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Dear SCC & Friends, He weighs our motives. ~Proverbs 16:2 Reflection #185                         Our motives, whether hidden or obvious, reveal the internal issues of the heart. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight. O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. ~Ps. 19:12 I once shared with a friend how bad I felt about “inadvertently” hurting my wife’s feelings. She had asked about a Christmas budget… we were broke, and my reaction made her feel bad for even…

Dear SCC & Friends, …stand firm… ~1 Corinthians 16:13 Reflection #184                         Standing firm takes courage and resolve. It means holding a resolute position that will not be dissuaded by friend or foe. In the midst, we need God’s help to discern that our resolution and determination is based on right perception and wisdom. There is an urban legend about a battleship at sea in bad weather. The captain was on the bridge. It was foggy. Just after dark the lookout spotted a light…

Dear SCC & Friends, …don’t worry about tomorrow… ~Matthew 6:34 Reflection #183                         Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday. ~Anon.~ No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. If you find yourself so loaded at least remember this; it’s your own doing, not God’s. He begs us to leave the future to Him and mind the present. ~George MacDonald~ The future belongs to…

Dear SCC & Friends, …but mere talk… ~Proverbs 14:23 Reflection #182                         Labor Day weekend is celebrated in the United States to honor the dignity of work and the people who do it. Every morally good task has dignity, whether the laborer who sweeps floors or the boss who runs the company. Our jobs are what we do but do not define who we are. Throughout the course of our lives, we may have many jobs but will always have one calling to Christ…

Dear SCC & Friends, …is anything too hard for Me? ~Jeremiah 32:27 Reflection #181                         Pray as though everything depended on God and work as though everything depended on you. ~Augustine~ It’s ironic when our schedule doesn’t allow us time for certain things, but then a crisis hits, and we don’t have time for anything else. A crisis may be defined as a convergence of intense difficulty, trouble or danger… A crisis has the faculty of getting our full attention. Think of Israel… backed up to the…

Dear SCC & Friends, …it is a gift of God… ~Ephesians 2:8 Reflection #180                         There’s a story about a man who believed he could get to heaven based on his good works. He dies and meets St. Peter looking over the book of salvation. Peter says, “I’m sorry, but you’re not in here.” “What do you mean I’m not in there? How can that be? I was a deacon in our church and served on the board of Habitat for Humanity!” Peter says,…

Dear SCC & Friends, …called to fellowship… ~1 Corinthians 1:9 Reflection #179                  When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy. ~Corrie ten Boom~ Our faith is both singular and corporate. We need each other and the Lord reveals Himself in fellowship through His amazing grace and abiding love. …being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ~Phil. 2:2 The Greek…

Dear SCC & Friends, Be patient… ~James 5:7 Reflection #178                  Patience is the companion of wisdom. ~St. Augustine~ Every parent that has ever taken a road trip with their kids knows the query, “How much farther? Are we there yet?” And of course, the answer is, “Just a little bit longer.” Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and developed over a lifetime. It may be defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. The virtue…

Dear SCC & Friends, …choose for yourselves… ~Joshua 24:15 Reflection #177                  A law of physics is that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Natural law remains true regardless of circumstances. Truth is true whether we believe it or not. If “my truth” says the law of gravity does not exist, my denial will not change a fatal outcome if I were to jump from a tall building. Spiritual law is equally true regardless of circumstances. Sin always overperforms and underdelivers,…

Dear SCC & Friends, … small things… ~Zechariah 4:10 Reflection #176                  The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and they that lack the beginning have neither middle or end. ~John Bunyan~ We are accountable to God, knowing He is watching our every action, weighing every motive and aware of our every thought. He’s in it all… …going in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit… ~Acts 9:31 The older I get, the more convinced I am that small and seemingly insignificant…

Dear SCC & Friends, …quick to hear… ~James 1:19 Reflection #175                  One of the most sincere forms of respect is to actually listen to what another has to say. ~Bryant McGill~ It is possible to listen but not hear… that place where we simply nod with a few “uh-huhs” mixed with an occasional “I see.” Most people have an innate desire to be heard… Are you listening? You’re not listening… Please listen… You never listen! I am not aware of awards which honor or recognize the…

Dear SCC & Friends, Called to belong… ~Romans 1:16 Reflection #174                  A simple step can leave a lasting impression. My oldest son had the privilege of playing in the 1999 Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, California. The team practiced at the Los Angeles Coliseum, and I drove 50 miles from my home to surprise my son. Upon arrival, access to the facility was tightly controlled. I must admit the scene was a bit intimidating… a half-dozen-chartered buses, police security and a strong media…