Worthy Words

It seems that everyone is rushing about, trying to work through their “to do lists” so that they can… add more items to their ‘to do lists”.  What is all the commotion about? Come on now folks!   Let’s have some perspective here! We are not doing ourselves any favors as a society by living life at supersonic speed. We’re cramming more and more activity into our lives because our culture encourages us to do so and because we can. This addiction to activity has also infected the church. It’s wonderful that so many churches today can offer a wide variety of ministry services in order to address a wide variety of life issues. But, far too many Christ-followers cram their schedules with too many “good” things: ministry meetings, program meetings, small group Bible studies, accountability groups, recovery groups, and even meetings to plan more meetings! And, as a result life loses its balance. Remember, just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we should! Busyness for bu...

There is an old story that tells of hungry man who sat down to eat a bowl of dates by candle light. Taking a bite out of the first date he found a worm in it, so he pitched it aside and selected another. He took a bite of another date, and it too, contained a worm. So, the man tossed this date away as well. So worried was he that all of the dates contained worms, the hungry man blew out the candle and quickly ate the rest of the dates. What is the life application of this parable? People often choose to live in the darkness, in denial, rather than in the reality that light brings. The Bible says in 1 John 1:5-7: “ This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses u...

There are some significant messages that come in “three word” packages. These love statements contain the power to develop new friendships, deepen old ones, and restore broken ones. You can use these “three-word phrases” to enrich your relationships with a spouse, parent, child, or coworker: “I’ll be there.” When you are stranded and call a friend or family member, it is wonderful to hear, “I’ll be there.” If a late night illness means taking a child to a hospital emergency room and you call on a friend to come and sit with other children, how wonderful to hear that friend respond, “I’ll be there.” When there is a death in the family and you phone an old friend, the blow of grief is softened by the words, “I’ll be there.” “I miss you.” Paul expressed to Timothy, “Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.” 2 Tim 1:4 It is a powerful affirmation that expresses, “you are needed, you are wanted, you are loved.” “I appreciate you.” ...

In Luke 8:5-15 Jesus uses the parable of the farmer who planted his seed by scattering it across his field to teach his disciples about what kind of heart is needed to be spiritually productive. The seeds fell in four different areas, each having a profound effect upon the outcome of the seed’s (God’s Word) growth potential. One of the landing locations is explained in verse 13; “The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots , they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.”  Just a thin layer of topsoil cradled the seeds above a ground of rocks. As the seed began to take root all of its strength and energy was spent trying push through the rocks. When its tender green shoots sprang upward it had no nutrients from below to maintain its growth potential and thus withered away.      A superficial feeling of joy brought about by the Word may leave a notewor...