120 results found

What kind of work is holy?

January 24, 2014 | abilities, career, Christ, church, God, holy, jesus, job, sacred, secular, talents, work

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15 NIV). “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1

Shaped for Significance

January 10, 2014 | church, Creation, Gary Combs, giftedness, God, holy spirit, jesus, service, SHAPE, shaped, significance, spiritual gifts, unique

“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made,

My annual appointment with Jesus

December 31, 2013 | appointment, break, calling, command, commission, Gary Combs, God, jesus, New Years, retreat, study

“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them” (Matthew 28:16 NKJV). I started going “away” for an annual retreat at the end of the year around 15 years ago. I have found it to be one of the wisest practices in my life. It gives me

Going over to Bethlehem

December 24, 2013 | Arab Christians, Bethlehem, Christ, christmas, Gary Combs, Israel, jesus, Palestinian Authority

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us’” (Luke 2:15 ESV). Robin and I had the privilege of visiting the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem this past summer

Do the opposite

December 19, 2013 | Christ, christmas, consumerism, Gary Combs, generosity, give, give more, giving, God, jesus, materialism

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:” (Isaiah 9:6 KJV). I started watching the sitcom “Seinfeld” only after it went into syndication. I guess the daily dose of reruns finally got me interested. If you know anything about the show, you know that the character played by Jason Alexander, is

Don’t let the Grinch steal your Christmas!

December 12, 2013 | Advent, Christ, christmas, Gary Combs, jesus, less, money, more, satisfaction, satisfy, spending

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:2 ESV). Now, before you panic

Who will win the battle for your worship?

December 5, 2013 | Advent, advent conspiracy, Christ, christmas, consumerism, culture, Gary Combs, God, jesus, materialism, money, spending, worship

“And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11 ESV). The word “worship” comes from the Middle English, “weorthscipe,” literally meaning to “ascribe worth.” We were created to worship. From dandelions to dinosaurs, no

F.A.T. from Thanksgiving

November 28, 2013 | available, F.A.T., faithful, full, fullness, Gary Combs, God, jesus, teachable, thanks, thanksgiving

“Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty” (Acts 6:3 ESV). “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Experiencing FLOW

November 15, 2013 | bible, flow, fulfillment, Gary Combs, generosity, giving, God, happiness, jesus, joy

“Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:37-38 ESV). “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8 NIV). “Flow is… being completely involved in an activity for

The Davion Effect

November 8, 2013 | an orphan's hope, Davion Only, Gary Combs, jesus, orphan, orphan care, orphan conference, WCC

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18 ESV). “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” (James 1:27 NLT). This past September, 15-year old, Davion Only made the news