Staff Meeting Devotion Jan. 28, 2014
“Ask” James 4 seems like a downer: “Don’t [fights and quarrels among you] come from your desires that battle within you…you adulterous people…change your laughter into mourning…grieve, mourn, and wail…who are you to judge…what is your life?” Many of our conflicts arise from an attitude of “if only so-and-so would do such-and-
Staff Meeting Devotion Nov. 19, 2013
“The Power of Prayer” The movie Twelve Years a Slave is an intense movie about the story of a free black man in the pre-Civil War North who was kidnapped and forced to work in the South under a harsh master. He would have suffered more abuse if he spoke things that were true—that he was […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Nov. 12, 2013
“Living in Light of Eternity” Events surrounding the return of Christ are an important part of Paul’s message to the Thessalonian church. It is, however, easy for these concerns to be divorced from anything practical. Our understanding of how history ends is incredibly practical.
Staff Meeting Devotion Oct. 29, 2013
“On the Rock and Of the Rock” The Wise and Foolish Builders Matthew 7:24-27 When I think of a building, I think of it as something not quickly accomplished. This is also true of the work of a lifetime–a lifetime of obedience and faith. I usually think of this parable as referring to the sum […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Oct. 22, 2013
“The Lord Has Need of It” Mark 11:1-6 Jesus was preparing to enter Jerusalem, and whatever needed to be done was done. There was need, and other things took a back seat. What does this mean in the light of my life? How does this apply to me? I need to remember that my life […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Oct. 15, 2013
“The Power of Words” I have always been aware of, and even fascinated by, words. Over and over again, I witness the power of words. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Oct. 8, 2013
“He Rules” Daniel 4:10-17, 22, 25-27 “…when you acknowledge that heaven rules…” That’s the part that caught my attention. Leading up to hearing that, some circumstances had caused frustration and strife at home, and I was wishing that others would get their acts together. These were ongoing circumstances that I just couldn’t fix no matter how […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Oct. 1, 2013
“Wild and Free” Romans 6:1-14 It’s said that Christianity is narrow-minded…one-sided…full of hypocrites. But in fact, it’s the opposite. It’s freedom–freedom in Christ! It’s giving over everything that is holding us down and restricting us to Him. It’s asking Him to break us of the chains of guilt, fear, anger, addiction, jealously, greed, anxiety, control, doubt…
Staff Meeting Devotion Sept. 24, 2013
“Before the Throne of God” Are we truly open to God? Do we truly seek him with all our heart? Do we compare our faith to others…or are we wary of a true expression of worship by others, just because it looks different from ours? When he leads, do we follow, even if it seems […]
Staff Meeting Devotion Sept. 17, 2013
“Give Glory to God” Luke 17:1-19 In verses 1-4, Jesus talks about forgiveness…how many times we are to forgive. Isn’t it interesting that the apostles’ response is, “Increase our faith”? What does forgiving have to do with faith? If God commands us to forgive, we are to have faith in him for the results of […]
