“The Bible is not something that leads to a connection with God; It is the connection with God.” – Henry Blackaby
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
How can you empower your life story?
Will you commit to meet with Jesus daily?
When and where are you going to start?
How long are you going to meet with Jesus each day?
What resources do you need to meet with Jesus?
I’ve had a Wow! morning. God is so good! I’ll share part of the story this morning …

“Your very first friend should be God!” – Rev. Matt Gregory
Do not forsake your own friend (Proverbs 27:10)
What does it mean that your very first friend should be God?
What does it mean to be fully engaged with your friends?
How does that change your priorities?
Matt Gregory, my pastor, is currently preaching a series during September titled “Fully Engaged.” His message last Sunday was titled “Fully Engaged With My Friends.” That will be my topic for the remainder of this week. Next week’s topic will be “Fully Engaged With My Community.”
The key …

The bottom line is this: Whatever you do, leave a legacy of faith and faithfulness! – Buddy Smith
when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. (2 Timothy 1:5)
What are the things that matter in your life?
In June 2000, the same month that the Billy Graham Crusade came to Culpeper, God directed me to Open Door Baptist Church for an event sponsored by The Family Foundation (of Virginia). …

“How much happier you would be, how much more of you there would be, if the hammer of your God could smash your small cosmos.” – G. K. Chesterton
And David appointed him (Benaiah) over his guard. (2 Samuel 23:23)
How big is your God?
What odds maker would have bet on Benaiah being able to kill a lion in the pit on a snowy day? But Benaiah did what lion chasers do. He defied the odds. He didn’t focus on his disadvantages. Lion chasers know that God is bigger and more powerful …

God’s promises are “Yes” and “Amen!”
And Jesus said unto them “Because of your unbelief” (Matthew 17:20)
What steps can you take to change your perspective?
Our perspective makes a tremendous difference. God wants us to see things from His heavenly perspective and then pray accordingly. God is sovereign. He?s in charge. He?s in control even when circumstances around us seem out of control. If we look up to heaven and put our faith in God, we will find that His promises never fail.
This week I?m on a relaxing vacation in Cancun Mexico …

The key to John D. Rockefeller’s financial success was following the 10-10-80 principle.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38, NIV).
Are you giving God your first fruits with a cheerful heart?
What percent of your income do you save?
Like Bill Gates of today, John D. Rockefeller was the wealthiest man of his generation. When John was asked what was the secret …

It is not easy to take a Sabbath. You’ve got to decide to do it. A regular Sabbath puts a brake on overwork.
“Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.” (Leviticus 23:3)
How consistent are you at keeping the Sabbath holy each week?
Busyness is a great enemy of relationships. We must address the serious problem of busyness in our lives to …