Scripture: John 15:2 NKJ - Every branch that bears fruit,  He prunes it so that it may bear much fruit.     I witnessed my father pruning shrubs and trees within our living area in the south.  Me, just a youngster could not perceive the purpose of pruning. It appeared that my father was destroying the tree. There had already been some experience at enjoying the fruit from a particular tree. Fast f...  Read More

Scripture:  “If you love Me, keep My commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever…”  John 14:15 (NKJV)As God’s redeemed ones, we’ve been called to believe His declaration that we have been liberated from bondage, fear, chronic discontentment, and feelings of powerlessness over our emotions. (John 8:36; 2 Cor. 5:17)  We’ve been s...  Read More

SCRIPTURE:  “And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”  (Joshua 5:14b)  NKJVJoshua, being met by the Commander of the Lord’s army in Joshua 5:13-15, was given a foundational marching order—to remove his sandal, for he was standing on holy ground!  He was directed to acknowledge where he was –a divine command requiring immediate...  Read More

Text: Acts 7:55-57, 59 - But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said,'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.' Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord...and they stoned Stephen calling up...  Read More

Scriptures: Luke 2:19 NKJ -  But Mary Kept all of these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:51c…But  His mother kept all these things in her heart.     One of the greatest gifts that God has given humanity is the amazing gift of memory. In a sense, memory allows us to relive moments that was special in times past. We love to cherish and hold onto memories. Reminiscing about our past take...  Read More

Scripture:  Psalms 30:11 – You have turned for me my mourning into dancing. You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness.John 20:1-16 - The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unt...  Read More

Scripture:  Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.           I think most of us who believe on the Lord Jesus as our savior also understand that we need to depend upon God to help us in the times of life that we find ourselves in circumstances of need.  The thought of God being unavailable or resistant to helping us is discouragin...  Read More

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.My mom was an avid watcher of Animal Kingdom videos.  I remember a scene in one of the videos where lions gathered near a bunch of gazelles trying to spot the easiest kill for their meal.  As long as they stayed focused they would get their needs met, but if they became distracted with...  Read More

Scripture:  Hebrews 12:15-17 - Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of ...  Read More

Scripture: Psalms 20:7 - Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.Truly trusting God is harder than it seems. Believers are told to trust God with all our hearts and lean NOT on our own understanding. We should also acknowledge God in ALL of our ways and He will direct our path. Do you really trust God like that? Many times, believers trust chairs mor...  Read More

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6  - Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh...  Read More

Scripture:  Romans 1:17 - For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.The one variable of life that every believer shares is that we live life by faith in a God we do not see, but rest our entire eternity upon Him.  The progression of a true believer’s faith has a starting point from the grace of God and grows and spans into ...  Read More

Scripture: (Ephesians 4:11-16- (NKJV) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (v. 12) for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, (v. 13) til we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullne...  Read More

Scripture: Genesis 50:15-21 (NKJV) - 15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may [a]actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” 16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their si...  Read More

Scripture:  Hebrews 3:12, 13  (NKJV)  - “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, but exhort one another daily , while it is called “today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”  A few years ago, a dear young friend of mine accused God of being a “trickster.” She said it not with rancor (resentment or ill wi...  Read More

Scripture:  Romans 12:2 (KJV) - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.Romans 12:2 (NLT) - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfec...  Read More

Scripture:  Matthew 5:23-24, - Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go your way.  First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  Matthew 5:43-44 – You have heard that it was said ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love yo...  Read More

Scripture:    Matthew 6:19-21 -  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where  moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.Earthly/material things/treasures should be ...  Read More