It is amazing occasionally to think about the history of Christianity. Through the years many have tried to stamp it out, from the Jewish leaders, Greek, Roman and Ottoman Empires, the Communists, and many others. Today from many other directions Christianity is being attacked. But from the original 12 disciples who followed Jesus, Christianity has grown to over 2 billion people; the largest religion in the world.

We know that those opposing Jesus will never succeed, as Isaiah prophesied and Peter repeated in 1 Peter 1:24,25, “..the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” Until the Lord returns, we know that God’s word will endure.

Dear Lord, Thank you for growing your church throughout the world. Help us be a part of spreading your good news. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

We put time, energy and care into protecting and providing for those that we love; parents and children, siblings, friends that need help, and those less fortunate who cannot provide for themselves. So we watch over those who we love.

An interesting verse to think about is Psalm 145:20, which says, “The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.”

It would make sense if the verse said, “the Lord watches over all who he loves,” but the verse turns it around and says he will watch over those who love him. So when we love God we affect God’s response to us.

Dear Lord, help us show our love for you by putting your will first in our lives, and following your guidance. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Illustrations are very helpful in clarifying and understanding biblical concepts. Jesus’ used parables in the same way. I have been working to find a good illustration to describe Paul’s words in the verse that is a foundation of Christianity, Ephesians 2:8,9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so no one can boast.”

We talk about grace, and faith, but how do they fit together?

Think of water flowing through a garden hose. The water is God’s grace, and the hose is faith. So grace (water) comes through faith (the hose). Before we are saved, we have put a kink in the hose, and are holding it to prevent the water from flowing. When we release the kink, the water flows. God’s grace is a free gift ready for anyone who will release the kink in their hose, and stop rejecting the grace. Faith is the way it comes to us.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the free gift of eternal life that we have by your gift of grace. Help us accept it completely, and share the peace it brings with others so they might remove the “kink in their hose” and accept your grace as well. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I am sure you have heard the expression “I’ll believe it when I see it.” That is the opposite of how we need to live as Christians.

The bible tells us is that we have to believe before we can see. We must have faith described in Hebrews 11:1 as, “..confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” or as Hebrews 11:6 says, “..because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” and Psalms 27:13 says, “I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving-kindness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Just like a builder does not start construction until he “believes” he will complete his project and see the result, we need to believe in the promises God gives us, to answer our prayers, protect us, and guide us, and most of all forgive us, while we wait to see the result.

Dear Lord, help us put our confidence in you, and have the strength to believe before we can see. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Global Warming, Climate Change, Overpopulation, MERS, SARS, Bird Flu, etc we hear in the media about all the calamities we should be afraid of. This is not a new phenomenon.

In the old testament, Isaiah the prophet was told by God that Assyria was soon going to conquer Israel. He said, however, in Isaiah 8:12-14, “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them. Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. He is the one who will keep you safe” NLT

Without a doubt there are risks and dangers in our life, but we need to remember who controls it all. We should put our “fear” in God’s power not the risks and dangers of the day. We need to put our faith and hope in God who has the power to deliver us from our fears here on earth, and after we leave our earthly life.

Dear Lord, help us remember that you are in control of everything on earth. When we truly put our faith in you we have nothing to fear. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.