SHC

An Encouraging Word The commonality of human behavior is that we all have an internal struggle of the will, a natural bent towards personal selfishness. It is when we transfer our trust from self to Christ as Savior that we find access to the perfect will of God. Life Lesson #1: Our confidence in this life should be grounded in the Lord, not self and the abilities, skills, and intellectual capacities we may possess are all to be understood as gifts given from our Maker, for... which we are responsible to make wise use of. Jeremiah 9:23-24 This is what the Lord says: Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the Lord. Life Lesson # 2: The manifest will of God for each of our lives is discovered as we apply His revealed will that is given to us in His inspired word, the Bible. This transformation is a life-long process (i.e., sanctification) of discovery and much joy in wonderment! Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will. Life Lesson #3: Humility is the key to acquiring God-confidence, and as we confess our weaknesses before the Lord we receive abundant strength for our life journey. 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. That our God hears the call of His children is most amazing and assuring, and more so that He answers our every need! https://youtu.be/FpsQ-LZoeII

An Encouraging Word We all live in a world of much uncertainty, and the future so often may appear to be quite overwhelming, even fearful at times. As the events of life unfold daily before our eyes we naturally long for a sense of security, power, and wisdom that will bring us hope. The anchor for our soul (Hebrews 6:19) as we face these days to come is found in the confidence we receive through trusting the One who is already there.... Life Lesson #1: Life is often the best teacher, and personal experience has proven that we truly live in a ‘fallen world’ where troubles and woe are the common journey of all but the promise of peace, in the midst of these storms, is the gift Jesus brings to those who receive. John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Life Lesson # 2: The strength of the Lord is gained through the seeking heart of those who humble themselves before their Maker, and who willfully seek to love God completely. Matthew 22:36-37 Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Life Lesson #3: As we each choose to pursue a life of obedience and loving the Lord unreservedly, we will also develop the strong desire to courageously love others more passionately. Matthew 22:38-40 This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Our joy experienced is built on the foundation of His promises. https://youtu.be/B2YHvIam5vY

An Encouraging Word There has been the perceptive sense of our Creator’s presence in the heart of all cultures since the dawn of time. This is not merely an intuitive response, but also inspiring awareness of wonderment, witnessed through the natural world that exists all around us. Life Lesson #1: Creation, with its abundance of overwhelming complexity, order, beauty, and information is prima facie evidence for the Creator and that He transcends our human abilities to co...mpletely comprehend ultimate reality. Acts 17:24-25 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. Life Lesson #2: This Unknown God has been revealed through His creation, as well as within the imminent relationship each person can have with Him as they humbly reach out to Him (see Jeremiah 29:13 and Matthew 6:33; 7:7). Acts 17:26-28 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being Life Lesson #3: It is through the historical event of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ that God has made Himself known to all, and it is through this One that we each will stand before to give an account for the life we have lived on this earth. Acts 17:30-31 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. It is through the lens of the creative order seen in the natural realm that we perceive the awesomeness of our Maker, thus personally instilling a truly humble sense of our need to call upon Him in faith. https://youtu.be/TzU-K_PrL7s

An Encouraging Word The pursuit of happiness is the strong desire and passion of all people throughout history and as with each individual, the life and longevity of any nation in this quest is also contingent upon who is ultimately leading their vision of destiny. Life Lesson #1: We each can experience the blessed joy and peace of the Lord as we purposely pursue to know Him, and His will for our lives here on this earth, while giving Him due honor through a heart of obed...ience. Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man, who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper. Life Lesson #2: We live in a ‘fallen' world where the design and intentions of our Maker for mankind can be denied by the free-will decisions and beliefs of individuals. This is the evident reality of our brief existence here on this earth until the day of judgement when we each will give account for the life we have lived (Romans 14:12). Psalm 1:4-5 The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. Life Lesson #3: The ever-presence of God in our world is realized primarily through the essence of our being as He directs our steps (Psalm 37:23; Proverbs 3:5-6) as well as in knowing that our eternal destiny is secure in His loving care. Psalm 1:6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. America has been blessed with the goodness and grace of our Creator God, and our only hope for a future of peace and happiness will be found as we walk in complete brokenness and humility before Him. https://youtu.be/myBVejwZt8Q

An Encouraging Word The gift of sight is the most precious of our human senses, and that which is truly the ‘window of the soul’ as we witness the world all about us. But spiritual ‘sight’ sees beyond mere physicality, and is that which moves us to serve others in the grace of our Lord. Life Lesson #1: The compassion of Jesus was most evident as He saw the world before Him, as it was, in all its brokenness and grief. Luke 19:41-42 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the ci...ty, he wept over it and said, If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peacebut now it is hidden from your eyes. Life Lesson #2: As we seek to faithfully follow the Lord in our own lives we too will reflect His heart of abundant love for others. Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Life Lesson #3: It is self evident that authentic compassion requires that we be people of true forgiveness, just as we have been the blessed recipients of being forgiven by God in Christ. Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. The compassion of Christ transforms us the very moment we make a simple confession Lord, I need you! https://youtu.be/4Ccwoj9VKL4