Moment by Moment

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…. (1 Timothy 1:15) For the last several midweek devotionals we’ve been exploring how Jesus maintained balance in three key areas of his life.  He fostered a deep, intimate UPWARD relationship with his Father and a fully engaged INWARD connection to other believers. Today let’s consider his OUTWARD relationship to the world.  While his upward relationship was his source of life and his inward relationship was a source…

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I am cared for spiritually by so many people in our church family and for that, I am very thankful.  John and Paul are awesome spiritual brothers.  I love living life with them. Our elders frequently check in on me with phone calls and encouraging emails. I often meet early on Friday mornings for prayer with Matt Caudle and Lance Utne.  This past week, Jerry Cogley invited me out for breakfast, Bill Lewis inquired on my well-being and we met…

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“Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 This past Sunday we talked about balance in three areas of life: UPWARD – our relationship with God, INWARD – our relationship to other believers and OUTWARD – our relationship to the world. We discovered that Jesus maintained this three-fold balance in his life, too. Since Jesus maintained…

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I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Psalm 140:12 This past weekend, I was in Jamaica for the Jamaica Link Ministries (JLM) annual board meeting. JLM is the Jamaican ministry that has facilitated our mission trips to the island for the past six years. Their facility is right on the Caribbean Sea next to a little strand of beach and seawall at the north end of the “hip strip” in…

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But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 This week, Pastor John and Matt Patti will be presenting an integrated teaching and worship set continuing our exploration of “Back to Square One.” I have been amazed at what God has been doing in our church family these past few weeks and the many people who have shared with me their “Back to Square One Moments.” In the course…

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Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. Yesterday afternoon my wife took Justin, Katelyn and several of their friends to the Prince William County Fair. Now, I recognize that the county fair is not for everyone, but for us it’s a kind of end-of-summer tradition: see the animals, drop in to view the art, photography and craft contests, eat some food, ride some rides, and then go home….

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I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  ~Psalm 139:14 I have a great friend that I love to spend time with. He is sensitive, intelligent, considerate and thoughtful. He is wise, spiritual and prayerful. When you talk with him, he focuses completely on you, like you are the only person in the world.   But, I have a problem with him. He is so considerate, so kind and…

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As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  Psalm 42:1-2 It’s no secret that being a pastor is not the most physically demanding job in the world. Not that public speaking, counseling, teaching, studying and other pastoral duties aren’t rigorous in their own way, but it doesn’t exactly give you six-pack abs… or big biceps for that matter. When you sit in an air-conditioned office most…

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The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the…

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Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain ofwhat we do not see. ~Hebrews 11:1 For we live by faith, not sight. ~2 Corinthians 5:7 Are the cicadas out at your house? They’re at mine, in fullforce.  Here at the church in the little wooded section adjacent to my office there is a low but very strong whistling sound all day and night.  Pastor Paul with his flair for science fiction was convinced that it was…

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