Pastor Mark’s Reflections

Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) | Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. God’s purpose prevails. Cool, so what does that mean? God’s ultimate purpose is to gather all of His children together to live forever in the new heaven and new earth. So, does this mean we don’t…

Proverbs 24:26 (MSG) | An honest answer is like a warm hug. Happy National Hugging Day! Who is your favorite person from whom to receive a hug? Hugs have impressive beneficial properties for our emotional, spiritual, and even physical health. From lowering the stress hormone to boosting our immune system, we all need a good…

1 Chronicles 16:24 (NIV) | Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. We tend to be drawn into our own concentric circles of life. We have our home life where we are unapologetically self. Then, we have perhaps a work or school life — a place where we spend a great…

Hosea 10:12 (NIV) | Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you. The law of sowing and reaping is one of God’s undefeated natural laws. The BIG idea is you harvest what you plant. If you…

Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV) | “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the…

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) | For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you. I want to add the word, always, every time I read today’s verse. The Lord is always God. The Lord will always take your hand. The Lord always…

1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV) | Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Check out the words in today’s verse that describe God: great, powerful, glorious, majestic, splendid,…

Here is a simple thought for your Saturday morning. Jesus aid that those who listen and believe have eternal life. Jesus wants you to know that God the Father sent Him to show us the way home. Yes, there is a lot of noise in this world, but there is nothing like pausing, getting quiet,…

Psalm 73:26 (NIV) | My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Life isn’t for the faint of heart, is it? All kinds of things can bring us down, discourage us, deceive us, and depress us. When you feel like giving up or giving in, turn to…

Yesterday we looked at holding fast to what is good when we encounter the winters of life. Today’s verse is a great follow-up as we read, “What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later (Romans 8:18, NLT). Paul went on to write about how all of creation…