Hope & Faith

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All for the Sake of Appearances

In Shakespeare's play, “Hamlet,” Queen Gertrude makes the comment, “The lady protests too much, methinks.” This famous line has become a modern‐day response to those who make such a big deal out of something that their big deal comes off as suspicious, at best. People frequently have religious practices that come off as suspicious. And the fast is certainly one of them.
Beware of anyone who wants to let you know, by the look on his or her face, that he or she is fasting. Jesus warns against this behavior.
“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:16‐18 NKJV)
So many of our religious traditions are for the sake of appearances—meant to elevate us in the eyes of others rather than to elevate God in our own eyes. But if, for example, we fast to impress other people with our spirituality, whatever applause we get from them is the only benefit we will see. We will certainly have no meaningful exchange with God.
Fasting to impress others is on the same level as praying to impress others—which Jesus also warns against.
“When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street cor

Dennis' testimony

We can't all share in Dennis' breakdancing skills but we can all share in his desire for recognition

Gavin's Testimony

Gavin has an incredible story to share which we condensed to an impactful two minute film. He has a lot to say especially for people caught up in gangs. Since this film he has pioneered a training company called reach every generation to help those working with young people.

Dealing with Grief

Dr. Dobson discusses the painful (but necessary) process of grieving, and vividly recalls how his mother died of a broken heart following the death of his father.

How to Forgive Others - Corrie Ten Boom

Could you forgive someone who has killed your family? Could you forgive someone who betrayed your family to their death? Corrie Ten Boom shares how being a follower of Jesus that forgiveness is possible and required for us. She shares how God taught her forgiveness.

Traditions Can Become Meaningless

Fasting can easily become a meaningless tradition—its significance lost in the ritual. We make the fast or any other principle of God of none effect by religious traditions that have lost their connection with God.
The Greek word translated as “of none effect” means to render void, deprive of force and authority. That's quite a charge against teaching and following the commandments of men rather than teaching and following the principles of Scripture.
To take the fast from being a meaningful interaction with God to becoming a meaningless ritual doesn't require much effort. It's very easy to gut the fast of its significance—just make it a ritual about your performance.

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don't cheat, I don't sin, and I don't commit adultery. I'm certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those

Episode 280: Worship in the Storm with Candy and Michael Seigel (Part 2)

Watch full episodes at www.mitchkruse.com

Fasting Challenges Unbelief

Could fasting be a way of getting into God's presence? Well, what is it that can separate us from the love of God (the presence of God)? The Bible teaches us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35 NKJV)
So if we “feel” like we have been separated from God's love, what (or who) has separated us? If no third party can separate me from the love of Christ, then I can think of only one other source that could possibly be the culprit. And that culprit is me! I am the only one who can separate me from the love of Christ. Or, rather, my human nature (my flesh) is the only thing that can keep me from experiencing God's presence.
My human nature lives by its senses. My human nature continually tells me that God is nowhere to be found.
I can't see God.
I can't smell God.
I can't touch God.
I can't hear God.
I can't taste God.
My human nature (my flesh) continually tells me that I can't count on God—that God is not who He says He is, and does not do what He promises in His Word.
Doesn't this sound a lot like unbelief?
Maybe the fast is meant to attack unbelief by taking a stand against my human nature. What better way to take a stand against my flesh than to say “No!” to what it wants. What better way to bring my human nature and all its appetites under control than by refusing to give it what it want

Dear 18 Year Old self

This is an inspirational encouragement to young people and people in general to have hope in God, through a reflective letter to my 18 year old self.

Plymouth's Pilgrims and Their Christian Faith

America's first sustaining settlers came aboard the Mayflower, and as stated in their compact, sought to undertake this endeavor "for ye glorie of God and advancement of ye Christian faith." (Direct quote from the Mayflower Compact, signed in the cabin of the Mayflower in 1620).

Some History and Background:

One place we visited was in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the Pilgrims from the Mayflower ship landed in 1620 and started the first sustaining colony in the New World.

A couple of other colonies had been attempted, one in Jamestown that ended with most of the colonists starving or freezing to death and the colony folding. There was also another attempt at a colony by the French actually, at a Protestant colony called Fort Caroline in what would later become the area of Florida.

That French colony was planted and financed by an influential French Protestant Huguenot sympathizer. However, rabid Spanish Catholic fanatics got wind of it, and led by Don Pedro Menendez De Aviles, they went in and put to the sword and massacred every last person, including women and children.

So, one was facing some pretty stiff odds to attempt another colony: possible starvation, death by freezing, or massacre, none being attractive prospects. To continue reading, click on the link:
http://gwmgracenotes.blogspot.com/2015/11/plymouths-pilgrims-and-their-christian.html

Parental Sacrifice

Dr. Dobson recalls a formative experience from his own rebellious teen years to illustrate that every child should know that his parent's priorities will always be with the family whenever needs arise that require extra time and focus. No matter how busy they are!

Ignited by Love

Finding our purpose- even in the everyday.

'Legacy' - Powerful Illustration from the Skit Guys

When you get near the end of your life will you regret all the things you never did? Bill and Charlie look back over their lives with two different perspectives. What will be your legacy?

http://www.videosforyouth.com/mini-movies/59551/legacy

Fasting Is Not about Persuading God

Will you consider the possibility that fasting is not about persuading God to do anything?
I believe we negate the grace of God when we drag an old‐covenant concept of the fast into the new covenant. Let me illustrate:
The longest “so‐called” fast that I ever did was for forty days, eating only vegetables and grains. But I consider that fast as sort of toothless, because vegetarians eat this way every day. What did I get out of that fast? I don't remember getting anything out of it other than an increased appreciation of meat.
I've done a few water‐only fasts for a few days at a time. And I went through a long period of doing a 24‐hour water‐only fast one day a week. What did I get out of those fasts? I don't remember getting anything other than irritability with a hint of self‐righteousness.
And then I began to realize that God extended His grace to me regardless of my efforts to try to persuade Him with my performance.
In fact, some of His greatest acts of grace toward me were at the times when I couldn't perform at all—fasting or otherwise.
For me, fasting was an effort to manipulate God—as if I knew what I needed more than He knew what I needed. If I could just perform for Him in a way that would please Him then maybe, just maybe, He would do what I asked of Him.
There is only one problem with this approach:
For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. (Luke 12:30 NKJV)
God already knows what I need—before I e

What it is (Proverbs 14:12)

What it is (Proverbs 14:12) is the flagship poem for Leha Byrd's book of poetry of the same title. Visit www.4yourglory.org for more information.

Getting Rid of Unbelief

While faith has its substance in our spirit (our divine nature), unbelief has its substance in our flesh (our human nature). And both conditions can be (and usually are) present at the same time.
Unbelief is your human nature's direct attack against the true nature of God, trying to convince you that God is not who He says He is.

If faith is drawing us into a revelation of who God really is, then unbelief is trying to convince us otherwise. It's as if unbelief whispers in our ear, “You don't really need God; you just need His stuff.” Unbelief is intent on manipulating God instead of knowing God.
I am convinced that Jesus is teaching us how to get rid of our unbelief when He says:

“However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21 NKJV)

givemethatmountain.org/article/faith-and-unbelief-day-sixty-six/

A Higher Standard

We use faith with the hope of improving health, finances, and relationships—as if these three criteria determine our well‐being here on this earth. But Jesus disagrees:

“Then He said to His disciples, ‘Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.’” (Luke 12:22–23 NKJV)

We live eternally as a spirit. But in this life we have a soul (translated as life in this passage) and we live in a body. This is our three‐part nature (as mentioned in 1Thessalonians 5:23).

Jesus is challenging us to measure the quality of our lives beyond what we can experience with our mind, will and emotions (our soul), and beyond what we can experience with our physical senses (our body). Certainly, relationships are critically important in our lives. And it isn't that prosperity and health are not important.

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. “(3 John 1:2 NKJV)

But alone, these are a very shallow measurement of the quality of our lives.
givemethatmountain.org/article/faith-and-unbelief-day-sixty-five/