Scriptures: Ephesians 6:13 – Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Psalms 46:1:10 -  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubl...  Read More

Scripture:  Mark 13:13 (NKJV) - “…but the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.” Most of us are familiar with the phrase “Been there, done that!”  No one that we know, however, can say it with greater authority than Christ our Lord, as He is familiar with all that confronts us in this sin-cursed world. He has faced it all, yet WITHOUT SIN. (Hebrews 4:15) Have you been lied on? Our Savior ...  Read More

Scripture:  Acts 11:23 - When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.Have you ever been discouraged, but after reading the Word of God, your situation didn’t change, but your burdens were lifted?  Have you ever been discouraged, and someone encouraged you, and you felt so much better?  Sometimes, tho...  Read More

Scripture: I Corinthians 12:20 (HCSB) - Now there are many parts, yet one body.”There is beauty in the diversity of God’s people. He created each person with a specific purpose in (His) mind. We can’t fully operate as the body of Christ if everyone isn’t doing their part.Take for instance the human body – many parts, one body. If the feet don’t do their part, the ankles, legs, hips, waist, etc. et...  Read More

Scripture:  Job 1-31The one issue that we all have in this world is the challenge of making sense out of the ways we find ourselves in various forms of suffering.  The issue has been so pressing with many of us that it presses our faith to the boarders of whether God is really in control of our whole lives.  It is critical to the life of the true believer in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior that we...  Read More

Scriptures: (Hebrews 13:5c NKJ) “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Matthews 28:20b) “ …and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.“  I am reminded of an old hymn, sang during my childhood of having  never to be alone. He (Lord) promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone. Those words came right from the Bible. This is a promise. When situations and struggles sprang up...  Read More

Scripture: Mathew 8: 23 – 27 23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves: but He was asleep. 25 And His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds ...  Read More

Scripture: Mathew 8: 23 – 27 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves: but He was asleep. 25 And His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and...  Read More

Scripture:  Hebrews 6:19a – This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.Three acronyms that I like for HOPE are:  holding on to a powerful expectation, holding on pain ends, and holding onto prayer every day.  Everyone hopes for something, but real hope comes from God. He gives true hope based on what He has promised us. Hope inspires us, motivates us, encourages us, and gi...  Read More

Scripture:  Matthew 14:22-33 - Immediately Jesus [a]made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now [b]in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 ...  Read More

Scripture: Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.When a parent takes you behind the shed, that parent expects you to learn a lesson. When a parent punishes you; that parent expects you to learn a lesson. Our Father, in heaven, expects the same thing. In March 2020, the Lord, our Daddy, put everyone on time out, He sat everyone down. The...  Read More

Scripture:  Mark 12:30 - And you shall love the LORD your God with all thy heart, and all thy soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.  This is the first commandment.Sacrifice is defined as surrendering a possession as an offering to God.  What does God desire from us; what does He want us to sacrifice?  We are brought to how He is molding and shaping us to look more like His Son ...  Read More

Scripture:  Psalms 42:1-2a - As the deer panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God.Psalms 63:1 - O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.Matthew 6:19-21 - Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and ru...  Read More

Scripture:  Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.Overtime the Lord has convinced me of supernatural factorsHe promised to make me new, while the old is less flatteringThe Lord has brainwashed me to believeThrough Christ who strengthens me, I’m able to achieveI take pleasure in encountering the t...  Read More

Scripture: Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) - “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.”I once suggested to a lady who lived alone that she consider getting a   “low maintenance” pet, perhaps a cat, to keep her company.  I secretly hoped that she hadn’t seen that placard in Big Lots that said, ‘Dogs have masters; cats have staff!’  She candidly responded, ‘You know, I much mor...  Read More

Scripture: John 1:29 - Behold, the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.Calvary covers it all,My past with sin and stains.My guilt and despairJesus took on Him there.(1975 Word Music. LLC Inc.) Words by Ethel TaylorSome years past, I participated on an outreach team called “Operation Go.”. I paired up with another woman and we went out faithfully on Tuesdays. Our team targeted homes ...  Read More

Scripture:  James 5:13 - Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.Trouble will eventually find meHowever, it’s not meant to define meFor His glory, I have been groomed and raisedEven in suffering, He is worthy to be praisedAs I face the seasons, all will not be pleasingTrouble and torment exist for His purposes and reasonsTrials are no surprise, in fact,...  Read More

Scripture: Romans 8:28 NKJV - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.Mourning the loss of a loved one can be difficult to deal with. No matter who it is, how it happens, when it happens, there is nothing that can be said or done to take away the sting of death except the intense, overwhelming, never – ending, r...  Read More

Scripture: Proverbs 16:3 - Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.Colossians 3:23 NKJV - And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.Waking up and getting ready like it’s a normal day hasn’t been the norm for many people since around March 13, 2020. That was the last day we were able to do what we wanted to do, when, where, how and with whom we ...  Read More

Scripture:  John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.One morning recently, I woke up with the thought that God never promised anything would be easy.  As a 52-year-old woman, I hold many roles; and for some reason I have begun to look for the calm road or the easy one in all area...  Read More

Scripture:  Psalms 3:3 -  But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.This scripture is so encouraging to me.  I can’t imagine how much distress David was experiencing when he wrote Psalms 3.  He had fled from his wicked son, Absalom, who wanted to kill him and take over his kingdom.  At first David was very troubled.  Psalms 3:1-2 says “Lord, how many my foes i...  Read More

Scripture: II Corinthians 1:8-9 (NASC) -  “For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction… indeed we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead…”     The Apostle Paul often voiced familiarity with today’s scriptural focus. So did Mark the Apostle in the gospel bearing his name (See Mark 9:17-29).  For many o...  Read More

Scripture:  Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?My heart cannot be trusted or followedIt’s tied to emotions and feelings that can change tomorrowThe heart opens itself to all possibilitiesFriendly ideas, but eventually painful enemiesMany times, the heart stirs up contention and confusionIt deceives that I’m winning, yet in the long run ...  Read More

Scripture:  Leviticus 10:1-3 - And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto Aaron, 'This is it that the Lord spake, saying I will be sanctified in...  Read More