Refléter Dieu - Menez une vie sainteRefléter Dieu – Menez une vie sainte

Philemon 1:17-25 If you’ve ever taken an English composition class, you’ve probably had to write a persuasive paper at least once. The apostle Paul wrote a persuasive composition of his own to a man named Philemon. Philemon, like others in his time, had a slave named Onesimus who worked for him. This slave had sinned […]

The post Pretty Please? first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.

Philemon 1:8-16 I think it’s safe to assume that most people want to feel needed and useful. Nobody wakes up and says that they would like to be put out to pasture and forgotten. People need to feel like they still have something to contribute. There are some however, who fear they have exceeded their […]

The post Valued first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.

Philemon 1:1-7 Everyone needs at least one person in their lives who gives great hugs. A good hug is like the perfect glass of iced tea on a hot summer’s day. You need it to quench your thirst. It touches the soul in just the right way. It leaves you feeling refreshed. I think that […]

The post Really Great Hugs first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.

Proverbs 3:27-35 Have you ever met someone who is constantly « tweaking the truth » to accomplish their own goals? You do not want to be in their cross hairs when they pull back their crossbow of words and point it. They might accuse you of something startling. Some people can fabricate the vilest lies. Perhaps they […]

The post Flood With Kindness first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.

James 4:1-10 History is riddled with wars and strife, greed over land and resources, the desire for power or wealth, the endless race for more, more, more! James applies this to individual believers within the walls of the local church. When our desire to win outweighs our desire to serve God humbly, we lose. Humility […]

The post Charity of Spirit first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.

James 3:10-18 The issue of peacemaking is on the minds of people around the world. James outlines here a set of contrasts. The writer contrasts salty water with freshwater. He proposes that the nature of plants determines their fruit. He sets down the foundation of his pinnacle argument: What is in a person’s heart determines […]

The post Peace Worth Cultivating first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.

Ephesians 4:25-32 We live in a time in history when the newest theme is « be true to yourself. » Unfortunately, one outflow of this philosophy is a « freedom » to say whatever is on one’s mind. Social media is rampant with sarcasm, insults, and plain old nastiness. Cruelty might describe this way of interacting with others. For […]

The post Culture Changers first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.

Ephesians 4:17-24 Was there a child in your children’s class who was full of energy, always seemed to step out of line and cause trouble about something? One little boy gave his teacher a black eye. I knew that boy. He was older than I, so I did not see him for a few years. […]

The post A New You first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.

Titus 3:9-15 Some people like to cause dissent in the family of God. I have heard pastors share about congregants who are not happy unless they are stirring up division in the church. Apparently, Titus was experiencing this very thing in Crete. We find instructions here for us as well. There are seven behaviors listed […]

The post Simply Do Good first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.

Titus 3:1-8 Titus 3 reminds us of God’s great mercy and of how generous God has been to us. God is not generous because we deserve it but because He is kind and loving, demonstrating this to us through His son Jesus Christ. Paul instructed believers to be ready to do good. We can avoid […]

The post Humble Yourself first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.