church of Christ at Cloud 9

Do you have joy in your life?  Joy is a feeling of extreme happiness or cheerfulness, especially related to the acquisition or expectation of something good.  To rejoice is to be very happy, to be delighted, to feel joy.  What gives you joy?  Perhaps you have joy when you have accomplished a special goal or […]

God wants us to pray to Him.  We are even told to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  But I ask you to consider your prayers.  What do you pray about?  Do you mostly pray that God would solve problems in your life or show you what to do?  Do you also thank God for […]

Is there something in your life that weighs you down and takes much of the joy out of your life?  Maybe it is a chronic physical problem.  Maybe it is the consequences of something you did earlier in your life.  Maybe it is a difficult relationship you deal with.  Maybe it is the prejudices or […]

A recent poll asked Americans if they have attended religious services in the last seven days. The current result was 31% attending.  It was 49% in the 1950s, 40% by the 1970s and 34% before the pandemic. And now, it’s down to 31%. I suppose that there are multiple reasons for this decline.  Let us […]

Have you ever had trouble forgiving someone?  I have.  When I begin to think back on the harm I experience by their actions or hurtful words, the feelings of resentment can come flooding back.  The hurt may be because of the physical or emotional harm that was received.  It could be the lies that they […]

David wrote Psalm 103; it is truly a most beautiful psalm.  It reminds us of the wonderful God that we have.  I wish to encourage you with this psalm. Verse 1: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” David here calls upon his soul and all […]

It is impossible to save ourselves.  Without God’s grace, none of us are saved.  Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”  You should worship […]

Every one of us faces trials and tribulations.  That is part of life and part of being a Christian.  The trials may be physical, such as financial problems or health issues.  They may be relationship trials in dealing with difficult people.  They may be spiritual trials such as the consequences of sin or the falling […]

Jesus was nearing the end of His earthly ministry.  Matthew 20:17-19 “Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will […]

The apostle Paul prayed the following prayer for those at Philippi.  Philippians 1:9-11 “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled […]