Jesus is saying here that we are like trees that produce fruit. We have two options: either we can produce bad fruit or good fruit. It’s that simple. Where it gets shady is defining what’s good and bad. That’s not extremely complicated either, it’s just people make it harder than it needs to be. God gave us a historical document that is a guide for life. The Bible, and in it tells us that Jesus is Good. If you want to produce good fruit, follow the example Jesus left for us. 

As followers of Jesus, we aren’t promised an easy life. If anything our life might seem a little harder for going against worldly views.  But no matter what storm we are under, the sky is still blue and the Lord is still with us whether we can see it or not. 

Death. . . Something that no one can avoid. One day we will all die. The rich can’t avoid it, the famous can’t avoid it, your mom, your dad, your pastor, death will come one day to all of us. I am not writing this to scare you into Christianity. I want you to have the proper perspective about death.

We work or attend school, have hobbies, take care of kids, visit family, cook dinner, and get a full nights rest to do it all over again. On top of that, as Christians it’s our responsibility to make time for Jesus a priority as well. 

The Book of Lamentations helps us to understand something significant; God cares about what hurts your heart. I believe that God goes a step further to tell us that he cares about what hurts us, even when we deserve the hurt. 

Meditation can have a lot of meanings depending on how you look at it. Meditation is being still and sitting in silence while focusing on something specific. Like most things, meditation is a tool that can be used for good or evil. Meditation itself is not evil, it is the intention behind it that determines the goodness or misuse.

Is the relationship you have with God built to last? Our relationship with the Lord should not be based on how much we can get out of Him. If that is the only reason why you pray, then what will you think if your prayers go unanswered? If you have a real meaningful relationship with Him, your desires and aspirations will start to line up with his, you’ll start to start to understand why he closed certain doors for you and opened others, you’ll start to bear fruit and gain enlightening perspectives.

The biblical idea of freedom is freedom from all that would enslave you: the world, the flesh, and the devil. And it is also the freedom not to be bound by selfishness. It is freedom to uplift others and serve them wholeheartedly. It is freedom to be humble. 

We must pick up our Cross and follow Jesus. This is a commitment to follow Jesus. It’s not a one-time thing, it’s a lifestyle. We must “sacrifice” our flesh and live the life God has for us. This is an everyday thing. Being a Follower of Christ is not easy at all, but there is so much value in eternity for living a life for Christ. Don’t you want that?

Fall is here! That means there’s apple orchards, pumpkin patches, hay rides, crisp air, amazing desserts and the wonderful fall foliage views. But as the season goes on, the air gets cooler, the wind picks up and the leaves start to fall.

I don’t know about you, but most days I feel like I’m fighting for belief inside my own heart and mind. I believe that this is why it’s so important that this man in Mark 9 says “I do believe:; help me overcome my unbelief.” . . .

First off, God can do great things when we are willing. Peter and John were on their way to pray and worship God, but they were interrupted. Interruptions can be the greatest parts of God’s plan. Peter and John could have easily walked by without saying a word because they needed to go worship. . .