Put God First/Seek First His Kingdom/Priorities

Have You Lost Your First Love? Don’t Give Up! 2 Chronicles 31:4-8.

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus dictates letters to seven young churches in modern-day Turkey. Jesus says that the church in Ephesus has done many things well, but “you have lost your first love” Revelation 2:4. What can you do if you have lost your first love? What is the solution? The loss of firstContinue reading “Have You Lost Your First Love? Don’t Give Up! 2 Chronicles 31:4-8.”

LEADERS KNOW HOW TO PRIORITIZE. Acts 6:2-3.

If a teacher can’t say no, she will say yes to the principal and parent volunteers and end up serving on five committees and organizing school-wide rallies and fundraisers and having two or three after-school activities happening in her classroom every week. Soon the teacher will be pulled in so many directions she will becomeContinue reading “LEADERS KNOW HOW TO PRIORITIZE. Acts 6:2-3.”

WHO’S THE BOSS? Romans 14:7-8

Are you the boss? Do you decide everything? Do you decide when to get up, when to go to bed, when to study? Do you decide who to talk to? Who your friends are? Who to avoid? Your hobbies? Your classes? How you use your free time? When was the last time you asked GodContinue reading “WHO’S THE BOSS? Romans 14:7-8”

PARABLE FOR THE BUSINESS MAJORS. Luke 19:24,26.

How do you make money? “Buy low, sell high,” right? Buy used American blue jeans at resale shops for $2.00 a pair, then when you have enough to fill a shipping container, ship the jeans to Japan and sell them for $200.00 a pair. That’s an incredible profit! (Saw this on TV’s “SWAP SHOP.”) ButContinue reading “PARABLE FOR THE BUSINESS MAJORS. Luke 19:24,26.”

I’M SWAMPED. Luke 10:38-42.

I’ve said it many times: “I’m swamped.” The last few months have been extremely busy—creating a new class (the most difficult course yet) and helping my parents with the repair of their home have combined to keep me quite busy. Life is like that. Sometimes we are busy and challenged. There are classes, jobs, personalContinue reading “I’M SWAMPED. Luke 10:38-42.”

Facing a ‘Good Emergency’? Consider Your Priorities. Luke 10:41-42.

What does it take to get you to change your plans? An emergency? I will never forget looking up from a hospital bed and seeing that my friends Chris and Amy had left their jobs to come see me after a nearly fatal car accident. We understand emergencies—we know we will be interrupted sometimes byContinue reading “Facing a ‘Good Emergency’? Consider Your Priorities. Luke 10:41-42.”

Think Carefully About Your Ways. Haggai 1:5-7.

Imagine yourself a Mom or Dad, struggling to make ends meet. You work extra hours, earn extra money, but then the car breaks down and you have to spend more than you earned. And next month it happens again. And again. Just when you think you are getting caught up, another appliance breaks, or aContinue reading “Think Carefully About Your Ways. Haggai 1:5-7.”