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helping others

The feels

June 15, 2021June 14, 2021 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

Have you ever heard someone say that something gives them “the feels”? It means that something has given then a really really good feeling. Maybe it’s an emotional song, receiving a heart-felt compliment, or a soul-satisfying conversation with a best friend. Today I’m here to notify you about the feel of all feels. Here it … Continue reading The feels

True greatness

March 24, 2021March 23, 2021 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

Servant-hood lies at the heart of true greatness. What? Hold on a second. Didn’t you mean to say bravado, courage or super-sized intelligence lie at the heart of true greatness? As good as those things can be, no. Jesus’ disciples were jockeying for positions of prestige. Seeing what was going on, he gave them a … Continue reading True greatness

Your intentions, not theirs

March 12, 2021March 11, 2021 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done” (Proverbs 19:17). There are times when we talk ourselves out of helping others because we think they’re not deserving of our help. Or maybe we simply assume they’ll squander our generosity on something they shouldn’t. … Continue reading Your intentions, not theirs

A helping hand

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

All this week we’ve been thinking about Jesus’ words in Luke 6:31: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This verse takes a second to say, and a life-time to try to live out. But since these worthy words are from the lips of King Jesus, it’s definitely a noble and … Continue reading A helping hand

Invisible visible beliefs

September 30, 2020September 29, 2020 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

“That person is so heavenly minded that they’re of no earthly use.” Have you ever heard that expression? It’s a put down. Why? Because the opposite should be true for us as followers of Jesus. Seeking to learn and do God's will should translate into usefulness and helpfulness in the here and now. James was … Continue reading Invisible visible beliefs

Collateral goodness

September 18, 2020September 14, 2020 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

Collateral damage is damage that is considered to be secondary or incidental. For example, if civilians are killed by a bomb that was meant to hit a military target that is sometimes called “collateral damage.” A less severe example might be getting hit with a foul ball at a baseball game. Someone might also call … Continue reading Collateral goodness

Not everything, but something

September 9, 2020September 8, 2020 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Tony Campolo was doing work for an organization that does amazing things over the world, including Haiti. One night he was going into his hotel in Port-au-Prince when he was approached by three girls in their early teens. They indicated that he … Continue reading Not everything, but something

His power at work within us

April 3, 2020April 2, 2020 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

This week I’ve been highlighting some tools you can use in the war against fear, whether it be fear of the unknown, illness, or financial problems. But I’m calling them weapons. These aren’t physical weapons, but spiritual ones. There are many weapons we could use. But here I’m highlighting what I think we can pick … Continue reading His power at work within us

The gift you give and get at the same time

January 14, 2020January 13, 2020 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

People make money. Older people and younger people. Some make a lot and some make a little. Some run companies and some deliver newspapers. And many do a whole bunch of other things. But WHY do we make money? Well, sure, we make money to provide for our needs. It’s nice to have food, clothes, … Continue reading The gift you give and get at the same time

#Blessed?

December 16, 2019December 13, 2019 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

#Blessed is a really popular hashtag, especially at this time of year. When posting pics many people—including myself—will say we’re somehow #blessed and that God has been good to us. To be honest, I love seeing it. It's an awareness of God as a loving provider. But get this. In Luke 11:27-28 a woman in … Continue reading #Blessed?

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