When I was a child, I learned from my parents and Sunday School teachers that Jesus wants to live in my heart. At the time, I thought nothing was odd about that. I was told to “ask Jesus into my heart.” I eagerly did so. I don’t remember when I stopped believing that or talkingContinue reading “What Christians mean when they say God lives in their hearts – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 1”
Tag Archives: christ
There’s a fire God does not want us to put out – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Preview
A few weeks ago, a serious forest fire devastated 2700 acres in the Michaux State Forest here in Pennsylvania. Close friends of ours have a property located very near to where the fires burned, and thankfully their property was spared. Others were not so fortunate. The news reported that the fire was started not by lightning, butContinue reading “There’s a fire God does not want us to put out – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Preview”
The transforming power of gratitude – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 5
Editor’s Note: This week I welcome guest blogger, Debbie Marks. Debbie has a degree in social work, served for 30+ in pastoral ministry alongside her husband, is an educator, leads Bible studies, and has been a retreat speaker. We all hit life’s unexpected potholes. The issue, then, is how we will respond to these inevitableContinue reading “The transforming power of gratitude – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 5”
Believe it or not, continual prayer is possible! – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 26, Part 4
Editor’s Note: This week I welcome guest blogger, Debbie Marks. Debbie has a degree in social work, served for 30+ in pastoral ministry alongside her husband, is an educator, leads Bible studies, and has been a retreat speaker. I’m excited for her teaching this week. The second habit that Paul addresses in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18Continue reading “Believe it or not, continual prayer is possible! – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 26, Part 4”
Why and how we can choose joy in the midst of pain – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 3
Editor’s Note: This week I welcome guest blogger, Debbie Marks. Debbie has a degree in social work, served for 30+ in pastoral ministry alongside her husband, is an educator, leads Bible studies, and has been a retreat speaker. I’m excited for her teaching this week. From 2009-2013, our son, Alexander, began having many struggles—some physicalContinue reading “Why and how we can choose joy in the midst of pain – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 3”
Three reasons for joy – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 2
Editor’s Note: This week I welcome guest blogger, Debbie Marks. Debbie has a degree in social work, served for 30+ in pastoral ministry alongside her husband, is an educator, leads Bible studies, and has been a retreat speaker. I’m excited for her teaching this week. When I was a kid, growing up in church, thereContinue reading “Three reasons for joy – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 2”
The Apostle Paul’s “Eat Pray Love”-like formula – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 1
Editor’s Note: This week I welcome guest blogger, Debbie Marks. Debbie has a degree in social work, served for 30+ in pastoral ministry alongside her husband, is an educator, leads Bible studies, and has been a retreat speaker. I’m excited for her teaching this week. In 2006 Elizabeth Gilbert wrote a biographical memoir called EatContinue reading “The Apostle Paul’s “Eat Pray Love”-like formula – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 1″
When God doesn’t tell us what he wants us to do – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Preview
Have you ever had a situation in life when you cried out to God, “Lord, I don’t know what to do. Can you please just tell me?”, and God seems silent? I encountered this when I was in high school in my church’s youth group. I distinctly remember one of the seniors wrestling with theContinue reading “When God doesn’t tell us what he wants us to do – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Preview”
Question-asking and kissing in the church – 1 Thessalonians 5:13–15, 26, Part 6
In our final post this week, Paul describes peace with each other in a church family like this in 1 Thessalonians verses 14-15, “encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and forContinue reading “Question-asking and kissing in the church – 1 Thessalonians 5:13–15, 26, Part 6”
We are to warn disruptive people in a church family – 1 Thessalonians 5:13–15, 26, Part 5
What living at peace with each other in a church family assumes that there should only be a very, very few non-negotiables in the church family. Non-negotiables? Let me explain what I mean by that. Have you ever heard the phrase, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love.”? There are three levelsContinue reading “We are to warn disruptive people in a church family – 1 Thessalonians 5:13–15, 26, Part 5”
Engaging Scripture 