Category: words

• Guarding Our Thoughts

  What do you like to read? What do you like to watch? To listen to? These are things I have been working hard at paying attention to. Why? Because I know how my my mind can be, and is, influenced by what my eyes see and my ears hear. I know how dark my thoughts […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/18/2022

  belief, believe, Christian Life, Christianity, Communication, disciples, heart, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, influence, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, leadership, Life, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, revival, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, transformation, Truth, uncategoried, words, worship, writing, youth ministry

  guarding your thoughts, live differently, living a holy life, Philippians 4, think better thoughts, what do you think about, you are what you think

• Putting Out Fires

  

  We are all busy people. There is just too much to do, too much to handle, too much to fix. It never fails that we cannot get ahead in our schedules. Why does this happen? A few weeks ago, I wrote about having too many “irons in the fire.” Today, let’s focus on why we […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/01/2016

  Advent, Apostle Paul, career, Challenges, character, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, church, conflict, confrontation, control, faith, fear, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, joy, leadership, mercy, methodism, methodist, mindset, ministry, pastor, priorities, priority, relationships, renewal, repent, revival, Savior, spiritual gifts, Spirituality, Temptation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, words, Work, world, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  body of Christ, each person has gifts, focus on the task at hand, Kingdom of God, place your trust in God, prioritize tasks at hand, putting out fires, reducing stress, the body of Christ, too many irons in the fire, too much stress, we are not lone rangers, we’re in this together, work with the Holy Spirit

• Fresh and Salt

  James 3:10-12 CEB “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.  […]

  Ryan Stratton

  09/18/2015

  belief, bible, bible study, body of Christ, book of James, Christian Life, Christianity, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, faith, gifts, glory of God, God, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, Life, Love, methodism, methodist, new creation, new life, reflection, relationships, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, witnessing, words

  bible study, blessing and cursing, book of James, daily devotionals, fresh water, God, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, healing words, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit is our counselor, Jesus Christ, life is worship, new creation in Christ, new life, new life in Christ, salt and light, transform the world, transformation in Christ, trust, Trust God, Trust Jesus, words of hope

• Control

  James 3:2-3 CEB “We all make mistakes often, but those who don’t make mistakes with their words have reached full maturity. Like a bridled horse, they can control themselves entirely. When we bridle horses and put bits in their mouths to lead them wherever we want, we can control their whole bodies.” I love the […]

  Ryan Stratton

  09/15/2015

  belief, bible, bible study, body of Christ, book of James, Christian Life, Christianity, church, control, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, faith, gifts, glory of God, God, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, Life, Love, maturity, methodism, methodist, mindset, new creation, new life, peace, perfection, reflection, relationships, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, thinking, transformation, words

  bible study, book of James, Christian life, controlling our tongue, daily devotionals, God, God is love, God with us, God’s grace, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, higher thougts, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit is our counselor, Jesus, Jesus Christ, life is worship, new creation in Christ, new life, new life in Christ, transform the world, transformation in Christ, trust, Trust God, Trust Jesus

• Careful Career

  What do you do for a living? Do you feel like you are scrutinized for your job? Does your job directly affect the well being other people? The passage we begin this week in James talks about a profession that has many judges and criticizers. This is a profession that many people may think they […]

  Ryan Stratton

  09/14/2015

  belief, bible, bible study, body of Christ, book of James, calling, career, Christian Life, Christianity, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, faith, glory, glory of God, God, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, job, joy, Life, Love, methodism, methodist, new creation, new life, peace, relationships, renewal, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, words

  bible study, book of James, daily devotionals, God, God is with us, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel, gospel of Jesus Christ, holy, Holy Spirit is our counselor, Jesus into your heart, life calling, life is worship, new creation in Christ, new life, new life in Christ, power of words, transform the world, transformation in Christ, trust, Trust God, Trust Jesus