Clever Free Methodist

  If you have shopped on-line, I am sure you are well acquainted with the term “your cart.” The “cart” works the same as any regular shopping cart in the retrial stores. Your “cart” is the location where all the items you are intending to purchase on-line are “stored” until you are ready to “check out and pay.”   Spiritually speaking, do you know we also have our own faith-based “cart?” That is “C-A-R-T” which is an acronym to help guide us in striving after holiness. We must be pursuing a sanctified life that is holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:2). After all, choosing to live a sanctified life is considered reasonable, appropriate, and is not “too much to ask” (The Living Bible).   We must seek, daily, in a personal, loving and intimate relationship, our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Spending time with Him and in Scripture and prayer, will strengthen our resolve to be a holy people that brings glory to our Heavenly Father.   One way to do that is to remember the acrony...

If we’re honest, we must admit that when it comes to ministry, doing things for the church, others, and the Kingdom of God, we don’t try as hard as we could and even give up way too easily if the task seems challenging or difficult.   There is a unique Scripture found in Hosea 10:12 , “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.”   This caught my attention in a devotional l was reading because, oddly enough, I have attempted several times to transplant my day lilies and to seed some marigolds around my house. It has been rather defeating due to how brick-hard the ground is in my yard. Just like  Hosea mentions it is very hard work breaking up unplowed ground.   Breaking up a new ground is very hard work. Since the ground has existed unchallenged for many years, the soil has never been cleared or till...

  There are a lot of interesting mentions of women in the Bible. Whether it is the Old Testament or New Testament, there are many strong, yet oddly missed, lessons from women that we can familiarize ourselves with to strengthen our faith.   One such woman is named Lydia. She provides a very powerful lesson for us. We find one particular mention of her in the book of Acts. Acts 16:14 , says that Lydia “reverenced God, and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying.”   Lydia is actually a significant person in the New Testament. She is described as “a dealer in purple goods” (Acts 16:14). Pointing that out is quite a clue. Dealing in “purple goods” was considered a luxury in the ancient world.   It is probably safe to say that she was both a woman of great financial means and able to deal successfully with the influential people of her time. She was also noted as having a great gift of persuasion.   I think she might have been the only perso...

There is a verse in the New Testament that every Christian should not only memorize but embrace as a truth to be shared with the world. It is  Mark 1:15 (NLT) ,  “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” Jesus proclaimed a direct command and challenge to everyone He saw with this very command. He proclaimed the need to repent and reform. This was more than just changing your opinion or a particular belief. It is a change of heart, mind, and life.   The word for “repent” in this Gospel passage that Mark uses is the Greek word  “metanoia.”  This word does not simply mean to be sorry for our sins, as appropriate as this is. The word means literally to  turn around and go in the opposite direction . It means “to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins.”   This repentance means to make a 180-degree turn in our lives when the direction we are going is leading us aw...

I believe it is safe to say that we’ve all found ourselves in a failed situation where we franticly desired “another chance” to redeem ourselves. I’m not sure how we can get through life without facing challenging times where mistakes threatened our family, home, employment, church and our faith.   Peter, the Disciple, was such a man. He wasn’t shy to pledge his loyalty and devotion to Jesus during His earthly ministry. In fact, this boldness carried into the night, we know, as “the Last Supper.” Peter is quick to pledge his own life for Jesus.   John 13:36-38 , “Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”   The man who was valiant in his devotion to Jesus...

Jesus rose from the dead. Period! He is alive. We are “easter people” and live daily as proof that He is risen from the dead. He did walk out of the grave. He conquered death. Jesus not only came back to life, but He stayed on earth to be seen by many witness.   1 Corinthians 15:5-8 , “ He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.”   After the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days on earth before He ascended back to His rightful place (1 Peter 3:22), and then there were ten more days after that before the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47).   Jesus accomplished many things in this time between His resurrection and return to Heaven. One of the most important was actually a command to us. We refer to this impor...

We read some very strong language in Romans 12:9 , that tells us to “hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” When it comes to “hating evil” and “clinging to good” we know there is a much deeper meaning than what first appears. The key to unlocking the meaning of these two  commands is the word “hate” and “cling.”   We have already learned that “hating” evil means to “abhor” it or to find it “disgusting.” We must grow so strong, spiritually, (sanctification) that anything not of God (that which is evil) will be disgusting to us. We recognize evil and vow to never entertain it.   In that same verse, we also see a different pursuit which is the exact opposite of evil. It tells us to “cling” to what is good. So, how exactly, does one cling to good? Our answer lies in the Greek word for “cling” which is the verb “ κολλάω .” The translation of this word means “glue,” “to be joined” or “to keep company.” The meaning can also mean “to fasten firmly together” or “to join one’s...