His next move or always understand His last – would He be worthy of my worship? Would He be Mighty God? But He is Mighty!He is the Great I Am.He is Holy. And this veryContinue reading “No matter what…”
Hold on. It’s worth it.
Surely, I’m not the only one who used to believe that once you become a Christian life will go easy. But the truth is, real faith is far from easy. The book of Luke tells us, Simeon’s eyes finally beheld the Promised One. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, thisContinue reading “Hold on. It’s worth it.”
Will your kids be able to stand in hard days?
This remains one of the most shared things I’ve ever written. In these hard days, I felt it important to share again. It’s hard truth, but there is HOPE! —- They are some of the most miserable people I know–young adults who haven’t really picked a side. They try to live in two worlds—the oneContinue reading “Will your kids be able to stand in hard days?”
What we tolerate our children will embrace.
Good-looking. Young. Smart. Worldly, evil, Nebuchadnezzar set his sights on these. He endeavored to teach them the ways of his world so they might serve him well. For three years, they would be given the best of the best of the king’s delicacies and wine. But Daniel. He purposed in his heart not to defileContinue reading “What we tolerate our children will embrace.”
The SIN Elephant in the Room
“Let’s love people enough to help them leave their own pity parties so they can spend their lives drawing attention to God rather than themselves.” “The compassionate side of you will be tempted to comfort everyone who weeps, but that isn’t always the most loving thing to do for them.” —Francis Chan Sometimes, we absolutelyContinue reading “The SIN Elephant in the Room”
I need to read these words today…
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 “I need to read these words today…”
Don’t be silent.
Something is off.Wrong.I feel it in my spirit. I look at our world, specifically at our country, and I see things happening at a pace I never thought possible. Do you see it too? Fewer and fewer people are thinking for themselves or even have the opportunity to do so. Instead, hidden minions, working behindContinue reading “Don’t be silent.”
The enemy won’t make it easy. This will help you.
Those who were made new by the blood of Christ, will never live content in their old ways. Though we may try to hold on to certain sins, downplaying their dangers, our hearts will never find peace there. As we daily surrender our will to the way of the Lord, we are refreshed to walkContinue reading “The enemy won’t make it easy. This will help you.”
Let’s speak truth in a world that hates it.
I believe as a country, a church, and as people, we are being deceived by false prophets speaking empty oracles. The prophet Jeremiah talks of false prophets and empty oracles. He says the false prophets “walk in lies and strengthen the hands of evildoers so that no one turns back from his wickedness” (23:14). Doesn’tContinue reading “Let’s speak truth in a world that hates it.”
We can know if we know God or not.
God is not a god of confusion. I believe He wants to make Himself clear to us. He does not want any of us to be confused as to whether or not we have been saved. God used His servant John to help us know the difference. Let’s read his words: “Everyone who makes aContinue reading “We can know if we know God or not.”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 