Richard Ellis Talks

Here's a thought for you: you'll never look into the eyes of someone God doesn't love. Most of us have experienced rejection in some form or another. Jesus shows us by example what it means to not only be an outcast, but to reach out to those who have also been cast aside. And even though we might get rejected by others, God not only accepts us, but He chooses us to be His!

Here's a thought for you: you'll never look into the eyes of someone God doesn't love. Most of us have experienced rejection in some form or another. Jesus shows us by example what it means to not only be an outcast, but to reach out to those who have also been cast aside. And even though we might get rejected by others, God not only accepts us, but He chooses us to be His!

We have a tendency to think we're in charge of ourselves, our decisions, and our circumstances. But the bottom line is this: we serve a living God who's always in control, no matter the state of the world we live in! Unlike any material thing, God hears, sees and understand our problems. It's Him who calls the shots, and it's His plan that will always prevail.

We have a tendency to think we're in charge of ourselves, our decisions, and our circumstances. But the bottom line is this: we serve a living God who's always in control, no matter the state of the world we live in! Unlike any material thing, God hears, sees and understand our problems. It's Him who calls the shots, and it's His plan that will always prevail.

Scripture describes us as sheep, and the Lord as our Shepherd. He cares for us and provides for all our needs. But as believers, we need to stick together like a flock and be on the lookout for those who enter the fold with the intent to steal, kill and destroy from the inside out.

Scripture describes us as sheep, and the Lord as our Shepherd. He cares for us and provides for all our needs. But as believers, we need to stick together like a flock and be on the lookout for those who enter the fold with the intent to steal, kill and destroy from the inside out.

You know you've started taking something for granted when you stop being thankful for it. God's blessed us abundantly with life and salvation, not to mention any gifts on top of that like family, friends, health, employment, and the list goes on. Instead of taking it for granted, let's make a conscious effort to look at all that He's given us, and then verbalize our gratitude to Him!

You know you've started taking something for granted when you stop being thankful for it. God's blessed us abundantly with life and salvation, not to mention any gifts on top of that like family, friends, health, employment, and the list goes on. Instead of taking it for granted, let's make a conscious effort to look at all that He's given us, and then verbalize our gratitude to Him!

We're all born as slaves to sin -- but God offers us the chance to be free. When we accept His forgiveness and His gift of salvation, we choose to hand ourselves over to His care and direction. We can do what He tells us to and submit to His will, because we know He's got our best interests in mind.

We're all born as slaves to sin -- but God offers us the chance to be free. When we accept His forgiveness and His gift of salvation, we choose to hand ourselves over to His care and direction. We can do what He tells us to and submit to His will, because we know He's got our best interests in mind.

Babies have to be weaned off milk in order to chew solid food. In the same way, God calls us to mature as believers by weaning us off spiritual "milk", so we can dig our teeth into a deeper relationship with Him. Immature attitudes try to do everything alone, but God calls us to seek maturity by being part of a community of believers who help each other grow.  

Babies have to be weaned off milk in order to chew solid food. In the same way, God calls us to mature as believers by weaning us off spiritual "milk", so we can dig our teeth into a deeper relationship with Him. Immature attitudes try to do everything alone, but God calls us to seek maturity by being part of a community of believers who help each other grow.  

It's one thing to feel shame when we sin, because that shame ideally leads us to repentance, and it's when we repent that we make room for the Lord to change our hearts. But the one thing we should never be ashamed of is the amazing name of God! As believers, we need to have the courage to stand up and proclaim His goodness to the world around us!

It's one thing to feel shame when we sin, because that shame ideally leads us to repentance, and it's when we repent that we make room for the Lord to change our hearts. But the one thing we should never be ashamed of is the amazing name of God! As believers, we need to have the courage to stand up and proclaim His goodness to the world around us!

There's a classic church hymn that goes, "I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together!" As believers, God wants us to live in community, loving and caring for each other in a way that reflects His work in us. But because we're inherently selfish beings, it's impossible for us to truly love each other without God at the center. When we let go of individualistic mindsets, we open the door for God to love others through us.