Editorial: Trump and Democrats: Stop embarrassing yourselves. Cut a wall-for-Dreamers deal.

January 15, 2019 By Leave a Comment

Tuesday brings Day 25 of the partial government shutdown, the longest such stoppage on record. Blame President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats for choosing stubbornness over compromise.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

Filed Under: Columns

Opinion | Dan McCaleb: Capitol building will remain ‘unsafe workplace’ as long as Madigan is speaker

January 15, 2019 By Leave a Comment

The best journalists are the ones who ask tough but fair questions.

Here’s a link to the editorial at the Southern Illinoisan.

Filed Under: Columns

Your Daily Prayer: A Prayer for Moving On

January 15, 2019 By Leave a Comment

A Prayer for Moving On – Your Daily Prayer

A Prayer for Moving On
By: Gwen Smith

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” – Philippians 3:13b

It spoke to me as I strolled down the check out aisle of Marshalls that day. The wall art that was featured on an impulse-buy rack.

Amen! I thought.

The message? Simple: “Don’t Stumble On Things That Are Behind You.”

My mind reeled, and I thought hard about this seemingly simple directive that points to a habit that trips so many of us up: looking back. Allowing the past to deter and diminish our future.

The Apostle Paul had a difficult past to contend with. His early years were spent tormenting Chris followers. Then he met Jesus and everything changed for him. He chose to move forward as the new man he’d become.

Instead of wallowing in the muck of condemnation, he stepped into the grace of Christ with determination.

Are you struggling with this? Let me ask you a few direct questions {in love}. Do you really think that living in the past and letting it loom large in your now is helping you? Is it empowering you to grow in strength, dignity and joy? Is it fueling you toward the prize that awaits you in Christ? No? Then be done with it in Jesus’ name. Spend a few moments in prayer and write about this in your journal.

Holy Lord, Thank You for grace. Please help me move beyond the hurdles that trip me up and give me the strength and wisdom to look up and see the hope I run toward in Christ.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: Remind Yourself What God Thinks of You

January 15, 2019 By Leave a Comment

Remind Yourself What God Thinks of You

By Rick Warren

1.4K

“The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end” (Isaiah 54:10 GNT).

If you don’t feel loved by God, you’re certainly not going to offer love to anybody else. It is impossible to be loving unless you understand and remember the way God loves you.You need to remind yourself every day what God thinks about you—not what the world thinks or what you think about yourself. Remembering God’s love is what removes your fears.

Let me share four things God thinks about you that will help you remember why and how to love.

You’re completely accepted.

We spend much of our lives trying to earn acceptance from our parents, peers, those we respect, those we envy, and even total strangers. But you need to realize God has already settled this issue of acceptance: “Jesus . . . made us acceptable to God” (Titus 3:7 CEV). What Jesus did on the cross made you completely acceptable to God—no matter what you’ve done or will do.

You’re unconditionally loved.

God doesn’t say, “I love you if . . .” or “ I love you because . . .” He says, “I love you—period!” You can’t make God stop loving you, because his love is not based on what you do but on who he is. Isaiah 54:10 says, “The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end” (GNT).

You’re totally forgiven.

Because Jesus died on the cross and gave his life as a payment for your sins, you are totally forgiven when you accept the gift of forgiveness from God. Romans 8:1 says, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (NLT). God doesn’t rehearse your sins. He releases them.

You’re considered extremely valuable.

There are two things that create value: who the owner is and what somebody’s willing to pay for it.

You are a child of God and “have been bought and paid for by Christ” (1 Corinthians 7:23 TLB). Jesus Christ paid for you with his life. That’s how valuable you are.

When you remember that you are accepted, loved, forgiven, and valuable to the Creator of the universe, you will be better equipped to show that love to others and build deeper relationships.

Talk It Over

  • How does the way God thinks of you change the way you think about yourself?
  • What keeps you from completely loving, accepting, and forgiving the people with whom you have a relationship?
  • How do you show others that they are valuable to you?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns

Your Daily Prayer: A Prayer for Moving On

January 14, 2019 By Leave a Comment

A Prayer for Moving On – Your Daily Prayer – January 13, 2019

A Prayer for Moving On
By: Gwen Smith

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” – Philippians 3:13b

It spoke to me as I strolled down the check out aisle of Marshalls that day. The wall art that was featured on an impulse-buy rack.

Amen! I thought.

The message? Simple: “Don’t Stumble On Things That Are Behind You.”

My mind reeled, and I thought hard about this seemingly simple directive that points to a habit that trips so many of us up: looking back. Allowing the past to deter and diminish our future.

The Apostle Paul had a difficult past to contend with. His early years were spent tormenting Chris followers. Then he met Jesus and everything changed for him. He chose to move forward as the new man he’d become.

Instead of wallowing in the muck of condemnation, he stepped into the grace of Christ with determination.

Are you struggling with this? Let me ask you a few direct questions {in love}. Do you really think that living in the past and letting it loom large in your now is helping you? Is it empowering you to grow in strength, dignity and joy? Is it fueling you toward the prize that awaits you in Christ? No? Then be done with it in Jesus’ name. Spend a few moments in prayer and write about this in your journal.

Holy Lord, Thank You for grace. Please help me move beyond the hurdles that trip me up and give me the strength and wisdom to look up and see the hope I run toward in Christ.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: To Live Free of Fear, Surrender to God

January 14, 2019 By Leave a Comment

To Live Free of Fear, Surrender to God

“Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry” (Job 11:13-18 CEV).

The Bible says in 1 John 4:18, “Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear” (NCV).How do you learn to live in God’s love so that you can live free of fear?

Every day, you have to surrender your heart to God.

When you wake up each morning, before your feet hit the floor, you have to say, “God, before I even start this day, I surrender my emotions to you. I want you to be Lord of my feelings. I want you to control my mind and my emotions. I surrender my heart to you. I want you to fill me with your love.”

Job 11:13-18 says, “Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry” (CEV).

We find three commands and eight promises in that verse. God says if you do this, then he’ll do that. Every promise has a premise.

First, he gives you the commands: Surrender your heart to God every day. Turn to him in prayer. And give up your sins, or confess your sins to God.

Then notice the eight benefits: You won’t be ashamed, you’ll be confident, you’ll be fearless, your troubles will be like water under the bridge, the dark night you’re going through is going to be brighter than noon, you’ll be able to sleep well because you are safe and secure, you will be filled with hope, and you’ll be emptied of worry.

Wow! Who wouldn’t want to experience those benefits? You ought to write that Scripture on an index card and put it somewhere you’ll see it throughout the week. Let it remind you to do those three things—surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and confess your sins—so that God’s love will fill your life and cast out all your anxiety and fear.

Try it this week, and then watch how God fulfills his promise as he fills you with his love.

Talk It Over

  • How does pride keep you from surrendering a certain part of your life to God?
  • What fears do you need God’s love to cast out?
  • Why do you think God wants you to do something before he fulfills his promise?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns

A border wall truth — All the technology in the world will not stop illegal immigrants

January 14, 2019 By Leave a Comment

President Trump is right when he argues that drones and technology are not sufficient to stop illegal immigration. Of course, our border patrol forces armed with technology and drones are a lethal force but that combination alone cannot totally prevent illegal immigrants or hostile forces from entering the United States.

Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.

Filed Under: Columns

Opinion | Mike Bost: Dysfunction needs to end so we can end border crisis

January 14, 2019 By Leave a Comment

We have a crisis at our southern border, a crisis made worse by the dysfunction in Washington, D.C.

Here’s a link to the editorial at the Southern Illinoisan.

Filed Under: Columns

Your Daily Prayer: A prayer for the grieving heart

January 7, 2019 By Leave a Comment

A Prayer for the Grieving Heart – Your Daily Prayer – January 3, 2019

Your Daily Prayer Devotional Banner

A Prayer for the Grieving Heart
By: Jennifer O. White

“But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”  ->Romans 8:26b (NLT).

Our world has been shaken. My husband’s older brother and only sibling, Ken, dropped dead in his bathroom. We still don’t know why. While we wait on autopsy results, we shake our heads in disbelief at how someone who appeared to be the picture of health could just die so suddenly.

My husband and I, his parents, his children, extended family and many friends are all flooded with grief. We have great joy in knowing Ken is with Jesus enjoying the best days of his eternal life. We celebrate our hope of joining him there. Meanwhile we miss him greatly.

If you are experiencing a grief like this, take this prayer to a quiet place, light a candle or two, and let your soul speak to the One who always hears his children’s tears.

A Prayer for the Grieving Heart

 

You are Immanuel, God with me. Thank You for being with me now as I mourn this loss. You are the God of all Comfort and I willingly receive Your comfort now. I do not know what Your comfort will look like or feel like, but I trust it even so.

My heart is broken but You are near. My spirit is crushed, but You are my rescuer. Your Word is my hope. It revives me and comforts me in especially now. My soul faints, but you are the breath of life within me. You are my help, the One who sustains me. I am weak but You are strong. You bless those who mourn, and I trust You to bless me and my family with all that we need. You will rescue me from this dark cloud of despair because You delight in me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Filed Under: Columns

A tale of two immigrants – The tragic killing of police officer Ronil Singh

January 7, 2019 By Leave a Comment

“He’s not coming back,” said Reggie Singh.

The inconsolable brother of the late Newman, Calif., police officer Ronil Singh told journalists last week, “There’s a lot of people out there that misses him.”

Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.

Filed Under: Columns
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