We live in a culture that does not recognize the value and importance of sacrifice. many people assume that they deserve the privileges that comes along with being a citizen of this great country. But the reality is that we enjoy this privilege because of those who have given the greatest sacrifice a person can give, their lives!!! Memorial Day is a day that has become a time for barbecue’s, family gatherings, outdoor events, or even the day that the pool opens in the community. We often do not take time to consider the sacrifices that make those things possible. The nation of Israel was warned of that by Moses as they were about to go into the promised land (Deuteronomy 6:12). Yet, they did not heed that warning, and forgot that their privilege was purchased at great expense. As we approach each day remember the cost of the freedoms we enjoy. Recognize that even the smallest and most insignificant blessings are given to us by the Lord. Take time to count your blessings, and look back on all that the Lord has provided for us, Remembering that we do not deserve these blessings, yet we are showered with them. … READ MORE

It is sad that most people do not acknowledge the goodness of God. They wonder how He can allow bad things to happen, but they don’t understand that His goodness prevents them from falling over dead every time they sin. Every person on the face of the earth has personally experienced the goodness of God in many ways. According to Matthew 5:45 “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust.” If you have ever thought that God was unfair, you have revealed how easy it is to abuse the goodness of God. Our God is patient, but not forever, 2 Peter 3:10 reminds us that a day of accountability is coming. Ask yourself these questions today:1. What kind of response has the goodness of God produced in my life?2. Am I consistently thankful for what He has provided for me?3. Have I forgotten the Provider and become indifferent to God?Dr. John MacAuthur reminds us that, “We must not allow our pride to cause us to believe that the achievements and blessings we have enjoyed are from our own hand instead of God’s” (Deuteronomy 8:10-18). … READ MORE

Ephesians 2:1-3 characterizes a life that does not have Christ. Man does not BECOME spiritually dead because he sins, he is spiritually dead because by nature he is sinful. Our condition has nothing to do with the way we live, but it has everything to do with the fact that we are dead spiritually even while we are alive physically. A person who is spiritually dead has no life by which they can respond to spiritual things. In other words, committing sinful acts does not make us sinners: we commit sinful acts because we are sinners. While we may vary greatly in our levels of human goodness and wickedness, we still fall short of God’s holiness, (Romans 2:23). Paul’s purpose in verses 1-3 is not to show how unsaved people live, but to remind believers how they themselves “formerly walked and formerly lived.” Because of Christ’s past work of salvation in us, we are presently and eternally under His love and delivered from the natural human condition of death, sin, lust and divine judgment. Remember my friends, Salvation is FROM sin and BY love. God’s mercy and love provide a way for believers to participate in the righteousness of His … READ MORE