James - Liferoads Church

Waiting Room – Peace

liferoads — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 23:37:54 +0000

If you have never been able to make it through the book of Numbers, you’re not alone. Reading it can feel like sitting in the DMV, “take a number.” Yes, the book is full of numbers and can get very repetitive, but there are also some very interesting stories in there. One of those stories (Numbers 22-24) has to do with a selfish prophet named Balaam. Though he clearly hears God (even through his donkey) and he desires the peace God offers His people (Numbers 23:10), Balaam chooses his own path instead of trusting the promised peace of God (Numbers 24:13-17). The words of peace that God prophesied through Balaam come to be realized in the birth of Jesus, the Messiah (Matthew 2:1-12). God makes His invitation clear. It is an invitation of cosmic peace. It is an invitation to join His family and forever be in relationship with THE Prince of Peace.

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Waiting Room – Hope

liferoads — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 03:36:32 +0000

How do we be patient in our waiting periods? How do we recognize that it is not a waste of time? The fall broke our relationship with God, others, creation, and ourselves. However, in the same verses of Genesis that describe the fall, God presents the protoevangelium; the first good news of the redeemer. Jesus is that redeemer. He brought Himself down to a position such that Satan could strike His heel, yet in the same act, Jesus crushed Satan (John 12:28-31). This was God’s plan before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:19-20) (Rev 13:8). And God’s plan requires waiting. During this time God is doing great things in us and around us. We have hope in this, and we must be patient (James 5:7-11). For, we who wait shall have renewed strength and will not be exhausted. We shall mount with wings like eagles and we will run without weary (Isaiah 40:30-31).

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Down to Earth – Week 2

liferoads — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 03:13:20 +0000

Our culture has this strange pattern of the ‘humble brag,’ where we act as if we are humble—all the while we are boasting. Paul warned of such pride. C.S. Lewis called pride “the great sin.” It is sin curved inward on ourselves. God opposes the proud (⁠James 4:6⁠), Paul presents this plainly in ⁠1 Corinthians⁠. He surrenders any self-judgment. Only God is the judge. Paul stated in ⁠1 Timothy 1:15⁠ that he was the chief sinner. His goal was to fully honor God. Humility is the disappearance of self and the vision that God is all.

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Walk Wisely – Week 2

Rich Fodey — Sun, 11 May 2025 20:52:00 +0000

There is great power and great danger in speech. There is great encouragement and great destruction in what we say. Speech can even carry the power of death and life, according to ⁠Proverbs 18:21⁠. The destructive power of a lie is more than you know, yet we all have access to the absolute truth, Jesus Christ: the Word made flesh. We need to be wise with our words and know when to be silent. Speak prayerfully. Ask for guidance. God created by His word, and like Isaiah (⁠6:1-7⁠), God will cleanse your lips, atone for the damage done, and heal.

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Walk Wisely – Week 1

Rich Fodey — Mon, 05 May 2025 00:33:57 +0000

We live in the age of information. There is more data at our fingertips than ever in history. However, all that information does not translate into wise living (⁠Ephesians 5:15-16⁠). The wisdom of ⁠Proverbs 1:1-7⁠ tells us to pursue wisdom. It takes intentional living; do not reject or mock wisdom. Wisdom invites you to engage and grow (⁠Proverbs 1:20-23⁠). But it takes humility and an understanding that all wisdom is from God; He is eager to gift it (⁠⁠James 1:5⁠⁠).

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