Walking The Walk

    "You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word." Psalm 119:114      Hope is powerful.  Hope is knowing the best is yet to come.  Hope is knowing that at the end of our days, God will fulfill his promises to us.       Do you ever have something on your calendar that you’re looking forward to?   Something you just can’t wait for.   Every day you glance at that calendar and you’re grinning as you count the days until you get there.   Maybe you’re going on a trip to visit some family.   Or maybe you’re going on a vacation to get away from some family.        But the closer it gets, the more you anticipate the event.   And it changes your attitude.   Problems at work that would usually ruin your whole day just bounce right off, because you know next week I’m outta here!   People can’t get your goat.   You’re in a good mood even when the going is no easier than...

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.   For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  ~ Hebrews 11: 1-3 Our faith is the most essential thing we have.  Faith is accepting Jesus.  Faith is knowing that the Gospel is fact.  Faith is believing.  Without faith we can't be called a Christian.  That's where it begins.  Accepting Christ as the Savior.   Faith is the starting point.  Faith is where we begin in our Christian life, and it grows as we mature as Christians.  And as we travel and our faith grows during our journey the greatest thing we can do with that faith is share it.  Let that faith that has grown within you change the life of another person.  Allow that faith that saved you, to save another.  Be the instrument tha...

  "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;  for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." ~1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 In an article I read recently, it said that a surprising number of Christians admitted that one area where they are lacking is in prayer.  The biggest challenge is often getting into a consistent habit of prayer.  Prayer can take many forms.  Some people pray when they exercise.  Some pray when they're commuting.  Some people keep a prayer journal and write their daily prayers down.  Whatever habit you create for yourself, always remember that God wants to hear from us.  He wants to be involved in our lives.  And God hears our prayers. Set a little time aside today and talk with God. (excerpted from Wednesday Night ReCharge message at Muncie Baptist Church 2/23/2022) ~Todd E. Creason

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." ~1 Corinthians 13: 4-8  One of the things we don't always understand about agape love as it is described in the New Testament, is that love is a state of mind.  Chuck Swindoll describes agape love like this: "Agape implies permanence, unconditional charity, a decision more than a feeling, a commitment more than a relationship.  Agape means loving not for one's own benefit, but for the benefit of others."  Agape love is not based on relationships necessarily or even feelings.  It's an attitude.  It's a decision.  It's how we as Christians have decided each day to view the world and how we have decided to treat o...