It Starts With Me Inviting Them.

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Because Jesus promised to build His Church and has given us the Holy Spirit to empower us, we can have confidence and boldness when inviting people to church!

Most people would not attend a party they aren’t invited to. This applies to church too. While we know that the doors are always open and everyone is invited, most of the time people won’t feel comfortable coming unless someone has invited them. This is where we play our part. People hear the gospel and encounter Jesus at church, and because of this, evangelism starts with me inviting them!

We interact with hundreds of different people every week. The person who serves you at a restaurant, your coworkers, your teachers, your classmates, and your family all need Jesus. Inviting the person wrapping our burrito can be an uncomfortable moment for all involved, but when we invite people to church we are giving them an opportunity to hear and respond to the message of Jesus because church is a place where Jesus is celebrated and the gospel is preached. You don’t need a masters in theology, you simply need to be bold enough to let them know they are invited!

Imagine whose salvation is on the other side of an invitation from you? You might be afraid of them turning you down, but that’s OK. You have nothing to lose and they have everything to gain – it’s worth the ask!

Take a few minutes and ask Jesus to give you the boldness to invite someone to church. Also ask Him to soften their hearts so that when they hear the message of Jesus they would be saved.

Dear Lord, give us the boldness to invite someone to church.  We pray that their heart will be softened and ready to hear about Your great love. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

It Starts With Me Playing My Part

Ephesians 4:16 (ESV)

From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

As Christians, the church is not just a building we spend a few hours at every week. We are the church and we each have a part to play in it. Being able to enjoy the community that church offers us starts with each of us playing our part.

The Church has existed for 2,000 years and spans across the entire world. It is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). The Church is ‘The Body Of Christ’ – the gathering of believers who are on mission to fulfill the Great Commission.

As a believer you and the church you attend are a part of the large scale Church – the Body of Christ. Because the whole body is made up of many different parts, there is a specific part you play and contribution you can make to the body. Whether it is speaking on stage, greeting at the door, serving coffee, or giving generously, everyone’s contribution makes the whole body grow and be able to continue Jesus' work on Earth.

If you are simply attending church without playing a part, why not think of an area you would like to serve at and then get involved!

The part you play in contributing to the Body of Christ is significant. You wouldn’t choose to something without any of your body parts and neither would Jesus or His Church choose to do without you!

Dear Lord, open our eyes to the ways we can serve You. Thanks You for Your church and that we can be part of it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

It Starts With Me Coming To Church

Hebrews 10:25 (ESV)

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Jesus knew the Church was needed and necessary – not only for the world’s sake but also for yours. If you are serious about pursuing Jesus and doing all He has called you to do, then it starts with you coming to church.

Church attendance doesn’t earn you extra bonus points; it is essential for your relationship with Jesus. Thankfully, when He left the earth and ascended into heaven, Jesus didn’t leave us to fend for ourselves. Instead, He established His Church – the unified body of believers – who would gather throughout the entire earth until He returned. The Church is something we are a part of because of our decision to follow Christ, it’s not something we choose to attend or a program offered to us. If you are in Christ then you are a part of His Church.

It is important that as Christians we make coming to church a priority. It is in church that we hear the Word of God, celebrate what Jesus is doing in our lives and in the lives of those around us, support and sharpen one another, and have opportunity to serve.

If you are serious about growing in your relationship with God, becoming all He’s called you to be, and doing all He has planned for you to do, then coming to church must be a non-negotiable. There isn’t a second or third option. Church is not just a good idea; it’s God’s idea. He knew that we couldn’t do life alone!

Dear Lord, help us to make going to church a priority in our life. Help us face the excuses that we have and not give into them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Fellowshipping together

Colossians 3:16  (ESV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

A disgruntled church-goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained: "I've gone to church for thirty years now, and in that time I have heard something like three-thousand sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. I think I'm wasting my time and the Pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This began a major controversy which went on for weeks until someone wrote in this reply:

"I've been married for thirty years now. In that time my wife has cooked some three thousand meals. For the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this ... they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work...”

Hmmm. So true. We need our spiritual nourishment to be able to do the work of the Lord effectively! Corporate worship, fellowship with our brothers and sisters and Godly counsel are a great means to get it!

God does not want us to isolate ourselves! He wants us to be in consistent fellowship with like minded believers, teaching and exhorting one another, singing psalms and spiritual hymns together! Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together Heb.10-25.

Dear Lord, we pray that we would stay involved in our church fellow shipping with our brothers and sisters. And that we would grow closer to you through our fellowship. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Hurting churches

Luke 15:6 (ESV)

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’

I came across this story the other day.

Some time ago there was a story in the San Francisco Chronicle about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, and a line tugging in her mouth.

Thankfully, a fisherman spotted her just east of the Farralone Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was in such bad condition that the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her, a very dangerous proposition.

One slap of the enormous whale's tail could kill a rescuer. Still, the brave rescuers worked for hours cutting her free. One guy who was cutting the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time. Eventually, they were able to free her.

As soon as she became free, the divers say she began to swim in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed gently around-she thanked them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives.

We can learn a lesson from this beautiful story. So often we let the hurting in our churches and communities fall through the cracks, never to be seen again. But it is a brave soul who gathers up an army of rescuers to reach out to a suffering or hard to reach brother or sister and rescue him or her from the binding entanglements of this world. Just as the Lord has so mercifully reached out to us, we need to do the same. Whether it is a gift, an invitation to a meal or a smile and a word of encouragement, let's strive to reach out.

We need to be the first to initiate this kind of rescue team for our brothers and sisters. It will be just as beautiful as it will be rewarding.

Dear Lord, help us to gather up an army of rescuers to reach out to a suffering and hard to reach brother or sister and rescue them from the binding entanglements of this world. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Don't forget your job

Romans 7:19 (ESV)

For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

Several years ago, the London Transit Authority had a problem.

Customers were complaining their bus wasn't stopping to pick them up. When they were questioned, the passengers all were sure they had been in the right place and they had been there at the right time. In spite of their prompt presence, their bus just flew on by.

The LTA investigated the claims.

After some serious evaluations they had to admit the passengers were indeed telling the truth. They were at the right spot at the right time.

But ... you're going to love this.

The London Transit Authority explained to all the irate non-riders: "It is impossible for the bus drivers to stay on schedule if they are always having to stop and pick up passengers."

Told you, you wouldn't believe it. The LTA and the drivers had all forgotten that getting people from here to there was their first job. Schedules, although important, were inconsequential unless passengers were being delivered.

There are times when I've seen churches and congregations like that. They were so involved with owning this, and building that, and procuring something else that they forgot the first purpose of the church is to help move people from here to there.

If we aren't helping move souls from hell to heaven -- from lost to saved -- if we're not moving them from not knowing Jesus to receiving Him as Savior, we are forgetting our purpose. And we are hardly worthy of the name "Christian church."

On the other hand, I've seen congregations -- some financially challenged congregations -- do some pretty amazing things in the Lord. Keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of the faith, they did everything they could to share the word: Jesus Christ lives and because He lives, we shall also live.

Do your best to make sure your church hasn't forgotten its job of moving people from here to there.

Dear Lord, You have instructed us to do what we can to share Your story of salvation. We pray that we would focus on the task You have given to each of us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  

The King the Widow and Pride

Proverbs 16:19 (NIV)

Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed

    than to share plunder with the proud.

There was once a king who wanted to build a church that would honor him. He would personally supervise the work and only he would provide the money for its erection. The glory was to be his, and it was intended that by this means his name would be revered and remembered by successive generations. In fact, he forgot God in the matter altogether.

In due course the church was finished. On its completion he commanded that a tablet be placed on the side of the building on which his name would be carved, together with the information that he was the sole builder and benefactor.

The church was opened with great pomp and ceremony, and the king retired that night well pleased with himself. But that night he dreamed that an angel came down from heaven and erased his name from the tablet and put in its place that of a poor woman.

When the king awoke next morning, he dismissed the dream from his mind. The next night he had the same dream. Again the angel erased his name from the tablet and replaced it with that of the poor woman. He awoke next morning, irritated, but soon put it from his mind. The third night again the angel came, and again his name was removed and replaced with that of the poor woman.

He arose next morning very angry and demanded that a search be carried out for a woman of that name. It was discovered that there was a poor woman of that name who lived on the side of the hill on which the church was built. He sent for her, and she came frightened into his presence. He demanded to know what she had done to spoil the glory of his work.

She answered: "Sir, I love the Lord, and was pleased to see the church being built to His glory. I wanted to give something, but I knew your wish, so all I did was to give the horses some hay and water as they toiled up the hill with the building blocks. I did nothing more, Sir."

Suddenly the king saw that an action so simple and full of love to God had done more to endow the building than all his money. She had done more for the glory of God with her handfuls of hay and water than he had done with his magnificent gifts. So that it might be a lesson to both himself and his people, he commanded that his name be erased from the tablet and the poor widow's name carved there instead.

Dear Lord, help us have a humble spirit. Help us set aside our pride and do all things onto the Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Why do you go to church?

Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)

Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Erik the Red, a ferocious Viking descendant living in newly established Iceland, followed in the footsteps of his dad. His father had come to Iceland after being expelled from Norway for an unjustified killing, and now Erik faced the same trouble: banishment from Iceland for 3 years.

Would we like to have friends like that?

But where do you go when you’ve been banished from the land you stand on, and all you can see is endless ocean water?

Erik was a proud man, and he decided to look for a rumored land further west. He set out in a boat, and he eventually landed on an island covered year-round with ice. He probably thought that this island was more suited to be called “Iceland” than his native home, which has a more moderate weather pattern. None-of-the-less, upon his return to Iceland, Erik enticed settlers to follow him to this new land by calling it Greenland.

Pretty deceiving, don’t you think?

Is it any wonder that Erik’s oldest son, Leif, also went looking for new lands farther West? But Leif did not follow in his father’s steps. He broke the pattern established by his ancestors, for crime did not force him to leave his land. In fact, he never caused trouble. He loved to help others. In fact, he earned the title of “Leif the Lucky” for himself by saving victims of a shipwreck.

So why was it that Leif broke the generational pattern? Why was he so “lucky”? Because Leif was a Christian. Jesus, the Christ was His Master.

Aren't we the lucky ones as well? There is hope, even with all the  patterns geared towards crime!

And for someone living in the 10th century, there was hope of finding the rumored land in the West, and Leif was the one to discover it. He called it “Vinland”, which in English means “Wine Land”, because of the abundance of wild grapes that grew there. Artifacts of Leif’s brief stay in “Vinland” can still be found in the area we now know by the name of L’Anse aux Meadows, situated on the northern tip of Canada’s Newfoundland. Leif the Lucky had discovered North America!

Being a Christian, Leif knew the importance of attending church. This is what he found out about why any believer wouldn’t want to miss such meetings.

The Bible also encourages us to not miss church!

We have all experienced times when our hope needs revival, especially now that we live in end times. Trouble is ever brewing, but hope can look beyond these difficulties, for our future as sons and daughters of the Almighty is guaranteed!

“One of the best things to do when we become discouraged is to become involved in helping others who are in need. This is one of the best ways to discover how God has really been at work! And where else but in church are we able to help others?

Dear Lord, we thank You that we can go into Your house and worship You. We pray that when we assemble together that we would be a blessing to those around us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Every Sunday should be like Super Bowl Sunday!

Exodus 20:8 (NIV)

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

I wonder how much better some of us would be if we treated every Sunday like Super Bowl Sunday. I mean folks who haven’t cooked all year, cooked and created special food. People who are normally asleep until the late afternoon wake up early. People who claim they never have money, have some today. And people who don’t even like the 2 teams that are playing, still went out and purchased clothes to go and sit in somebody else’s house for the game. And if the truth be told, some didn’t even go to church because they had too much to do. But what if God had too much to do when you prayed to him last night? What if God was too busy when you prayed for wisdom when facing a big decision?  What if God treated us like we sometimes treat Him? You never have clothes to wear to God’s house but you bought clothes to wear to your friend’s house. You never have money for gas to go to God’s house but you had money for gas to go to your sister’s house who was throwing the party.

How much better off would we be if we treated God the way we treat worldly stuff.

How would it be if we treated every Sunday like Super Bowl Sunday?

*Get up on Sunday morning excited about the team you joined.

*Put on your jersey with God on the back and wear it proud.

*Plaster Team Jesus on your cars and trucks and stop being ashamed to tell folks whose team you’re a part of.

*Invite folk to go with you to watch the play by play at your church and then invite them over for dinner to talk about your worship experience.

*Post a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram post about the coach of your team who has never been defeated.

*Tell folks on the job about the blessing of being alive that God gave you this morning instead of arguing over the bogus calls the refs made.

Every Sunday should be like Super Bowl Sunday because every day God makes the plays that allows you to defeat the devil. He huddles up with you to give you the plays for your family (teammates) to guide them safely through their day and then He places folks around you to tackle the enemy when he tries to come your way. He clears a path for you and protects your back while you’re running from here and there to make sure you make it safely into the end zone (home).

Every Sunday should be like Super Bowl Sunday!

Dear Lord, help us to keep Sunday the way You have intended it to be. Help us to keep each Sunday a super Sunday. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Christmas Doesn't Come From Stores.

Psalm 115:2 (NIV)

Why do the nations say,

    “Where is their God?”

Q: What’s the best way to keep Christ in Christmas?

A: Go to church on Sundays.

It always amazes me that so many people complain that Christmas just isn't the same and yet they never seem to connect their spiritual emptiness with their lack of attendance at Church worship. If they are bombarded with commercial pressure for well over 2 months, then they are bound to be overwhelmed, especially if they don’t take time out to be with the Lord and His people during the season of Advent.

Over the years, I've witnessed young parents crucify themselves emotionally and financially in order to make Christmas perfect for their children. I've seen families get frantic and fight over details about who is hosting Christmas dinner this year. And I've looked at beleaguered workers and sales people practically killing themselves in order to boost their figures in the last month of the year. In the midst of so much pressure, it’s so much easier to let go of God and miss the point of the whole celebration.

The Church prepares us for Christmas in meaningful, traditional, and time-honored ways. Instead of wondering what Christmas is all about and turning it into a nightmare, we honestly and simply need to get with God’s program throughout the year and refocus our lives on Christ.

The Gospel Truth is always this simple. We don’t need to put Christ back into Christmas; He is already there. We need to put ourselves back into Christ – Church gives us that wonderful opportunity every Sunday.

Dear Lord, as we celebrate Christmas give us a heart to be in worship on Sundays and open our souls to Your Holy Presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Do We Realize Our Blessings?

John 10:10 (NIV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

More than half of Nairobi's population lives in the slums. Many of these are homeless, often children, orphaned when their parents succumbed to AIDS. Among these hopeless people however, there are those who are light-bearers, whose motto is: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV) These know where their misery, and the misery of all the other slum dwellers, comes from! They also know Who can bring life "to the full" to these desperate people.

These are the ones who follow the Apostle Paul's advice: "So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!" (Eph 5:15-16 The Message).

They are the light in Kenya, carrying the only hope for these desperate people: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matt 5:14 NIV) They are not afraid to step by mistake into the sewer that runs through the middle of the slums. They are not afraid to be chewed-out for bringing a message of hope. They are not repulsed by the extremely poor living conditions of these people who live on less than 2$ a day. They are not shocked by the disease that affects so many of these people. They are not worried that they might catch something that can be detrimental to their own health. All they care is bringing hope to the desperate.

About 30 churches have been planted in those slums. The conditions are far from ideal, but at least they have wooden benches-though not the most sturdy kind-where people can sit. And they have 4 walls to shelter them from the rain and sun, and to minimize street noise.

One church among these has begun to build a new building that will seat 5,000. Every seat of their current building is taken during worship, while many stand on the sidelines, as close to the wall as possible, in order to have at least some support for their poor back and legs. These people are not only hungry for God, but He is also their only hope!

Everything they have they consider to be a gift from God. Although clean water is a luxury and can hardly be obtained on a daily basis, when they receive a sip of it, they praise the Lord!

None of the ones who attend church can remain silent in the streets. They boldly declare that God is good and they freely share the Good News with anyone who pays attention to the gospel of hope. Nothing can stop them! Despite their poor living conditions, they cannot suppress the urgency that they have to share with their neighbors the message of the Good News, the One who is living in them, the One who makes them joyful. Their passion is for God!

Are we westerners as thankful for the water that is freely flowing in our country? Do we realize the blessings bestowed on us for the daily food we receive? For the sturdy shelter we have? For the freedom of worship?

Why are many of our churches so empty? Why are so many of us walking with long faces all the time? Why have we become experts in complaining, in grumbling, in worrying?

And why are we so afraid to share the One who lives in us, the One who is the sole hope to all of humanity? Does He really live in us or have we replaced Him with the worries and attractions of this world? Is it possible that we have lost our smile because we have lost our bearing on our way to heaven? Is it possible that we have become estranged with the One who gives us boldness?

"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." (Acts 4:31 NIV)

Dear people of Kenya, thank you for teaching us to be thankful and to smile at all times! No matter what our circumstances, God is indeed with us!

"Be careful for the sewer you are heading for!"

Dear Lord, we pray that our focus would be to bring hope in this world. Help our eyes always be open to how we can help others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

You Took My Place.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (New International Version)

 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

One day, a man went to visit a church. He arrived early, parked his car, and got out. Another car pulled up near him, and the driver told him, "I always park there. You took my place!"

The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat, and sat down.

A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! "You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

After Sunday School, the visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down.

Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit. You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing.

Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet.

Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"

The visitor replied, "I took your place."

Dear Lord we want to thank You for taking our place. We thank You that because of what You did we can have eternal life. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Are You To Busy To Go To Church?

Hebrews 10:25 (New International Version)

not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Once there was a man who loved his church and loved Sunday School. He hardly ever missed, and was loath to be absent, even on account of sickness.

Then one Sunday, he thought "I have always been faithful to the church and to Sunday School, and it is the last day of hunting season, so I think I will miss this one Sunday and make one last hunting trip". So, he did. The next Sunday was the NFL playoffs, and he hadn't missed two Sundays in a row in ages, so, he thought" they won't miss me. No one even called last week to see where I was. I'll just skip today and go next Sunday". And so, he did. Then there was the Pro-bowl. Then there were the NBA playoffs. And then it was spring and good fishing weather. Then The World Series. Then hunting season again. Then :::::::::::::::::::::::!. Then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. And then:::::::::::::::::::::: !.

One Saturday night, much later, as he prepared himself for bed, the man felt a little tug at his heart and thought to himself, “I think I will go to Sunday School tomorrow and see some of my old friends." So, before retiring, he phoned his old Sunday School teacher and asked if the class still started at 10; 00 A.M. When the old teacher heard the question, he laughed wistfully and replied “No, the men's class doesn't meet anymore. Everyone just lost interest”. “Ah, well!" Sighed the man, “I’ll just skip Sunday School and go to church, but, not tomorrow, I have too much to do.

Sometime later on a Saturday night, after having spent the entire day with an unexplained nagging at his mind, the man thought. “I will go to church tomorrow and see how they are doing." So, bright and early Sunday morning the man arose, dressed, and made his way to the little white country church where he had spent so many blissful hours in the company of his Christian friends. As he approached, he could see that the churchyard was crowded with cars and his heart raced with anticipation of reunion with his many friends. But! As he turned into the drive, he was shocked to see that, on the front of the building where had once hung a familiar cross, now hung a flashing neon sign guaranteeing the best pizza in town. When he inquired about the church, someone replied "oh, this hasn't been used as a church for a long time." Puzzled and somewhat dismayed, he drove home, vowing that next week he would drive into town and visit one of the larger churches to which surely, some of his friends had transferred their membership.

As time passed, the man just could not shake off the vision of the little white church turned pizza parlor. So, one Sunday morning, he dressed and drove into town to attend services at one of the larger churches, where he was sure he could locate a Christian friend, or two from his old congregation. But, as he approached what had been one of the largest churches in town, he could see that the parking lot was deserted. As he pulled into the parking lot, he could see that the signboard that had once announced the names of the church staff Sunday School hours, and the title of next Sunday's sermon, now announced the names and suite numbers of lawyers, accountants, consultants, and even a fitness center.

Panic stricken, the man raced down the street to where he knew the next large church stood. A chill ran over him as he turned down the street, because he could see another deserted expanse of blacktop with familiar yellow stripes. As he approached, he knew, without looking, that, though the names were different, the signboard out front advertised anything but church services. He raced up one street and down another, looking for a church in session, and finally, realizing that his quest was in vain, he raced out onto the highway, intent on escaping this churchless town and finding a place where they still held services and he could go to worship.

As the miles stretched into hundreds and the hours into days and he lost count of the cities through which he passed and the pizza parlors, hamburger joints, office buildings, and garages, decorated with the familiar steeples he saw, the feeling of panic slowly gave way to the sickening realization of what had taken place during the many months that he had been consumed by his own selfish and trivial pursuits.

Dear Lord we pray that we would never become too busy to worship together with our brothers and sisters in church. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ten Little Christians Came to Church.

Ten Little Christians came to church all the time;



One fell out with the preacher, then there were nine.






Nine Little Christians stayed up late;


One overslept on Sunday, then there were eight.






Eight Little Christians on their way to Heaven;


One took the low road, then there were seven.






Seven Little Christians, chirping like chicks;


One didn't like the singing, then there were six.






Six Little Christians seemed very much alive;


One took a vacation, then there were five.






Five Little Christians pulling for Heaven’s shore;


One stopped to take a rest, then there were four.






Four Little Christians each as busy as a bee;


One had his feelings hurt, then there were three.






Three Little Christians couldn't decide what to do;


One couldn't have his way, then there were two.






Two Little Christians each won one more;


Now don't you see, two plus two equals four.






Four Little Christians worked early and late;


Each brought one, now there were eight.






Eight Little Christians if they double as before;


In just seven Sundays, we have one thousand twenty four.






In this jingle there is a lesson true;


You belong either to the building, or to the wrecking crew.






23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.


- Colossians 3:23-24 (New International Version)


Dear Lord we pray that we would do our part in Your church. We pray that we would do all we can to help Your church go forward and be the light that brings others to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Does it Feel Like your Knees are Going to Buckle?

The climactic event at Detroit's Cobo Hall exhibition of Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus was the high-wire act of the Wallenda family, or the Flying Wallendas, as they were known. They were among the greatest tight wire walkers in all of circus history. One of their acts was walking the tightrope in the formation of a four level pyramid. Four or five men formed the first level, two or three men made up the second level, two more were on the third, and finally a little girl topped the pyramid. Maintaining this four-level pyramid, they would make their way across the tightrope from one side of the arena to the other. It was incredible and unprecedented. They did it night after night, month after month around the world.


One particular evening, as the show came to its conclusion, the four-level pyramid was about to start. The audience tensed in anticipation, sitting in total silence in the dark arena. The spotlights picked the Wallendas out of the air as they started moving across the wire. About two-thirds of the way across, however, one of the men on the first level, young Dede Wallenda, began to tremble in his knees. He cried out in German, I cannot hold on any longer!" With that, he crumbled, and the entire pyramid collapsed. Several of the Wallendas fell to the floor many feet below. Some were crippled for life and one died.


Have you ever felt like Dede Wallenda? The pressures of school, homework, parents, family, or friends weigh down on you until you feel like yelling, "Help! I cannot hold on any longer!" While facing those times, we need to surround ourselves with loving friends and hold on to Christ. That's what the church is all about. The church doesn't exist to put additional pressure on us, but to support us and provide us with the help we need to survive in the world.



When you feel like your knees are about to buckle, come to Christ. Come to His people, the church.



Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.


- Matthew 11:28 (New American Standard Bible)


Dear Lord we thank you for the rest you provide. We thank you for the church where we can find that rest. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Why Should We Go to Church?

A churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of the newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me I can't remember a single one of them. So I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."



This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor.


It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: "I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me those meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"


When you are DOWN to nothing . . . God is UP to something!


Faith sees the invisible, Believes the incredible and Receives the impossible!


Thank God for our physical and our spiritual nourishment!






Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.


- Hebrews 10:25 (New International Version)


Dear Lord we thank you for your people and the privilege we have to join together with them. Help each of us be an encouragement to those around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.