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

Scripture: Galatians 6:2 NKJ -  Bear one another’s burdens,  and so fulfill the law of Christ.Days are filled with sorrow and careHearts are lonely and drear.Burdens are lifted at Calvary,Jesus is very near.I am reminded of a story told regarding a man walking, carrying a heavy load. The driver of a truck picked him up to relieve him of such a heavy burden, only to look to the back of the truck, a...  Read More

Scripture:  Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.How shall we do this thing called life?  Scripture says (Ps 34:1) to Bless the Lord at all times and allow His Praise to last always; “Oh, but Lord, things are not going my way”;” I feel stressed”; “I feel hurt”; “I feel ...  Read More

Scripture:  II Timothy 2:21 – If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.To be used by God, a personal relationship through Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9) must take place.  Once we are saved, it is so important to keep a short account of our sins (for fellowship purposes). I John 1:9 says “I...  Read More

Scripture:  “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-                                    fearing, and does His will, He hears him.”  John 9:31 (NASB)There is no shortage of people today, who by their mere mention of the name ‘God,’ believe they know Him, while in habitual acts, they deny Him. (Titus 1:16) Talk about ensnared thinking!  Those religious elite (aka Pharisees) act...  Read More

Scripture:  And Jesus said, “For  judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”  Jn. 9:39 (NKJV)F.B. Meyer is quoted as saying, “Unbelief puts circumstances between itself and Christ, so as to not see Him.”  I was reminded of that quote while slowly reading John, chapter nine, the account of Christ’s healing of a blind man.  As ...  Read More

Scripture: Philippians 4:6 NKJV - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.Recently, I heard a miracle story. A pastor’s daughter woke up abruptly because she was having an asthma attack in the middle of the night. The Holy Spirit woke her mother up at that time so that she could tend to her. When mom realized w...  Read More

Scripture: Genesis 19:15-17 When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” 16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city...  Read More

Scripture:  Nehemiah 4:6-9 - So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. 7 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the [a]gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8 and all of them conspired togethe...  Read More

Proverbs 30:5 -  Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.A retrospective look, gives us understanding by way of the history of a matter and being studious of the past, while a prospective look invites us to follow the clues of the present time to forecast that to come, with some borrowing from the past's trends, to then recreate a situation and prove a claim...  Read More

Scripture:  Matthew 8:26 – Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?  Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm.  The hymn “Jesus Savior, Pilot Me was written especially for sailors -- using words that they were familiar with --  chart, compass, and the need for a competent pilot to guide them over the tempestuous seas.  Edward Hopper was born in New York on Febr...  Read More

Scripture:  Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.Though we move into each New Year with some new plans, aspirations and even dreams, the plans of our God remain the same as He had planned them from the very beginning.  So the question is not so much about our new plans for God, but are we walk...  Read More

Scripture:  Genesis 32:29 - Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.As we anticipate a new day and even a new year it behooves us at times to encourage ourselves by reflecting on the past times and places that our God has blessed us.  The blessings of God are not always material, in fact, the true blessing...  Read More

Scripture:  2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.When was the last time you really examined yourself?When was the last time you requested the Lord’s help? What’s going on in your life that requires sifting?What consequences you’ve suffered were self-in...  Read More

Scripture:  Romans 12:2 NASB - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”       It takes time to truly surrender ALL to Jesus.  Have you ever seriously pondered the depth of that statement? Today’s Scripture verse reminds me of the concept of world view.  One wri...  Read More

Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you, he will never leave you nor forsake you.Who is in your corner? In boxing the corner man/cut man is just as important as the boxer’s training. With young fighters the corner man, the cut man, and the coach/trainer are often the same person doing three different j...  Read More

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 11:18,19 (CSB) - “Imprint these Words of mine on your hearts and minds, bind them as a sign on your hands, and let them be a symbol on your foreheads.  “Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, and when you lie down and when you get up.”     When I was a young child, my parents did not reward me with money,...  Read More

Scripture: Colossians 2:8 (NLT) -  Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.   “Anything great in this world is birthed out of pain.”  So goes one of many life lessons compellingly demonstrated in one of my favorite movies, “The Case for Christ.”  In that true s...  Read More

Scripture:  Isaiah 40:28-31- Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.  His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord...  Read More

Text: II Corinthians 8:9 - For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.II Corinthians 9:15 - Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.Sometimes, if not often, we ought to just be still before the unfolding of grace, having that audience with God. The reach of grace, for it's innumerable de...  Read More