"The End of the Story" - Friday February 6, 2026

“The End of the Story”

Have you ever watched a recording of your favorite football team knowing the final score? As much as I love sports, I could probably count on one hand the times I’ve watched a game where the outcome has already been revealed to me.

 

Knowing how things (anything) end, changes the way a person thinks. Their tension goes down because the end of the story has been revealed. When you don’t have to wonder if things will turn out badly, it affects your perspective and your attitude.

 

This is why believers in Christ grieve differently from the rest of the world. It doesn’t mean we don’t hurt or feel sad. When believers lose family members or friends who are also believers, they grieve because they miss the person who is gone, but they also know they are in a far better place – heaven. With God, FOREVER.

 

The pain of loss is real, but the hope of seeing a loved one again is also real. In a sense, we grieve for ourselves because we have to find a way forward without them. But we grieve without fear because we know the end of the story. One day, we will join them in heaven and celebrate with a wonderful reunion.

 

You can have hope, even when there is loss. How? You’ve got to get a bigger picture and a longer view. You have to refocus your attention. You’ve got to stop thinking about just the here-and-now and start living as if there is much more to your story – because there is. This life is not all there is! Jesus said, “He’s going to prepare a place for us…”(John 14:1-6).

 

Don’t forget: You know how the story ends. The “end” is really the beginning – of spending eternity with Christ in heaven and with loved ones and friends and friends who have gone before you. The Living Bible paraphrase says, “So we do not look at what we see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

 

Pastor Carnes

"The Problem with Jealousy" - Thursday February 5, 2026

“The Problem with Jealousy”

Yesterday, through a study of Reuben we learned when we begin to compromise certain things, it begins to erode our convictions. Compromising or “doing your thing,” has become a very popular acceptance in today’s society. When we compromise our standards of life or convictions, we do so by taking something right and reduce it to meet our lifestyle. Removing ourselves from right and truth can lead down on a path of no return.

 

More often than not, the opening story on any news station relates to some sort of violence and in too many cases, a person murdering another. We watch angry crowds as they march in protest destroying anything and everything that gets in their way. Civil conversations are outnumbered by those where people disagree and someone getting angry.

 

Most violent actions stem from jealousy. It’s like, “I want your job … your home … your bank account … your title … or someone else serving in a political position”. Jealousy can lead to anger which can lead to uncontrolled rage, that leads to someone being injured or killed. In the story of Joseph and Reuben, (Genesis 29 – 50) , we find jealousy turning into such hatred, that the brothers actually tried to kill Joseph.

 

Lest we say, “That could never happen to me,” let’s take a look at the commentary on verses 19 and 20 in Genesis chapter 37.

 

Could jealousy ever make you feel like killing someone? Before saying, “Of course not,” look what happened in this story. Ten men were willing to kill their younger brother over a robe and a few reported dreams. Their deep jealousy had grown into ugly rage, completely blinding them to what was right.

 

Jealousy can be difficult to recognize because our reasons for it seem to make sense. But left unchecked, jealousy grows quickly and leads to serious sins. The longer you cultivate jealous feelings, the harder it is to uproot them. The time to deal with jealousy is when you notice yourself keeping score of what others have.

 

Pastor Carnes

"Profile of Reuben" - Wednesday January 4, 2026

“Profile of Reuben”

A profile is a brief description of a person usually written in a resume, article, or document. If we were to write a profile on ourselves, we’d be sure to include all the good qualities. But what would be written by those who know us best? The NIV Life Application Bible includes a profile on many biblical characters. The story of Reuben is told in Genesis 29-50. His profile is listed here to help us evaluate our life as we look at his.

 

Parents are usually the best judges of their children’s character. Jacob summarized the personality of his son Reuben by comparing him to water (Gen. 49:3,4). Except when frozen, water has no stable shape of its own. It always shapes itself to its container or environment.

 

Reuben usually had good intentions but seemed unable to stand against a crowd. His instability made him hard to trust. He had both private and public values, but these contradicted each other. He went along with his brothers in their action against Joseph while hoping to counteract the evil in private. The plan failed.

 

Compromise has a way of destroying convictions. Without convictions, lack of direction will destroy life. Reuben’s sleeping with his father’s concubines showed how little he had left of the integrity he had displayed earlier in life.

 

How consistent are your public and private lives? We may want to think they are separate, but we can’t deny that they affect each other. What convictions are present in your life at all times? How closely does Jacob’s description of his son – “turbulent as the waters” – describe your life?

 

The character of a person is being made and molded each day by the decisions they make or following the wishes of others. You choose every day the type of person you want to be and the legacy you’ll leave behind. Your personal story is being written by your or someone else. What is it? What do you want it to be and what steps are you willing to take to become the person you want to be? Sacrificing certain things can be a virtue, not a penalty.

 

Pastor Carnes

"Today" - Tuesday February 3, 2026

“Today”

The Hebrew word for day is “Yom” and is used 2,301 in the Old Testament. Outside of Genesis 1, Yom plus a number is used 410 times which indicates a 24-hour day. In Genesis 1:3 the word day is used describing the daylight hours. The word today is mentioned over 100 times often emphasizing immediate action, divine promises, or urgency of obedience (see Psalm118:24; Hebrews 3:13).

 

Life can feel overwhelming; our calendars are filled with commitments, and our hearts carry burdens unseen to others. Yet God’s Word assures us that He is present every moment, offering guidance and strength. Proverbs encourage us to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge (submit to) him, and he will make your paths straight.”

 

So, what’s the big deal about a “Day,” or “Today?” It’s a big deal because today could be the most significant day of your life. Consider what the Lord has placed before you today – the conversations you’ll have, the opportunities given to you, and the responsibilities to fulfill. We also experience unknown or “surprise” events. 

 

Today – this 24-hour period is God’s gift to you. The only thing we know for certain is His promise to be with us. We have plans that may be fulfilled or completely nullified. God has promised us that his “mercies are renewed every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Some day we need a lot of mercy, others not so much. But we are assured whatever is needed will be supplied. No more, no less.

 

Today is important because during this 24-hour period someone will seek forgiveness of their sins and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. It could be you! It’s important because your forgiveness from a friend or family member may be accepted. Today may be the day you stop to help someone in need and your act of kindness points them to Jesus and ultimately the transformation of their life.

 

Make no mistake, today isn’t an accident. It’s God’s ordained gift to you. We can fill it with selfish ambitions or use it to make a difference in the life of another person. Don’t take this day for granted and remember, the choices you make today will determine where you will be tomorrow.

 

Pastor Carnes

 

 

 

 

"Can You Hear Me Now?" - Monday February 2, 2026

“Can You Hear Me Now?”

Everyone remembers the catchy slogan or advertisement designed by Verizon several years ago. It became so popular people often used it in conversations making sure the person they were speaking to, was actually hearing them. As odd as it seems, many of us are hearing today, but not much effort is put into listening. There’s a difference. A BIG difference!

 

The world fills our ears (and minds) with noise and distractions. When in the presence of someone speaking to us, it’s unfortunate, but so often we’re busy forming our own response, waiting for our turn to talk, or scrolling through our phones that we fail to truly hear what the person right in front of us is saying.

 

I remember hearing someone say long ago, “Listening is a skill.” There wasn’t much thought given to those words then, but now I believe they were right. Listening is more than just staying silent while someone else talks, “it’s an active posture of the heart that communicates value, respect, and love” says Dr. Joe Pettigrew.

 

The Bible also places a very high value on listening, not just as a social skill but as a spiritual discipline. James admonishes us to be, “quick to listen” and “slow to speak” (James 1:19). Choosing to listen means we set aside our own agenda and ego to make space for another’s thoughts and feelings. It’s an act of service and Jesus is our model. The Bible shares numerous occasions where He stopped to listen to the cries of the hurting and the questions of His followers. We must remember, when you or I call out to Him, he stops and LISTENS to us also.

 

The principle of listening not only applies to our human relationships but also to our relationship with God. We all want God available and attentive when we pray, especially when we’re desperate. He says, “Call unto me and I will answer…” (Jeremiah 33:3). Our Lord is always a good listener. One we should talk to every day, but the flip side is, don’t rush through your prayers then head on to something else. Ask Him to quiet your heart and take your turn to listen. Without question, He’ll have many valuable things to say and you don’t want to miss them.

 

Pastor Carnes

"Tomorrow's Concern" - Friday January 30, 2026

“Tomorrow’s Concern”

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if God gave you your future all at once? We should be thankful for His mercy in not allowing that to happen. If you could see every decision, every joy, every disappointment, every success, and every failure laid out in advance, it would be overwhelming. By His grace, he gives us manageable portions, one day at a time.

 

Many are so consumed with what happened yesterday or five years ago that they’re being robbed of whatever happiness the Lord is attempting to provide for today. Of course, there’s worrying over what’s going to happen tomorrow or next week. Jesus said, “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:3 NLT).

 

Worry doesn’t change yesterday and it can’t control tomorrow. God provides us with 365 days per year broken up into 24-hour segments. That’s how he expects you and me to live. Being faithful and obedient one day at a time is all he desires and that is enough.

 

By the way, that was how Jesus prayed, Our Father which art in heaven …”Give us THIS DAY our DAILY bread” (Matthew 6:11). Lamentations tells us, “His mercies are renewed every morning… (3:22-23). If allowed pressure from the outside world can disturb any day. The noises are loud, opinions are strong, and advice is received without asking for.

 

Why not decide to quiet your heart, get away from the media talking heads, and simply live today. Focus on what God has placed in front of you today. Walk with him and the people he’s entrusted to you right now. An eye-catching paraphrase from the Message is, “Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow; you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow” (Proverbs 27:1).

 

As Rick Warren says, “That’s not a warning against planning – it’s an invitation to humility and trust.”

 

Pastor Carnes

"Two Kinds of Sin" - Thursday January 29, 2026

“Two Kinds of Sin”

We all have experienced the guilty feelings that come from doing something wrong. A spiritual person will take those feelings seriously and acknowledge the guilt is coming from the Holy Spirit. It’s God prompting us to seek HIs forgiveness and possibly from an individual that was hurt by our speech or actions.

 

Hopefully, we learn from those mistakes and become aware of the fact that misdeeds not only hurt ourselves, but others. Learning and repenting is how we grow spiritually. Breaking trust or confidence with a friend or relative is serious business. We’re all well aware of a committed wrong and what it can do, but there is another type of sin rarely heard about today.

 

Doing something, we know is wrong is called the sin of commission. But there’s another type of failure known as the sin of omission. This sin is having an opportunity to help someone and we don’t. Like offering a warm smile or encouraging word but failing to do so. It’s knowing we should but fail to stand for justice because we’re afraid. It’s ignoring someone after the Holy Spirit has urged us to acknowledge them.

 

James put it this way, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it sins” (4:17). This isn’t meant to be judge mental or load someone with guilt because we’ve all failed in this endeavor. But what if we became awakened to the active nature of our faith.

 

Following Christ isn’t just about avoiding evil; it’s about actively pursuing good. It’s developing a love for Christ that becomes a lifestyle that motivates us not only to shun wrong, but also to do things that are right. God’s grace is sufficient for all our failures.

 

As you think of missed opportunities, don’t let it lead to despair, but allow God to renew a fresh dependence on the Holy Spirit that prepares each of us to do the next right thing because it’s the right thing to do.

 

Pastor Carnes