2012-12-17T12:03:51-05:00 GCI info@gospel.com /feeds/topics/1+samuel/ http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-hindrances/the-closer-they-get-the-better-you-look-6764 2012-12-17T12:03:51-05:00 Live your life in such a way that you have no fear of scrutiny or discovery, or people comparing stories. If you tell the truth and do all things as Jesus would do them, the light will only show your authenticity as it did Samuel's. It can be said of those who live without secrets and without deception, "The closer people get, the better you look." http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-mission/black-friday-battles-6750 2012-11-26T12:09:44-05:00 I love this high tribute to David, the "man after God's own heart." It says, "He fights the Lord's battles" (1 Samuel 25:28). After all, those are the only ones worth fighting. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-hindrances/when-you-know-an-ugly-secret-6693 2012-09-05T10:10:43-05:00 The longer you wait, the worse the fallout's going to be. So, don't be guilty of obstructing justice - God's justice that is. Remember, when you know an ugly secret, knowledge equals responsibility. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-most-important-relationship/a-shattered-trophy-6677 2012-08-14T10:41:52-05:00 The failure of our other "gods" points the way to the true God that we were made by and made for. The God Jesus died to reunite us with. If you're tired of the disappointment and dissatisfaction, your heart is ready for Jesus; the Savior who died for you, who rose again from the dead, who's ready to come into your life and fill the hole only He can fill. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-personal-power/why-fight-when-you-can-criticize-6573 2012-03-23T12:35:09-05:00 It's easy to criticize when you're not in the battle yourself, and it's terribly wrong. Players just don't have much time to criticize. Let me suggest to you that there might be two legitimate responses here. One is to take a position. Maybe there is someone better, but at least you're willing to go. Get in there and get involved in this holy battle. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-hindrances/the-bar-stays-where-it-is-6530 2012-01-20T10:08:36-05:00 When sin gets close to home, it can teach us how to be more merciful than we've been before, how to be less judgmental. And it can give us a wonderful opportunity to show God's unconditional love for people whether they clear the bar or not. But we dare not try in the process of loving and forgiving and accepting people in a sinful moment. We dare not try to lower God's standard. He didn't for the man He loved deeply, and we can't either. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-relationships/hug-them-tightly-but-hold-them-loosely-6529 2012-01-19T09:37:47-05:00 It's so easy to let our children become an extension of our ego, our hopes, our dreams rather than letting them simply be God's servants. Maybe you even have a child God is calling into His service and you're kind of standing in the way. We just dare not forget that our children are God's property trusted to us. We dare not hijack them from His service to be in ours. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-mission/the-first-church-of-yeah-but-6477 2011-11-10T10:47:46-05:00 God's Word on any subject is the final word. You'll know that eventually, after your "yeah, but" leads to heartache, disappointment, and shame. Face the truth now. Don't deceive yourself by twisting God's Word to fit what you want. Change your situation to fit God's Word. You don't pull the island of God's Word to the boat of your ideas. You pull the boat to the island. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-hindrances/how-to-handle-frustrating-people-6466 2011-10-24T09:48:30-05:00 When people's actions displease you, frustrate you and hurt you, would you go to the Lord first? You know what He'll do? He'll take you up on a mountain where you can see the whole picture, and He'll help you respond in a balanced way. When people frustrate you, well, go over their head. Go straight to the Throne Room of the King. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-hindrances/what-the-quake-exposes-6409 2011-08-08T11:57:33-05:00 Jonah revealed the high price of diverting our trust from the true God to another god. He said, "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs" (Jonah 2:8). If we only knew all we could have from God...but for the idol.