There is something sacred about standing at the edge of another Christmas season. Before the usual rush settles in, it helps to pause, truly pause, and consider why this time matters so deeply. Often the most meaningful moments come when we stop long enough to notice what God is doing in the quieter corners of our lives (Psalm 46:10).
Continue reading “Waiting for the Light (Isaiah 9:2)”
Psalm 143:8
Early mornings often hold a unique stillness—a quiet invitation to draw near to God before the day’s busyness begins. Imagine Jesus rising before dawn to seek solitary communion with His Father (Mark 1:35). His life was filled with needs, crowds, and ministry demands, yet prayer was His anchor—a way to begin, not just react to, the challenges ahead (Luke 5:16).
Continue reading “A New Day, A New Prayer”
Can you believe we’re already halfway through the year? It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating New Years Eve and now, here we are, six months later. As we move into the second half of our year, I want to take a moment to reflect on where we’ve been and look ahead to where we’re going.
Continue reading “Halfway Through the Year”Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible mothers reading this today and those who have acted like a mother to siblings, nieces and nephews, cousins, etc. I want to talk to you about something most women struggle with even those who mother was not in their life. It a myth that many mothers and women believe about themselves.
Continue reading “What the Bible Really Says to Mothers”I cannot count the number of times I have heard these two phrases used in Christianity. It’s confusing. In some situations, we’re told to have faith, keep holding on but in others we’re told to let go and put in the hands of the Lord. Which one is it? How can I know which one I’m supposed to do?
Continue reading “Letting Go and Giving Up.”The phrase “abiding in Christ” often emerges as a profound yet enigmatic concept, calling us to a deeper understanding of its essence and implications in the life of a believer. The scriptural foundation for this discussion is found in John 15, where Jesus Christ describes Himself as the true vine, with His followers as the branches—a metaphor that encapsulates the life-sustaining relationship between Christ and believers.
Continue reading “Abiding in Christ.”Throughout Scripture, we are challenged to grow in our faith and in our understanding of God’s word. Sounds easy enough except when you’ve read and studied it for years and it becomes almost mundane or boring. Not that God’s word is boring but after a while its easy for us to lose sight of just how amazing and exciting it truly is. God has spoken from heaven and given it to us for our good. Yet, we often lose sight of that and drift into complacency.
Continue reading “The challenge to continue learning God’s word.”Recognizing the reality of betrayal within the church is an essential first step in addressing the pain and hurt experienced by believers. While it may seem paradoxical that such betrayal can occur within a community of faith, it is a sad truth that interpersonal conflicts and hurtful actions can emerge even among those who share a common belief in Christ.
Continue reading “What to do when you are hurt by another Christian: recognize the reality of betrayal.”Boredom, a sentiment often perceived as trivial or dismissive, can surprisingly serve as a catalyst for profound spiritual introspection. Within the walls of the church, grappling with boredom presents an opportunity. Instead of letting it engulf our worship experience, we can use it as a compass, pointing us toward areas in our spiritual journey that require attention and growth.
Continue reading “Bored in Church: From Boredom to Spiritual Enlightenment.”Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ begins with repentance and faith when we acknowledge our sinfulness and our need for God’s forgiveness and salvation. We must believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead.
Continue reading “How can we become disciples of Jesus Christ?”Baptism is a sacred act and foundational to the teachings of Jesus. In it we find the forgiveness of sins and the transformative power of faith. Two key passages, Acts 2:38 and Romans 6:3-4, shed light on the profound significance of baptism.
Continue reading “The Transformative Power of Baptism: Forgiveness and Renewal”One of the most important aspects of being a Christian is confessing faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This means publicly acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again from the dead. Confessing faith in Jesus also means living according to his teachings and commands and following his example of love and service.
Continue reading “The Necessity of Confessing Faith in Jesus.”One of the key teachings of the Bible is that faith is essential to pleasing God. In Hebrews 11:6, we read: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” This verse shows us two important aspects of faith: belief and action.
Continue reading “The Necessity of Believing in Jesus.”In today’s bulletin, I want to talk about my beliefs on church activity. Now, let me say right up front that this has drastically changed over the years. There was a time when I believed that a church was failing in its responsibilities if it wasn’t always busy doing something. What we were doing didn’t matter as much as long as the church was doing something. That all changed when I learned the phrase, “Holiness doesn’t equal holiness.” That truth drove me back to the Bible and Jesus as my example. I saw that Jesus was always busy but even then, what he was doing mattered more than simply being busy. He always prioritized people over busyness and if he was interrupted he took the time to see the person and their needs. Just as important, he always took time for himself, rested, and encouraged his disciples to do the same.
Continue reading “Patience, family, and church work.”The letter of Jude and the person are not well known to modern readers of the Bible. Most have no idea who he was or why his unique letter is even considered Scripture. I call his letter unique because of its contents. In the letter Jude refers to a book called “The Assumption of Moses” and one called “The Book of Enoch.” Do not let this cause you to think they are inspired or even worthy of your time to read them. Jude is simply referencing books that were well-known in this time to make a point about faithfulness and the danger of rebelling against God.
Continue reading “Introduction to Jude”
Central Haywood Church of Christ 