• Topic > Christian Living

    Blended Together

    My wife, Janet, bought me a new Dreadnought D-35 guitar for my 65th birthday. Originally developed in the early 1900s, the Dreadnought style is larger than most guitars designed during that time, and it’s known for its bold and loud tone. It was named after the large World War I British battleship the HMS Dreadnought. The back of the D-35 is unique. Because of the shortage of wide pieces of high quality rosewood, the craftsmen innovatively fit three smaller pieces of wood together, which resulted in a richer tone.

    What legacy will you leave your loved ones?

    You’ll never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul! That’s because when we die, we leave all that we have behind! Let’s talk about finding contentment in the legacy we leave behind. What will you leave your loved ones when you pass on?

    Sledding And Praying

    When the snow flies in Michigan, I like to get my grandkids, grab our plastic sleds, and go slipping and sliding down our backyard. We zoom down the hill for about 10 seconds, and then climb back up for more.

    What is the secret to contentment?

    The truth is, there’s only one thing you need to become perfectly content. Once you obtain this one thing, you’ll always be satisfied. What is the secret to contentment? Here’s a hint: it’s not any material possession!

    Our Source Of Help

    Twenty-year-old Lygon Stevens, an experienced mountaineer, had reached the summits of Mt. McKinley, Mt. Rainier, four Andean peaks in Ecuador, and 39 of Colorado’s highest mountains. “I climb because I love the mountains,” she said, “and I meet God there.” In January 2008, Lygon died in an avalanche while climbing Little Bear Peak in southern Colorado with her brother Nicklis, who survived.

    A biblical look at satisfaction regardless of our situation

    It’s easy to feel satisfied when life is good. But when circumstances take a difficult turn, contentment can fly out the window! Let’s explore the apostle Paul’s secret to contentment in every circumstance.

    Learning to be content in who you are

    Are you feeling a bit restless? Do you feel a lack of personal satisfaction and purpose in your life? Discover the personal satisfaction we can have when we realize our true identity.

    We can be content even if we don’t have it all!

    Every day we’re bombarded by advertisements pointing out all the things we lack. The enticing commercials can make satisfaction an elusive feeling. What we have is not what makes us whole.

    Quiet Rest

    Some years ago my son Brian and I agreed to haul some equipment into an isolated Idaho backcountry ranch for a friend. There are no roads into the area, at least none that my truck could negotiate. So Ralph, the young ranch manager, arranged to meet us at road’s end with a small wagon hitched to a pair of mules.

    Answer The Cry

    When my grandchildren were young, my son took them to see the stage production of The Lion King. As the young lion, Simba, stood over his father, King Mufasa, who had been killed by his evil uncle, little Simba, afraid and alone, cried out, “Help, Help, Help!” At that moment, my 3-year-old grandson stood on his chair in the hushed theater and shouted, “Why doesn’t somebody help him?!”

    What characteristics make us more like Christ?

    If you want to think, speak, and act more like Jesus, what qualities do you need to have? Galatians chapter 5 gives us the answer! Make it a point to listen to the conclusion of the fruit of the Spirit series.

    A Wonderful Explosion

    In the book Kisses from Katie, Katie Davis recounts the joy of moving to Uganda and adopting several Ugandan girls. One day, one of her daughters asked, “Mommy, if I let Jesus come into my heart, will I explode?” At first, Katie said no. When Jesus enters our heart, it is a spiritual event.

    How what is happening in our lives is evidence of the fruit of the Spirit!

    Even a bottle labeled “fruit juice” can contain a large amount of artificial fruit flavors. It proves we can be easily fooled by inferior imitations. Let’s play the part of produce inspectors and look for evidence that what is happening in our lives is 100 percent fruit of the Spirit!

    When God Is Quiet

    I love to take pictures of sunsets at Lake Michigan. Some are subtle shades of pastel. Others are bold strokes of bright color. Sometimes the sun sinks quietly behind the lake. Other times it goes down in what looks like a fiery explosion.