01
Dec '18
Fresh Start
01
Dec '18
Well, Christmas is right at our doorsteps. My favorite time of year. That says a lot, considering I work in retail, which can get a little hectic, especially around the holidays. I still love it. Some people can become a little stressed, but being helpful and considerate can go a long way. I have found that showing courtesy can ease the nerves of a stressed out customer. Not every experience produces the same reaction, but it has been my experience that people are more courteous towards you when they have been shown courtesy by you. Sharing God’s Word is the most important thing we can do. This time of year especially. Some people have never been exposed to Christ and everything He did for us. They only understand the (Santa Claus) Christmas. This is the perfect time of year for a fresh start. December 25th nears the Read more…
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01
Dec '18
Love and Fellowship
01
Dec '18
“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything.”
1 John 3:18-20
Recently, I felt like something was missing in my life, and found that I had not been connecting with my spiritual friends. So, I was able to unbury myself from my day to day work rituals, and make time to reconnect with one of them. We had lunch, and it was such a wonderful reminder of how God works in all of us. You see, I believe we are at our best when we are connected with others. Additionally, the bond between our friends are made stronger Read more…
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24
Nov '18
Love and Prayers
24
Nov '18
Come and listen, all you who fear God,
and I will tell you what He did for me.
For I cried out to Him for help,
praising Him as I spoke.
If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
But God did listen!
He paid attention to my prayer.
Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer
or withdraw His unfailing love from me. Psalms 66:16-20
and I will tell you what He did for me.
For I cried out to Him for help,
praising Him as I spoke.
If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
But God did listen!
He paid attention to my prayer.
Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer
or withdraw His unfailing love from me. Psalms 66:16-20
Lately, I have been in an unusually thankful mood. It is not because the world has become a more certain place. It has not. It is not because I have no feelings of anxiety and concern in Read more…
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24
Nov '18
Never Give Up
24
Nov '18
There have been countless times where I have felt like throwing in the towel. Whether at work or in personal circumstances, things can happen that can take their toll and can get the best of us. Being expected to perform well and to do things in a quick, timely manner can put so much pressure on us. We can start to feel the anxiety build up and begin to think nothing will ever be good enough to please anyone. Satan works hard at wearing us down. Why should we keep trying? Is it all worth it? YES!!! Never give up trying, and never throw in the towel.
It’s very discouraging to keep trying and feel like nothing is being accomplished. God understands what we are going through. He knows our struggles better than we do. We are Read more…
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24
Nov '18
Eggs and a Basket
24
Nov '18
Early this morning I started thinking how in the past, I’ve occasionally put all of my eggs in a single basket (and I was reminded how horribly that has usually worked out). Having a Plan A without a Plan B for a Type A personality like me usually spells disaster, mentally. It’s not something that I enjoy doing, and not something I often do – usually if I have a Plan A, I also like have a Plan B. That’s just the way I work. God gave all of us temperaments, and one of my temperaments is that of a planner, therefore, it’s just natural for me to have that alternate option. But – occasionally I’ll do it. Trusting more than I should, I’ll do it. Only Plan A. “Let’s do this!”
Well, I’ve found myself in life, as I mentioned, with all of my eggs in one basket. When that failed miserably, I was a bit shocked, but was I also relieved? In my gut (God’s still small Read more…
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17
Nov '18
Running on Empty
17
Nov '18
After making it through a very long week, we can feel exhausted and like we’re running on empty. Sometimes it can feel like we just want to sleep for the next forty-eight hours. But regardless of our tiring work weeks, we still have things to do. We have family, church, different activities and obligations we have to meet. Whatever it is that we think we don’t have the strength for, God does have the strength for it. Every time we feel like we don’t have Read more…
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17
Nov '18
Starbucks is a Love Language
17
Nov '18
Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants
generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t
give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God
will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left
over to share with others.
generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t
give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God
will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left
over to share with others.
So, a funny conversation occurred at my church over of all things … coffee. A young lady made a
Facebook post about how her wonderful fiancé had surprised her in the morning with a cup of Starbucks
before heading off on a business trip. I had to laugh at it because strangely the picture appeared to Read more…
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17
Nov '18
The Serenity Prayer
17
Nov '18
Do you ever get impatient? I know do – about all kinds of things. I try not to make it a habit, but I can sure conjure up ideas in my head of things that I think are going to happen, and then I get impatient while I wait for them to happen. Sometimes they happen, but sometimes they don’t, and most always they are out of my control.
There’s been times in my life that I’ve really prayed for patience – and I’ve since learned that patience is something God will provide every! single! time! I ask for it. (I believe He’s definitely given patience to me in various large doses over the years! ha!). I remember Pastor Frank mentioning this during a sermon Read more…
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10
Nov '18
The Right Crowd
10
Nov '18
May I ask – how intentional are you with choosing the people (or friends) in your life?? I’ve heard this question asked in various forms many times in life. Pretty deep question if you think about it.
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”. – Jim Rohn
“Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are.” – Mexican Proverb
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” – Proverbs 12:26
I’ve thought back to the friends I’ve spent my life with over the years, and if I’m being Read more…
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10
Nov '18
Discrepancy Thinking
10
Nov '18
Written by: Mark Culp
If you ask most Christians if they deserve hell, most would answer “yes”. It has kind of become a standard answer you give to your fellow believing friends. In fact, most believers could not even imagine answering any other way. It’s the belief we must come to, to be truly saved. That being said, here is the question. If we truly believe that we are deserving of hell, why do we believe at the same time, and get all bent out of shape, and cry and whine, and demand justice when we don’t get treated fairly (or maybe someone disrespects us).
I’m trying to point out a discrepancy in our thinking.
Saying I am deserving of hell and then getting so angry when I’m not being treated right reveals a disconnect. I need to daily remind myself of the infinite mercy and grace that was bestowed upon me at the cross. Doing that puts everything else in the proper perspective. I have to remember that whatever wrong I perceive may have happened to me, it was nothing, and I mean nothing compared to what I did to a perfect Holy God.
BLOG AUDIO
Mark
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I’m currently 51 years old and live in Saline with my wife Melinda. We each have 2 children, and together we have 12 grandchildren (including 2 still in the “oven”). I have walked through various hardships in life and it’s my prayer and desire to share some of the things I’ve learned walking through these hardships. I pray that God uses something in what I share to spark in you a thought that may have needed to be lit. I don’t presume to have it all worked out, and much of what you will read is currently being worked out in my own life. I would like to thank my precious Lord for this “voice” and pray that what I say will bring honor to Him. – Mark
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