(Luke 2:1-20) Let me take you back to that first CHRISTmas and just briefly recount the well-known narratives and names.  Then I want to spend the better part of this article on a part of the story that you may have never heard and what we can learn from the lowliest of players in the CHRISTmas story…  Matthew 1:18-23 – Mary and Joseph engaged; Mary gets pregnant; Joseph chooses to privately divorce Mary which was an honorable thing as he could have had her stoned... Read More 

Love and Lordship

CHRISTmas Players

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom establishing and upholding it... Read More

CHRISTmas Memories 2

(1 Peter 1:16) What is God’s plan and purpose for you? For each of us? For His Church? If you listen to many sermons today the undeniable conclusion would be that more than anything else God desires our happiness. Unfortunately that has led to many false doctrines and teachings as well as broken and destroyed lives, relationships, families and more. Nowhere in Scripture will you find that God simply wants us to be happy.  Now before you stop reading and lose your religion with your... Read More

Holiness Over Happiness

(2 Corinthians 9:15) - Those who receive emails or texts from me know that I often close with this Scripture. It’s a great place to begin, end and fill all things in between with gratitude…“Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift (Jesus).” Parentheses added I must wholeheartedly confess that I’m a Grade A, #1, certified Holiday junkie!  I’m especially known in my family and circle of friends as a “CHRISTmas freak” and I do overlap CHRISTmas with Thanksgiving.  I don’t do it to diminish... Read More 

Thanksgiving

(Galatians 5:16-18) What are you giving in to and feeding…the flesh and its lusts or The Spirit. There is a battle for your soul. Christ has already paid the ultimate price to redeem you but you must willingly choose by faith in His grace to submit to Him and receive His gift. This also means that when you receive Him as Savior... Read More

Fighting The Battle

(1 Peter 3:15) The term “lord” or its equivalents, master, rabbi, teacher, is mentioned nearly 700 times in the New Testament.  While some of these are a general reference to the position itself in a story or parable, over 150 times the reference is to God Himself as The Sovereign Lord and nearly 250 to Christ as The Lord!  This is by far the most commonly used name to refer to God and Christ in all of Scripture.  We should pay attention to what it... Read More

The Lordship of Christ

(John 3:30) I simply have 3 questions for each of us, for our churches and leaders...1) Are we more concerned about making His message palatable when His Word is clear that those of the world will not like it? 2) Or are we willing to graciously share the totality of His Word and let those who do not want to hear it or are not ready walk away?  3) Which did Jesus do? Luke 9:57-62; Mark 10:17-22; John 6:66 Jesus died to save us and... Read More

Walking in Christ

(Romans 12:1 NIV)  We've been focusing on discipleship and any time we do so we must also focus on Lordship. You have a Lord or lord...do you know who it is? Do others know who it is by how you live your life? You are living for your Lord or lord...and there are actually only 2 - Christ or Satan. The enemy deceives us into thinking that we can call ourselves saved and Christ is okay with us choosing to be "lord" of any or... Read More

A Living Sacrifice - Pt 2

A Living Sacrifice

(Matthew 28:19-20) – seems like everyone loves passion…ZEAL, but that’s not what Christ told us to develop and make…zealots!  He said “disciples!” Folks, we live in a fallen world and are fallen, sinful people apart from Christ! For that reason we constantly return to the tree of Genesis 3 and are tempted (and often justify our giving in) to exercise the free will that God gave us so that we could know, give and receive love.  That same free will causes us to fall into... Read More

Disciples...not Zealots

(Hebrews 8 & 9) There is a young man that I've had the privilege to disciple over the last 6 months or so ask the following question about God's Covenant with Abraham and what He told him in Genesis 17:1-2..."to live in God's presence (or walk before Me) and be blameless." What did God mean when He told Abraham to "live in God's presence and be blameless?" Isn't that a great question? My response from God’s Word is the core of this newsletter... It means... Read More  

God‘s Covenant - Christ in Us

(1 Peter 3:15) There is no Christ as Savior only! He has saved us from sin, death and hell...but He has also saved us and placed us by His grace in a relationship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! We could have this relationship in no other way and He must be Lord! Is He Lord of your life and relationship or are you deceiving yourself by claiming Him as Savior but not as Lord? Here is the first of three things that... Read More

3 Indicators of Christ as Lord

(Colossians 1:16) After a couple of weeks of paying tribute and honoring several of God’s children that He has called home, including my precious Mother, I’m returning specifically to the Love & Lordship message of this ministry.  I fully believe that The Holy Spirit led me to share about the lives of those who have passed on as part of this ministry and as a way of encouraging us to stand firm in our faith and hope in the power and grace of God’s Truth... Read More 

Recognizing True Authority

(Psalm 145:4) Continuing with the different direction from last week as God continues to move us in a different direction. My Mom entered hospice last Friday afternoon (9/3/21) and then the waiting game started for the arrival of my brother from LA and his son from Utah on Saturday for all of us to be together with her. Once they arrived we gathered around her bed and sang some of her favorite hymns and she wanted a family picture. I write this with tears because... Read More 

My Mother‘s Legacy

(1 Corinthians 2:9) I believe The Holy Spirit has led me in a slightly different direction this week due to so many family, friends and loved ones that I know personally have been infected with COVID. In particular there are 3 that have passed away that I knew somewhat or fairly well and all of them in different stages of life and all in some way or another have blessed my ministry and me. I pay tribute to three Godly people who have impacted my... Read More

The Life God Always Intended

Every life and relationship built on the Love and Lordship of Jesus Christ!

hubhopper

Love and Lordship

hubhopper