Sometimes, my battle to live a Christ-like life feels like a bit of a whack-a-mole game. Temptations and sinful thoughts pop up everywhere I turn, and the sheer quantity of them seem ready to overwhelm me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7:22-24

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24. For far too many of us, separating our secular life from our spiritual life has become so natural, that we don’t even realize we’re doing it. After all, we aren’t hurting anybody. Or are we?

I will trust Him to be my Father and provide my needs in His perfect timing. And while I wait, I will rest. Rest in the Lord, I will again allow Him to lead, and quit fighting his guidance: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:29 I love the mental picture of a yoked ox, placidly going where he is led by the one holding the reigns.

Rising costs have us all taking a second look at our budget. How are we to manage skyrocketing costs at every turn, with our income failing to rise as quickly as our budget? Being a true disciple of Jesus has costs much higher than many of us expected. And yet, Christ very plainly explained the cost of becoming one of His disciples. In the 14th chapter of Luke.

In verse 3 of Psalm 51, David says: For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. My first step was admitting that I was not as perfect as I pretended to be. I had to acknowledge that the fault lay directly at my feet, as I began to do that, the Holy Spirit was faithful to lead me.

Homecoming… one of my favorite days of the year at our little country church. It has it all: old friends, food, fellowship, and worship. I love seeing old friends and hearing about what’s going on in their lives.

Who is this Jesus that we’ll be celebrating? Can you imagine the celebration we will be part of as we spend eternity celebrating Him?

We are all striving, pushing for ‘something’. Whether it be finally making our own parents happy, reaching some self-appointed position or goal, or creating children that fit the mold that we’ve cast for them. But, in truth, we should only be working to seek what God has for us.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: Proverbs 13:22 What heritage are you creating for your children? Today is not too late to start crafting a heritage of faith.

In your daily life, take note of your many blessings. It won’t take long to realize that God provides all we need, and many times is calling gently to us to turn our eyes to Him.

I held on when my Lord called me back to Him until the conviction weighed so heavily on me that I could no longer bear it. And still He called. He won’t give up on us. He will call to us until we return to Him. The question is, how long are you going to hide?

Are you hanging on to guilt for sins from your past? As a Christian, if you’ve repented of them, He has removed them as far as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:12

One purpose of the Hebrew Law was to highlight our inability to live a perfect life. To show us our sins, and thereby show us our need of a Savior. If we don’t understand what God expects of us, we can not possibly expect to understand how much grace He has shown us through Christ’s pardoning death on the cross.

Today is the first day of a new year. Resolve to put our Lord first in your life, let Him in to every area, be willing to accept the changes that He wants to make in your life, and see just how much He loves you. I can promise that He will never let you down.

God’s Word is more than an introduction to our Savior, it is the essence, the truth, the very personality of God spelled out for those who seek Him in truth.

Showing up for the big game isn’t enough, unless we just want to be spectators or bench warmers.

This year, as we reflect on everything good in our lives, we should take a moment to remember from whom those blessings come. What should our response be to the gratitude we feel in our heart?