Southside Paragould

Have you ever accepted a challenge? A challenge will always reveal if you really have what it takes. What if your Faith was challenged? Would it come out in tact or proven to be unsustainable? We all have our Faith challenged in the many trials in our life. The real test of your faith is the Sacrifice Challenge! That challenge can make your Faith "complete." Abraham had this challenge and he responded in seven ways.

Fear can be paralyzing. When God calls us to go into the unknown, fear can keep us back. When God wants us to make a decision that will mess up our plans and our comfortable routine, fear can keep us back. When God asks us to live by Faith and maybe as a Foreigner, fear can immobilize us. All of these things happened in Abraham's life but he chose faith over fear and God blessed him and had his back through it all.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. We make them every day. Some decisions are made by purely ignoring what we are convicted to do or neglecting it, yet that is a decision to continue to do what we are doing. In the story of Cain and Able, Cain is confronted with a decision he had made and his decision on the surface looked like the right one, yet it wasn't. Cain chose to continue with his decision and neglect changing it. The result was self destruction of his life and his brother's life. What is the "right thing" to do in your life?

In life we have many decisions to make. Some are BIG, some are small, and some don't appear to be significant at all. In reality they all matter and the results will be either Good, Bad, or Ugly. We are in good company because many in the Bible had their decisions recorded so we can learn from them. God has a plan for our lives and it is for a future and a hope - GOOD. But we are tempted to accept an alternate route and that is not only BAD for us but ends up being UGLY. It all started with Adam and Eve.

If Jesus asked you, "Do you love me?" how would you answer? Jesus asked Peter that question 3 times, one after another. Jesus then responded to each of his answers. We get carried away with different things that are happening in our life and we begin neglecting loving God by loving others. God asks us to "hold the line" in His Work.

Max Lucado writes, “More than ever I am convinced:  When we work, we work; but when we pray, God works!” Prayer brings us into the deepest and highest work of the human spirit.  Real prayer is life creating and life changing. Prayer is the Difference Maker! The more we understand and practice prayer, the deeper the relationship we will have with God and the more we will be opening the door for God to do His will. May we stand in the gap.

What does it take to build a Family that is better and will stand the test of time? A better marriage and a better family do not just happen; decisions must be made and actions must be taken. There are some guiding secrets that if followed will lead your family to experience a glorious life!

We show we lovingly care when we bear one another’s burdens.

How are your finances? God has much to say about finances, wealth, and investing. The richest man to ever live was also the wisest, King Solomon. Let's be like the Queen of Sheba and come get some financial wisdom from Solomon and some of the prophets.