Celtic Preacher

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places It can appear to others that we have everything we need, but deep down, we know we lack. We know something is missing. Jesus, in today's teaching, shows us we can become attached to the wrong things. We might think our ways of coping are harmless and only affect us, but before we know it, we have lost our freedom. We are left with a restless longing. Text M...

An Unfulfilling Pursuit- If I Could Have… Comparing ourselves to others can create a cycle of discontent. Jesus recognizes this tendency within us and addresses the mind that likes to compare and all its false promises. Pod 191 Text Matthew 20  

Let's make sure we are on the same page. God has a plan for us. If we were a house, the project would be a complete tear-down and renovation, including the foundation. God is not making a few cosmetic changes here and there. This explains why our spiritual/emotional life feels overwhelming at times. God is making radical changes in us to help us become the people we were created to be. Matthew 18...

If we continually think about a conflict in the past, it's a sure sign that we have unfinished business to attend to. Hurts have a persistent way of reappearing, grabbing our attention and demanding we listen. In today's teaching, Jesus gives us wisdom, freeing us from past conflicts with people/events/circumstances that have hurt us. Text Matthew 18 Pod 189

Unmet expectations can cause us a lot of disappointment. Expectations are acceptable if they harmonize with God's purpose for our lives. If we are not on the same page, we end up struggling against the reality of our lives, which never goes well for us. God isn't primarily leading us into more of what we think we need. Jesus taught us that we are being positioned for inner freedom, and that's a wh...

"Who do you say I Am?" is a question everyone grapples with after hearing Jesus' teachings. Can Jesus be trusted?  Like Peter, we can be ambivalent and second-guess our choices when life gets overly challenging. Following Jesus is about being led beyond our frail personalities. Matthew 16

We all have our fears, and as long as we are on this earth, fear will be known to us. Jesus' way of navigating fear is to invite us to move toward it. The answer isn't to deny fear or run from it. Jesus didn't let fear dictate his every move. He said courage is needed, but a brave step forward might be as simple as doing the next thing that needs to be done. In other words, I may be frightened out...

The scripture teaches, "You are right. You often don't know what to do." The right path is not always clear, the correct response can elude us, and the most beneficial way to help someone doesn't always work. So take the pressure off because God is working on your behalf as you go through a season of uncertainty.  The text is Romans 8 Podcast 184

Jesus did not teach, Do not judge; he taught, Do not judge rashly. In other words, Jesus didn't say, "Never judge," which is impossible in this world; since we make judgments daily. Jesus taught us to be cautious about decisions, wait, and not make premature judgments because there's a strong possibility we will be wrong. The text is, The Parable of the Weeds, from Matthew 13 Pod 183

It's a struggle; the apostle Paul would admit, as well as all the other followers of Jesus, down throughout the ages. I want to live one way, and my mind insists on taking me in another direction. Is there any hope for me? Absolutely, the apostle Paul teaches. Once you see the problem, you are halfway there. The text is Romans 7. Pod 181 

We don't need to be taught personal preference. Our wants, desires, and perceived needs are hard-wired into us, so receiving guidance from God isn't always straightforward. We might tell ourselves we'd like some input from God, but when our plans fall apart, we are disappointed. What if our plans were meant to fall apart? Sometimes God bypasses our personal preferences to show us a better way. Tex...

Our guard of self-protection is often lowered during times of great need and vulnerability. What we call "weakness" is often the doorway God uses to bring us deep healing. The healing and transformation can often come without warning and during the most unlikely circumstances. Text Acts 16 Paul's unexpected healing. Pod 179

You have plans; you think it's a great idea, yet you are blocked. You can't move forward after all your time and energy. Has it all been a waste of time? "Absolutely not," Paul, Lydia, Silas, and the early followers of Jesus would say, "it's a roadblock. God is stopping you from taking the wrong direction. So don't get downhearted." Acts 16:6-15  Pod 178

It's not unusual for the same challenge to resurface repeatedly. You think you've learned your lesson, conquered your fear, or forgiven someone, and sooner or later, the same issue shows its face, and you feel like you are back a square one. Yes, scripture teaches this is common. Rather than use all your energy to keep resisting the problem, how about using the "problem" as another stepping stone...

Information is reasonable and necessary when we start off learning about God. Still, before too long, we can become very good at gathering information without putting much of it into practice. Growth, inner change, and transformation occur when our behavior changes; we need to access the Holy Spirit for any lasting change; otherwise, we keep doing the same things repeatedly. The Spirit is like the...

When life is unsettled, and we are waiting for things to change, most of us would not say we are living in joy. The whole experience of joy is often elusive. We manage, cope, and produce, but joy is something else. The first students of Jesus were marked by joy, which leads me to believe their focus was not on their present circumstances. Life lessons from the first followers of The Way. Pod 175 T...

Place, purpose, and belonging are basic needs of every person. Everyone wants to know their place; why am I here? How should I spend my life? Everyone wants to know their purpose and, of equal importance, have a sense of belonging. If anyone one of these needs is missing, we feel unsettled and out of sorts. In his letter to his congregation, Peter wants them (and us) to know God has all these need...

Why is it so hard for us to know what to do? Jesus said you can receive direction and wisdom from God, but listening takes practice. God leads only one Way, and once you know the Way, it gets far easier to recognize what is not God’s leading.  Text is John 10 1-10 Pod 173 

It's when we are under high stress our weaknesses show. It's under increased pressure when God meets us in powerful ways to free and heal us so we become stronger through what we call "our failures." Text John 21:15-20

Following Jesus' resurrection, life does not return to life as usual for Jesus' students. Much like us, the first followers of Jesus had to learn how to pick up the pieces when their hopes and dreams were shattered. The text is The Walk To Emmaus—Gospel of Luke 23. Podcast 171

Jesus didn't just teach about courageous living. He modeled it. He didn't avoid the difficult things to say or do and expected us to do the same. Avoidance holds us back and keeps us trapped. Face the difficult thing, and I will be with you, He promised. The text is Matthew 21:1-11. Palm Sunday Pod 170

God uses dreams, visions, friends, coincidence, circumstances, music, scripture, and a hundred other things to communicate with us. The ancient people were familiar with God using visions and dreams to speak to them. Today we will look at Ezekiel's vision of The Valley of the Dry Bones and hear a timeless promise we all need to hold onto, especially when we find ourselves in a place or position we...

We Can't Rush Spiritual Growth. Understanding ourselves and God's work in our world is a lifetime endeavor. We will go through times of questioning, and the answers will not be forthcoming. Rather than ask why something is happening, Jesus teaches us to ask, "Where can I see God work in this situation?" Insight is needed to bring new clarity to everyday conflicts and dilemmas. The text is the Gosp...

It's helpful to recognize our personal biases. Jesus never used such language, but he constantly models the need to go toward people, conflict, or suffering we would rather avoid. He dragged his reluctant students more than once into uncomfortable situations where they felt pretty out of their depth. It's during times when we lack confidence clarity is found. The text is John 4, The Women At The W...

It doesn't seem fair that you can do all the right things and still be left wanting. You can't entirely secure what you think you need and want. Jesus taught that trying to do the right thing isn't the primary thing. Developing a trusting relationship with God is the first concern. Trust is the foundation for transformation and inner change, and God oversees that life project. Nicodemus tried to l...