How do you prepare for Christmas? What must be done in your house and life so that you feel ready for Christmas? The preparation that scripture asks us to do is focused on the heart. How does one prepare their heart of the coming of Jesus? Prepare The Way 9 from First Presbyterian Church on … More Prepare the Way – Second Sunday of Advent Message
How can we be thankful during times of suffering and acts of horror? Can God create hope in the midst of darkness? thankful time 11 from First Presbyterian Church on Vimeo.
How can we use the money we make to show our thanks to God? How can we overcome the stress and anxious feelings that we experience when we use social media? How can we live as people who are truly set free? These are some of the questions we tackle this week as we look … More So thankful I stopped worrying!
No matter how many times I start to write I hit the backspace and delete button. Why? I don’t want to put something down that is flimsy or trite. Right now the panhandle of Florida is in the midst of a hurricane. My wife has family roots down there, my family rest and renews … More Powerful Prayers, Storms, and Hearts
There are several benefits that we can enjoy from being grateful. What does the bible say about being thankful? What would happen in our lives if we choose to thank God before we choose to complain? oct 7 from First Presbyterian Church on Vimeo.
We learn from the story of the widow who was asked by the Prophet Elijah to make a small amount of bread from her final supplies that God is the author of life and God can always write another chapter when we think there is nothing else to give. The Widow from First Presbyterian Church … More Sermon from Sunday, August 26
Lately I have become keenly aware of the power of words. As a husband, father, and pastor I have seen the impact of my words on the faces of those around me. Some times there is misunderstanding on my part or on their part. Then there are the times that I know my words landed … More Take It Back
What happens when God is silent at a time we want action or direction? We are tempted to believe that God is missing or does not care. The truth according to scripture is that God is at work and things are about to change! Here is Mark 11:1-11.
How much do we trust God? Do we only trust God when the action we are to take works with our safe, well-funded, tried and true plans? What if we are being asked to risk and not all the peices are there yet? These are the questions that we ask ourselves as we read Mark … More Sermon from March 4th
The current trend in leaving organized religion behind is troubling for many reasons. Yesterday, I was sharing with a member about how throughout the human story it was the religious faithful who stepped forward to care for the poor, outcast, infected, those who suffer from famine and natural disasters. “Imagine a day when all who … More Gather Together
Rev. Shawn J. Smith 