God’s calls are not always easily seen or followed. Sometimes the promises of God seem delayed, yet we must continue to follow God each day knowing His timing is always right. This morning we look at God’s call to Abraham. To a man of lesser faith, God’s call of Abraham might seem staggering and the sacrifices required might seem demanding. Yet God’s promises always outweigh His demands of personal sacrifice. By looking at how Abraham responded to God’s call, today we hope to learn from those experiences just how my relationship to God should affect me.

Have you ever felt like a complete failure? Has life passed you by? Do you lie awake at night and wonder why your life has turned out the way it has? Maybe at one point in your life you had big dreams. Maybe you feel like you have messed up too many times. You may feel beyond the help of anyone. You may think you have gone too far, done too much, but this morning God wants to give you hope. He can mold our character into what He wants it to be if we allow Him to do so. Don’t give up hope, God can mold you and make you into the beautiful creature He designed you to be. The lesson we learn today from the potter should encourage us all---He didn’t throw the clay away!

Have you ever felt like a complete failure? Has life passed you by? Do you lie awake at night and wonder why your life has turned out the way it has? Maybe at one point in your life you had big dreams. Maybe you feel like you have messed up too many times. You may feel beyond the help of anyone. You may think you have gone too far, done too much, but this morning God wants to give you hope. He can mold our character into what He wants it to be if we allow Him to do so. Don’t give up hope, God can mold you and make you into the beautiful creature He designed you to be. The lesson we learn today from the potter should encourage us all---He didn’t throw the clay away!

Keith Wood, Vice President of Mid-Atlantic Christian University preaches for West Side.

Life can be very challenging most of the time. With all of the problems, frustrations, difficulties and disappointments life brings, we need a lot of help along the way. William Arthur Ward said, “Flatter me and I may not believe you. Criticize me and I may not like you. Ignore me and I may not forgive you. Encourage me and I will not forget you.” Today we look at the concept of encouragement with my hope and prayer this message will inspire all of us encourage one another as we continue to grow in Christ.

Life can be very challenging most of the time. With all of the problems, frustrations, difficulties and disappointments life brings, we need a lot of help along the way. William Arthur Ward said, “Flatter me and I may not believe you. Criticize me and I may not like you. Ignore me and I may not forgive you. Encourage me and I will not forget you.” Today we look at the concept of encouragement with my hope and prayer this message will inspire all of us encourage one another as we continue to grow in Christ.

Do you really like your job? How many of you look forward each week to returning to your place of employment after your day(s) off? All of us have unpleasant tasks that are required at our work from time to time. Sometimes the daily routine may seem like you are on an endless merry-go-round with no real purpose. Tomorrow being Labor Day, we look at work this morning. My prayer is that our message will help change our attitudes about our jobs and help us through those times when our labors are difficult.

Do you really like your job? How many of you look forward each week to returning to your place of employment after your day(s) off? All of us have unpleasant tasks that are required at our work from time to time. Sometimes the daily routine may seem like you are on an endless merry-go-round with no real purpose. Tomorrow being Labor Day, we look at work this morning. My prayer is that our message will help change our attitudes about our jobs and help us through those times when our labors are difficult.

When you turn on the local evening news we are reminded that our world surrounds us with people full of broken lives, chemical dependence, sexual misconduct, cheats, liars, thieves, and so more many hurts. How do we respond to these broken lives? Should our hearts ache for people whose lives are in shambles? How would Jesus respond? We can be confident in this … Jesus would not neglect compassion

What unpleasant tasks in your life have you tried to avoid? In our story today Jesus had a chance to avoid a dirty job, but He didn’t. Jesus was teaching us a lesson on how you love someone to the fullest extent. This morning we can learn from him how to love more fully. And we end with a challenge to love as Jesus loved and to even express that love to one who has or may disappoint us. Jesus has given us an example. How will we react? What will we learn from it?