Faith Rising

Faith Rising, "New Year's Message," 1 Samuel 17:44-47

“The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field."  45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,  47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand."

- 1 Samuel 17:44-47  

Take Up Your Faith

Take Up Your Faith, A New Year’s Message, Ephesians 6:13-16

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.”
- Ephesians 6:13-16

A Question For The New Year: What Do I Want?

A Question For The New Year: What Do I Want?, A New Year’s Message, Matthew 6:19-21

Matthew 6:19-21

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,  20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
- Matthew 6:19-21

Clinging Onto Our Spiritual Inheritance

Clinging Onto Our Spiritual Inheritance, "New Year's Eve Message," Genesis 25:21-34

“And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.  22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, "If it is thus, why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.  23 And the LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger."  24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb.  25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau.  26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.  27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.  28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.  29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted.  30 And Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!" (Therefore his name was called Edom.)  31 Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright now."  32 Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?"  33 Jacob said, "Swear to me now." So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.  34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

                                                                                                                              - Genesis 25:21-34   

A Chapter A Day In 2017

A Chapter A Day In 2017, New Year's Message, Psalm 1:1-6

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish."

- Psalm 1:1-6