Brief Thoughts, Inspirations, and the occasional Provocation for the people of Garden Sanctuary, and you too…
I suppose that being the father of two young girls means that I am in for my share of princess movies. Yet, in an effort to stand up for my masculinity, I have managed to work a compromise with my little ones. Yes, we will do the occasional princess movie, but we are also going... Continue Reading →
Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. I grew up going to church. No really, I grew... Continue Reading →
Hebrews 10:24–25 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. My daily drive takes me beside the local airport. ... Continue Reading →
Matthew 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. When speaking of God's purpose, we are so quick to go the grand. We pray about... Continue Reading →
Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: But the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. Soccer is reported to be the most popular sport in the world. Its popularity has been attributed to the fact that it is inexpensive. It can be played even in the poorest of villages, because all you need... Continue Reading →
"God must have something for you to do" How many times have we heard that said after a near tragedy? A nurse, EMT, or maybe a family member will look at some person who nearly died in an accident or survived a particularly bad heart attack and tell them that God must have spared them... Continue Reading →
Job 33:14 For God speaketh once, Yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. Growing up we used to play with 2 way radios, or "walkie-talkies" as we called them. I would always get those play sets and then run outside to see if my dad or mom could hear me and vice versa. It was... Continue Reading →
Ruth 1:14–18 14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16 And Ruth said, Intreat... Continue Reading →
Speaking of Abraham, Paul wrote to the Romans, Romans 4:19–21 (KJV 1900) 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was... Continue Reading →
Hunger. By day two of fast week I am sure that you have encountered hunger by now. Maybe you have laid aside some activities or things for the week, and no doubt you have already experienced a hunger(desire) for them. If it has not happened yet, do not worry, it will. When go without a... Continue Reading →
Today begins the fasting week of Consecrate18. I am incredibly excited about what God is going to do in this week. This devotion will certainly be for those who are starting a fast today, but this truth can be applied to anything. Focus is the factor that changes everything. When Peter is focused in Jesus... Continue Reading →
Ephesians 3:19–20 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 1st Samuel opens with the... Continue Reading →
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. I am the father of a 3 year old and a soon to be 1 year old. I love my daughters, and I never cease to be amazed by them as they grow. It seems... Continue Reading →
When Jesus's disciples sought his instruction regarding prayer, they probably had something else in mind. Addressing God as King, Lord, or Creator was something they could have understood. God as an incredible out of this world sovereign was an idea that was familiar to their Hebrew sensibilities. This idea of God as Father was almost... Continue Reading →
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. Over the years, I have been blessed to preach several youth camps. A centerpiece of youth camp activity is often the climbing wall. Towering dozens of feet off the ground, with synthetic rocks jutting at intervals that vary... Continue Reading →
What if I told you God wanted to hear from you in prayer today? What if I told you Christ told us to pray? What if I told you the scriptures are full of examples of prayer? What if I told you there was power in prayer? What if I told you that problem you... Continue Reading →
Routine. What a word. The very mention of routine elicits a response that often speaks of the mundane, the boring, the average, and uninteresting. Yet, when we dial 9-1-1 we expect the dispatcher to have everything down to a calm measured "routine". We expect the fire department's equipment to be well maintained and in working... Continue Reading →
Ephesians 4:5 "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time" We have all heard the saying, "Time is money." Most likely you heard it from a manager or executive. Maybe, you heard it in a movie. Some type-A work absorbed man explaining to his angered wife that he missed their son's baseball... Continue Reading →
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou... Continue Reading →
James 1:3–6 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be... Continue Reading →
pastorConley's blog 