Ecclesiastes 12:10

  An interesting event is recorded in Mark 14:12-15: On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?" And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him; and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"' And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.   Jesus has been focused on the upcoming Passover and what it is going to mean for everyone. This will be where he institutes the Lord's Supper, this moment will foreshadow the saving world of the cross, this will be his last time to teach his disciples. This worship time will be an important event.   To the disciples it may seem that it was a...

  dis·cour·age·ment   dəˈskərəjm(ə)nt   a loss of confidence or enthusiasm; dispiritedness. an attempt to prevent something by showing disapproval or creating difficulties; deterrent.     Where does discouragement come from? Let’s consider an interesting comment in the book of Ezra.   The book of Ezra tells the story of the rebuilding of the temple. Though the act is brought about by God and authorized by King Cyrus, it does not come about easily. In Chapter 4 we see those that being to thwart the efforts. In Ezra 4:4 we read, “ Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build ”   Notice how they discouraged them? They made them afraid. Where does discouragement come from? It’s right there in the etymology: DIS =not  COURAGE = overcome fear  MENT = the state of  Discouragement comes when we fear. Fear is a powerful motivator but more often than not it’s one...

  In 2 nd Peter 1, we are told about the great gifts and promises that are found in Christ Jesus. He then tells us (verses 5-7) the traits we need to be adding to our faith so we will not become unproductive. In vs 9, we read  “ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins .”   Sometimes we accuse people of not seeing the big picture. We remark ‘ They can see the forest for the trees ’. We lock into a detail and miss what is going on.  That is what Peter is warning about here. People that are missing the important point that as Christians we must be growing or we are missing out on what we have been given.   Abraham Lincoln once said, “ I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday .” I wonder if God says the same thing about us these traits. If we are not moving forward we are moving away from God.  But as he continues in verse 10, “ if...

    In 1814 Francis Scott Key had been negotiating the release of an American from the British Fleet. While Key was successful, he was only allowed to return to his ship but not leave the fleet since he had become familiar with the strength and position of the British units and their intention to launch an attack upon Baltimore. That night he was unable to do anything but watch the bombardment of Ft McHenry. He would write a poem about his experiences that night that was printed in local newspapers. Those words would be set to the tune of an existing song called Anacreon in Heaven , and from that would come our national anthem.  Because of this, we are very familiar with the first stanza of the song but it actually has three verses. Let me share with you the last verse: O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation! Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d...