fear

The Main Thing

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3)

The last two weeks have been very heavy for many people. If you’ve been following the news at all, there’s no shortage of unsettling events occurring not only across the United States, but around the world.

I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to directly communicate with various people from various races and religions regarding both the pandemic and the George Floyd incident, and the thing that I’ve found interesting is that no two people have the exact same views. Since I tend to look at the world and its events through my own Christian lens, the thing that’s been even more intriguing is that the Christians I’ve spoken to often view them in completely different or even conflicting ways. And these are people who, as far as what I know of them, genuinely love Jesus and have a desire to put Him first in their lives.

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Power, Love, & Self-Control

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

As believers, we have a purpose in life, and that is to bring glory to God and carry the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Once you accept that calling, you’ll realize soon enough that it’s not easy.

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Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1)

It’s so easy (and natural) to let this physical world and the circumstances around us dictate our level of confidence and peace. The COVID-19 pandemic is a perfect example of this, as for many this novel coronavirus is planting seeds of fear, anxiety, and despair in our hearts.

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Take A Stand (John 19:8-9)

“When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace.” (John 19:8-9a)

This week at my daughter’s school, the 5th grade students were given a presentation assignment. The topic was, “Who is the greatest person to you?”

As my daughter recapped what happened when they were given the task to complete, I realized she had faced a significant decision point that day. (more…)