My Thoughts and Reflections

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed." James 5:16a (NASB) As followers of Jesus Christ, we know that we need to confess our sins to God, which provides us with assurance of forgiveness since he has promised us that would do that (1 John 1:9). When I confess my sins to God, it often seems like it is too easy for me since I know that God already knows my offenses and he has promised to forgive me when I confess to him.  Confessing to God may seem easy, but it is taking confession to a whole new level when I involve a fellow brother or sister in Christ into the mix.  James encourages us to confess our sins to each other and to pray for each other so that we can be healed. When I confess my sins to my chosen brother in Christ, it makes the sin in my life that much more real. I am forced to share the burdens of my sin with someone else and allow someone else to see the dark parts of my life. When I confess ...

Lord , you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 (NIV) What a beautiful verse to start the day with!  Proclaiming praises to God's name, worshiping him, and singing about the great things that he has accomplished in this world!   I admit, it is easy to sing praises like this at the beginning of a sunny, blue-sky morning after an awesome evening of worship on Ash Wednesday.  Last night was an incredible beginning to the season of Lent and what better way to celebrate God's forgiveness of our sins than by praising his name? I am so thankful that the Lord is my God.  There is no other in all of creation.  He is the one and only, the Great I AM.  I love being able to exalt and praise God's name for this reason and many more.   Isaiah proclaims that in perfect faithfulness God has done wonderful things that were planned long i...

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you. Psalm 86:5 (NRSV) If you are ever finding that you are in need of encouragement, begin with this verse in the Psalms!  It is so easy to get down on ourselves and to view life negatively.  Just when we are seeing success, "life" throws us the proverbial curve-ball and we are left to pick up the pieces or figure out how to live life with that new set of circumstances.   This verse tells reminds us of who God is.   The Lord, our God, is good!   How often do we blame God for the bad things that happen in our life?  We look up to heaven and shake our fists at God the moment we get a bill in the mail that is much higher than we were expecting or when someone dings our door in the parking lot and leaves without leaving a note.  God is not a God who takes delight in our suffering or in causing harm to us.  God is good and that is something...

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD."  - Psalm 150:6 (NIV) The final verse of the book of Psalms is a call to all living creatures to praise the LORD.  The whole psalm calls all living creatures in heaven and on earth to praise God for all of his acts of power and for his surpassing greatness.   Trees, birds, "beasts of the field," and the fish have been praising God today; have you praised God yet today? As Christians, we have so much to be thankful to God for.  God has forgiven us of all of our sins, rescued us from the penalty of our sins, which is eternal death and separation from God, and he has also opened up a way for us to have a personal relationship with him now and for eternity!  These are surely some acts of power and of surpassing greatness. Not only has God forgiven our sins and promised salvation to us, but he also has performed many great and wonderful acts in creation and for his people thro...

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in  Christ God forgave you.”  - Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) Have you found yourself, from time to time, holding onto some small grudge against someone?  I know that I have!  Whether it is between you and a friend, a family member, or some complete stranger who drives 20 mph under the speed limit or cuts you off, holding onto grudges is exactly the opposite response against an offender that God calls us to have!  Holding onto a grudge is the easy response to some wrong committed against you.  It is also poisonous to our souls! In this verse, Paul is passionately calling the Ephesian church to the ultimate “Christ-like” activity that we can do as Christians.  God is calling us to be compassionate towards others by forgiving them just like God forgave us.  God had every right to not forgive us and still has that right, but he chose to send his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, ...