In Sermon Illustrations: "Smile"

In My Humble Opinion

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 29, 2020

It was a busy week last week. I was chasing my tail so much, I thought I would actually catch it. What I would do after I caught it is beyond my imagination. However, I was quite busy, and then the mail came. Whenever the mail comes, I’m always expecting “the check.” Rarely do I get it, but my ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5

Tags: Humility, Opinion

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

And Then It Was Silent No More

Contributed by James Snyder on May 23, 2020

During this time of exclusive lockdown, I and the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage have grown accustomed to silence. Don't get me wrong here. I do not object to noise as long as it's the right kind of noise. However, I do have a good warm feeling about silence. What was that song? ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:13

Tags: Books, Silence, Noise

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

If Only My Fishing Rod Could Talk

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 5, 2020

It has been a busy week, more so than any other week. Just when I thought I was caught up, something else presented itself without my permission. That seems to be what life is all about. I remember my father telling me when I complained to him how busy my life was and how my employer wanted me to ...read more

Scripture: John 8:32

Tags: Humor, Fishing

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Musical Concert Or Aggravating Noise?

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 12, 2020

To say the least, and I usually do, this summer has been quite a journey for the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and myself. I can't remember a summer equal to the one we just went through. The fact that we got through it is amazing. We have been staying at home more often than usual, but ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Music, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

All In Due Time, So She Says

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 17, 2020

For several weeks, or has it been years, I’ve been waiting for an important package to come through the mail. I don’t know why they call it snail mail because I have seen snails crawl faster. With all our technology today, you would think that mail could come in on a particular schedule, and ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Tags: Time, Humor, Patience

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Red Isn’t Always The Red I See

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 2, 2021

It is not that I am colorblind; I just am color indifferent. Red and blue and yellow are all the same to me. This, on many occasions, has challenged the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, who is very meticulous when it comes to describing anything or anyone. In remodeling my office at the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:12

Tags: Christmas, Humor, Gifts

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Divided House Makes A Happy Home

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 6, 2021

Never has our world been more divided than today. Politics, religion, sports and on and on I could go. For the most part, so many people think being divided is a negative thing. And for many people it is. However, after being married to the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage for almost 50 years, I ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Divided Home, Happy Home, Pastor Cave

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Ain’t 16 Anymore

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 24, 2021

I’ve had so many birthdays in my life that I really don’t know how old I am. All I know is that I’m one year older than I was last year. I would not be able to remember when my life began if it wasn’t for paperwork.. To many people, numbers are very important, but in my opinion, a number is just a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Birthday, Growing, Responsibity

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Are You Ready For Fall?

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 11, 2021

With such a tumultuous summer, I’m glad we are now beginning the fall season. There for a while, I didn’t think it was going to come. But, contrary to my negativity, it has arrived, and I’m delighted. Summer wasn’t quite the way summers have been in the past. My family didn’t have many ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Tags: Humor, Blessings, Seasons

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

One Mouth Too Many Words

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 5, 2022

I read somewhere where the average woman speaks 20,000 words a day, and the average man speaks 7,000 words a day. I’m not sure if that’s true because I never believe everything I read, particularly on my computer, unless I write it. If this is true, who came up with it and how did they get to this ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:27-28

Tags: Speak, Silence, Worde

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It Never Dawned On Me Until

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 20, 2022

I must confess I am too poor to pay attention at this time in my life. I hope one day I will win the lottery and be able to afford to pay attention. But, of course, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage says that you can’t win a lottery unless you play the lottery. Well, I don’t play the lottery. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Attention, Listening

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Sir Forgets-A-Lot To The Rescue

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 17, 2022

Contrary to the idea that the older you get, the more you forget, it has never been my experience. I have forgotten things for as long as I can remember. I even forget things that never actually happened. It runs in our family, though it came to me legitimately down through the generations. A nut ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 8:12

Tags: Blessing, Forgetting

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

If Only I Would Take Notes

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 26, 2022

As a writer, I always have a small notebook in my shirt pocket to take notes when I have an idea. I don’t have too many ideas, so I want to write down any I get so I don’t forget them. That has helped me out on many occasions. There is one exception. When The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Trust, Writer

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Why Do Some Cute Babies Grow Up Ugly

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 9, 2023

Our second great grand baby was born at the end of last year. Since then, it has been a delight to watch her grow. I will not say she is the cutest baby in the world, but I haven't met any cuter. She was born cute, and I'm not sure what part of the family she got that. Sometimes, when ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 46:4

Tags: Age, Cute, Ugly

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Life Can Be A Series Of Dreams

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 7, 2023

Lately, I’ve been having some fascinating dreams at night. Usually, I don’t give much thought to dreams, but lately, I’ve been thinking more about them. Last night, for example, I had this exciting dream, and everything seemed to be coming in my direction, and then I woke up before the end. Once I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Tags: Dreams, Fanasty

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Where Did The Summer Go?

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 14, 2023

This past week started out as the best week of the whole year. At least, I thought so at the time. I finished my book manuscript and sent it to the publisher. I caught up with some other projects that were lagging. And I had time to balance my checkbook. What could be better than that? The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:24

Tags: Summer, Time

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Cookie Monster Has Returned

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 11, 2023

Sitting in my office working on some projects, I was suddenly surrounded by a familiar aroma. This surprised me because I had no idea what was happening. That aroma was familiar, but I couldn't identify it. I’m like that most of the time. My nose doesn't work quite like The Gracious ...read more

Scripture: James 4:17

Tags: Stealing, Cookies, Sneaking

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Regifting Queen Of The Family

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 30, 2023

Sitting around the Christmas tree with my family and opening up Christmas presents, it stirred fond memories of my Aunt Edith. She was known as The Regifting Queen of our family. And believe me, she earned that name quite well. Most of the family didn't catch on to what she was doing. I know ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8

Tags: Christmas, Gifting

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Didn’t Know I Loved It That Much

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 16, 2024

One important thing I have learned is that you don’t appreciate something until it’s missing. I’ve learned that by many things that I just took for granted. Last week, for example, I had some problems with my truck, so I had to take it in for service. It took longer than I had expected, but ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Tags: Love, Appreciation

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Justin  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

JUSTIN I want to tell you about a 12-year-old boy we’ll call Justin. Justin never knew anything good. His parents, if you want to call them that, were completely without qualifications to birth the boy, having done so quite unintentionally, making far less effort to raise him than they made to ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17, Romans 5:8, Colossians 1:21-22

Tags: Grace, Atonement, Substitution