Category - Christian Living

Time to Clean!

February 26, 2026
mkhudsonsr
Christian Living

While recovering from gallbladder surgery, I mentioned to my wife that I needed to clean up my office because it had become so cluttered that it made it very difficult to work in it. The desk was filled with mail, both good and junk. Papers were everywhere, and cameras and lenses littered the rest of the desk. I had to push aside a pile of stuff just to have a place to write or even type.

My desk reminds me of my life in many ways. Becoming cluttered with all the things in this world happens without any thought or planning. Just living each day, things tend to clutter our minds, hearts, and lives. It begins to crowd out things that are so important to the point that we are dealing with things that do not matter and forgetting the things that really mean something. Life clutter or heart clutter pushes the Lord aside to the point that we are living but not realizing how much we have allowed our worship, fellowship, and time with God has fallen away.

I would show you a picture of my office before the cleanup, but I am embarrassed to do so. Was it easy to clean up? No! Did it take time? Yes! But it really began with a decision to declutter so I could enjoy the freedom found in removing all the clutter and focusing on having a place to work.

Life’s clutter begins to disappear when we decide to push unimportant things aside and focus on what is important: our relationship with our Lord and Saviour. Remove what is keeping you from spending time with the Lord. Stop, look, examine, and remove the clutter from your life, heart, and mind. Focus on Jesus and the joy will return to living for the Lord.

Colossians 3:1-2 KJV “3:1 ¶ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Influence

July 9, 2025
mkhudsonsr
Christian Living, Uncategorized

My next-door neighbor gave Pat and me a beautiful plant that began blooming shortly after we received it. Beautiful blooms, but they are very small. Some would classify them as tiny. But, even in their small size, their beauty lightens up the surrounding.

Just like individuals, some have an enormous influence over many individuals, while others have a smaller influence. It is not the size of the influence that matters, but the quality. You can either brighten a room when you enter or darken it with your presence?

Just because a person does not have a significant influence or social outreach, their inward beauty can have a tremendous impact on those whom they come in contact with daily. I remember one individual whose influence, attitude, and words would brighten any room regardless of where it was located. She carried a smile and a kind word wherever she went. Did she have a huge social influence? No, she didn’t. But, those who were around her say the beauty in her heart and life when she came around lifted others up.

Maybe today, you think that you don’t really matter because you don’t have a huge social media following or large group of friends. But when you have the precious love of Jesus in your heart, you will brighten the rooms you enter. Remember, it is not how big the bloom is, but how it brightens the surrounding area. Let your love and care brighten those you come in contact with each day.

1 John 3:18 KJV “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

1 Timothy 4:12 KJV “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

What is holding you back?

July 15, 2024
mkhudsonsr
Christian Living, Devotion

Just as we were getting ready to leave for a day at the beach, it started raining. Traveling down the road, the clouds were getting darker and menacing, but we kept going. Then we received a text, “You are going to the beach, it’s raining.” We had every excuse to turn around and go back home, but we continued on. And, we had a great day to be at the beach enjoying the sound of the waves and spending time together.

Life is not about waiting for the perfect time or circumstances. Life is to be lived now, not waiting for everything to line up in order because the perfect time might never come and things might never line up.

God’s timing is perfect and our timing is limited. We see the clouds; He sends the sunshine. We see the excuses; He sees the opportunities. We see the hinderances; He opens the doors.

Seek God’s will. If God says “Wait”, then wait. If God says “Go ahead”, then go ahead. If God says, “No” then don’t do it. If God says, “I have something better for you,” then wait patiently.

Just because the wind is blowing and the clouds look heavy is no reason to delay planting the seed or reaping the harvest. Never let excuses keep you from doing what God has called you to do.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 KJV “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.”

Are you important?

July 15, 2024
mkhudsonsr
Christian Living, Devotion

With 8 billion people in the world, it is easy for us to think we do not matter or make any difference. We see ourselves as an insignificant person in a world filled with others who have more influence or fame than we do. We spend too much time trying to impress others rather than just being the person God made us to be.

When we stop chasing fame or popularity and decide to strive to be the person God wants us to be, then we can see that our life has meaning and purpose. Each person has the potential to make a difference in the family, church, place, and position God has put them in.

Just like this single flower, which is one among thousands, provides so much. It helps to produce seeds for the production of more plants. Provides nectar so bees can produce honey. Adds color and beauty to the area. Helps to reduce stress and provide joy for those who admire its beauty.

God has a purpose and plan for your life. Don’t be someone you are not. But strive to be more like Christ and you will make a difference in the lives of others.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Older generation

July 15, 2024
mkhudsonsr
Christian Living, Photography

Wrinkled and worn, often forgotten, and counted as no longer useful, the older generation is pushed aside for what is younger, shinier, and vibrant. Awhile back I had a young adult couple approach me and said, “We want someone our age teaching us, not an older person.” The request was not for someone wiser or experienced but merely based on age, a younger teacher.

When the older generation is discarded, wisdom leaves and folly arrives. When the older generation is disrespected, sin arrives at the door. When the older generation is looked down upon, fools walk in.

Solomon’s son made a grave mistake in not heeding the counsel of the old men that served his father. Instead, he took the advice of the young men he grew up with and the results were devastating. Israel was weakened because the nation was divided.

The old will not look as vibrant as the young. Faded around the edges, yet still they hold a wealth of wisdom, not just knowing but how to apply the knowledge. So, take time to listen to your parents and elders. It will help you avoid a lot of heartache and pain if you learn from their wisdom.

Proverbs 23:22 KJV “Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.”

1 Kings 11:43-12:1; 12:6 KJV “11:43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.12:1 ¶ And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.12:6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?”

1 Kings 12:8 KJV “But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:”

1 Kings 12:13-16 KJV “12:13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;12:14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.12:15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.12:16 ¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.”

Growing Deeper in 2022

December 23, 2021
mkhudsonsr
Bible Study, Christian Living, Growing Deeper, Uncategorized

Growing Deeper

Several years ago, one of my favorite trees in our yard came crashing down. Beautiful, full of shade, tall, and magnificent presence it brought to our yard. How much I enjoyed the shade it provide!

Just looking at this tree, you would think it was healthy, strong, and would last a lifetime. But, when the storm rolled through, I watched it slowly teeter over and fall. One thing I notice as soon as it fell was the depth of the root system. For a tree that large, the roots system was shallow. It was out of proportion to the size and height of the tree. No one would suspect how shallow the roots were.

As Christians, we need to examine our roots and see if they are growing deep and strong in our faith. Without depth, we will not survive when the storms of life come.

Jesus warned us about this in His sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 7:24–27 ESV “7:24 ¶ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

7:25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

7:26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

7:27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.””

In 2022 our emphasis is Growing Deeper. Growing Deeper in Christ through the study of God’s Word.

I encourage you to begin the New Year right by taking time to study God’s Word. Be in church on January 2 as we grow deeper in Christ.

Bro. Michael

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