Posts Tagged with "God"

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (Ephesians 3:17a, NKJV) This was not just another beautiful conference grounds in rural Massachusetts when I attended an Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Bible Conference in the 1950s. I didn't know at the time, but this conference was different. The speaker introduced us to a booklet by Boyd Munger titled My Heart Chr...

The thought must have crossed King David's mind as he stood at the door of the windowless room and stared at a dark corner, in the direction of the woman he had robbed. He listened to the rhythmic rocking of one in deep mourning. Her disheveled hair - beautiful dark brown curls - haphazardly draped around her shoulders and face.Her tears running down in torrents, carving...

Dear Precious Saints of MBC, I trust you are doing well and enjoying the New Year. Two weeks ago I suggested for the new year the challenge of moving from being a victim of circumstances to being a learner about life. Last week I suggested the challenge of mastering a gospel presentation and then sharing it with someone lost. Let me suggest a third challeng...

For God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7b, NKJV) Are we good stewards of what God has given us? Throughout my life I've received good financial advice. In particular from my father; He had a degree in business and he made sure I understood and practiced sound economic principles. I grew up in the Great Depression when money and just about everything else was sca...

Following the all-important passage about life in the Spirit, Paul begins his final chapter with a focus on the practical. In it, he says nothing about signs and wonders, and he does not go into detail about spiritual gifts. He talks about how the community of faith operates when the Spirit is leading. Life in the Spirit involves healthy relationships within the body o...

Dear Precious Saints of MBC, I trust you are doing well and looking forward to the New Year. Last week I wrote about the challenge in 2020 of moving from being a victim of circumstances to learning about life. Let me give you another challenge for the New Year:Master and then share the gospel. Every believer needs to be able to clearly and concisely p...

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you. (Titus 1:5, NKJV) Why do we think we can do everything ourselves? Do we not trust our team members? As the Engineering Design and Analysis Supervisor in the solid propulsion industry, I realized I couldn't do projects includin...

Dear Precious Saints of MBC, I trust you are doing well and looking forward to the New Year. Every year brings with it challenges and difficulties. 2020 will be no different. One of the most important lessons to learn is that when hard times come, be a student, not a victim. Sadly, some people go through life as professional victims, always talking about how th...

Before we move on to the final chapter of the book of Galatians, we need to look at the last 3 verses of chapter 5. Paul has reminded his Christian readers that all of us are engaged in mortal combat with the flesh. The desires of the regenerate nature are waging war against the passions of the sinful nature. In this war there can be no truce. Paul closes out this sectio...

What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8b, NIV) My lovely wife, who is also a registered nurse, had a serious operation on her back a while back. After the surgery and when she left the hospital, I became responsible for her post-operative care. I'm not a nurse nor do I have the basic knowledge to be ...

Dear Precious Saints of MBC, I trust you are doing well and looking forward to the Lord's Day. Imagine a nationwide evangelistic campaign that invites tens of millions to an outreach event who would not ordinarily attend. Imagine a campaign that for the most part, others do the advertising for you. Imagine having tens of thousands of churches participati...

The oldest psalm recorded in the book of Psalms was written by Moses, the man of God (Joshua 14:6, Ezra 3:2). God chose and groomed Moses for the task of leading the children of Israel out of Egypt to the promise land. The problem: they refused to believe the promises of God and were destined to wander in the wilderness for 40 years while a generation of more than 1.2 mi...

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1, KJV) From this Bible verse Elisabeth Elliot chose the title Shadow of the Almighty for a book that profoundly affected my life. She compiled a biography in 1958 of her husband, a missionary to the Indian tribes of Ecuador. You may remember the movie "End of the...

Do we have a recovery plan for when we make major mistakes? Aren't you glad God doesn't make mistakes?...

Successful events of history are seldom a solo act: There are always key and supporting people behind the event. The birth of Jesus is no exception. Joseph and Mary clearly get top billing for the birth of Jesus, but behind the scene are numerous people: One such person is Simeon. We don't know much about his personal life but what we do know is significant. Simeon was...

How hungry are we for God's word? Do we feed our souls with God's Word?...

Successful events of history are seldom a solo act: There are always key and supporting people behind the event. The birth of Jesus is no exception. Joseph and Mary clearly get top billing for the birth of Jesus, but behind the scene is a woman Mary felt comfortable going to when she discovered she was pregnant: Her cousin Elizabeth. What made her special in her role of ...

If you've never been to a Christmas Ever Service, make this year your first Christmas Ever service, and mat be a new family tradition is born!...

Do we take care of our heart, both physically and spiritually?...

What is good Fruit? We all know how to tell a good apple from a bad apple, but can do the same with the Word of God? Can we recognize when a bad fruit is presented?...

As followers of Christ, how do we handle ourselves when the world and those around as attack us for our believes and our faith?...

Oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!(Romans 11:33a, NKJV) It was a normal day, just like any other days, but today I asked myself, "How can I explore the surface of the unfathomable wisdom and knowledge of God?" I used the advice I gleaned from Francis Bacon, a 16th century scientist, statesman, and author. He asserted, "Reading makes a fu...

Dear Precious Saints of MBC, I trust you are doing well and looking forward to the Lord's Day. This coming Thursday is Thanksgiving. A valuable lesson to learn is this:Essential to personal magnetism is Thanksgiving. Hans Seyle, the famous stress researcher claims that one attitude that influences the quality of everyday life more than any other i...

Does The Bible contradict its self? Why do some sections appear to be going against what was previously written? How can we reconcile what may seem contradictory?...

How do we deal with adversity and the ups and downs of life, says a lot about our relationship !with God...

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. (Malachi 3:16, NKJV) Gazing at the actuarial charts, I realized that at age 83 the fact is that my projected life span was short. I've been blessed with a full and frutfiul life...

Telling other's about God's love is not hard, because God's love is not hard to understand. He loves us so much He gave up his only Son to die for us and our sins and all we have to do is believe and accept the gift of salvation....

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Moses- Psalm 90:10 KJV) Yes, it's true you only turn 80 once. For my turn, my wife and friends threw me a great celebration for my 80th birthday. Since they urged me to share some memories, I...

Do we love our pastor;s who lead us in our daily lives or do we believe they're not really "working: or what they do is not considered real work....

Life is incredibly difficult! We all face it daily. The issues can be overwhelmingly complex and challenging. Many today are asking: Is there any hope? Can I find rest for my weary and tired soul? Next Sunday we want to share with you the incredible invitation Jesus makes to help us all find relief. He said: Come tome, all who labor and areheavy laden, and I will give ...

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12 NIV) One day one of my friends told me, "Jim, you are the most organized person I know." I should have been elated, or at least satisfied, yet I felt something was lacking. Although I had taken numerous time management courses and attempted to apply those principles to my life, and after ...

How do we share the gospel with others? What is the key to being a good evangelist? How can we share the gospel without fear and apprehension?...

When we partake in the Lord's table, what is our attitude? Do we remember Jesus died for our sins?...

Telling the generations to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. (Psalm 78:4 NKJV) I know we all hear and have heard many comments regarding our younger generations, such as "The world is going downhill rapidly. The present generation is on a destructive path." The media complex, the new explosion of social media accent...

Dear Precious Saints of MBC, I trust you are doing well and looking forward to the Lord's Day. Seventy-six years ago last Tuesday, October 15, 1943, Chaplain J. D. Tolleson prepared a Bible Study for sailors who wanted to spend their Friday night studying the Bible and being with other Christians. At that time, the US was at war with both Japan and Germany and many of t...

Apart from our Lord's death and resurrection, the single greatest event in my opinion was the protestant Reformation. One of the most colorful figures of that movement was John Knox. His impact on church history is still felt around the world. The real story of Knox surpasses the best fiction novels. Next Sunday, five hundred years after his death we will examine his...

Are we teaching or mentoring others in God's word?...

How do we recover from set backs or errors in our life? Do we see them as failures or opportunities for a new clean start?...

What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? How do we walk in the Spirit? What does it look like to walk in the Spirit?...

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 KJV) Similar to sin, cancer affects millions of people around the world. Compared top cancer, there us a cure for our sin, but not for cancer. Recently I was diagnosed with the worst form of skin cancer- melanoma. My cancer appeared as a little e...

Who created the universe? What about the big bang? Where do we come from?...

We all try to keep healthy and via physical activity, but what are we doing to exercise our Spiritual condition?...

Do we know how to give? Do we know what is like to give generous? What can we learn from what Jesus gave for us?...

How do we deal with our earthly desires, and not our Spiritual needs?...

What does it mean to be free in Christ?...

Do we judge others by how they look or do we bother to talk to them first and then decide how to treat them? Are we too quick to judge other by how they look?...

When we pray, do we focus on God or our needs? Do we pout Him first or last? ...

What is a true friend? What makes a good or a true friend? ...

The acid test of mature Christianity is not how much liberty one exercises, but rather how much love one exhibits. Before you think that sounds too pious, stop and read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 or Romans 14:13-21 or 1 Peter 2:16-17. Again and again in Scripture, we are exhorted to guard against two extremes uncontrolled expressions of liberty and unbending demands of leg...

Are you self-confident? Do you mentor others? Are you willing to help those in need?...

Are we eligible to run the race with Christ? In ancient Greece, athletes had to be Greek citizens to be eligible to compete in the games, are we citizens of God to run His race?...

How do we invite our friends to church? What if they don't want to come? What if they think I'm a right wing nut?...

In our daily busy lives, do we know when we need to stop and rest? Do we recognize our need for a pause? Do we keep going no matter the costs, to ourselves, our families and our loved ones?...

Can science explain the true origins of all, including humans and animals alike? Did we really evolve over millions of years to become the complex personalities and people we are? What about a creator is there evidence pointing toward or away from one single creator or God?...

Why did Jesus have to die for us? Is it true his death paid for my sins?...

How do we balance our Christian life, and our daily life? According to the world, our christian life and daily life don't mix or go together, but we know different, they are both one and the same....

Next Sunday we are thrilled to have filling the pulpit, our former Pastor, Ken Hornok. Ken is no stranger to us here at Midvalley and we are blessed that he and Marcia have made MBC there church home in retirement. Ken and Marcia faithfully served MBC for 39 years have been married for over 51 years. Ken is an avid hunter, biker and gardener and he and Marcia are kept busy...

Do you truly listen to your pastor? Do you think being a pastor is a real job? Did you know, you show respect to your pastor by listening and paying attention when they preach?...

We've all heard the phrase, it must of been an Angel. Do we really believe in God and his messenger's the angels? If we believe in angels why then can't believe in God?...

What is our legacy? Do we truly believe what we preach?...

Do you like to plan things out or do you just fix things as they come up? What is your preference, plan of just wing it?...

Why do we go to church? What happens if we stop attending church services?...

Are we similar to vine or fruit on a branch? Why did Jesus use this visual and example? What was He trying to tell his disciples and us know in our present day?...

When we pray, do we want God to answer in our time frame or His?...

What do we do when bad things happen? What do we do when violence erupts, like with the most recent shootings? Life doesn't always make sense. But we need to continue to trust the Master Shipbuilder of our lives....

What is the most important ting in your Christian life? ...

How do we deal with the daily demands of family, work, church, God, family, and everything else?...

If God is all powerful, why does He need us to worship Him? What do we gain by worshiping God? What is the reason for worshiping?...

What are we doing with our blessings? Do we try to help others or do we keep it all to ourselves?...

How do we handle interruptions? Do we recognize them as opportunities, or do we deem them be a bother?...

Do you know what pleases God? Do we do things to please God or ourselves?...

Let's all remember those who came before, and those who sacrificed their time and effort to being the truth of the Gospel to Utah....

How was the universe created? Did the Big Bang really happen? How does the Sun never burn up?...

Why does God say not to our prayers and petitions? Isn't He a just and loving God?...

Do we know how to recognize those who are being ignored by society? Do we truly treat others with the same love God treat us?...

Do you set goals and achieve them? Are you driven by your goals or do you drive to achieve your goals? Is your calendar so full, you need to set time for you and your family?...

Are we redeemed by faith alone? What about The Law given to Moses? Are we saved by grace also?...

What happens if we missed a deadline at work? Do we understand the complication and consequences of missed deadlines and the effect they have on others?...

Are you confident or over-confident? Do you know the difference? Would you be able to determine what makes you confident or over-confident?...

Why do we believe in Christ? Are we truly forgiven? Do we think we are tied to a religion or The Truth?...

Do you ever feel as if you're a going from one bad situation to another? What do you in these situations? Do you trust God is in control? ...

What does it mean to be a son or daughter of God? Do I deserve this? What was the prize paid for me to be called son of God?...

Why is The Bible the top selling book in history? Is The Bible really the word of God?...

What makes a good manager? How can we become good stewards?...

If God loves us, why did He give us the Law through Moses?...

7 guidelines to help keep a marriage Godly, happy and fulfilled....

Do we at times take for granted the little things our loved ones do for us? ...

Happy father's day. Do we love our Heavenly father as much as He loves us?...

My wife and I made a commitment to share our fist kiss during our wedding, Thank God for his strength and his honor, we did share our first kiss during our wedding....

Are you running the right race? Are you on the right track?...

Filling our pulpit next Sunday, in the absence of Pastor Doug, is our former Pastor Ken Hornok. Ken served MBC for 39 years until his retirement in 2013. Under Ken's leadership MBC moved from their first building in Murray to Midvale and eventually to our current campus here in Bluffdale. Ken is a gifted Bible teacher and preacher and we are thrilled that he and his...

When we say we trust God, do we really know what we mean? He may give us an answer we don't like or weren't expecting?...

The Christians in the region of Galatia were under attack by false teachers. Paul, whofounded these churches and led these first century Christians to faith is making adetailed defense of the gospel in his letter to them. In chapter 3 Paul is "neck deep" inhis detailed argument that we are saved justified before God and given the HolySpirit by faith and not by works...

Have we opened God's gifts? Do you know what God has in-store for you? ...

We need to be grounded in God;s Word so we are deceived by false teachings. Our beliefs are under attack, and so are we!...

This is not a trivial question but a real, has consequences question, how well do you know The Bible?...

We live in a free country, where the rule of law is present, correct? But do we really believe this? Aren't our rights slowly being removed, via code words, like hate speech? Let;s us be forever vigilant to make sure we remain free!...

Can I earn my salvation by doing good deeds or works? Some will have us believe we need to do certain jobs or works to earn salvation, but God through Jesus, gave it to us as a gift. WE are redeemed by the old rugged cross!...

Why do we go to church? Is it to pass the time or to be part of the body of Christ?...

Talk about strong women, The Book of Ruth is a story of love, redemption and of God's everlasting grace, shown through the eyes of a young woman who was a widow, poor and a foreigner....

Are we aware of our salvation and forgiveness? Do we recognize Jesus' sacrifice for us and His complete and total forgiveness?...

What is your life's goal? Do we have goals? What are our goals?...

There are may churches but only one True God and Gospel, are we able to discern and tell the difference?...

God calls us to forgive our transgressors, can we forgive those who hurt us? Can we forgive the person who hurt one of our loved ones?...

Are you ready for a extreme makeover? Will you let God remake you in his image? Are you ready to be transformed in a way you could never imagine?...

In God we are complete, without him, we are unfinished....

He is Risen! Jesus is alive and the tomb is empty. ...

Did you know the mustard seed is one of the smallest if not the smallest seed, yet when it blossoms and fully grows a huge tree now stands....

All things work together for good to those who love God. (Romans 8:28 NKJV) As a high school senior I had my heart set on an engineering career as my future goal. I had passed and met all the academic requirements for a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship. The only thing I needed to do was pass the physical. I had an excellent chance for a full scholarship, f...

Is my salvation free? Can I help my salvation by being good and doing good deeds? What I don't believe in God, but I am still a good person, can my good works and deeds save me?...

Is your name inscribed in the book of life? If you meet Jesus, will your name be in the roll?...

Next week is Resurrection Sunday, cone joins and let's celebrate The Risen Savior, Jesus Christ....

We are a product of our life experiences, what can one learn from making mud pies as a child? Read more to find out!...

Dear Friends, Living the Christian life is simple. It's not easy, but God has made it uncomplicated for us. We have only two possible ways we can go. We can either walk by the Spirit or we will carry out the desires of the flesh. There is no middle ground; no neutral position we can take. Every person who places their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation has the...

Justification, What does this mean for me that I've been justified by Jesus' sacrifice? ...