Tag Archives: hope

Psalm 23 – Green Pastures

Posted on June 1, 2018 by cchrisholland

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures…” – Psalm 23:2a NKJV “[For sheep] it is significant that to be at rest there must be a definite sense of freedom from fear, tension, aggravations, and hunger. The unique aspect … Continue reading →

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Psalm 23 – Satisfied

Posted on May 31, 2018 by cchrisholland

“…I shall not want.” – Psalm 23:1b NKJV “Contentment should be the hallmark of the man or woman who has put his or her affairs in the hands of God. This especially applies in our affluent age. But the outstanding … Continue reading →

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Psalm 23 – My Shepherd

Posted on May 30, 2018 by cchrisholland

“The Lord is my shepherd…” – Psalm 23:1a NKJV “When David, who was a warrior, minstrel, and ambassador for God, searched for an illustration of God, he remembered his days as a shepherd. He remembered how he lavished attention on … Continue reading →

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DANGER: Hard-Hitting Quote Ahead

Posted on May 24, 2018 by cchrisholland

For years, a dull heaviness has lingered in my heart regarding the direction of church-life in America. Some of those concerns have made their way into my preaching/writing in small amounts, but I’ve purposely avoided focusing on them. However, during … Continue reading →

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Wisdom 23.17

Posted on May 9, 2018 by cchrisholland

“Don’t let your heart envy sinners; instead always fear the LORD. For then you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.” – Proverbs 23:17-18 HCSB There’s a variety of old sayings about “the grass looking greener on … Continue reading →

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Big

Posted on May 4, 2018 by cchrisholland

Zacchaeus was a “wee-little-man” as the children’s song goes, but he had a big plan for getting ahead in life (hence the position as the hated Chief Tax Collector). Whether driven by the desire to “get even” with childhood bullies … Continue reading →

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Return

Posted on April 30, 2018 by cchrisholland

The touch of the Master is special. Luke records where ten lepers were crying out to Jesus for healing. In response to their requests, Jesus instructed them to go show themselves to the priests. As they went, their bodies were … Continue reading →

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Sorrow

Posted on April 28, 2018 by cchrisholland

Jesus understands the human condition. And it isn’t some kind of divine pity, it’s a thorough, all-encompassing, “been-there-felt-that”, loving compassion. Consider the shortest verse in the Bible:  “Jesus wept.” – John 11:35 NKJV The context of the verse was Lazarus’ … Continue reading →

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Found

Posted on April 26, 2018 by cchrisholland

The good news about “lostness” is “foundness”. Luke 15:1-32 records where Jesus told three parables back-to-back about “found things”. He started with a shepherd searching for a sheep who declared, “…I have found my sheep that was lost!” Then He … Continue reading →

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Divine Friendship

Posted on April 20, 2018 by cchrisholland

Consider the privilege of divine friendship. Jesus described His followers this way: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” – John 15:14 NKJV The Creator and Righteous Judge of the universe not only provided a way … Continue reading →

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Being

Posted on April 13, 2018 by cchrisholland

One of the biggest struggles in the life of faith is the pressure to “do”. Whether it’s spoken, unspoken, self-imposed, or “others-imposed”, the expectation to be “doing” something for Christ can distract from the powerful reality of “being” something in … Continue reading →

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Know

Posted on April 10, 2018 by cchrisholland

What do you know to be true? In John chapter 9 a man born blind is miraculously healed by Jesus. Afterwards, the Jewish leadership verbally attacked the man and his story; questioning his integrity and disassociating him from the synagogue. … Continue reading →

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Good Friday-Before the Cross was Gold it was Rugged

Posted on March 30, 2018 by cchrisholland

The cross is a familiar object. It’s been fashioned into jewelry, wall art, and various household trinkets, but before it was gold (or silver, etc.), it was rugged. I. It was rugged by design As a symbol – The Romans … Continue reading →

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Christ

Posted on March 27, 2018 by cchrisholland

“Who do men say that I, the Son of Man am?” – Matthew 16:13 NKJV Opinions about Jesus have always varied; even during His earthly ministry. When He asked the disciples what the “word on the street” was, they responded … Continue reading →

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Heaviness

Posted on March 26, 2018 by cchrisholland

Jesus sighed. The reality of sin’s effects on the world moved Jesus to express a heaviness through what we call a “sigh”. Even though a “sigh” isn’t verbal speech, we know what it means. It’s a pause that reflects a … Continue reading →

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The Lord’s Day 3-25-18

Posted on March 25, 2018 by cchrisholland

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:3-4 NKJV A heart trusting in … Continue reading →

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Perceptions

Posted on March 23, 2018 by cchrisholland

Jesus was a carpenter; and to those who knew Him growing up, the image of a tradesman was fixed in their minds. To them, that’s what He was…and all He was ever going to be. Consider what the people of … Continue reading →

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Reaching

Posted on March 22, 2018 by cchrisholland

Pride and fear can build walls of separation. There was a woman in the Gospels who’d suffered from a bleeding affliction for twelve years. In addition to the obvious physical challenges, she would have also been considered perpetually “unclean” according … Continue reading →

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Peace

Posted on March 20, 2018 by cchrisholland

Storms are powerful displays of nature, and when seasons change, the weather can get nasty. In our personal life, “changing winds” can also bring a storm. In the Gospels, there’s a pivotal moment where the disciples sailed into rough seas while Jesus … Continue reading →

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Tiny

Posted on March 19, 2018 by cchrisholland

Big results in God’s kingdom often start very small. Jesus explained it this way: “To what shall we liken the Kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is … Continue reading →

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