by Pastor Ray Viola | Aug 9, 2022 | Devotionals
When Isaac blessed “tricky ” Jacob, he prayed that God would give to him the dew of heaven. Dew is moisture that contains the power to refresh. Could it be that this, among other things, is what Isaac desired for his son? I think so. In fact, when “ripped-off” Esau...
by Ray Viola | Sep 15, 2021 | Contemporary Christianity
I think one of the most unusually comforting thoughts for me as a pastor is the imperfection of the church in the book of Acts and following epistles. If you examine those Scriptures closely, you’ll find that we are not much different than they were. Deifying the...
by Ray Viola | Oct 17, 2020 | Devotionals
Jonah 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. What was it that displeased Jonah? The fact that God was gracious, merciful, slow to anger and kind towards the repentant Ninevites. Jonah had expected the Ninevites to reject God’s message and...
by Ray Viola | Mar 23, 2020 | Devotionals
Numbers 21.4-9 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of...
by Ray Viola | Nov 29, 2015 | Corinthians
It appears that the vast majority of the Corinthian church was a congregation of people that pushed the limits of grace and liberty to the edge. They were divided over “favorite” teachers. They were flaunting how tolerant they were of sexual sin. They were bringing...