Dependent or Independent Christian?


Independence is a celebrated quality in American culture. Folklore abounds of those who stood alone, against all odds and prevailed. We honor those business entrepreneurs who build successful companies or outstanding inventions all by themselves. We even look up to Do-it-yourselfers and weekend warriors who can do just about anything around the house.

But Jesus said when it comes to living life, there are some things you cannot do yourself. In fact in John 15:5, Jesus says, without Him, we can do nothing. (more…)

What Are You Asking From God in 2018?

 

As we begin this new year, what are you asking from God in 2018?

What is the one thing you are praying for that if God were to answer, would change everything?

God is not intimidated by big prayers, in fact, He welcomes them. God wants to do great and mighty things in your life in 2018, and He is waiting for you to ask. (more…)

Six Reasons to Pray Out Loud

 

Let’s talk about praying out loud. For many Christians, when it comes to prayer, spiritual insecurities seem to come out of the woodwork. Praying out loud is a practice that many Christians feel insecure and even embarrassed. I know some people who sweat bullets every time they are in a small group fearing that someone will call on them to pray out loud. Even in their personal prayer time, many Christians choose to pray silently, because of their fear of praying out loud. What about you? Are you a silent prayer, or do you lift your voice up to the Lord out loud? (more…)

2017 Spiritual Review

It’s amazing how long it takes for Christmas to arrive, and how quickly it passes. By noon the presents are opened, kids are playing with their new toys and the trash cans are overflowing with bows and wrapping paper.

Now Christmas is over the new year is just around the corner. In just a few days, 2017 will be another year in history.

At the end of each year, it’s always good to take some time and reflect on what you learned, how you lived, and what God did in your life over the months of 2017.

Here are 10 questions to help you review 2017 and what God did in your life. (more…)

No Magic Phrase to God Answering Your Prayer

A few years ago I was trying to set up Internet service for a new office. The Internet provider offered two different options; one was to have a technician come out to our location and do the complete setup. That option would cost us $250. The second option was the DIY version where everything was mailed to us, and we followed the simple setup instructions.

So being the cheap guy that I am, I chose the DIY version. Sure enough a few days later a box was delivered containing the equipment and a confusing instruction sheet.

Now I consider myself to be a pretty tech-oriented person, so I unpacked everything and began setting things up. I spent the next several hours following the instructions and connecting all the wires. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get it going. After multiple calls to tech support and hours of time on hold, I was completely frustrated with the entire situation.

After reaching multiple dead ends, I finally called the customer service line one last time. I was told that if I were having difficulty, they would be happy to send a technician out to troubleshoot the problem, but there would be a $250 service fee. Finally, I told the customer agent, that maybe we should just cancel the service and send everything back and start fresh with another company.

To my surprise, she said, “Mr. Taylor, are you saying if you can’t get this issue fixed then you are going to cancel your service?”

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Is Your Christianity Worth Sharing?

Recently I read a book written way back in 1923. There is something about older books that can give you a new perspective on life today. Before I finished the first page, the author hooked me with a question I have thought about again and again over the last few months.

The answer to the question reveals one of the indicators of our need for spiritual awakening.

Here’s the question that caught my attention,

Is your Christianity worth sharing?

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A Most Dangerous Question

There is a question lingering in the back of the minds of many Christians. They rarely express it, and it’s often dismissed as soon as it crosses their conscience. It usually appears when they lay awake at night, or contemplate their walk with God.

It’s a simple question, but it’s implications are life-changing.

Before I share the question, I have to warn you. When I began asking this question, it literally changed my life. The question has appeared a number of times in my walk with God and each time, it challenged almost everything I thought I know about the Christian life.

This is an eye-opening question. A question that may just be the beginning point of a new work of God in your life. If you honestly ask the question, God will answer. However, His response will almost always require a response on your part. (more…)

Was I Asleep?

Have you ever woke up, not knowing you have gone to sleep? Maybe you had drifted off during a ball game or TV show. Maybe you were reading and slipped into a short nap. Perhaps, you closed your eyes to pray but wound up falling asleep.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates an incredible 100,000 accidents occur each year because drivers either fell asleep at the wheel or were driving drowsy.

Here’s the point. You didn’t realize you were asleep until you woke up.  (more…)

God Doesn’t Beep

We live in a disturbed world. Not the disturbed that unloads a gun on people in a Colorado movie theater, but the disturbed that interrupts what we do every 23 seconds. According to author John Freeman,

600 million emails are sent every 10 minutes. (Ever feel that most of them land in your inbox)?

65% of North Americans spend more time with their computers than with their spouses.

The average corporate worker spends 40% of his or her time sending or receiving emails.

49% of all drivers with cell phones text while driving.

When was the last time you had lunch with someone where his or her phone didn’t ring, beep, or play the annoying part of a rock song? How often do you lay your phone on top of the table, just in case a life changing email were to come through? (By the way, has it?) (more…)

Isn’t It Time We Prayed?

As you look around the country, it’s easy to see a place that needs some change. We seem to have issues running out our ears. From the national debt to the healthcare debate, from moral decline, or the fragile state of the family. After all these years, we still face issues of race, inequality, and prejudice. On top of that, the economy continues to struggle and people are still losing their jobs or unable to find employment.

Let’s face it our nation is hurting. Try as our leaders may, it seems that most of our problems lay beyond our abilities to find solutions; but maybe that’s the way it was meant. As never before we need solutions that go beyond our abilities, we need help that goes beyond our own thinking – we need a miracle. (more…)