SCRIPTURE:  “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him,     and bless His name.  For the LORD is good.”  Ps. 100:4        Have you ever had the pleasure of working with someone whose natural inclination seemed to be unending thankfulness?  I have.  There was a woman with whom I worked several years ago; she seemed to enter each day with a spirit of tha...  Read More

Scripture: Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed,“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord?[c]20 “What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, ...  Read More

SCRIPTURE:  12”… rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.  14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  16B…Do not be wise in your own opinion.  17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live ...  Read More

SCRIPTURE:  “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel:  ‘I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. Oh, that you had heeded My commandments!  Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.’”   Isaiah 48:17-18.      What does it take to get you and me to act right?  What will it take fo...  Read More

SCRIPTURE:  “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)    My husband recently confessed having glossed over the instructions to an important apparatus needed for our home.  Humbly, he told me that he had to go back and redo this entire project because he had too hur...  Read More

SCRIPTURE:  “Jesus turned to Peter and said, 'Get away from me, Satan!  You are a dangerous trap to me.  You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.'”  Matthew 16:23 NLT     As the fictional space-traveling vessel journeyed through space, approaching another familiar-looking vessel, the villainous leader of the former nefariously and sarcastically remarked that they we...  Read More

SCRIPTURE:  “….I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory.” 2 Peter 3:1 (NLT)      It  is an indispensable and divine privilege to daily rehearse in our heart what we know to be true of our Lord.  Its necessity is driven home by the Scriptures’ frequent use of the word “remember” or “remembrance.” Have you noticed, however,  that we often remember what we should  for...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: "Be Holy for I am Holy" Leviticus 11:44-45, and 1 Peter 1:16"... you are to be perfect, as Your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48 Having a keen sense of directionality is quite the blessing, and not having it, or losing it, at the least, can be a frustrating thing. To help we've had trails with certain milestones to guide us: reading the stars to help navigate, compasses to lead...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: "Then Samson called to the Lord and said, 'O Lord, God, please remember me, and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.'"Judges 16:28           He squandered the gifting upon him, embarrassed his people, Israel, and the office of judge in the eyes of the enemy, undermined the hope and the legacy given him, made small ...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, an...  Read More

Scripture: (John 15:4) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.     Ofttimes we sing songs that we don’t 100% believe or are willing to do. The melody and the lyrics get us. They flow so nicely and cause us to feel all warm inside. Many songs will have you making promises to God that you don’t plan ...  Read More

Scripture: (Romans 8: 18) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. In 1984, a popular gospel song was released entitled, “Rough Side of the Mountain.” This song written by Rev. F.C. Barnes was initially a prayer he had prayed after having car trouble. In an article, posted on ncarts.org, Rev. Barnes said he ...  Read More

Scripture: John 11:35 "Jesus wept." I’m over death and the pain it brings.I’m over death and the sad song it sings.I’m over death, how it takes without regard.I’m over death because afterwards, living is so hard.The death of a loved one is an agonizing feeling that can suffocate and consume. Most times loved ones are left baffled and confused as to why this is happening and happening at this time....  Read More

Scripture: Genesis 6:9 CSB “These are the family record of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries. Noah walked with God."  If a believer were asked to name an upright person, the man Noah would come up 99.0 percent of the responses. There are reasons why this person is known as one who lived a life of uprightness. Most assuredly, Noah walked with God (Gen. 9:6). He is c...  Read More

Scripture: Psalm 20:7 NKJ  Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.  Many of our days are met with chaotic confusion, no matter how we try to prioritize activities. There are ways that seem right in dealing successfully with difficult times in our lives; however, the result does not lead to a fruitful end.A few days ago I was faced with a ...  Read More

Scripture: Psalm 62:8 NKJ “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Recently, my husband and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. Clearly, I remember being escorted down the church aisle with my father fifty years ago. Each year when our anniversary date comes, I so vividly recall memories of my father and mother’s date of passing and the...  Read More

Scripture: John 20:30-31 NKJ  “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” The Holy Bible is a universal book. It is by no means an ordinary book; but a collection of sixty-six books. The Go...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 107:1-43 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, 3 And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south… It’s my divine duty to let others know of the goodness of the LordHis willingness and faithfulness produce ho...  Read More