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Articles published in 2018

Finding the Heartbeat of God

Jonah 4:2-3 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? This is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
 
A couple of months ago I was working out with a friend and had a frightening moment. We were working hard through a sprint section of a workout when my heart started to race. I was wearing a heart rat
Tags:  Heartbeat of God, Jonah

When Options Narrow

Jonah 2:1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.”
 
I like to have options. You probably do too! When I purchase a new car, for example, the more options the better! But there are times in life when it is better to have focus than options. It is in these seasons of life that God reduces our options to get our attention. 
 
In Jonah 2 God narrows Jonah’s options even further when he ran from God. When God first called Jonah to go preach to t
Tags:  Options, Jonah, Choose, Choices, Running

Jonah and Me

Jonah 1:2-4  “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.”  But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”  

Have you ever felt like you’re spinning your wheels?  There are times in life when we can feel like life is standing still.  Sure we are busy with activity but it just doesn’t feel like we are getting anywhere.  It is often in these moments that God is working on our character and trying to get us to move in another direction.    

Tags:  Jonah, Running

God . . . Used it for Good

Genesis 50:20  “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” 

Dave Stone told a story about a soldier during the Vietnam War who got a letter from his girlfriend saying that she was breaking up with him.   To make a painful situation worse, she asked, “Will you please return my favorite picture of myself --- I need to use it for my engagement picture in the local newspaper.”

Tags:  Genesis, Joseph, God, Good

Provided

Genesis 22:14 “So Abraham called that place The Lord will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
 
Growing up I always had an example of a father that provided. My dad is a business owner who started his company when I was a teenager. I watched him work hard, make good choices and provide for his family. In our family we had everything we needed and almost everything we wanted.
Tags:  Providing, Provided, Genesis, Abraham, Matthew

Switching Tracks

Acts 9:5-6  “Who are you Lord?  “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,” he replied.  Now get up and go to the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 

Tags:  Switching Tracks, Acts, Saul, Paul, Life's Direction

Prayer - Your Secret Weapon

Ephesians 6:18-20 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people."
 
During World War 2, the Nazis were working on a secret weapon for conquering England and winning the war. It was called the V-3 gun.
 
The V-3 gun was a huge cannon that was over a football field and a half long. It was so big that much of it had to be built underground.
Tags:  Ephesians, Paul, Prayer

A Good Fight

Ephesians 6:10-12  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and His mighty power.  Put on the armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” 

Tags:  A Good Fight, Ephesians, Armor of God, Pittsburgh Steeler

Married for Good

John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” 
 
Gene and Pat Warrington had a good marriage. The two met when they were in junior high school, got married secretly while Gene was on leave from boot camp in in WWII and lived together for 69 years. In the end they passed away only eight hours apart.  Their kids said that their marriage was more than good and was an example for all who knew them.
 
Marriage is intended to be good and all men want a good relationship with their wife.  It is true that all marriages
Tags:  Married, Marriage, John, Ephesians

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