Rhythm of Faith

“As a prophet of God, Elisha knew he needed help and that he was never alone. But as Elisha and his servant slept, the king of Aram sent horses and chariots and a strong force to confront them; they literally surrounded them and the entire city. The king was angry that Elisha always seemed to know their next move and was able to warn the Israelites of possible attack. Elisha’s servant had woken up early only to see this vast army. Terrified, overwhelmed and isolated, he ran back inside to tell Elisha. But Elisha was unmoved. He was calm and confident. He didn’t panic as his servant hid in fear. Even though the situation looked impossible, he knew something that his servant didn’t—they were not alone! Elisha told his servant to relax. He said, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). Then Elisha prayed that God would open his servant’s eyes to see a whole new reality—the spiritual realm where the battles are really won and lost. The servant’s eyes we...

Do you ever have hard days in your marriage and wonder if you married the wrong person? Perhaps your spouse has failed to meet your expectations or completely changed into a person you do not recognize. Then what? Today, we are covering the reading from  Genesis 24 & 25.  We see a beautiful love story as God orchestrates the finding of Rebekah to marry Isaac. Abraham’s servant is sent to the city of Nahor. These are the words of the servant: “Let the young woman to who I shall say ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camel’ – let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac.” Genesis 24:14 Before the servant had finished speaking – beautiful Rebekah appears and fulfills his words! Boom – just like that we have a love connection! And off to the father and brother of Rebekah the servant goes, asking for her hand in marriage.  The request is granted and not a day passes and Rebekah is whisked away ...

What is your child learning? We need to know and care about what our children are learning. Don't be too busy for them, an investment in your child's spiritual growth  would be more valuable to you and to them in this life and in the next. Besides if you don't teach them about God, someone else who doesn't have the same faith or the evil world would teach them. Devil is awake, he is not sleeping. We make out time to do other things during the days that are not as valuable.  If you are taking this warning lightly, here is just a quick glimpse of the reality of our world today - World magazine has recently covered a story where Satanists are threatening to share their "educational materials" to distribute at a Florida school:  "On Religious Freedom Day in January, faith-based groups have been giving Bibles to public school students in Florida. In response, atheists and agnostics distributed their literature as well, and now The Satanic Temple says it will d...

“Luke 5:5-11” “Master,” Simon answered, “we have worked hard all night long and have not caught a thing. But if you tell me to, I will let the nets down.” (Luke 5:5 CEVDCUS06) “Peter would know about Mondays. Well, he would have known how you feel on Mondays. In our Luke 5 passage of Scripture, he’s just come home after working an all-nighter, and he’s tired. Add to that the fact that he has nothing to show for his labor and you could say he’s short on funds and maybe shorter on patience. The last thing he wants to do is turn the boat around and head back out. But in this passage, that’s exactly what Jesus asks him to do. “Master, we worked all night and caught nothing, but if you say so, I’ll lower the nets,” he says to Jesus, who is standing on the shore. Thankfully, Peter had more discipline than optimism, because he ended up catching more than fish. Do you feel like you are in Peter’s boat? Is your week ahead looking more like a shallow lake than a sea of opportunity? Are you headi...

When Martha complained to Jesus about Mary on His first visit to Bethany, Mary could have chosen to be offended by her sister. But there is no indication that she felt that way. She also could have taken offense when Judas and the disciples protested against her act of extravagant worship. But again, there is no indication that she did. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the pain that was inflicted upon Mary in both situations. Here was a woman who loved her Lord with all her heart, and she was unfairly criticized for it. Not by her enemies, but once by her sister and another time by some of the Lord’s own disciples. It reminds me of the old adage, “No good deed shall go unpunished.” The words of Elbert Hubbard come to mind: “To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” In both cases, Mary never opened her mouth to defend herself or her actions. In silence, she entrusted the matter to her Lord. And in both instances, Jesus rose to her defense. Point:  t...

What is the REAL purpose of life? Why are we here on this earth? James 4:14  For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Our life is short, so short in fact that the Bible says it is even as a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Lets ask ourselves, if the average lifespan of a human is 70 years, what is this compared to 50,000 years in heaven, or 10,000,000 years with Jesus, but as we know, in heaven there are no time limits, it is for eternity. 2 Corinthians 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; Our life now, when compared with forever in heaven, is truly just a small time. Consider for a moment... Jesus, The all powerful all knowing one, who at his voice, the heavens were made and all the host of them, He is the only source of life. Contemplate this, that Jesus had everything, He could not have had more honour, ...

Do you sometimes feel worthless? Or, at times, have you been slighted or treated as though you were of little value? Should we value some people more/less than others? And how should we set a value upon each other? Let's open the Bible and find some answers. Remember to pray and ask God to give us wisdom before we read His word. How much does God care for us? And how much does He value us? Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. God cares for his creation (the sparrows in this case) so much! In fact not even one sparrow dies and falls on the ground without God noticing it. But to us sparrows seem so small and worthless, in fact in the Bible times two sparrows were sold for a farthing (less then one cent)! If God values the sparrows so much, how much does He care for, and value us? Are n...

                What kind of person should you date? Date someone with a good attitude. It's in the Bible, Romans 15:5-6, TLB. "May God who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement help you to live in complete harmony with each other — each with the attitude of Christ toward the other."   Date someone who encourages you and is supportive. It's in the Bible, Philippians 2:1-2, TLB. "Is there any such thing as Christians cheering each other up? Do you love me enough to want to help me? Does it mean anything to you that we are brothers in the Lord, sharing the same Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic at all? Then make me truly happy by loving each other, working together with one heart and mind and purpose.   II Timothy 2:22, TLB. "Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts that young men often have, but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right. Have faith and love, and enjoy the companionship of those ...

When conception occurs, all the God-designed instructions of what the person will be are set; sex, eye color, physical attributes, intelligence, gifts.  By the second week, the baby attaches and burrows into the wall of his/her mother’s womb. Within the next week, blood vessels and sex cells form.  The foundations for the brain, spinal column and nervous system are established. The baby’s heart beat can be heard at one month in the womb. Eyes, ears and lungs begin developing.  Tiny arms and legs and a baby’s face develop over the next seven days, and the blood now pumps separately from the mother. Tiny fingers and toes and the division of the brain into three parts for emotional and language, hearing and seeing develop. Seven more days and brain activity is detectable, 99% of the muscles are present and milk teeth form. By the eighth week, the baby begins to move in the mother’s womb.  Every organ is present, and the skull, elbows and knees begin to form.  If pr...