Black Friday is all about saving! Getting out there early, hitting the right places, finding the best deals! Some folks look forward to this day with great anticipation and preparation! Think about that for a moment. Black Friday. Do you know when the “blackest” of all Fridays occurred? Saving. Do you know the greatest saving that ever took place on a “Black…

When Peter rebuked Jesus for suggesting that He was going to suffer and be killed, Jesus sternly admonished Peter saying, “You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Matt. 16:21-23). In other words, Jesus said, “You’re setting your mind in the wrong place. You’re not setting your mind on God’s thoughts; you’re setting it on man’s…

Just as there are a number of “interesting and peculiar characters” in the world (and in the church) today, there were a number of “interesting and peculiar characters” in Jesus’ day. Can you imagine what it would have been like to be friends with Peter? Imagine being James or John when Peter kept jumping in and answering the questions first (sometimes not…

While helping others, serving others and going out of our way to do good unto others may sometimes be viewed as a nuisance, a hindrance, an inconvenience or an aversion, it actually can be quite rewarding. (In fact, doing good unto others is actually a reward unto itself.) When was the last time–without being asked, prodded, “guilted” or required–that you went out…

There are multiple ways to show a child that you love him or her, and there are multiple ways to show a child that you do not love him or her. Think about this from the perspective of God the Father and His children. How has and how does God show His children that He loves them? Think of all the ways…

Have you ever made a list of what God has done for you? Try to imagine being Mary, as she was carrying the Son of God in her womb. Try to imagine all that was on her heart and mind. Then, read her words and underline everything she said that “He has” done. “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spir it…

Do you remember the story of “The Ugly Duckling”? I have a few questions about that story. Was the “Ugly Duckling” actually ugly? Who decided the “Ugly Duckling” was ugly? Because the “Ugly Duckling” didn’t look like, sound like or act like the “other ducks” around him, did that give the “other ducks” the right to behave in the way they did,…

There are some interesting standards that God sets and expects people to follow. One man married to one woman for one lifetime with one exception (sexual immorality) is an interesting standard that God set and expects people to follow (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:9; Rom. 7:1-4; et al), even if that standard is not culturally “popular,” accepted or followed. The God of heaven…