Living With Passion

Orange-Cardamom Marmalade
This preserved marmalade can be spooned over buttered toast, spread on a brioche roll or croissant, or dolloped on a toasted English muffin spread with fresh goat cheese. Plus, sealed, it will keep for up to one year.

Recipe: Orange-Cardamom Marmalade


Living with Passion
Bayless Conley


I want to focus your attention today on two passages. The first is Ecclesiastes 9:10,

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

The second passage is Colossians 3:23,

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.

Do you see the common theme? God desires us to live our lives full out, with passion. Whether you are a preacher, a writer, a teacher, or a singer, whatever you do, you are to do it with passion. You are to throw yourself into it.

People are attracted to passion. They want to see someone who is burning with a fiery zeal for whatever they do!

In my opinion, the greatest example of a passionate person is Jesus. Remember the story when Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple? That was a passionate act. In fact, the end of that passage says, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."

Zeal is just another word for passion. "Passion for Your house has eaten Me up!" Have you ever tried to imagine Jesus doing that? I have a very clear image of what that must have been like.

He is whipping these guys and they are running, covering their heads. He is throwing over these big tables and the disciples are watching with their mouths wide open, when they remember the verse, "Zeal (passion) for Your house has eaten Me up."

Let me ask you a question: When is the last time you were eaten up with zeal for anything? When is the last time you were utterly passionate about anything?

Don't just sleepwalk through life. You need to decide you are going to live!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God



Make Your Own Gift Baskets
Homemade fare becomes present-worthy in pretty, use-again packages. Use these DIY gift basket ideas for housewarmings, holidays, and more.

Plus, get more homemade food gift ideas.

Listening to God
Dr. Charles Stanley

James 1:22-25

Learning to listen to God is an essential part of following His will. The Lord regularly speaks to His followers through four resources:

1. The Bible. Scripture is God's guidebook to His thoughts and actions. It is the primary source for His followers to consult about everything in their life. This means that we ought to aim for more than just reading a bit every day. Our goal is to absorb the message—listening for God to offer instructions on how and where to apply His Word.

2. Prayer. Like all real friends, the Lord desires give and take in His relationships. Therefore, prayer is not complete when I'm done talking. I must quiet my mouth and thoughts so that my spiritual ears can open.

3. Circumstances. The Lord often revealed His ways to the biblical saints through their circumstances. He still works that way today. Situations differ but God does not. He uses everyday life to reveal errors in thinking, open or close doors of opportunity, and prove His promises true.

4. Others. Pastors, friends, and mentors can all speak truth into a person's life. The Lord placed believers in community so they could be supported and helped by those nearby. He doesn't hesitate to send a message from the mouth of someone we know.

God does not use just one or two of these methods to reach a believer. He speaks through all of them. We need to attune our spiritual ears, always remembering that a message from the Lord must agree with His holy Word. God is talking to you. Are you listening?

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.




Flavorful Grilling Gear
Show you really care with a bottle of homemade ketchup! Add a DIY dry rub, skewers, and a basting brush, and present it all on a cutting board, wrapped in cellophane and tied with a bow.


Forgetting What's Behind, Reaching for What's Ahead
Pastor Adrian Rogers

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12

There are two days that can steal the joy from today. One is yesterday. The other is tomorrow.

Paul exhorts in Philippians 3:13-14, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

We are to forget the past — the guilt, the glory, the grief, and the grudges.

Paul was one who was guilty, along with others, for the stoning of Stephen. He said he was the chiefest of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). But, Paul buried that guilt in the grave of God's forgetfulness.

Maybe you've done something so horrible, that you're gripped with fear to think someone would find out what you've done. Have you repented? Then, don't be haunted by the ghost of guilt.

For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org.


Photo credit: Sara Remington, Country Living