Jesus told the disciples not to be afraid. Jesus is Lord of Heaven and Earth. Even the wind and the waves obey him (Matthew 8:27, NIV). I know that he will calm this storm as well.
Category: Sermons & Sermon Notes
Devotion: The New Birth Is Like Hatching from an Eggshell (His Encouragement)
Receiving the new birth completely changes the way we see the world. It's the difference between being stuck inside a dark egg or being alive outside in the world. This Lent, we are reminded that if we trust in God, Christ will help us to break out of our shells int to the glorious resurrection of an Easter morning.
Devotion: Christ Conquers the Serpent (His Encouragement)
The most dangerous snake is the one that you don’t see. The snake that you don’t see is the one that bites you. We fall into sin when we do not realize that we are being tempted. The most dangerous temptations are the ones we don’t even see coming.
Devotion: Cats don’t need to repent— but we do! (His Encouragement)
Something about cats and Lent just seem together! My husband says he has never seen any cat who was every sorry for anything. Cats don't need to repent, but humans do! During Lent, we make time for repentance and lamentation.
His Encouragement: The Cat’s Lament and the Beginning of Lent
No one laments louder or longer than my cat when he is hungry! During the season of Lent, we make time for lament. In our culture, we have grown uncomfortable with the signs of intense morning. But in Biblical times, especially during the time of the Old Testament, it was common for people to loudly lament their grief for the Lord to hear.
Devotion: Happy New Year- Babies Change Lives (His Encouragement)
Have you or a family member ever known the joy of a holding a newborn baby in your arms? Babies change our lives. One of my friends can vividly remember the day her son was born. “It was a long and painful process,” she said. “I had labor pains for three long, grueling days and the contractions were so brutal that I thought that I was going to die. I had never known such pain in all my life. But then, when they laid that my new son in my arms, my entire life changed. Up until that point, I had loved my son and anxiously awaited his arrival. But that moment, when I held him, I knew what true love was. Becoming a parent changes your life forever, and it has never been the same.”
Devotion: Merry Christmas! Are you hungry? Jesus is food for the world!
God made a cattle trough into a cradle for the Messiah who would feed the whole world. Only Jesus can satisfy our hunger. Only he can fill our insatiable longing. I think it is truly wonderful that, besides Joseph and Mary, the first people to see the baby Jesus who were working in the fields. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and we are all sheep. We are all special to Christ, and we all need the Good Shepherd to guide us home. Jesus is the greatest gift of all. Happy Birthday Jesus!
Devotion: Cats and Christmas Cookies (His Encouragement)
Waiting is hard. My cat and I are both impatient. This caused a near Christmas cookie disaster. As hard as it is to wait for cookies, waiting for the return of Christ can be even harder, but we must never give up hope.
His Encouragement: God’s Promise of Eternal Life
In Luke 20:27-38, the Sadducees had the opportunity to ask Jesus questions regarding the resurrection; however, their main concern was undermining Jesus’s authority.
Devotion: Miracles, Mustard Seeds, and Christmas Shoes (His Encouragement #34)
Even if you only have a little bit of faith, God can still work miracles with it. When our church family stepped out in faith, we witnessed a small but powerful Christmas miracle of our own.
