Star-fish

       This time of year makes me think of all the entities we convince kids to believe in, then later tell them they don't exist. How that must confuse kids and give them a lack of trust in adults. We tell them about the Easter bunny bringing baskets of goodies, Santa Claus filling stockings with presents, and the Tooth fairy paying us for our lost teeth. But, what about children living in poverty? Do they hear these stories and feel hopeful and then disappointed when their parents can't fulfill these fantasies?       How do we get children to then believe in an unseen God with faith, when we've told them to believe in other seen and unseen beings who really do not exist? Hebrews 11:1-3 explains faith as this, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out o...

      I was watching the news recently and the announcer quoted a research study that said people who are grateful and volunteer (to help others) are more likely to be happy, then those who are not grateful or helpful. Hmmm... I always wonder about how much money is spent on such research projects, since they could have saved a lot of money and found the same results in the Word of God. In Philippians 4:6 (ESV), it says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."       More specifically, God tells us His will in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." The book of Colossians in chapter 3 verse 15, we are told how to have peace in our lives, "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Who is our peace? Christ Jesus, and ho...

     When you think of fruit, you often think of an apple or a pear. They are the edible, reproductive (contain seeds) part of a plant as opposed to a carrot or turnip that are grown from seeds, but don't contain seeds. The Bible speaks of the fruit of the Spirit of God. This fruit is the result of a life lived to the glory of God.      In Galatians 5:22-24 (NASB), we learn about the specific fruit that is produced by those who are living in alignment with the Spirit of God, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." It's interesting the term "flesh" here refers not to actual skin, but the sin that dwells within the skin of a man. His old ways, habits, and desires that do not belong in the life of a "born-again (spiritually)" believer.    ...