Absolute Absolution

"Absolute Absolution"

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 130:4 (HCSB) But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.

Devotional Reading:

None of us deserve the forgiveness that is ours when we place our faith in Jesus Christ. That’s why it’s called grace. We’re not receiving the due penalty for our sins; Jesus Himself has already paid that penalty (death) on our behalf. How is it, then, that we who have been forgiven much have trouble forgiving others? I know a story of a young girl, who left home to go to nursing school. Just before her graduation she became pregnant, but the man she loved and had hoped to marry refused to take responsibility for her or the child. She had a baby girl, and gave her up for adoption shortly after her birth. The daughter was adopted by a dear Christian couple, and she grew into a fine young woman who went to college, graduated, and married a fine Christian man. After the death of her adoptive parents, this woman (by now in her thirties) began to search for her birth mother. With her husband’s help, the mother was found, and she agreed to meet the daughter she’d given up years before. A few days later, a reunion was arranged in a local motel room, and the two began to establish a loving, caring relationship. Several years went by before the mother could bring herself to ask the question she’d longed to voice: “Can you find it in your heart to forgive me for what I’ve done?” The daughter did not hesitate a moment. She simply said, “Mother, I forgave you a long time ago.” Do you know what forgiveness is? It is the restoration of a relationship that was broken through sin and separation. Is there someone who needs your forgiveness?

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

#1 Priority

"#1 Priority"

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 127:3 (HCSB) Sons are indeed a heritage from the LORD, children, a reward.

Devotional Reading:

As I get older and my teens will be preparing to leave the roost, I find myself treasuring life more and that I have a whole bunch more to teach them before they get into the world!  My wife, my son and daughter are more precious to me than anything else in this life, behind my Faith in Christ Jesus. But if I were starting my family over again, I’d strive to do better. I would listen more. Love my wife more. Spend more quality time with my children. Praise them more often for doing right. (not so much for doing wrong) If I had it to do over again I’d let them know how grateful to God I am for each of them, every day. Because family matters. Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards married Sarah Pierpoint, and they had 11 children. Every day Jonathan and Sarah Edwards would sit down with each one of those children alone, and say “Let’s talk a little about you.” Also, every day, this husband and wife rode on horseback together for an hour or more. And 150 years after Edwards’ death, his family was still growing strong. By 1900, the Edwards clan included 13 college presidents, 66 professors, a law school dean, 100 attorneys, 32 judges, 56 physicians, a medical school president, over 80 public office holders, over 100 missionaries, and a whole platoon of clergymen. Edwards’ legacy was not his writings or the sermons he preached. It was the family he loved and led. What about you? Is your family your number one priority? Do they know it? Tell them today, and let your actions prove that it is true.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

The Greater Servant

"The Greater Servant"

Scripture Reading:
Mark 9:35 (HCSB) “Sitting down, He called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.

Devotional Reading:

Some years ago I ate lunch with a well known minister/author. If I gave his name, many would know it. You’ve likely read and enjoyed his books, as have I. I anticipated an afternoon of stirring conversation and great dialogue, but I was disappointed. In fact, I have seldom been so bored. All this very intelligent, successful man did for two hours was talk about himself. On and on and on, story after story. Finally, he took a breath, and I thought we might be getting a break. Then he said, “Enough about me. What do you think of my latest book?” Whether we admit it or not, we’re all guilty to some degree of self-promotion and ego-inflating. But Jesus’ teaching showed that these practices are worthless. “If you want to be great,” he said, “learn to be a servant to others.” Then He modeled that lesson Himself by serving those closest to Him in the simplest, most ordinary ways. The proud will be humbled in due time. But the reverse is also true. The humble, the quiet workers, the loving servants, will one day be exalted. How about you? Are you grabbing the spotlight all the time, or are you content to work quietly in the wings while others shine?  Do you realize how much prayer and effort go on before Sunday morning, to prepare for Worship?  None of those individuals receive a spotlight nor do they ask for it. Servanthood is the secret of true greatness.  "Greater is he who serves".


Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

"Glorious Presence"

Scripture Reading:
Exodus 33:23 (HCSB) Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back, but My face will not be seen.”

Devotional Reading:

Sometimes we just don’t see God coming. We don’t realize that He desires to meet with us, that He wants to be a part of every aspect of our lives. We’ve put Him in a box instead, and imagined Him to be much smaller than He is.  Instead of lifting ourselves up to God's level, we trivialize God and bring Him down to our level.  And when He comes close, we’re largely unaware. Moses experienced the presence of God in some pretty spectacular ways. Once he asked God to show him His glory, but God warned Moses that what he asked was dangerous: “No one can see my face and live,” He said. Instead, He offered an indirect alternative. He would hide Moses in the cleft of a rock, and shield him with His hand. Then, when God had passed by, He would allow Moses to see His back. Moses saw God, but only in hindsight. Aren’t we like that? We may say we want to see God, but we couldn’t survive His direct approach. But when He has passed by, when we’ve had a brush with glory, we see Him in hindsight. We say, “Oh yes, that was the hand of God. He was with me there. He touched my life, and I didn’t even realize it at the time.” The apostle Paul said “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I have also been fully known.” One day, our sight will improve…but until then, our view is constrained. Seek to daily stretch your awareness of God’s glorious presence.  Stretch yourself today to seek the Glory of the Lord.  Are you up to the task?  is the challenge worthy for you?  Friend don't let it pass you by, without taking hold and asking as Jacob did, "bless me".


Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Ignorance is bliss or is it?

"Ignorance is Bliss or is it?"

Scripture Reading:
Leviticus 19:15 (HCSB) “You must not act unjustly when deciding a case. Do not be partial to the poor or give preference to the rich; judge your neighbor fairly.

Devotional Reading:

Isn’t it good that you and I don’t decide who is “worth saving?” We’re too easily deceived by appearances. We may think the rich, profane executive who has the world by the tail would make a dynamite Christian if he were “cleaned up,” but judge the down-and-out derelict as a more likely candidate for prison. Years ago a play called “Tobacco Road” caused a stir at its Atlanta, Georgia premier because those in the audience were offended by its main character, Jeter Lester. Lester was the epitome of every bad southern stereotype: uncouth, swaggering, dishonest, mean. The city’s elite were repulsed by the idea that the south might be full of Jeter Lester’s, and re-dedicated themselves to social reform to remedy that possibility. Oddly enough, the same crowd did not object to the equally wretched main character of another play, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf” Virginia, too, was a mean, foul-mouthed bully, but she was wealthy. And well-connected. And educated. These two characters, whose demographics were miles apart, were actually more alike than different. How do we treat the Jeter Lester’s and the Virginia Wolf’s? Usually, we ignore the Jeter’s (hoping they’ll go away) and show preference to the Virginia’s. After all, they have potential. But to Christ, they’re one and the same. He loves them, and died for them both. How can we then, choose one over the other?


Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Chariots of Fire

"Chariots of Fire"

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 5:41 (HCSB) And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

Devotional Reading:

In our culture of over-achievers, we tend to focus on going farther…on going the second mile. And Jesus clearly said we are to be willing to do that. But to begin the second mile, we must complete the first. We must be ordinary before we can hope to be excellent. A south California track meet was a showcase for a young athlete expected to shatter the state record in the mile. She was the race…no one else could come close to her in ability. No one in the packed stands gave a glance toward the pale, scrawny girl lined up on the outside. She was nobody special… nothing to notice. The gun sounded. As expected, the star runner looped the track like a sprinter, pulling away from the pack with yards to spare. As she broke the tape, the crowd roared. Another runner finished second…then third…then fourth. The loudspeaker announced the winner’s time, a new state record. But the race wasn’t over. One runner was struggling for the finish line all alone. When she crossed it, she collapsed, gasping for breath. When coaches rushed over to lift her up, one of them chided her for running: “What were you thinking? You’re no miler, and this is a championship race. You couldn’t hope to win.” “Sir,” she said, “we had us a girl who could run the mile, but she took sick. Coach asked me to run in her place. She didn’t send me down here to win…she sent me down here to run a mile, and Mister, I ran a mile.”

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Holding Back

"Holding Back"

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 6:19 (HCSB) “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal

Devotional Reading:

It is God, James tells us, who is the giver of every good and perfect gift. Treasure, real treasure, comes from God alone. How is it, then, that we fail to receive that which He would give us? Often the problem is not that God is withholding, but that we are holding on. There’s an old, story about a little boy who got his hand stuck in a delicate vase. It seems he reached into the vase to retrieve something, and then could not pull himself free without breaking it. Finally, he called out to his dad for help. They worked and struggled to ease his hand out, but to no avail. Seeing no alternative, the father made the inevitable decision: the vase must be broken. Just before he struck the fatal blow to this heirloom piece, the father asked his son to try to slip his hand out one more time. Crying now, the little boy ‘fessed up: “Dad, I’ll do it if you make me, but if I do, I’ll have to drop my dime.” It’s an antique story about an antique vase, but it illustrates a very basic spiritual principle: The hand that is closed cannot receive the treasure that God wants to give. It’s just that simple.


Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Seeds within us

"Seeds Within Us"

Scripture Reading:
Acts 5:32 (HCSB) We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Devotional Reading:

How does a person know that he or she is a Christian? How do we really know? I’ll tell you. We know because the Holy Spirit “bears witness” with our spirit, confirming in our hearts that we are indeed children of God. Beginning with my7th grade  year in middle school, Our lady Madonna, I was a three hour-a-week Christian. I went to church, I was in attendance, I was present and accounted for. I believed I had received Christ at my first communion, but during my high school years I became exceedingly cynical and apathetic. I showed up. That was about it.  In my Marine years, I even laughed at people who were considered “religious” by others, and went along with a lot of chicanery in which I had no business participating. But there were some things I did not do. There were temptations as a young man to get involved in drugs, but I did not give in to them. Looking back, I know why. Even with my cynical attitude, I still felt the witness of God in my life…that inner voice of the Holy Spirit saying, “This is not for you.” When I came back to Christ a few years later and gave myself anew to Him, He was with me. That is the inner witness of the Spirit. We may wander away or run from God, but there is a quiet place in which He deals with us and confirms that we are His own.  It took simple pastor of a small southern baptist church to awaken the Spirit within in.  Top open my eyes to the Lord and set me on a path for His glory.  Over the next few years, the Lord honed my abilities and talents all the while preparing me for what was about to come!

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Slider or Riser

"Slider or Riser"

Scripture Reading:
Galatians 6:8 (HCSB) because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

Devotional Reading:

Let me ask you something about your mindset: Are you a slider or a riser? When you get up in the morning, are you a slider or a riser? I’m a riser. I jump out of bed and go from zero to sixty in nothing flat. I do not linger.  But Silvia is a slider.  She needs to lie still for a little bit and wake up gradually.  I am usually up and out before she can get one eye open. Generally, risers go to sleep quickly…like between “good” and “night.” That’s it. They’re down and out in a matter of seconds! But sliders ease into sleep the same way they ease into waking.  on this issue we are opposite.  I must ease into sleep if I will get it; while Silvia can be out in nothing flat; unless our course we are wired!  Regardless of whether we are sliders or risers, the time to set our minds is when we first wake. At that moment we must turn our thoughts toward God. If we ignore this opportunity to set our minds on the things of God, we give the devil a foothold, and soon—without our even knowing it—we have set our minds on the flesh. And the mind set on the flesh, Paul tells us, is death. But if we turn our minds and hearts God-ward, and set our thoughts on Him, what a difference it will make in the way we live. Which sounds better to you? A mind set on death, or a mind set on life and peace? it.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

What Are Your Packing

"What Are You Packing"

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 3:11 (HCSB)  “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the One who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove His sandals. He Himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Devotional Reading:

Do you and I have enough power to live the Christian life? Consider this: we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us…the third person of the Trinity who raised Jesus from the dead. Don’t you think that’s enough power to keep our minds set on the Spirit, and to have life and peace? I think it’s more than enough power…if we use it. A cartoon  depicts a soldier with an M-16 rifle aimed at an oncoming enemy tank. The tank is poised to roll right over the comparatively tiny soldier with his rifle. In the next frame there is a picture of a soldier with an M-47 dragon launcher. The soldier in the cartoon is now giant-sized, and the tank relatively small. The idea is that a soldier with a rocket launcher is more than adequate to defeat a tank. That’s our situation. We live defeated lives when we say, “Dude, all I’ve got against Satan and the world is this little old M-16 rifle and my own determination. I’ve got to really bear down if I’m going to survive.” And all the time we possess the resurrected power that brought Christ out of the grave…we have the Holy Spirit inside us, with the power of an M-47 Dragon! All we need to do is appropriate it.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Homing Pigeon

"Homing Pigeon"

Scripture Reading:
Romans 1:20 (HCSB)  For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what
He has made.  As a result, people are without excuse.

Devotional Reading:

One of the favorite questions posed by skeptics and unbelievers is this one: “What about those who’ve never heard the Good News? The Lord Jesus wouldn’t condemn them in their ignorance, would He?” They usually go on and give you a few examples, just to drive home their argument. “What about the guy who’s never been to a church, or that person in India, or Alaska, or Central or South America or Africa?” The next time someone asks you that, open your Bible to Romans, chapter one, and say, “For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” In other words, anyone on this planet who rejects God is suppressing the truth. They may not have come in contact with the Bible, or had someone share their faith with them, but they have had plenty of contact with God’s general revelation. “Because that which is known about God” said Paul, “is evident within them, for God made it evident to them.” We are born with an inclination toward God! It’s built in! And furthermore, “Since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His divine nature have been clearly seen.” In creation and in our hearts alone, there is overwhelming evidence for God! In a very simple sense, we have been wired to be "homing pigeons".  The Lord formed us in Heaven and it is the destination we are striving to achieve!

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Bear Fruit

"Bear Fruit"

Scripture Reading:
Romans 7:4 (HCSB)  Therefore, my brothers, you also were put to death in relation to the law through the crucified body of the Messiah, so that you may belong to another—to Him who was raised from the dead—that we may bear fruit for God.

Devotional Reading:

You and I were made to bear fruit. For the Christian, our “fruit” is changed lives…our own, and others. Yet some believers’ lives are “barren” for long stretches of time, bearing no fruit at all. Author Tommy Boyd was raised on a farm. He recalls from his childhood that a neighboring farmer raised apples in upstate New York. One day, young Boyd was passing by his orchards and witnessed a strange thing: the neighbor was driving nails in some of the trees that were not bearing fruit. He watched in curiosity as this farmer approached a barren tree and drove four large, rusty nails into the base of the tree, north, south, east and west. Then he moved higher on the trunk of the same tree and repeated the process. When Boyd questioned the neighbor, he told the boy, “Just wait until next spring. You’ll understand it then.” When spring rolled around, Boyd said that apple tree produced the biggest, reddest apples he had ever seen. The farmer said, “You see, those rusty nails remind the tree that it was made to produce apples. Sometimes it forgets.” Some of us need a jolt to remember that we were made to produce good fruit for the kingdom of God. And sometimes pain or hardship is the “nail” that reminds us. You’d be surprised at how many of us bloom and bear fruit in places where we once felt the sting of a nail.  Of course all the fruit we bear is credited back to the One who gave us the victory and bore the biggest ugliest nails on our behalf, our Lord Jesus Christ...do you know Him?
Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Two Become One

"Two Become One"

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 19:5 (HCSB)  and He also said: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?

Devotional Reading:

I know a spot in New York where the Niagara River is separated by Goat Island.    When the river comes back together to form one, you can can see them moving calmly toward their meeting point, but where they converge, the waters are raging. These two strong, independent channels ultimately combine to form a wider, even more impressive one.  This impressive merger is known as "Horseshoe and Niagara Falls" or its Indian name, "Ongniaahra", which means Thunder of water.  A good marriage is like this natural phenomenon. One independent person meets another independent person, and they decide to merge their lives into one. The trouble begins when they try to decide which one! Actually, the answer is…neither. Like these channels, two marriage partners become a new and separate creation— stronger, wider, more impressive—that bears the marks of both. And strong people do not join easily or without conflict, any more than rivers or channels do. Conflict is inevitable in any close, extended human relationship…and that includes marriage. Even good ones go through rough spots. The good news is, conflict does not have to hurt a good marriage. The difference between a good one and a troubled one is not the presence of problems, but how those problems are handled. Conflict can either become the source of greater isolation…or greater intimacy.  There are never any arguments in a healthy strong marriage just opportunities and moments for Intense Fellowship!
Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Playground Angel

"Playground Angel"

Scripture Reading:
John 15:13 (HCSB)  No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.

Devotional Reading:

While sitting in the playground, a wife began talking with another young woman about her husband's health crisis and asked her if she’d pray for them to be able to find a kidney donor. She responded by saying that she and her husband had been out of town the weekend when their pastor announced the need, but if they had known, they would have stepped forward like the others did. She said told that they should ask her husband to consider it right away.  It turned out that he was right inside the church building, having gotten off work in time
that day to come by while one of their sons was rehearsing for the kids’ worship service. The woman's immediate, generous response flooded the wife's soul with a sense of God’s love at work there on the playground. When her husband came out a few minutes later, he also responded to the wife's request right away, saying that he’d definitely be willing to start the kidney donor process -- even before he ever met her husband -- because he sensed God calling him right there on the playground to help.

The great love the young couple showed to them could only have been God’s love working through them. There’s no other way to explain why two people would want to do something so significant to help someone they hadn’t really know before.  The Transplant center tests revealed that he was a match, and the transplant was completely successful.  The husband
was like an angel to them because God’s love worked powerfully through him. Empowered by that love, one man sacrificed a part of his own body to give another family a gift that
they could never repay: a kidney that saved his life.  Why would someone give such a wonderful gift? The husband said it was because he was full of gratitude for what God had done for him in his own life. His gratitude for God’s grace motivated him to develop a lifestyle of giving, opening his heart regularly to God’s love so it could flow through him to others.
So when he encountered God’s call to give an extraordinary gift, he was able to respond faithfully and powerfully, just like angels do.  What a hero.  I would like to take a moment and recognize one of my own personal heroes; my wife who a year ago today selflessly gave her kidney to help a friend.  Also, another special lady from my church who answered the same call and 6 months later gave her kidney to a man she had never met before.  Way to go ladies... you both rule and rank up top on my list of heroes.  It is both an honor and privilege to know you both!
Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Yet to Come

"Yet to Come"

Scripture Reading:
1 Peter 1:4 (HCSB)  and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

Devotional Reading:

As I was going through my notes for Saturday's funeral, I came across this story, which blesses me every time I read it and I pray it will bless you as well. 

There was a young man who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as he was getting his things in order, he contacted his pastor and had him come to his house to discuss certain aspects of his final wishes. He told him which songs he wanted sung at the service, what scriptures he would like read, and what suit he wanted to be buried in.  Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the young man suddenly remembered something very important to him.  "There's one more thing," he said excitedly. "What's that?" came the pastor's reply.  "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand," he told him.   The pastor stood looking at the young man, not knowing quite what to say.  "That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young man asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.  The young man explained. "My grandmother once told me a story that I never forgot and I have tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement.  Here’s her story:

“In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew something better was coming . .  . like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful and with substance!'  So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder, "What's with the fork? Then I want you to tell them, "Keep your fork . . . the best is yet to come."  The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young man good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see him before his death. But he also knew that the young man had a better grasp of heaven than he did. He had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice his age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. He KNEW that something better was coming. 

At the funeral people were walking by the young man's casket and they saw the dashing suit he was wearing and the fork placed in his right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.  During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young man shortly before he died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to him. The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.  He was right.  So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.  Thank you Jesus, just knowing that You are waiting for me takes the sting out of death and puts joy in my heart. 

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Flicker of Lust

"Flicker of Lust"

Scripture Reading:
Job 29:14 (HCSB)  I clothed myself in righteousness, and it enveloped me; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.

Devotional Reading:

C. S. Lewis spins a remarkable story about a little red lizard that a certain ghost carried on his shoulder. The lizard twitched its tail and whispered continually to the ghost, who urged him all the while to be quiet. When a bright and shining presence appeared and offered to rid the ghost of his troublesome “baggage,” the ghost refused. He understood that to quiet the lizard, it would be necessary to kill it, and that seemed too harsh. Maybe the lizard need not die, but could be trained, he reasoned. The presence responded that training would not work; it must be all or nothing. Finally, with the ghost’s permission, the presence twisted the lizard away from him, breaking its back as he flung it to the ground. Then an amazing thing happened. The ghost became a perfect man, and the lizard became a beautiful silver and gold stallion, full of power and grace. The man leaped astride the great horse, and they rode into the morning as one. Lewis ends the story with these words: “What is a lizard compared with a stallion? Lust is a poor, weak, whimpering, whispering thing compared with that richness and energy of desire which will arise when lust has been killed.” To successfully conquer lust, we must fight fire with fire: If we try to fight the fire of lust with prohibitions and threats alone—even the terrible warnings of Jesus—we will fail. We must fight it with a massive promise of superior happiness. We must swallow up the little flicker of lust’s pleasure in the conflagration of holy satisfaction. Our aim is not merely to avoid something erotic, but to gain something excellent.
Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

How Bright Are You

"How Bright Are You?"

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 5:14-16 (HCSB)  “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Devotional Reading:

The Bible uses the term"light" in many different occasions.  In the above verse, Jesus uses the term to challenge us and remind us that our lives are open books for all to read.  Let you light shine so others may glorify God.  But when your light does not shine, then you disgrace God.  So you see, being a light is a big deal and a high calling.  This calling comes directly from the Lord.  It is a pretty wild thing to realize that you may be the only Christian some of your friends will ever met.  So are you shinning brightly as a "light".  What are you willing to do to shine brighter for Jesus Christ.  "If God is powerful enough to create this huge playground called earth, don't you think he's mighty enough to have created you exactly as He intended?"
Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Holding on to hope

"Holding on to Hope"

Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 6:19 (HCSB)  We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.

Devotional Reading:

There are a few sadder sights on earth than a man or woman who have lost all hope.  In difficult times, hope can be elusive, but those who place their faith in God's promises never need lose it.  After all, God is good; His love endures forever; he has promised His children the gift of eternal life.  And, God keeps His  promises.  Despite God's promises, despite Christ's love, and despite our countless blessings, we frail human beings can still lose hope from time to time.  When we do, we need the encouragement of Christian friends, the life-changing power of prayer, and the healing truth of God's Holy word.

If you find yourself falling into the spiritual traps of worry and discouragement, seek the healing touch of Jesus Christ and the fellowship of Christian friends.  If you find a friend in need, remind them of the peace that is found in a personal relationship with Christ.  It was Christ who promised, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world."  This world can be a place of trials and tribulations, but as believers, we are secure.  God has promised us peace, joy, and eternal life.  And of course, God keeps His promises today, tomorrow and forever.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Your Example

"What Example You Leave"

Scripture Reading:
1 Timothy 2:2 (HCSB)  Lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

Devotional Reading:

Oswald Chambers advised, "Never support an experience which does not have God as its source, and faith in God as its result."  These words serve as a powerful reminder that as Christians, we are called to walk with God and obey His commandments.  But, we live in a world that presents countless temptations for adults and young people alike.  We Christians, when confronted with sin, have clear instructions: walk-or better yet run (like Joseph)-in the opposite direction.  When we do, we reap the blessings that God has promised to all those who live according to His will and His word.  As adults, we should strive to ensure our actions are accurate reflections of our beliefs.  Our theology must be demonstrated not only by our words but, more importantly, by our actions.  In short, we should be practical an conscientious, and quick to act whenever we see an opportunity to serve God.


Today, it's worth considering that your life-how you behave yourself in those day-to-day interactions with family, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers is an accurate reflection of your creed.  If we love God in our hearts, we will show Him in our lives!


Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Your Terms = No Jesus

"Your Terms = No Jesus"

Scripture Reading:
John 15:2 (HCSB)  Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit

Devotional Reading:

A Danish philosopher tells the story of a spider that dropped a single strand down from the top rafter of an old barn and began to weave his web. Days, weeks, months went by, and the web grew. It regularly provided the spider food as flies, mosquitoes and other small insects were caught in its elaborate maze. The spider built his web larger and larger until it was the envy of all the other barn spiders. One day, as this productive spider was traveling across his beautifully woven web, he noticed a single strand going up into the darkness of the rafters. I wonder why this is here, he thought. It doesn’t serve to catch me any dinner. And with that, the spider climbed as high as he could and severed the single strand that was his sustenance. When he did, the entire web slowly began to tumble to the floor of the barn, taking the spider down with it. The apostle Paul wrote that Jesus Christ is before all things…and that in Him all things hold together. He was present at creation. He is the head of the church. He is the first born from the dead, and it is in Him that all the fulness of God dwells. When we try to sever our lives from the sustaining thread of Christ, everything falls apart. Every man or woman who has clipped the strand that unites us with God and sought to find meaning and satisfaction and sense in life has been disappointed. There is simply no coherence in a life lived out on our own terms with no reference to the divine.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Absolute Power

"Absolute Power"

Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 40:29 (HCSB)  He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless.

Devotional Reading:

Here's a blast from the past some of you may remember in my book, Deep Creek Jamin Java Explosion.  Babylonian literature tells the story of a man who wanted to believe in God, but did not. He went to a Jewish teacher, saying, “If you’ll show me God, I’ll believe. Just show Him to me.” The teacher said, “I will show you God – but first, go outside and gaze at the sun for five minutes.” The man went outside, but he could not look at the sun for more than a few seconds. He told the rabbi that he had failed . . . that the sun was too bright to gaze upon. The teacher nodded in agreement. “You could not look on a minor creation of God for even a minute – and yet you want to see Him who put the brilliance in the stars. You cannot. He is too big.” What a great word about the nature of God. He is a big God – too big for us to easily grasp or readily comprehend. And too majestic for us to take in more than a glimpse of His awesome character. Because He is so big, the distance between us is great. For me to understand all about God would be as reasonable as expecting our German Shepherd, Chief, to understand all about calculus . . . and Chief’s a smart dog! How grateful I am that God sent His Son Jesus Christ to live in the flesh and show us what He is like, up close. Jesus said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” Through Him, we can gaze on God to our heart’s content.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

A Value's Game

"A Value's Game"

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 5:17 (HCSB)  “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill".

Devotional Reading:

No one likes to talk about the law much anymore. And values, well – they’ve become a cultural antique! Today’s education system doesn’t instruct children on what is right and wrong. Instead they learn “values clarification.” And the “values” that are “clarified” may not be yours or mine (certainly are the liberal left's agenda), and almost certainly will not be God’s. A college religion instructor uses a peculiar little test to illustrate to his students that each of us operates under an innate system of values. He offers them a list of fifteen items and asks them to rank them using whatever scale they choose. They review the list – “mouse, boy, sun, angel, ant, crab, Norwegian pine, corn, amoeba, hamburger, potato, Rolls Royce, Moby Dick, Taj Mahal, the idea of good” – and plunge in. The results, he says, are always fascinating. But the fact that the students do rank the items somehow illustrates that a value system – even an unconscious one – is at work. How does the Christian make value judgments? He relies on God’s word, which is His law. The fact that Christ died for our sins does not give us license to sin more, or to ignore His commands. In fact, Paul argues, it is grace that establishes God’s law in our hearts and makes His values our own.  So if you began to rank or categorize the above elements, my question is why?  Everything in word and deed unto our Lord Jesus Christ!


Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

A Gentleman's Game

"A Gentleman's Game"

Scripture Reading:
Proverbs 17:27 (HCSB)  The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a man of understanding.

Devotional Reading:

Years ago, no one on the PGA tour wanted to play with a golfer by the name of Cole. It seemed Cole was angry all the time. He made cutting remarks. He was bitter. And he made the golfers around him mad, too. Sam Snead was Cole’s partner at the Master’s in Augusta, Georgia, one year, and Snead’s reputation for graciousness was as well-known as Cole’s reputation for obnoxious behavior. But after ten or twelve holes, even Snead was disgusted with Cole. As they approached the next hole, Snead took out a three iron and laid up right down the middle. As Cole took out his iron, Snead said, “Son, when I was your age, I would take my driver and fade my shot right over those pine trees. It would save me about 100 yards, but that might be a little tough for you.” Cole’s anger flashed as he took the bait. “I can do anything you’ve ever done,” he said. “Get out of my way, old man.” Then he took out his driver and hit a fabulous shot with a slight fade. The ball hit the top of the pine trees and fell in a deep rough. As both golfers were walking toward their shots, Snead looked back at Bobby Cole and said, “Nice try, son. But I forgot to tell you that when I was your age, those pine trees were only shoulder high.” Solomon wrote in Proverbs that a hot tempered person stirs up strife, but one who is slow to anger can head off contention. The wise person is never in a hurry to give in to anger.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20