Keith's Podcast

In many of life's deepest, tragic moments, we can feel alone, vulnerable, and left in a hopeless state. But we have someone who knows our name, stands by us, loves us, and remains a help to us through our faithful call to Him. Yes, Jesus cares for you!

On this Mothers' Day, we're mindful of the life and honor that is brought through the provider we call mother. God uses the mother to bring our being into this world as the dear maiden of God. Share with us a few of the stories from scripture about other mothers that really mattered.

Besides the happy moments in life worthy of rejoicing, we have more opportunity and great occasion to praise and rejoice in the Lord, and for reasons that may appear to others to be misplaced. But for times of trial and persecution for our faith in the Lord, be not ashamed, but glorify God in the matter!

We have teaching from scripture and we have a model, a pattern, and a mentor who has experienced temptation like the rest of us, yet, without sin. If we have love for others, we should be compelled to exercise the mind of Christ within us - compassion for others, forgiving of others, and obedient to God.

As called out believers and faithful Christians, our need to shine as a light before men is paramount to the teaching of Christ Jesus. To see that teaching working in us reveals the power by which we serve a living God and risen Savior. When that can be seen, "men will glorify your Father in heaven."

Sounds like a fairly simple title of a relatively simple command, directing us to the most fundamental evangelistic action of God's will. The inherent power of the Good News leads the wandering sinner to the origins of salvation. Is there any better reason than to preach Jesus?

These ageless questions people have pondered since the beginning of time here on Earth. Of course, we have a book to go and find the answers in - a book spoken by God containing wisdom and knowledge for the ages - the Bible. But first, you must realize how important it is to answer the questions!

Have you ever thought about following God's work placing Him in the gardens of scripture? His work is brought full circle with the beginning of creation in a garden and the fulfillment of prophecy found at the garden. It's there that the foundation of redemption has its beginnings with the resurrection of our Savior!

A prophecy that was difficult to discern at the times this prophecy was foretold, even to the point of Christ's torture and crucifixion. The kingdom of our future and eternity as a Christian is not of this world, but a kingdom with God, and a citizenship beginning here on Earth while we are here. We look forward to that fellowship with saints in the household of God kept in heaven.

Since the perfect sacrifice shed His blood and died, a new will is in effect, the fulfillment of promise. And because He lives, now we have remission of sin through the grace of God and the provisions of forgiveness. Isn't it wonderful that our Savior lives and can free us from sin!

Many today feel secure with consistency, strength in predictability, and a oneness with 'sameness.' These should not feel foreign to any of us because it can be found in the Bible, in Christ Jesus, the teaching that is the same for all time - the same God, the same Son, the same Redeemer who is the same for all.

The apostle Paul had the ability to clearly explain our relationship to the cross of Christ. Paul defines the pure value in the meaning of Christ going to the cross and then our ability to put on that glory in Christ, washing away the slavery to sin that can so beset us to condemnation.

Lest there be any reason to question the applicability of Jesus' teachings for us today, let's examine the timeliness and ageless lesson of one of His parables and see if you don't recognize the same thoughts we have today.

Scripture is replete with stories and time of wondrous things God has done through faithful men and the teachings and miracles of His Son, Jesus Christ. Equally, great things are waiting for us when we accept His Will and remain obedient to His teachings.

The fundamental pattern of God's design is found in family. From creation to the faith of fathers, the teaching of leadership, the foundation of the church, and the responsibilities found between father, mother, and children, that design describes the strength and structure of family. So, also, the teaching and following of faith in our lives is highly empowered and structured in the family.

God gave us a heart. God owns our heart and it belongs to Him. But isn't it a shame that sometimes we break that heart of God's when we put treachery and sin in the heart that belongs to Him. The Good News is that God also cures and cleanses a broken heart if we but look to Him and obey.

Perhaps, an impressive amount of thinking we commit to can produce some very satisfying outcomes. The results of evil thinking, or even the lack of thinking, produce evil, vile, and carnal works that only bring unrighteousness. The apostle Paul teaches that we need to focus our thought upward to where righteousness lies.

The Bible makes a pretty strong argument about the equivalence of fellowship and love - when you think about it, it's hard to have one without the other, and in both terms, if you have one, you have the other. Both are found in faith, and when unity exists, all are strengthened and brought closer to God.

Some in society today fail to know God and certainly, understand God. The consequences of this failure are eternal, but the appeal requires our attention, our commitment, and our undying efforts.

A rather simple statement for a title and an easy concept to understand, but how are you doing with what your life represents in this statement to God? There are innumerable reasons to return the immeasureable love He gives us, and it should compel us to love God. And it's not reason enough to just say you love God, nor a love for who you are to Him, but a love from your being, what you are, all of you - heart, soul, mind, and strength!

The tragic events in recent days may cause us to ask ourselves and others why such unimaginable horror should occur to us, affecting so many. Those questions, quite frequently, lead many to a question of faith, good and evil, blame, excuses, and rancor rationalization leading to questions about God. Let's look to scripture in tragic times and see where our strength lies.

Our merciful God and Father has led the way to provide the method of forgiveness through the sacrifice of His Son, a redemptive death in that Christ was made the propitiation of our sin. It now becomes incumbent upon us to pass that forgiveness to others who have wronged us since we have, in no small way, a path to forgiveness from our Father.

As tough as it might be for us to concede there are things we MUST do, the responsible Christian must maintain obedience in God's will for His grace to reach us as sinners. There remains an uniterrupted thread through scripture where we must put on Christ and deny self. We must put God first. These are 'musts' that WILL have eternal outcomes!

The possessive and materialistic nature that we typically must suppress at times can be a force, when used spiritually, that can turn us to the desires found in Christianity. When choices present themselves for good or evil, right or wrong, spiritual or carnal, know the good that you can have, and rather have Jesus.

A recognized time of year to celebrate the thanks we should have for the early blessings shared by this country's beginnings, but the Bible teaches that there is never an accasion to not be thankful to God for all His good gifts we are constantly provided. This morning's message reveals two big reasons for our constant thankfulness.

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