Who hasn’t marveled at an ocean sunset, majestic mountains or a glorious waterfall? And when considering the Earth’s fantastic balances to maintain life, who hasn’t gasped at its unlikelihood? Or when studying Earth’s creatures, who hasn’t been astonished at how each animal is well equipped to the tiniest of details to live in their environment? Creation is so astounding the Bible says by its existence alone people have no excuse to not believe in God.
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him.
Romans 1:21
Today’s verse warns that something happens when people don’t acknowledge who God is and respond to Him accordingly. For those who refuse to “walk in the light,” He allows foolish hearts to be darkened. The Message Bible interprets Romans 1:21 to read, “They trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives.”
Never forget who God is and that He is worthy to be worshiped, praised and thanked
Recommended Reading: John 1:1-10
I was praying. I was asking. I was pleading, “Lord, could you please help this woman and her sons.”
As I was saying, “God You are all powerful and in charge, and nothing is impossible for You,” I was thinking how can I help? What can I do? How will I fix this?
BONG! A light bulb moment. We are not to come to the throne of the King with doubts, meekly asking for help. We are to come boldly, confident that God and God alone can help. He can make it happen and we have to pray with the confidence that He will. We must push past our doubts to receive the full blessing of His goodness and mercy. Continued »
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, God with us. … Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — George Frideric Handel, “Messiah”
WASHINGTON — This magnificent musical work penned by Handel in 1741 is heard all around the world in this season. His powerful lyrics are drawn directly from the Bible and remind us all to be thankful for the birth, sacrifice and resurrection of the Lamb of God.
In our family Christmas tradition, Handel’s oratorio is performed at our Christmas Eve church service. The following morning, we play it in the background as our children — and now a dozen grandchildren — rip into their presents around a carefully decorated Scotch pine. Each time I hear it, the music prompts me to be grateful for the Prince of Peace — and thankful for those whose selfless service makes it possible for us to enjoy this celebration in tranquility. Continued »
Editors NOTE: The following article was written by Chuck Colson and appeared in TownHall Magazine Sept. 24th, 2010. Chuck Colson was the Chief Counsel for Richard Nixon and served time in prison for Watergate-related charges. In 1976, Colson founded Prison Fellowship Ministries, which, in collaboration with churches of all confessions and denominations, has become the world’s largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners, crime victims, and their families.
It was a voice vote that silenced the voice of the church for generations.
In 1954, then-Senator Lyndon Johnson was in the middle of a particularly bruising re-election battle. Two nonprofit groups had been especially troublesome to the senator, vocally opposing his candidacy.
“We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God’s.”
So, on a hot summer day in Washington, D.C., Johnson slipped an amendment into the IRS 501(c)(3) code that governs nonprofit organizations in order to restrict their speech — including the speech of churches. Johnson’s amendment stated that nonprofits could not “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing and distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.”
The penalty for such “participation?” Revocation of their tax-exempt status. Continued »