Thanksgiving is now a few days behind us and Christmas is approaching fast. We are headed into the dead of winter. Winter is often associated with a time of dormancy. The bears are hibernating, the trees lose their leaves, the ground lays inactive waiting for the cold to pass. The same concept applies in our lives. There is a time in our lives that we know as winter. Its those times when nothing seems to have any life. The world around us is cold. Read the rest of this entry
Archive for the ‘ Christian Living ’ Category
Love The Fiery Trials
Author: Chad HarperNov 30
When reading the words of Peter in 1 Peter 4:12 it should cause an alarm to go off in your head. Peter said, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” The next verse is even more alarming. Verse 12 alone though should make the hair on your neck stand on end. Peter said do not think it weird if you are in the middle of heavy trail. This is not a strange thing that has happened to you. Read the rest of this entry
Filed under: Christian Living | Tagged as: trials
When Your Enemy Becomes Your Ally
Author: Chad HarperSep 15
Over the past decade relations between the US and Venezuelan had fallen apart ending with broken diplomatic ties in September of 2008. It was much to my surprise to read this past week that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that he was in support of President Barack Obama.
I bring this up as an illustration and not as a commentary on politics. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion about what is best for America and for the world. But that is a whole other discussion and debate. Read the rest of this entry
Filed under: Christian Living | Tagged as: warfare
Buy Him Flowers
Author: Chad HarperAug 31
James gives us a great perspective on our walk with God. James 2:14 reads, “Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?“ (The Message) If talking about faith is all it took then I know some of the most religious people on earth. Because they are always talking about what God can do. Read the rest of this entry
Mary Rose Early
Author: Chad HarperAug 24
We have all heard the phrase “the early bird gets the worm”. It was probably said to you as your mother tried to pry you from your bed to get you to school. While getting up early does have its advantages, this adage has more application than getting up before the sun.
John 20 tells the story of Mary of Magdalene, whom Jesus had cast 7 demons out of, going to the tomb of Jesus. The Bible specifically states, “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre” (John 20:1). Read the rest of this entry
Filed under: Christian Living | Tagged as: dedication
How Far Is Too Far?
Author: Chad HarperAug 17
In Luke 15 we see the story of a young man who asks for his inheritance and then proceeds to leave home. It states, “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country” (Luke 15:13). When reading this we assume he traveled a long ways. But “a far country” is relative. How do you convert “a far country” to miles? Read the rest of this entry
Filed under: Christian Living | Tagged as: relationship
I Choose Prayer
Author: Chad HarperAug 11
It was the great revivalist preacher Leonard Ravenhill who said, “If weak in prayer, we are weak everywhere.” This is not an overstatement or an exaggeration of the truth. One of the most basic elements of our Christianity is prayer. It perforates every fiber of our being and if we are not praying it will affect every area of our lives.
You can determine your entire spiritual health on the single element of prayer. Rev. Ravenhill also said, “A sinning man stops praying, a praying man stops sinning.” Read the rest of this entry
Filed under: Christian Living | Tagged as: prayer
Take Me Back
Author: Chad HarperAug 3
This past week I went with our youth to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. I was flooded with flashbacks of memories from times not so long ago. Especially when the sun began to set and they started illuminating the rides and booths with colorful lights. The sights, the smells, and the sounds sparked memories of Cedar Point and Kings Island during perfect Ohio summers. The surroundings took me back. Read the rest of this entry
Filed under: Christian Living | Tagged as: past
A Work In Progress
Author: Chad HarperJul 27
There is no such thing as standing still. You are constantly moving. Physically you may stand still. But spiritually and just life in general, you are always moving. You are either moving forwards or backwards. If you are not making progress in your walk with God, then you are moving backwards.
In our daily lives we must strive to be like God. It is called holiness. The moment we stop seeking holiness we begin to fall away from God. You cannot maintain your holiness. The second you stop moving closer to God you begin to move backwards or away from God. Read the rest of this entry
Filed under: Christian Living | Tagged as: relationship
Constant Force Needed
Author: Chad HarperJul 19
This past week has been eye opening for me. For several hours each day I have gone through scriptures with several of our young men. We covered topics like the oneness of God, fundamentals of holiness and the doctrine of salvation. The more I taught and went through these scriptures the bigger my desire to keep reading and studying the scriptures together. I have watched the same thing take place in these young men. Their hunger for the word of God has grown throughout the week. Read the rest of this entry
Filed under: Christian Living | Tagged as: relationship