Think Before You Hit Send!
One of the best pieces of advice that I was told by my mother is, “Never write down anything that you wouldn’t say in person. You cannot erase what you’ve written down.” This has never been more true in our society and connected world than it is today. I grew up in a time without…
Anger: Who’s in Control?
Have you ever said something when you were angry and almost immediately wished you could take it back? Maybe someone hurt you, embarrassed you, disappointed you, or simply pushed you too far. Anger is a powerful emotion. Feeling angry is not automatically sinful, but anger becomes dangerous when it begins to direct our words, attitudes,…
Walk In Their Shoes
In life, we all experience highs and lows. What may be considered a high or low sometimes differs from person to person, but we all know how we feel during these times. A low point for me during my late teens was when my miniature dachshund, Sweetie, passed away. Sweetie and I grew up together.…
What’s Going On Inside of Me?
Are you self-aware? Being self-aware means knowing what is going on inside you. What am I feeling? Why am I feeling this way? And how is that feeling affecting what I am about to say or do? Why does it matter? Proverbs 4:23 states that you should “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from…
Jesus Had Emotions Too!
Christian maturity does NOT mean learning to shut off your emotions. Jesus wasn’t emotionless. In fact, the Bible shows us Jesus experiencing some of the same powerful emotions that we experience, yet Jesus was sinless. Let’s explore some of His emotional responses and see what we can learn from His perfect example. Jesus wept (John…
Do You Control Your Emotions – Or Do They Control You?
God does not act as man acts. His actions are always consistent with His wisdom, His will, and His character. We, however, sometimes allow our emotions to determine how we act rather than allowing God’s will to guide our response. Isaiah puts it this way in Isaiah 55:8–9: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,…
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Basic Training for the Soldier of Christ
There is a saying, “Practice makes perfect.” I fear that some believe that this only requires going to church Sunday morning, eating some cracker and drinking some grape juice. A better saying is, “Perfect practice makes perfect.” The daily walk of the Christian should be intermingled with practice—perfect practice—striving to be godly, “24/7/365”. Only then…
Standing Strong in the Armor of God
Most people understand that being a part of a group, team, kingdom, or a citizen of a nation has some obligations and it requires loyalty and fighting towards a victory. Baseball players must work together as a team to be victorious. Baseball players must also use the proper equipment to aid them in their pursuit…
Being in the Kingdom
How does one become a citizen of the United States of America? Children that are born in the U.S. are natural citizens. People that are not born in the U.S. or to parents that are citizens of the U.S. can become citizens by being naturalized. They study to understand the history and laws of the…
The Kingdom is…
When there is talk about the “Kingdom” it may seem unreal or fantasy. Many fictional books refer to various kingdoms and this may cause some to think of kingdoms as a fictional realm. However, all people are subject to some kind of kingdom. The U.S. citizen is subject to the United States of America “kingdom.”…
A Living Sermon
Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As…
Let Your Light Shine
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men” (Matthew 5:13). As salt we are to have a preserving influence on others, not only in…
An Open Letter: Purity
Dear young adult, I am writing this letter to you as a dear friend. I know we probably do not know each other but I hope that we will have the pleasure of meeting someday. How are things going for you? Are you happy? Happiness is a tricky thing and each one of us draws…
6-7
Every generation has its unique culture, sayings, and idioms. I am a product of the 70s and grew up with “dude”, “far out”, “boogie down”, and some strange clothing choices by today’s standards. (See the “cat idioms” at the end of the article for examples of other idioms). Lately, there has been a trend of…
The Example!
When considering the roles for boys (and girls) in Scripture, we find several examples and lists that give us guidance. We may often find ourselves in Scripture like Ephesians 6:1-4 (ESV). Both boys and girls are to obey their parents “in the Lord, for this is right.” Scripture also encourages us to “Honor your father…
Young Men: Respect Female Roles
As we mature in our lives, we look upon the opposite gender as friends, companions, and eventually mates. For the female gender, some would look at them as equals while others look at them as inferior to males. That extends to even Christion males who say there is a biblical basis for this. While there…
Snowflakes
Have you ever tried to catch and compare snowflakes? They say no two are exactly alike and each is beautiful in its own way. Do you ever compare yourself to someone else at school or someone you see on social media? We are unique individuals, each with our own beauty and talents. We each have…
God’s Charge to Christian Women (and Men!)
It’s said that a “woman’s work is never done”. That is true also for the Christian woman (and man)! We are to be Christians 24/7, 365 days a year. Every day Christians are charged to: 1. Glorify God, fulfilling what God wants you to do – “Let your light so shine before men, that they…
Judged
Have you ever been judged by your looks? You are not alone. How did it make you feel? Do you think you judge others by their looks before getting to know a new person? Do you find yourself wanting to be part of a certain group? We need to make sure we are getting to…
The Foundation: Identity and Purpose for Teenage Boys
A core aspect of biblical teaching for teenage boys is the establishment of identity rooted in Christ, not in fleeting worldly standards. The Bible teaches that each person is uniquely created in God’s image: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female he created…
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