First impressions are everything. In storytelling, a riveting opening scene fascinates audiences from the start and compels them to stay engaged. It sets the stage for the narrative, introduces key characters, establishes the setting, and builds suspense by hinting at the story’s ending. 

Dr James Dobson – founder of Focus on the Family related a story of small boy alone in bed in the dark and trying to sleep. He called out from his room and yelled “Dad I am scared.”  The father said do not be afraid son, close your eyes and go to sleep - you know that God is in there with you.”  Yes, I know, but can He send someone with SKIN ON?”

When my husband Brad was diagnosed with cancer back in 2014, our family got an up close and personal lesson on faith. Now that my younger brother is battling inoperable pancreatic cancer, the faith lessons continue. Trials can lead us to a greater dependency on God and a deeper trust in His sovereignty if we let them. I’ve learned that in every situation I have a choice: I can pout, or I can praise.

When a good person dies young and so seemingly senselessly, it is always tempting to question the omnipresence of God. Where was He?? Why didn’t He intervene?? But if we truly believe the earlier verses of the psalm which speak to His omnipresence, we can conclude something much different.  

Perhaps your own life is similarly chaotic and wearying at this moment. You’re watching things spiral out of control around you.  You’re crying out to God, but being left with more questions than answers.  As you struggle with day-to-day life, you wonder, “Will God ever show up?”

Throughout scripture, we are told repeatedly of God’s many wonderful attributes. The first is that He loves us, cares for us and has a plan of redemption for us.  In addition, He wants us to know Him, represent Him, and even partner with Him.

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is the highest grossing tour in history and the first to surpass $1 billion dollars in revenue, and it’s not over yet. With millions of tickets sold in a single day for tour dates across the globe that have fans flocking to stadiums and arenas to gladly congregate for the chance to see, hear, and sing along with Taylor Swift live and in person, it’d be hard to argue that humanity does not know how to worship.

A line in the sand.  That’s how Our State Magazine described NC Highway 12 in a story published back in 2020. 

In a world where we are pressed on every side: chaos, moral and spiritual decay; divisions; wars, strife, divorce, abortions, etc. – We need a refuge; a might fortress; a stronghold; a solid rock on which to stand as the world is “Slip sliding away’” from God.

Years ago, my husband Brad and I were in a waiting period. His company had gone through a merger and was collapsing positions and territories, which left his employment in jeopardy. For months we didn’t know if Brad would keep his job or if he’d need to find another one. During that time, we had to choose to trust God. And it wasn’t easy.

Good versus evil. Darkness versus light. Righteous versus wicked. Is it really that simple? As Pastor Ben pointed out in Sunday’s sermon, we don’t live like it is. We create grey areas to suit our comfort level.

There is nothing like preparing, serving, and eating a delicious meal at home. It is a simple, yet profound, pleasure of mine.

There is a real freedom when we give everything we have, and everything we are, to God, and ensure all glory goes to Him, where it belongs. Our heavenly Father will withhold no good thing from us. He only expects His rightful place in our lives, and acknowledgement of who He is.

We long for every man, woman, and child to have the opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel. Sometimes that response is rejection. In the end, all we can do is point and pray. We point to the glory of God revealed in creation and in Christ and pray that God would do the miraculous work of opening blind eyes to see it.

Most likely you’ve heard the term “fight or flight,” an expression coined by American physiologist Walter Cannon in the 1920s to describe the body’s natural responses to stressful, frightening, or dangerous situations. Whether stimuli is real or perceived, our bodies want to automatically spring into action, subduing an anxious circumstance (or thought) by fighting it off or running as far from it as possible.

An award-winning journalist was retiring after 40 years from a major network as a writer and news anchor. During an interview he was asked a great question: “So, after writing so many story lines of thousands of words, what do you consider is the most important word in the English language?” He did not hesitate and said “Maintenance.” 

Giving as a percentage of household income averages between 1.7% and 2.2%, falling far shy of the 10% that God requires. With about 63% of the US population identifying as Christian, the national giving average should be skewed much higher. If cheerful giving has not been a hallmark of your spiritual disciplines, there is no time like the present to obey God’s command and bless the socks off a non-profit who needs you!

“What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is mine.” My husband and I used to joke that this was the unspoken motto of our kids when they were little. Toddlers have no qualms about grabbing a toy, snack, or any random item of interest from other people or pets. It’s rare to see a child share her cherished possessions generously.