Scripture:  Psalms 42:11 -  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.Hebrews 6:19a – Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul.An acronym for hope is holding on to a powerful expectation.  No matter what we are facing, there is hope for our future. The object of our hope...  Read More

Scripture:  Matthew 24:42 - Be prepared, because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.  Few Christ-followers would deny that we, of all people, should value what our Lord values, and our God “wrote the book” on preparation! Before the Israelites could cross the Jordan River, heading into the Promised Land, their leader commanded them to sanctify themselves, for the Lord was about to do wond...  Read More

Scripture: (Matthew 7:1-3) Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?Olympic gold medalist, Simone Biles, withdrew from the 2021 Olympic games allegedly to work on her mental health. ...  Read More

Scripture:  Galatians 6:9-10 - And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.Are you one of those that began to serve the Lord Jesus Christ with excitement and energy, but now have or seem to be feeling like you want to quit?  The...  Read More

Scripture:  Psalm 16:8 - I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.Living in Christ, for Christ, takes some staying power.  I am often reminded by the stand made by  the Hebrew boys in Daniel.  They were in a foreign land and refused to bow down to heathen practices.  They were determined not to be seduced by the delicacies of the king’s food or to ...  Read More

Scripture:  Galatians 5:22-23 -   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.A definition of self control is to grab, hold, strength, mastery.  It is the ability to restrain passions and appetites. When you invited Jesus Christ into your life, you received the Holy Spirit and the fruit ...  Read More

Scripture:  Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) - And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.James 4:3 (NKJV) - You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.A need by definition is something that is necessary for the survival of a person (Microsoft Bing) and a want indicates something that a person wishes or desires to p...  Read More

Scripture:  2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,We are in spiritual warfareWhat weapons are you using to prepare?We can’t...  Read More

Scripture:  Colossians 2:15 - Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.Storms and floods are often likened in Scripture and in Christian hymns to trials and adversities—and for good reason!  When you’re going through them and they appear to be intensifying to the point where your heart cries out to your Lord, ‘How LONG?  When is this...  Read More

Scripture:  Psalm 51:1-10 - Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,and done this evil in Your sight—that You may be found j...  Read More

Scripture:  Colossians 2:15 - Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.Storms and floods are often likened in Scripture and in Christian hymns to trials and adversities—and for good reason!  When you’re going through them and they appear to be intensifying to the point where your heart cries out to your Lord, ‘How LONG?  When is this...  Read More

Scripture:  John 10:10 -  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.How do I get victory over the enemy?Despite salvation, evil offers no sympathyI am unprepared to do the work of the LordFailing to call on Him sooner for spiritual supportSpiritual warfare remains in front of meOften, my meth...  Read More

Scripture:   Exodus 14In 1972, the year I graduated from Eastern High School, I recall how excited I was to get my driver’s license!  To make sure I passed the driver’s test, I went to the Easy Method Driving School.  I had eight lessons at $18.00 per lesson.  I read through the manual several times so that when I drove the Easy Method car, I could apply what I learned from their book.  A month pr...  Read More

Mark 9:23 (NKJV) - Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.Mark 10:27 (NKJV) - But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible…”My Dad recently had surgery – a total hip replacement. At the young age of 85, he wasn’t a prime candidate for such a risky procedure. Dad’s age coupled with ...  Read More

Scripture:  Proverbs 17:22 -  A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.When was the last time you really laughedOr do you only remember the moments you are sadCertainly, engaging in refreshing moments are worthwhileYet, I’m fooled that something must happen for me to smileSurely, a smile doesn’t mean everything is alrightYet, it represents my hope for the future ...  Read More

Scripture:  I Corinthians 1:31 (NASB) -  Just as it is written, “Let Him who boasts, boast in the LORD.”     Self-praise has been described as being “a twisted human perversion of true praise.”  Excepting perhaps the setting of an employment interview, where has tooting one’s own horn ever gotten the individuals who have indulged in its practice? It certainly does not please the heart of God.  I b...  Read More

Scripture:  I Corinthians 4:7 - For who makes you different from another? And what do you have that you did not receive?  Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?From young childhood on up, we’ve all had many encounters with the practice of boasting—as recipients and perpetrators. The Oxford Dictionary defines the verb “boast” as “declaring one’s achievemen...  Read More

Scripture: John 15:5  - I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.I desire to live a God-honoring and fruitful lifeMy aim must remain, stay connected to ChristI understand the give and take of my faithI abide in Him, He abides in me is the wayDaily, aligning myself as the branch to the VineExchanging my will for what...  Read More