Right about this time every year in my family’s backyard, we have bamboo that grows like mad. In a matter of just a few days, a stalk can grow a couple feet. It’s so fast, I sometimes wonder if I stare at it if I’ll see the motion of the growth! Bamboo is also persistentContinue reading “How bamboo can help you understand your role in the mission of God – Acts 13, Part 5”
Monthly Archives: May 2020
Two correct ways (and one wrong way) to respond to preaching – Acts 13, Part 4
Do you do a good job in how you respond to preaching and teaching? If you are a Christian, you likely hear preachers and teachers from time to time. Maybe you are a part of a church family, and you attend worship services which include sermons. Maybe you participate in classes or small groups withContinue reading “Two correct ways (and one wrong way) to respond to preaching – Acts 13, Part 4”
How to have victory over darkness – Acts 13, Part 3
Do you ever sense the battle of light versus dark, good versus evil? Do sense that there might be a spiritual war going on? Do you ever feel defeated? It is possible to have victory over darkness. In our study through Acts we’ve see that battle numerous times. In chapter 8 Philip faced off againstContinue reading “How to have victory over darkness – Acts 13, Part 3”
You are needed on the team! – Acts 13, Part 2
How do you feel about group projects? Do they excite you, or do they frustrate you? Do you think, “These people energize me, and our connection is producing something creative and innovative,” or do you think, “These people are slowing me down. My work is suffering because of them”? I was assigned a group projectContinue reading “You are needed on the team! – Acts 13, Part 2”
How God wants to change the world (& one practice that can help you hear the Spirit speak) – Acts 13, Part 1
Are you a gardener? Maybe you have some potted plants bringing life to your home. Maybe you have a flower bed? A vegetable garden? We have a vegetable garden with a berry patch, and a few weeks ago that berry patch was in serious need of weeding. So a couple weeks ago, I weeded it,Continue reading “How God wants to change the world (& one practice that can help you hear the Spirit speak) – Acts 13, Part 1”
A story of thankfulness to help us during hard times – Acts 12, Part 5
Do you like to watch awards shows? I do. It’s interesting to see who gets awards, and what they get the award for. But more than that it is interesting to hear how they are introduced. Often they are lauded as, “The great and wonderful…” Whether it is an athlete, musician or actor, they areContinue reading “A story of thankfulness to help us during hard times – Acts 12, Part 5”
Four practical ways to count your blessings – Acts 12, Part 4
In this series of posts on Acts 12, we have been trying answer the question: “How How do we count our blessings the right way?” I want to suggest some practical ideas that I believe could help you. First, we have to say the right words, flowing from a humble, grateful heart. Not “I didContinue reading “Four practical ways to count your blessings – Acts 12, Part 4”
How to know if you have the wrong perspective on your blessings – Acts 12, Part 3
What we have been studying in Acts 12 reminds me of the story of a young lady who was waiting for her flight in the boarding room of a big airport. As she would need to wait many hours, she decided to buy a book to spend her time. She also bought a packet ofContinue reading “How to know if you have the wrong perspective on your blessings – Acts 12, Part 3”
Are you counting your blessings the right way? (or the wrong way?) – Acts 12, Part 2
Have you ever been around a child learning to count? My kids, at that very early stage, would often skip numbers in the teens, “11, 12, 13…15, 16, 17…” It was humorous, but we would stop them and say, “You missed 14…let’s try it again.” After practice, they learned. In the previous post, I suggestedContinue reading “Are you counting your blessings the right way? (or the wrong way?) – Acts 12, Part 2”
How should we count our blessings? – Acts 12, Part 1
What have you been grateful for lately? Or has it been hard for you to be grateful? We all go through seasons of abundance and seasons that seem dry like a desert. What season are you in right now? I’m writing this in the spring of 2020 when the entire world has been on quarantineContinue reading “How should we count our blessings? – Acts 12, Part 1”