Did you hear about the turtle who wanted to spend the winter in Florida? He knew he could never walk that far, so he convinced a couple of geese to help him. They each took one end of a piece of rope, while he clamped his vise-like jaws in the center. The flight went fine until someone on the ground looked up in admiration and asked, “Who in the world thought of that?” Unable to resist the chance to take credit, the turtle opened his mouth to shout, “I did–” Jesus lived in humble dependence on His Father. “Lead me. What do you want me to do? I’m seeking You.” Do...

The smell of bread baking, freshly cut grass, exhaust from a roaring engine, or even a baby just out of a bath – these aromas can energize, motivate, bring comfort and conjure up good memories.  What is the aroma of your life? Does it smell like Jesus? 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 (NIV) 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. Paul seems to be using a metaphor from the Roman parades that followed...

“You did not choose me, but I chose you…”  Jesus (John 15:16) Have you had a DTR? Sooner or later, every couple who is romantically interested in each other has a DTR. This is the official talk that happens at some point in a romantic relationship to define the level of commitment: are we dating, are we exclusive, what are we?  It’s the talk that defines the relationship. Now take that a step further. Have you had the DTR talk with Jesus?   Imagine sitting in a coffee shop and Jesus comes in — you know it is Him because of the blue sash. He pulls up a chair and says, “It’s...

40 Days of  Biblical Affirmations: Take the 40-day challenge and be affirmed and encouraged by who you are in Christ. It’s 40 minutes a day in God’s Word for 40 days that will inspire confidence and motivate you to affirm others. (Listen to the podcast of Sunday’s message.) ——————– Day 1     As I follow Jesus…I have peace.  (Luke 24:36) Day 2    I am forgiven.   (Ephesians 1:6-8) Day 3    I am God’s workmanship.  (Ephesians 2:10) Day 4    I am gifted with power, love and a sound mind.  (2 Timothy 1:7) Day 5   ...

Are you telling yourself the truth? “You should have done a better.” “Face it, you’ll never measure up. You just don’t have what it takes.” What you think and say to yourself will impact your trajectory of success, as well as, influence the texture of your life. It is said that the average person’s thoughts are 80 percent negative. For the most part, we are so used to our negative thinking that we’re not even aware of it. Still those negative thoughts are producing patterns of sabotaging behaviors. Henry David Thoreau penned a word picture on how this happens. “As a single...

Alleged Stradivarius Is Merely an Imitation In an episode of the History Channel’s reality show about a Las Vegas pawn shop, a man brought in a violin and asked for an appraisal. According to the man’s story, he had recently purchased a piece of property that included a house and a barn. Shortly after his purchase, while inspecting the barn, he opened an old chest and discovered the violin safely tucked inside. As he dusted off the near-perfect instrument, he found the word “Stradivarius” clearly inscribed on the violin. The man was hoping the “Stradivarius”...

“If only I was a better person: more loving, more forgiving, more patient…” What have been your “if only” thoughts? A 7-year-old girl asked her mother, why do bad things happen sometimes? The mother started at the beginning. She read her the story of Adam and Eve and discussed how sin came into the world. Later that week, the little girl was sick and had to stay home from school. Feeling miserable, she told her mom: “If only Adam and Even hadn’t eaten the fruit, I wouldn’t be sick.” Before her mom could answer, she then added: “Of course, if they...

Picture a woman sitting in a car minding her own business. Suddenly, a man rips the door open and pulls her out of the car roughly. It looks like the beginning of a horrible attack. It’s when the camera zooms out that you see them – flames coming from the car. Her car was actually on fire, and the woman didn’t know it. The man wasn’t assaulting the woman; he was rescuing her. This TV ad from a few years ago finishes by saying, “You need the bigger picture. Channel 10 News gives you the bigger picture.” The ad makes a good point. We need to have the bigger picture. Jesus’...

I admit it. I like all the Rocky movies. One of my favorite scenes in the first Rocky movie is when the 15th and final round of the fight ended. In the utter chaos of reporters climbing into the ring, clamoring for interviews, the fight announcer says, “Rocky, you went the distance. You went the 15 rounds. How do you feel?”  Rocky responds, “All right!”  The fight announcer then asks, “What were you thinking about when that buzzer sounded?”  It’s then that Rocky yells, “Adrian! Adrian!” Rocky the movie was such a big success, especially for such a low budget film, that Stallone...

You cannot live without water. When you are dehydrated you get muscle cramps, you get headaches. It is the number one cause of fatigue in people. You have to have water in your system to live. The fifth statement of Jesus on the cross is simple: “I am thirsty.”  (John 19:28) Why did Jesus cry from the cross the words “I am thirsty”? Why did the One who said he was the living water and that whoever drinks of the water that he gives will never thirst express this reality? In fact, John 4 continues by saying the water he gives will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of...