Posts by Richard Parrish
Second Week of Advent: True Love Does Not Wink at Sin
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God”…
Read MoreFirst Week of Advent: The Day Is Coming
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In…
Read MoreThanksgiving: A Posture of the Heart
As Thanksgiving approaches, we are reminded of the timeless words of the Apostle Paul: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It’s easy to give thanks when life is smooth and blessings abound. But what about when we face hardships, uncertainty, or…
Read MoreA Song of Assurance
“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. – Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.” – Psalm 120:1-2 (ESV) The New Oxford American Dictionary defines “distress” as: “distress | dəˈstres | noun 1 extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain: to his distress he saw that she was trembling. • the state of…
Read MoreA Song for The Wilderness
“I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade…
Read MoreBe Good Citizens
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” – Romans 13:1 (ESV) November 7th will decide which Presidential candidate will take office. If political polls are even somewhat reliable, we have a strong indication that nearly half of…
Read MorePray Or Criticize?
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…”…
Read MoreFrom Anxiousness to Assurance!
“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you’.” – Isaiah 35:1 (ESV) Have you noticed? Assurance appears to be decreasing while anxiousness increases. …
Read MoreHumility & Conflict
“A defensive posture stops communication. Remaining unwilling to examine my motives or how I may have contributed to the problem (knowingly or unknowingly) prevents emotional and spiritual growth in my life.” Humility is not always a word we associate with bravery or strength or progress. In fact, we might even associate humility with weakness, passivity,…
Read MoreDependability & Conflict
“Staying ‘in the room’ and learning how to verbalize our thoughts (rather than running to a “dry well”) encourages conversation.” Trust is so important. The ability to depend on something or someone is foundational to our lives, our sanity, and overall well being. So many aspects of our lives are built upon the reliability and…
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