Flagstone Church of Christ

Prayer can be a powerful thing. But it can also be a very frustrating thing, especially when my prayers aren't being answered...or at least not the way I want them to be. Unanswered prayers can push me to the limit of my relationship with God and my trust in Him. What do I do when it seems like God isn't listening? What do I do when it seems like, even if God is paying attention, His answe...

I act right. I'm helpful when I can be. I'm a good citizen. I go to church. I take care of my family. I donate to charity. I may have a lot of actions that I take that I hope are not only helping me be a good person but are also making a difference in this world. But if I don't see any impact? What if it feels like trying to do the right thing or trying to help is just a waste of time?...

Most of us find ourselves being tempted on multiple occasions to do something we shouldn't. But many of us have that certain temptation, that certain habit or struggle, that is consistently a problem. We try not to give in; we try to stay strong. But we often find ourselves being pushed to the limit of our ability to say "no." What do I do when my temptations push me to my breaking p...

We may attribute distance from God to busyness or lack of focus. Sometimes we may even accuse God of distancing Himself from us (even though that's probably not the case). But there are also times when the source of disconnection is us - it's our own decisions and our own actions and the regret and guilt of our mistakes that can push us to a breaking point in our faith. What do I do when m...

We all have our breaking points - the limits of what we feel like we can handle. Sometimes we find ourselves at an emotional or even spiritual breaking point because of consequences to our own choices. But sometimes we find ourselves feeling overwhelmed and pushed to our limit, and we have done nothing to deserve it. What do I do when I'm overwhelmed by circumstances beyond my control...especi...

When there are conflicts or when there is distance in a certain relationship, I may try to blame the other person and hold them at fault. Or I may be able to take an honest look at my own actions and see how I may be contributing to the problem. But what if the source of the issue is rooted, not just in my actions, but in my self-esteem? What if the way I view myself is having a negative impact on...

So many feuds between families and friends, so many conflicts between nations, so many squabbles between couples could possibly be prevented if one or both parties would choose to forgive the other. And yet the core issue that causes distance and disconnection in many relationships is an inability, or maybe just an unwillingness, to forgive. How do I truly forgive someone who has caused me pain? A...

There is a significant truth revealed throughout scripture - our words have power. God calls us to use our words wisely because they have the power to give life or to destroy. If I'm experiencing difficulty in a certain relationship, I need to recognize how my words might be impacting that connection. But how can I tell if my words are helping or hindering the growth of this relationship? And...

There may be a conflict between the two of us, maybe some resentment, maybe some frustration. And my initial response may be to blame you as the source of the problem. But what if the main reason for our conflict has less to do with your words and your actions (or lack of them) and more to do with my own assumptions about you and about our connection with each other? What do I if my unhealthy expe...

We all want to have some sense of control over certain events in our lives. We want to feel like we can dictate certain circumstances to our benefit if possible. But what happens when my desire to maintain control ends up infringing on someone else's well-being? I can consciously, or often subconsciously, make a habit of trying to dictate other people's actions and attitudes...and that&#39...

Over the last few years, there has been a steady decline in the U.S., not just in church attendance, but in church involvement as well. There are so many other things that people devote their time and energy to that getting connected with or volunteering at a church has taken a back seat to other priorities. But is it really important whether I go to church or not? What if I go to church fairly re...

Throughout the centuries of God's relationship with His people, one of the things He consistently challenged them with was their generosity...or their lack of it! God has always wanted His people to have a heart for giving, not just their time and attention, but also their finances and possessions. Why does it matter to the God (who doesn't need my money) whether or not I'm generous wi...

There are a variety of things that people value and are most passionate about, from sports teams to vacation spots to favorite foods and more. It's easy to tell how much a person has a "heart" for something based on the time, energy, or effort they spend devoted to it. But how many of us have a heart for other people - a passion for helping those in need or sharing our faith with those who have no...

Psychologists and sociologists will say that you can tell a person has a heart for something if they have an intense interest or curiosity in it, if they "light up" or get excited when talking about it, if they actively seek opportunities to engage in a certain activity or to spend time with a certain person even if obstacles get in the way. The question is...do any of those characteristics descri...

The bridge between Christmas and the new year is a tricky one. How can I reflect on the infant Christ while also preparing my mind, body, and spirit for the coming new year? Diet and Exercise are common goals for the new year, but I would wager that the biggest goal you can set for 2025 is to Treasure Jesus Christ more. Investing in a steady diet of God's word and exercising our faith are two cruc...

Every nativity scene has some common characters included - obviously the Baby Jesus, his mother Mary, and his father Joseph. You might also see an angel and maybe some farm animals nearby as well. But there are also some characters that probably shouldn't be there...or at least we wouldn't expect them to be. And yet they are vital to the story of the birth of Jesus and vital to our full understand...

The story of Jesus' birth is full of surprises - angels appearing, life plans changing, the Creator of the Universe becoming a vulnerable little Baby. Just like Joseph, Mary had plans for her life, and those plans got completely disrupted one day when she was visited by an angel. What did she do when God revealed an unexpected change to her plans? And what can I learn from Mary's experience so tha...

We make lots of plans on a fairly regular basis - plans that range from simple decisions like where we're going to eat lunch to more complicated choices like relationships or career paths or finances. But our plans don't always work out the way we see them in our minds, do they? In the story of the birth of Jesus, we see a man who was a planner, a man who had his whole life figured out...until he...

Several moments in the Christmas story were unexpected. One of the biggest surprises is how Jesus chose to enter our world in the first place. It wasn't with a parade or nationwide proclamation. It wasn't as a conquering warrior or a popular politician. The Son of God, the Messiah, chose to enter our world as a defenseless Baby. That was a surprise! That was unexpected! But why does that matter? W...

There are many who believe that the United States is more divided politically than at any other time in our history. Competing political viewpoints on a variety of topics have fractured friendships and families and even churches. In the middle of such a volatile political climate, can the church really be a source of peace in our communities? As our country heads to the polls this Tuesday, how can...

As God invites me to experience His peace in my life, He also calls me to become a "peacemaker" in this world. But I can't produce the kind of peace in someone else's life that He produces in mine. So how do I help bring peace into my community and my relationships in spite of my own limitations? In a world full of hostility and conflict and anxiety, how do I plant seeds of peace?

God calls us as Christians to be "peacemakers," to be people who generate and produce peace. As we try to understand what it means to be a peacemaker, we need to first look at how Jesus not only provided peace to His followers, but how He provides it to us as well. And I can't share something I don't have, so before I become a peacemaker, I need to honestly ask myself, "Am I experiencing God's pea...

Sailors know the value of anchor points when storms hit. They know that it's important to have something solid to anchor to when the winds and the waves come crashing against their boats. And it's important to try to anchor one's vessel ahead of time if possible, before the storm arrives. Anchor points are important for Christians too - solid truths that we can grab hold of and rely on when we exp...

We all face temptations on a regular basis. Some of these enticements are fairly easy for us to turn away from. Others can often take hold of our hearts and dictate our actions. Eventually, giving in to temptations can cause a variety of challenges and "storms" in our lives. But what if I could prepare for the struggle before I faced it? Would that help me say "no" to that temptation? How do I get...

No human relationship is completely perfect and without problems. Whether it's a marriage, a friendship, or a dating relationship, there will inevitably be issues to deal with - conflict, miscommunication, misunderstanding, etc. What might even start as a small issue can blow up quickly into an all out storm. But what if I could prepare for these negative encounters ahead of time? How can I go abo...