The Gospel of Mark tells us about a time when Jesus went home. When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. Mark 2:1. He was the type of guy who always drew a crowd, and this time was no different – there were so many gathered together that there wasn’t even room by the door (2:2).A paralytic with four good friends was desperate to see Jesus. Removin...

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know."Why do we pray? We pray for many reasons. We pray because we know that GOD hears us and answers our prayers. We pray because we know that GOD has the power to do anything that is according to His will. We pray because we know that GOD is sovereign. He is the Creator. He rules the universe....

Genesis 21: 19 "Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water."Have you ever looked for something for a long time only to find it right in front of you?Hagar and Ishmael were forced to leave their home. They were in the wilderness and had run out of water. Hagar left her son because she could not bear to see him die. Then God saw their situation, and an angel said to Hagar, “God has heard t...

Romans 8:18-30 ESV“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption...

If we take a look across the Gospel of Matthew, perhaps we can summarize in six words who Jesus has called us to be:Disciples together loving God and othersIn a few more words, we could say that we are called to be disciples of Jesus, in community, loving God with all of our heart, soul, and mind, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.REPENTOur calling starts with repentance. John the Baptist prepa...

"God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:21-24.Worshipping in truth means worshipping in accordance as God has prescribed.1.  Worship as homage or grateful submission to God2.  Worship as service to others3.  Worship as reverence or respect for God4.  Worship and congregational gatheringsWould this not be what we do on Sunday? Show up, dedicate yourself t...

How the Lord is moving me to serve Him more by serving His people intentionally. He is moving me out of my comfort zone into a Greater Spiritual sphere of being intentional in looking for opportunities to serve others.  Since I have a desire to please the Lord, I have learned that I need to seek Him more fervently by fasting and praying.Where did this journey start? When the Lord took my husband h...

As I read Scripture, often a phrase will “jump out” at me—especially if it is repeated. In Leviticus 21–22, in which God gives instructions to the Israelite priests, I noticed a couple of phrases appearing repeatedly: “I am the Lord who makes them holy,” and “I am the Lord.” The reason the instructions were valid and credible—the reason the priests were to follow them—was because of who gave them....

We all know Judas as a traitor because we all know how his story ends. But, what if you were in the middle of the story? What if you had just met Judas and were serving along side Judas while you followed Jesus? What would you think of him then?(Matthew 26:21-22 “And while they were eating, he (Jesus) said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.’ They were very sad and began to say to Him o...

"Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King’s Valley, for he said, 'I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.' He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s monument to this day."  2 Samuel 18:18 (ESV)How would the end of your life be described and remembered?2 Samuel 18 describes the end of Absalom and his sinful rebellion...

First, I would like to echo Mike’s thoughts in the last blog in thanking you all for the warm welcome and overtures of friendship you have shown our family as we have begun this journey here at Faith Bible Church! From scholarly discussions over puzzles and dinner to wild games of “Tenzi” and “Apples to Apples” you have already extended such love toward us! It is hard to believe we have only been ...

FBC Family!It’s a joy for me to be able to write the first blog of February. It’s been a great first month, and I’m grateful to you all for your hospitality and welcoming spirit to my family and me.  I’m also grateful for how gracious everyone has been when we struggle to remember your names and stories, and work to know you better.One of my early observations was that this blog was going out so o...

The parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) shows that the landowner chose to reward those that started late in the day with the same wages as those who started at the beginning of the day. It was an act of mercy by the landowner and shows us that in the same way God sheds His grace and mercy on those of His choosing. It doesn’t depend on our desire or effort, but on God’s choosin...

When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.Matthew 19:22 CSBJesus' conversation with the rich young ruler is recorded for us in Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, and Luke 18:18-23. We know he was wealthy from all three passages. Matthew tells us that he was young (v. 20, 22), and Luke tells us he was a ruler (v.18).This is a guy who people would think was ...

Our passage in Matthew 17 has an amazing and motivating quote from Jesus: “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” I am encouraged by this because it reminds me that God has moved into every believer and is always ready to move mountains that we may face at times....

In Matt 16:13 Jesus asks His disciples about public opinion – “who do people say I am?”. They expressed the prevailing opinions of the day. “But what about you, who do you say I am?” Peter nails that answer, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” The result of the conversation shapes the way the disciples see themselves, their relationship with Jesus, and their relationship with the pub...

Red skies at morning, sailors take warning, red skies at night, sailors delight.As a lake-bound sailor in North Texas I’ve always imagined what it would be like to sail on open water. To have only the instruments to lead me or better yet to be skilled enough to navigate by the stars at night. I would love to know the competence to find a destination with a map and a compass. Truth be told, I get l...

Proverbs 4:11-14, "I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go: guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers." I was saved when I was 15 years old.  The Youth Director had me begin my...

In my study of the parables, I have often had the impression that Jesus wants to be understood by some people, and so, He uses the parables as a way to illustrate His teachings, using down to earth stories about everyday life and situations that are easily grasped and easily remembered. However, I have also had the impression that Jesus wants to keep His teachings hidden from others, and so, He al...

Matthew 12:1-13Jesus led His disciples through the grain fields on the Sabbath because they were hungry.  The Pharisees who were always looking to accuse Jesus and the disciples,  said to Jesus “Look! Your discipled are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”Jesus answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?.” 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his comp...