“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:26 Our hummingbirds keep looking in our window while we have morning coffee. I wonder if they are saying “so long, farewell.” They have such a long trip ahead of them. I keep asking “how do you…Keep Reading

G-U-I-L-T Satan doesn’t mind our feeling guilty so long as we don’t bring our guilt to the throne of mercy. The devil doesn’t mind—in fact, he delights in—our self-flagellation as a substitute for repentance and forgiveness. Guilt, as self-flagellation, often brings depression, whereas repentance and confession bring forgiveness and joy. Legalism offers relief from guilt by focusing on outward acts—even God-ordained acts—and promises salvation to the person performing them. Legalism…Keep Reading

“…they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11 How are we going to hear from God if we leave the pages of the Bible unturned? “Study to shew yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) I know that you can study…Keep Reading

“King Saul was returning home after David had defeated Goliath. Women came out from all the towns along the way to celebrate and to cheer for King Saul, and were singing and dancing for JOY with tambourines and cymbals.” 1 Samuel 18:6 The above passage is the first time that the word “joy” is used in the Bible. The Lord had given victory to David; and in doing so the…Keep Reading

The defender of the faith preaches a Christ-centered message. The caustic crusader usually preaches an issue-oriented message. A truly Christ-centered message will answer relevant issues as they arise because the Christ-centered message spans the spectrum of truth. Not only does the defender of the faith preach a Christ-centered message, but he also preaches a discriminating message. One can quote verbatim from Jesus himself and still preach a perverted message. Paul…Keep Reading

“The LORD also shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:16 The little fellow was lost in the forest and could hear trouble stalking him. How much longer could he go before being overtaken? He was tired, frightened, and…Keep Reading

Pastor Will Shewey, Shades of Grace United Methodist Church Link to YouTube Video – Mark 9:38-50 From Pastor Will Shewey – About Shades of Grace While much of the region is under water and no electricity. It was great to see nearly 50 folk gather for Saturday morning worship. The music and fellowship was sweet. Our friend Ralph is hearing impaired and his birthday is Sunday. We gave him cards…Keep Reading

We just got yard, porch and patio furniture turned over and many many small limbs throughout the yard during this horrific storm . . . But for lots of people the damage is beyond completely complicated and beyond comprehension. Some were seeking to find their loved ones. Others couldn’t get to their loved ones because of roads and bridges being washed out. Some lost their homes. There is much to…Keep Reading

“And God remembered Noah and every living thing…” Genesis 8:1 The storm seemed like it would never end, days were dreary, and the confinement to the inside of the ark was about more than they could stand. Those amateur seafarers must have wondered if they had been forgotten. When they could not endure anymore, “God remembered;” and God remembers you in your storms also. In life’s troubles we are remembered:…Keep Reading

Paul wrote: “I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints…Keep Reading

Life has many things that are not sinful in themselves but can lead to sin because they distract us from the goal of the prize of the upward call. Fastidiousness caused Martha to be distracted from the eternal by the ephemeral. It was fear that caused Peter to take his eyes off Jesus and focus on the wind and the waves. The problems accompanying church growth threatened to distract the…Keep Reading

D. L. Moody said that on the banks of the Adriatic Sea the wives of the fishermen, whose husbands had gone out upon the deep, would gather on the shore at night. There they would sing, and their voices would carry the first verse of some beautiful hymn across the water. Then they would listen until they would hear the second verse sung by their husbands as they fished away…Keep Reading