Richard Ellis Talks

If we "can do all things through Christ who gives me strength", then we can be content in whatever circumstance He allows us to be in, whether that means having much or having little. So rather than inviting jealousy to creep in when we see others (who might even be far away from God) be "blessed", let's truly be content with whatever God's given us, being faithful and obedient in how we use it for His glory!

Jesus was asked what the greatest Commandment in all of the Law was, and He replied that they all boil down to these two: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart/soul/mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-40) When our love for God is aligned vertically, we can’t help but see that love spill out onto anyone else we come in contact with, especially the other members of God's family!

Neglecting things doesn't mean they magically disappear. Sooner or later, they have to be dealt with. When we neglect God's invitation for eternal life with Him, we set ourselves up for eternal regret.

Have you heard the phrase, "Love people and use things, not the other way around!"? True loving friendship is based on putting others' needs before our own. So as the Church, let's put aside the conflict, pettiness, and surface level minutia that comes up, and love others as God loves us, so that the world can see that He also loves them!

"Be Prepared" isn't just the Boy Scouts' motto, it's also what each and every Christ follower should have as a life mission! Let's be prepared in these two ways: 1) to be called Home by Jesus - whether in earthly death, or via the Rapture of the saints - by living our life within the power and grace of a daily relationship with Him; 2) to be obedient and ready to share the good news of His hope and mercy with others while we wait for His return.

On the cross, Jesus "put on the sins of the world", giving us the opportunity to receive righteousness in God's eyes by clothing us with His forgiveness. Let's stop using the temporary things of this world - that seemingly cover us for a time - and once and for all find the peace that our soul longs for, as we "put on Jesus", inviting Him to cover us completely!

The final words that Jesus spoke before being taken up into Heaven (Acts 1:8) were to send the believers - through the power of the Holy Spirit - to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. In order to carry out that calling effectively, our daily walk with Christ is of utmost importance, so those who we share with can see His hope in our own lives and want what we have!

An important dynamic of a believer's faith is trusting in what we can't see, knowing that God fights for us. The Old Testament stories of the armies that waited for God’s leading before they went into battle teach us what should be a "spiritual no-brainer" - wait on God and follow Him in our own battles, so that He can fight for us, and we can be conquerors!

Jesus’ final words before being taken up into Heaven (Acts 1:8) were about receiving power from the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses! Let’s be sure to be tuned in to the Holy Spirit power within us, so we can respond to His prompts and fulfill His purposes in and through us!

Since Adam and Eve brought sin into the world through disobedience to God, there was a need for a Second Chance for mankind to be reconciled back to the Father. Jesus paid that price fully, so that we may respond to the Holy Spirit's calling, receive this free salvation gift, giving us a second chance to be grafted back into God's family!

God isn't bound by earthly time (after all, He created time!), so He knows everything that's still going to happen in the future - including when Christ will return. So as believers, let's be His voices of the Good News, sharing how God has made a way into eternity with Him through Jesus while we still have the opportunity!

The Bible story of Esther is such a powerful example of what it truly means - despite what the outward circumstances might be screaming - to simply trust and obey God. And just like He perfectly orchestrated the details in Esther’s life to get her in a position to save her people, God's working in our lives - if we too are trusting and obeying - to put us exactly where we should be for His purpose, to reach others for His sake!

"We can devote our lives to educating our children, advising them to make wise decisions, and loving them the best we can. But the power of God will be released in the lives of our children when we release them to Him through prayer!" - Prayers Of A Mother's Heart

"The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the love of a mother." As we approach this special weekend, we focus on the fullness of love that only a mother holds for her child, and we see how closely that love aligns with God's fullness of love for His children. This complete, sacrificial, and selfless love should be our template of how we should truly love others!

Not only did Jesus come to earth in a real body taking on real flesh, but it was also His real flesh that was resurrected from the dead. So in Him taking on flesh, dying, and being raised again, we're offered a new life - a victorious life - where He can live in and through us to change the world!