I recently was asked by a young person, "What do I do when I just don't like someone?" I must be honest; I had no good answer for them! I told them, "You just be kind. You try hard to be Christ-like!" But I knew that was a semi-shallow response, so I told them I would look up some Scripture that might help them understand not only how to treat someone they don't like, but also why we do what we do. If I'm honest, I don't always naturally get along with everyone, so this was a great question to answer for myself, too!

1 Samuel 1

What do you think of when you hear the word "worship?" Worship is a term that is familiar to us, and it's a term we often associate with music or a Sunday service that starts in the main auditorium at 10:05 am. However, when we look at the Bible, we see that worship is far more than just a song or a time on our calendars. In John 4:24, Jesus teaches that we are to worship God "... in spirit and in truth." This shows us that worship is more than an outward act; but rather, worship is something that begins on the inside in our hearts.

I Peter 3:12, "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."

By the time this Staff Devotional reaches your inbox, our nation will have survived another Election Day on November 3rd. No matter the outcome concerning the presidency, the state and local offices, or even the recent confirmation of a conservative-leaning United States Supreme Court Justice, God's people must remember that the battles we face can only be won on our knees. Personally, this past week I have been dismayed to read articles by "leading evangelicals" that seek to influence Christians not to vote, that equate pride with the murder of innocent life, and that cloak the author's arrogance in phony, doctrinal diatribe. What we need in our land is a good dose of Bible-believing people on their faces before God. We need repentance. We need contrition. We need confession. We need intercession!

In just a few days, our church will host the Loving and Leading Conference. The goal of this event is to provide training for persons who have a heart for investing in the lives of children. Really, it's leadership training. We are privileged to be used of God to help prepare people (leaders) to grow children in Christ. Ultimately, the conference objective is to invest in the leaders of local bodies so they can help children to become like Christ.

"Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." (Proverbs 27:1)

The year 2020 has vividly reminded us that we are not in control of our lives. Events have been canceled and our calendars turned upside down. We had plans and they were rearranged. A global pandemic continues and the Presidential Election approaches. Social unrest, wildfires, hurricanes, and a myriad of other tragic events threaten to overwhelm us. It is good to remember that Jesus told His disciples, "... In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)