Do you have trouble following Jesus? Do you ever wonder if you are really a Christian? And how can we tell if we truly love God? John tells us we will love others and keep God’s commands. (1 John 4:20-5:3) And, he tells us, the keeping of God’s commandments won’t seem burdensome (5:3). We willContinue reading “When you try to follow Jesus and keep messing up!”
Tag Archives: walk in freedom
You can’t kill sin with easy strokes
Stick with me on this one… I once heard a pastor preach about not taking sin seriously and not monkeying around with it. The point was, we have to KILL SIN immediately (the pastor used the illustration of the Prophet Samuel hacking the Amalekite king to death when King Saul had disobeyed God and refusedContinue reading “You can’t kill sin with easy strokes”
Chasing Contentment
Great gain.We want that.We all want that. Paul said, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain”. (I Tim 6:6) How true.Godliness with contentment. “So, I’ll follow God and be content with where He leads and what He gives.” But, that’s easier said than done for our flesh-filled wandering hearts who are constantly chasing contentment. SoContinue reading “Chasing Contentment”
You can’t be NEUTRAL on your FAITH.
You can’t be neutral in your faith. If it impacts you, you should want it to impact those you care about. John Piper went so far as to say, “If you don’t want people to believe what you believe about God, your views of Him are not functionally significant for you.” The fact is, ifContinue reading “You can’t be NEUTRAL on your FAITH.”
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?”
It’s a wound that cuts so deep…
If you’ve ever felt betrayed by a friend you know that’s a wound that cuts deep. Jesus said it would happen to Him.And it did. “All the disciples forsook Him and fled.” (Matt 26:56) Prophecy was fulfilled. He was on His way to the Cross. He went alone. He stood alone. His friends deserted Him.Continue reading “It’s a wound that cuts so deep…”
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”
“Is it me?”
The One who had been laid in a manger, the One of whom the angels sang, the One shepherds told, and the wise men travelled to see —had grown up to be their friend. Their friend. They had fished together and watched Him feed the five thousand together. But they had also walked miles ofContinue reading ““Is it me?””
A BRUTAL indictment.
Matthew 23 is nothing short of a brutal indictment of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus calls them hypocrites and fools. He says they do what they do to be seen by others. He says they put heavy burdens on others that they themselves do not follow. Jesus says, they look good on the outside butContinue reading “A BRUTAL indictment.”
For the helpless…
With smiles on their faces and exuberant expectation, the crowds waved the palm branches shouting, “Hosanna” which literally means, “Save Please!” (Matt 21) and then, just a while later, that same crowd would scream, “Crucify Him!” And we question, how could they so quickly change? How could they question the famous one, the Miracle Maker,Continue reading “For the helpless…”
This seems wrong.
God deals with us according to who He is, not according to who we are. In the Parable of the Laborers, those who were hired last and only worked a short while for the master, received the same pay as those who had been sweating all day long. (Matt 20:1-16) In our system of fairness,Continue reading “This seems wrong.”
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.”
Pain Places
I originally shared this several years ago, but felt led to share it again for myself, and maybe for someone else who stumbles across it today. I still live in the same town where my first husband took his life. My life still takes me to the place where the detectives told me they hadContinue reading “Pain Places”
Let’s tell the whole truth about Christianity.
The Apostle Paul preached grace AND truth. Adrian Rogers once said, “People say, “Don’t take a stand for doctrine. Just be full of love….” Thank God for the love of God. He is love. But that’s not all of the truth. He’s also a God of justice; He’s also a God of truth. And whenContinue reading “Let’s tell the whole truth about Christianity.”
God is still compassionate towards us!
Jesus’ life on earth was marked by great compassion for those who were hurting, sick, and caught up in sin. The miracles when He feeds the 5000 and when He walks on water are prompted by great compassion towards us. (See Matt 14:13-33) And as we are told in both the Old and New TestamentsContinue reading “God is still compassionate towards us!”
The Word draws us back to freedom—again and again.
Well, I didn’t want to read that. Yes, I’ve heard the Holy Spirit pressing on my heart, but I’ve thought I could just scoot past the nudging. And if I’m real honest, just between us, this thing has been an issue for me before and I thought the same sin wouldn’t be a problem forContinue reading “The Word draws us back to freedom—again and again.”
Jesus died for you anyway!
The crowds grow, but Jesus is not loud or forceful, but gentle, and continues to heal “them all” fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy (Matt 12:15-21). What’s more, and what’s truly radical for that time and culture, is this healing of “all”included the Gentiles! “And in His name Gentiles will trust.” (Matt 12:21) The low of the low,Continue reading “Jesus died for you anyway!”
Don’t buy THIS lie
We long for it.We desperately want it.Unconditional love. But the enemy, he’s twisted it. And so many are buying his lie, and the evil one is using this lie to separate people from those who truly love them. The father of all lies has whispered that if people don’t accept our sin, treat it asContinue reading “Don’t buy THIS lie”
When people God used… fail miserably
Matthew lists the twelve disciples by name and tells us Jesus gave them power to cast out unclean spirits, and heal those who were sick. (Matt 10:1-4). Judas was included in this list, and the text seems to suggest he also was given power to cast out unclean spirits and heal the sick. As IContinue reading “When people God used… fail miserably”
Knowing THIS comforts me when I’m ridiculed
“And they ridiculed him.” (Matt 9:24) Matthew makes it clear.Jesus was ridiculed. The One who came to heal the sick, comfort the broken-hearted, and to die so we could live was ridiculed. He was ridiculed. He was made to feel ridiculous, and his good motives scorned. It hurts my heart. And if you’ve been tryingContinue reading “Knowing THIS comforts me when I’m ridiculed”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 