It’s far from easy.It’s stinking hard. It’s a hard and holy thing to die to self.And you aren’t the only one struggling with it. For many, who walk with Jesus, it’s a slow thing as we learn little by little, year after year, to die to things that don’t really matter and hold on toContinue reading “It’s HARD to die to self!”
Tag Archives: live the Word
Hold Tight
Take a slow read of these words the Apostle Paul penned so very long ago. May we take them to heart in this day. May we not live in fear, but be warned and so very careful about who we allow to speak into our lives – “If anyoneteaches otherwiseand does not consentto wholesome words,evenContinue reading “Hold Tight”
Is God shaking us?
As craziness and immorality continues to be justified and celebrated in this country, and scary things continue to happen around us, I’ve wondered if God is shaking us. There’s part of me that still holds out hope that better days will come through the election of God-fearing leaders. But that hope has continued to dwindle.Continue reading “Is God shaking us?”
Ever wondered why God just didn’t work for you?
Jesus finds his disciples sleeping after He had asked them to watch with Him. He says, “Could you not watch with Me one hour?” And then He warns, “ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:36-41) Jesus knows us better than we knowContinue reading “Ever wondered why God just didn’t work for you?”
Conquering Fear
Those who fear God aren’t consumed and paralyzed by fear like those who look only to this world for their hope. In our flesh, we are just as capable of worry, dread and fear; but when we remember what we know of the Lord, we aren’t devastated by the circumstances we find ourselves in, INSTEADContinue reading “Conquering Fear”
All of us…
I’m up early. The lights of the Christmas tree glow and the smell of a cinnamon candle fills the room. But, as I open my Bible back to Matthew, I’m reminded once again that this is not my home. As comfortable as it can feel sometimes, this is not our home. Across the street, myContinue reading “All of us…”
Be Ready and He Will.
Jesus continues in His talk about the End of Days, not with a specific date, or hidden calculator as some are inclined to hope, but with parables about being ready (Matt 24:52-Matt 25:13). He says, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (MattContinue reading “Be Ready and He Will.”
Let’s remember and let’s encourage one another!
It’s sad and scary. The Parable of the Marriage Feast. Jesus has told several parables about His coming to earth to save sinners (Matt 21-22), when we come to this one about a King preparing a great marriage feast for his son and sending out invitations. But the people, “they made light of it.” (MattContinue reading “Let’s remember and let’s encourage one another!”
It’s embarrassing to moms everywhere…
Jesus clearly tells his disciples he will be condemned to death and will rise on the third day (Matt 20:17-19). And you’d expect to read of the disciples awe-filled response. But instead, the mother of two of the disciples, James and John, starts lobbying for her sons to have prominent seating in the Kingdom. It’sContinue reading “It’s embarrassing to moms everywhere…”
Let’s don’t miss this. In the early part of Matthew 19, Jesus gives some very important instruction. He says, “He who made them at the beginning made them male and female.” (Matt 19:4) God is very clear that He made two, and only two, genders. To reject this is to rebel against your Creator. WeContinue reading
We need THIS for all our lives.
As the world continues to slide into chaos, I pick up my Bible and open back to Matthew. Forgiveness, and now divorce. Couldn’t Matthew record some easier teachings of Jesus about now? But I guess I know. It’s actually really clear. Jesus spent His very short time on earth telling us the truth because weContinue reading “We need THIS for all our lives.”
Undo YEARS of pain and problems.
As we hear the news of the atrocities committed in Israel, it’s hard for me to think about something like forgiveness. But, I know, it is historically true that unforgiveness that has grown and multiplied, and been passed from one generation to the next, has played a role in these horrific events. For the peaceContinue reading “Undo YEARS of pain and problems.”
Are you hiding too?
Someone recently told me to “Stop hiding behind your God” when I would not agree with them, that something God clearly calls sin in His Word, was not actually sin. I know this person intended to insult me with the choice of words, but oddly, I felt myself almost smiling at the thought. For IContinue reading “Are you hiding too?”
Are we seeing birth pains?
As world events unfold, I can’t help but notice the countries involved, and am reminded of the alliances and events described in Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation. Are we seeing the “birth pains” of our Savior’s return? Are we approaching the End Days? I don’t know. But I know Jesus is coming back. Do you knowContinue reading “Are we seeing birth pains?”
Are you tortured by emotions while those who hurt you just move on.
Dealing with people is hard. We will eventually be offended, hurt and feel all the emotions of being sinned against. And this will come from those we love—family, friends, coworkers and fellow believers. But we can’t read Matthew 18:21-35 and think we have any loophole to hold on to unforgiveness. The debtor in this passageContinue reading “Are you tortured by emotions while those who hurt you just move on.”
I‘m so thankful for pastors who lead their churches to do this…
Matthew 18:15-20 is incredible instruction in dealing with those who have sinned against us. Furthermore, it is the gold standard for the process of church discipline of which the goal is always to be the restoration of someone walking in sin. We are to break fellowship with the goal of causing the other person toContinue reading “I‘m so thankful for pastors who lead their churches to do this…”
It will burn your house down.
Jesus emphasizes the need to not take sin lightly but radically remove it from our lives when he talks about plucking out your own eye or cutting off your hand if they help you to sin (Matt 18:8-9). For some of us, we need to kill the friendship, block the phone number, throw out theContinue reading “It will burn your house down.”
Peace for the dying
I think we sanitize this verse.We pretty it up.We water it down. We think denying ourselves and taking up our crosses is only putting up with the occasional annoyance or criticism of being called a Christian. We need to soberly understand what Jesus is saying when He says, “If anyone desires to come after Me,Continue reading “Peace for the dying”
Because of Who He is – All of the Word…
As Jesus stands in a city surrounded by throngs of idols, He asks His disciples who others say that He is (Matt 16:13) to which they give various answers. Jesus presses further and says, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matt 16:15) Peter famously replies, “You are the Christ, the Son of theContinue reading “Because of Who He is – All of the Word…”
For the HARD thing you are facing…
Jesus loves us so very much that He didn’t keep Himself from the Cross or from feeling our hard, human emotions. In Matthew 13, Jesus talks about the kingdom of Heaven being like a treasure to be found, and a Pearl of great price worthy of the giving of all. (Matt 13:44-46) In these parables,Continue reading “For the HARD thing you are facing…”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 