Staff Entries

This brief story teaches a key point about faith: the object of our faith needs to be Jesus Christ.  This woman had tried placing her faith in doctors but they could not help her.  She believed that if she could just touch Jesus (the object of her faith), she would be healed.

Having “a little” amount of faith is ok.  The amount of faith I have is meaningless.  It’s “who” I place my faith in that matters most.

I once heard a great quote that says, “It’s not our great faith in God, it’s our faith in a great God that has the power to accomplish many things.”  The amount or size of our faith is irrelevant.  It’s the object in which we place our faith that matters.  Like this woman, our faith needs to be solely in the power of Jesus Christ.  We often misplace our faith in money, relationships, specific people like doctors, or even our job.  So what is worrying me today?  Have I placed all my faith in Jesus?  Perhaps it’s time to refocus.

Lord, help me to refocus the object of my faith to ensure it’s always you.  It’s so easy to get sidetracked with worry.  However, when I refocus everything on you, the worry kind of goes away. That is how I want to live…today and every day.  AMEN.

Even the disciples who spent every moment with Jesus did not fully understand who He was and what that meant.  They would call on Him and then be amazed at what He would do.  And we have trouble reading about it... They lived it and had trouble.

Even the disciple had trouble believing who Jesus was.

This shows how hard it was to fully understand that Jesus was human and God at the same time.  They did not realize fully who He was.  Would I?  Do I?  The God of the universe made everything I see, He made me.... Why don't I ask for more help with my life?  Do I seek Him enough?  Is there an enough?  I want to understand as much as possible who Jesus is and want He wants for me.  I want Him to fully direct my life.  I want to ask Him first then do, not the other way around.  I want him to control every area of my life.  If it is with me alone, it is messed up.

 Lord, I want you to have full control over me.  I want you to control my everything.  I want you to lead me, not me sort of following you.  Guide me through this maze called life.  I love you, amen.

The psalmist rejoices in the fact that God's love is unfailing, His knowledge is personal and His care is real! all this make David glad even when he his experiencing difficulty - he speaks of the "anguish of his soul" (and the context of the whole psalm).

When I am down, my joy will return when my heart looks up to the unfailing love of God.

The word "unfailing" which speaks of God's love is an enormous encouragement to me today. It reminds me that when I am hurting "soul in anguish", restored joy is just a spiritual truth about the characters of God away. God's love is unfailing, it will never fail me; His knowledge of what I'm going through is unlimited; and His care for me is unshakable! God knows that I am hurting, He cares about my hurt, and His love will get me through all the hurt because it is an Unfailing love! PTL

Dear Lord, thank You for Your unfailing love. I am so greatful to be reminded that You see the sadness and confusion of my soul and You care! So I am glad and rejoice in Your unfailing Love! May it fill me joy throughout this day! Amen

Peter and John and must been arrested and they had proven to the guards the message of the Gospel through the healing of the lame man outside of the Beautiful Gates. So all the men could charge them with was actually teaching in Jesus' name. Peter and John, having walked with Jesus, witnessed his death and resurrection, received teaching after his resurrection and having had the ability to perform miracles themselves, they cannot help but to share with others everything that they have seen and heard.

I should have this same evangelical fervor. I have seen God come into my life, transform it, and do miracles in my life and in the lives of others. Why do I lack this boldness?

Even though I haven't physically experienced all of the things that Peter and John have, I have experienced the transformational power of Jesus and I have been touched by the impact of the Gospel. In the face of arrest and potentially death, these men humbly admit that they cannot stop telling and teaching about Jesus. I can't even get myself to tell one person about Jesus! I suffer from a different problem and I have to ask myself why. These apostles were compelled to share by what they had seen, why aren't I?

Lord give me this boldness and evangelical fervor. I would love for someone to ask me to stop talking in your name, but instead I have to talk myself into saying just one thing about you. Lord, I want to have an impact like these early disciples did. I have witnessed your power in my life, and i want to be in a place where I can't but help sharing in your name. Amen.

Strife is the natural byproduct of stirring up anger.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit I can be Self-controlled.

The last thing I want is strife in my life. The only place i think of where I experience anger is in my home. Generally, it is directed at my daughters when they are misbehaving and I give into temptation and all patience goes out the window. I was so convicted by this verse because my anger is causing strife. Most of us know that "mommy sets the tone," and if the tone is angry....no bueno! Self-controlled and Spirit-filled are my two new focuses in the home.

God, please fill me with Your Spirit so I can make choices that are pleasing to You. I don't want anger to be stirred up in our home producing strife. Please, supernaturally, change my heart and give me  ability to be self-controlled in our home, being a good example to Mia and Lily and "setting a tone" of love and compassion as You are loving and compassionate with me.

 Jesus said to those who would follow him, that He is the Light of the world and if they follow Him they will not walk in the darkness of this world but instead they will have the Light of life.

Darkness.

Darkness is not being able to see but being in a place that has no joy, has no hope. Darkness is heavy, sad, empty and scary. Satan is the ruler of all darkness and if you don't know Christ and follow Him then you will eventually end up in his dark place. This world is a fallen world and full of darkness and though we may fall for some of Satan's traps we have a way out if we follow Jesus. Jesus is the only Light of this world and though I sin I still have His light to follow, to help me out of my sinful ways. Jesus gives me hope and joy, He gives me Light. As one of my Jr. High girls said today, we are like a car. Always following the headlight of Jesus and with that our sins are like the tail lights, sin is their but we can put it behind us. That is what I want to remember, follow Jesus, He is my only light in this world!

Dear Jesus I pray for all these girls as they learn more about you during this retreat! I pray that they will take your word and apply it to their lives and make them an action. I also pray that you would give me an understanding of where they are and an unconditional love for them so I can be a support to them. I praise you and thank you for giving me the opportunity to see your work in them and for allowing me to serve in this ministry that I feel completely unqualified to do!! I love you, Amen.  

There are two types of people. Some people have more insight than discretion; while the other half has more knowledge than common sense. So when (Gods Wisdom) enters into anyone’s heart it helps you understand the joys and pain of life.

Living on earth hurts. Living in this sinful word isn’t easy no matter the age. But having a heart for wisdom God will help me understand this daily pain and I will find it weirdly pleasing as he reveals his plan in my life. Knowledge is growth and growing hurts. I am pleased to say that I know this to be true.

Wisdom comes through constant growing (Pain). So when it gets tough and I lose sight I need to remember (4) a few things. I must trust and honor God with everything. I must always realize the source of wisdom is God’s word and nothing else. I must remember the lifelong commitment that I have made to Christ to avoid sinful pitfalls that will come along the way. I also need to remember that when I make the wrong choices I have to ask for forgiveness and most importantly recover from my mistakes.

Dear Jesus, Thank you for giving me the ability to understand the things that I have to go through to be ready for each day. Please allow me to find pleasure in my growth and let my pain mature into wisdom so that I can glorify you. Thank for caring for me and showing me how to be a father and a leader. Amen  

Psalm 31 shows the emotional arch someone goes through when battling depression and even more than that when God brings conviction and correction in your life.  In verse 10, David is at the lowest he could possibly be with his son chasing him to kill him.  He feels far from God and that there is no way out.  But he begins his way out of this funky depression by recommitting the control of his life to God for in verse 14, “But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say You are my God”.  Then he reminds himself of the attributes of God, verse 19 “How Great is Your Goodness.”  And then the key to David’s antidote he begins to encourage and help others, verse 23, “Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD.”

God has given us a way through and out of depression.  Focus on God and focus on others.

Practice what you preach.  If you get into a funky depressed mood, snap out of it.  Use this 3 step process to get rid of that evil, dark mood.  It probably won’t go away forever instantly and will probably come back but over time and with constant practice it will change your mood.

Thank you LORD for using and working though David to give us a great example of how to work through depression.  

This is a psalm of David in which he makes a plea for forgiveness and deliverance.  It is interesting that David joins together the idea of needing deliverance but also asking for his own forgiveness.  While we require deliverance from those who hurt us and inflict suffering in our lives, let us not look past our own sins and realize we, too, are sinners.  A spirit of humility puts everything in proper perspective.  Here David gives us a key to finding justice for the sins committed against us: “The humble He (God) guides in justice…pardon my iniquity (sin), for it is great.”

God delivers the humble in heart and those who acknowledge their own sin.  If we show no humility and recognition of our own sin, we may be no different than our enemies.

God always wants to teach me His ways because His ways are mercy and truth.  My ways are demanding justice, inflicting punishment and a desire to curse my enemies. But Jesus teaches us to bless our enemies.  There is always something for us to learn amidst our own suffering. Just because I am suffering or being persecuted by others doesn’t negate the fact that I am still a sinner.  As David points out in this Psalm, I need to recognize that I am a sinner and that my sins are great.  If I will humble myself and acknowledge my own sin, God will guide me in justice for only God is truly just.

Dear Lord, it is so easy to focus on others instead of focusing on myself.  You constantly remind me of the magnitude of my own sinful nature while I focus on the little outward sins of others.  Please forgive me.  Grant me a humble heart before you.  Lead me in your ways of mercy and truth.  Please guide me.  I pray that you would help me keep your commands.  May I place all my trust in you for everything.  AMEN.  

The writer gives an early example of how to receive salvation and that there is a place where we can dwell with God, ie. “who may stand in His holy place?”.  In order to live with God one needs “clean hands and a pure heart”.  The person that has these attributes will receive “a blessing”, a gift from God, “and righteousness” being made right with God. Finally the passage closes with he will receive salvation.

There is one theme through out the Bible.  God wants to be re-united with his creation.

God’s desire to be connected with me goes far back in biblical history.  This should cause me to highly value my salvation.  It is humbling when you realize how much some one desires you.  I want my heart to respond in-kind to God’s love for me.  It is always so incredible to see the historical and spiritual links from various authors separated by centuries and decades, not to mention geography, cultural influences and personal interpretations to tell one story.  God wants you.

Lord thank you for loving me first while I was still lost in sin.  Amen