shawnethomas

My Times Are In Your Hand

Posted on 2012/08/15 by Shawn Thomas

David Boudia, who just won the gold medal in the 10 meter platform diving in the 2012 Olympics in London, had a very shaky preliminary round, and thought he might not even make it to the finals. But he was calm about it. He was quoted in the Baptist Press (8-13-12) as saying: “The coolest thing about this is that I know that God is perfect and sovereign, and if I made it, great. If I didn’t, great. I was totally content …”. Boudia had peace about his Olympic results, because he knew that God was sovereign. His attitude was similar to that of David’s in Psalm 31:15, when he wrote: “My times are in Your hand.” Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged "Sovereignty of God", David Boudia, my times are in Your hand, Psalm 31:15, Psalm 31:5, trust | Leave a comment

Memorizing James

Posted on 2012/08/14 by Shawn Thomas

Last Sunday morning, as we began a new sermon series at First Baptist Moss Bluff on the Book of James, I encouraged each of our church members to begin to memorize the book.

I am excited about the response to this challenge so far. A number of people have told me that they have started memorizing James, and I have seen others post on Facebook and indicate in other ways that they are doing the same thing. Whether you are a member of FBC Moss Bluff or not, I would encourage you to join us, and hide this powerful portion of God’s word in your heart. You will not regret it!

As encouraging as the response has been, many confess to having difficulty memorizing scripture. While all of us do not have the same gift for memorizing, we can all make an effort. Let me offer a few “helpful hints” for memorizing James, or any larger portion of scripture: Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship | Tagged Book of James, memorization hints, scripture memory | Leave a comment

A Divine Decision

Posted on 2012/08/14 by Shawn Thomas

Proverbs 16:10 is a good word for anyone holding a position of authority or influence: “A divine decision is in the lips of the king; his mouth should not err (be unfaithful) in judgment.”

At first one might wonder why the Proverb calls it a “divine decision”? Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged authority, decisions, Proverbs 16:10, responsibility, Romans 13 | Leave a comment

This Week in “Paradise” August 13

Posted on 2012/08/13 by Shawn Thomas

Did I Do That?

Cheryl hates the little lawnmower we have here in “Paradise”; she has lodged complaints against it on several occasions. Thus I must admit that I was more than a little suspicious when she “accidentally” left it out in a pouring thunderstorm Monday.

“Oh, did I leave that out there?” she said, innocently. I couldn’t help but think of the mom who “accidentally” broke her husband’s risque lamp in the movie, “A Christmas Story”!

Continue reading →

Posted in Home & Family Life, This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog) | Tagged back-to-school, Calvinism debate, cats and women, dinner, felines, football, Freudian song, garden, grading, home school, humor, kitten, lawnmower, nap time, Paradise, pastor's family life, POTS, Proverbs 31 woman, supersized, toothpaste, weight gain | 2 Comments

Simple Praise

Posted on 2012/08/13 by Shawn Thomas

Someone may ask: “How should I praise God? What exactly should I do?” One might think that there is some complicated, Biblical formula for praise, but the truth is there is a very simple one found in the Book of Psalms. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged giving thanks, model prayer, praise, prayer, Psalm 30:4, sing | Leave a comment

Introduction to the Book of James: “What Real Faith Looks Like”

Posted on 2012/08/12 by Shawn Thomas

A few weeks ago I had a phone conversation with a pastor in another town here in Southwest Louisiana, and he was talking about how there are well over 30 churches in their small community. He said, “You know how it is down here; everyone says they are a Christian.” I agreed with him; virtually everyone you run into in this area says they are a member of a church, and thinks they are going to heaven. But the problem is, they aren’t!

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who DOES the will of my Father who is in heaven.” In other words, there are going to be a lot of us who think we have saving faith, but don’t. How do you know if your faith is genuine, Biblical, saving faith, or not?

The book we are going to begin to study today answers that question. The Book of James shows us what REAL faith looks like. Now I can tell you right off the top that there are some things that genuine, saving faith does NOT look like: Continue reading →

Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like, Sermons | Tagged Book of James, faith and works, genuine faith, introduction | 1 Comment

Praying For Worship

Posted on 2012/08/12 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 29 is a great passage to pray for our Sunday worship services, as it addresses so many scriptural things that we should want to see happen in our churches: Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged felt needs, glorifying God, glory of God, God-centered worship, man's greatest need, man-centered, praying for worship, Psalm 29, worship | Leave a comment

Not So Among You

Posted on 2012/08/11 by Shawn Thomas

In Mark 10:43 Jesus said: “But it is not so among you.” He spoke these words to His disciples in response to James & John’s ambitious request to be seated at His left and right in His kingdom — and the indignation of the other 10 at the pair’s request. He told them all that things were different in His kingdom than they are in the world. His leaders would be servants. As for worldly-type ambitions, He said to them: “It is not so among you.” Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged church finance, church personnel policies, Mark 10:43, not so among you, pastors, servant leadership, the church, the church and the world, worldliness | 2 Comments

The Danger of Indignance

Posted on 2012/08/10 by Shawn Thomas

Mark 10:41 “And hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant toward James and John.”

We need to be aware that sometimes our response to someone’s sin may be as great or greater than their sin which elicited our response! In Mark 10, James & John sinned in ignorance (or in ambition) by asking to be seated at Jesus’ left and right. They were adequately rebuked and dealt with by Jesus. But now there was as great – or even GREATER — danger of sin by the other 10 disciples, that of becoming bitter about what James & John tried to do! Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged bitterness, danger, indignance, indignation, Mark 10:41 | Leave a comment

The Times That Try Men’s Souls (Psalm 11)

Posted on 2012/08/09 by Shawn Thomas

Years ago, at the founding of our nation, Thomas Paine wrote: “These are the times that try men’s souls.” That was certainly true of those revolutionary days – but I believe it is also very true today. Our souls are being tried, as this nation, which had a foundation on a belief in God and objective truth, is running madly away from God and His truth. Continue reading →

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