“Give us this day our daily bread” is the first petition for ourselves within the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus teaches us to reflect first on Our Heavenly Father, His Holiness, His Name, His Kingdom and His Will. After that, we are ready to pray this request.
The Bible preserves records of many interesting individuals, their struggles, and triumphs as they strive to faithfully follow God’s teachings. The spiritual lessons we learn will help us work through our own struggles. One particularly profound record is of a faithful man named Job.
Believers have a covenant keeping God. A covenant is not a contract. Contracts are agreements or promises signed under man’s law that, if broken, have contractual specifics upon dissolution. On the other hand, a covenant differs from a contract in that a covenant is a solemn pledge involving God. It is the higher promise of a holy pledge. This sacred pledge of a covenant is one of a perpetual promise.
“...Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you...If anyone strikes you on the cheek. offer the other also...Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” selected from the Gospel of Luke 6:27-29.
Clay Center, Kansas – “Tom, do you believe in God?” I asked. “Yes and no,” he responded. “I believe there is a God, but I choose to believe in my Higher Power.” Most Americans still believe in God, but the numbers have been on a steady decline for decades. A Gallup poll reported in 1944, that 96% of American’s believed in God, but 78 years later in 2022 it dropped to a record low of 81%. Interestingly, when pollsters in another survey added a question about belief in a Higher Power, the numbers jumped to 88%.
We all have the basic desire to be loved, but the question is, do we have the desire to be loving? It is easy to love those we know, but can we be loving to all? Can our hearts be so filled with the love of God that it is a natural state of being to love others? Yes, we can. We can walk in love and joy to the point that loving others is as natural as breathing once we know God’s love.
Speaking Truth by Clint Decker Clay Center, Kansas – “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) There is good… Login to continue reading Login…
Even though a few weeks have passed, it is not too late to make a fresh start for 2025. In John 12:32 Jesus said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to myself.” Three simple points to conclude from this concise statement.
By Reverend Sally J. DeMastersRetired United Methodist Minister We are now well into the month of January 2025. Many people have been saying that this… Login to continue reading Login…