Scripture:  Psalm 66:10-12 “For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.There was a group of women doing a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, t...  Read More

Scriptures: Jeremiah 8:21-22 (CSB)- I am broken by the brokenness of my dear people.  I mourn; horror has taken hold of me.  Is there no balm in Gilead?  Is there no physician there? So why has the healing of my dear people not come about?I Thessalonians 5:23 – May your whole spirit, soul, body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus. Gilead, east of Jordan, was known for its medici...  Read More

Scripture: II Timothy 3:2,4 - “…men will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”  A popular slogan from several years ago heralded the phrase, “Work hard, play hard(er)!!”  The Bible is full of accounts of people who prioritized pleasure-seeking, to their own detriment:  King Solomon,  Nabal (1 Sam. 25:36), and “a certain rich man,” whose story was told by Jesus in Luke 12:16-19, to name...  Read More

Scripture:  Ecclesiastes 3:1 - For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven..The entire book of Ecclesiastes commends the wisdom of leading a balanced life.  Balance is to our daily lives what a thermostat is to a room.  Just as the one regulates the temperature in a certain space, so balance, or “margin,” in our lives regulates the level or pace of activity in our da...  Read More

Scripture:  John 14:24 – He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.I get excited about learning a second language; It is such a challenge.  Many years ago, in grade school, I had four consecutive years of French.  And even after those four years, I still had to be quite intentional to speak the other language.  God, in His ...  Read More

Scriptures: Psalm 121: 1-8 - I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence come my help. (2) My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (v3) He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. (v4) Behold He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. (v5) The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. (v6) The sun will not strike ...  Read More

Text:  I Corinthians 11:24-25 - And then, following thanksgiving, He brake bread, saying TAKE, EAT: THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS BROKEN FOR YOU:DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. After that, in the same way He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, THIS CUP IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOOD: THIS DO YE AS OFT AS YE DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.  Before the 'body', and before the 'blood', there was the...  Read More

Scripture: James 5:16 - Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.Brother John was a saint strong in the Lord. He was rooted in the gospel of Christ and lived his life as righteously as humanly possible. Brother John was also a prayer warrior. He spent time with the Lord daily and he faithf...  Read More

Scripture:  John 14:12-14 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by pray...  Read More

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. When emotions are out of balance, there are some things we will automatically do. We will have a pity party. We will blame God for our circumstances. We will say “if You didn’t allow me to be in this family, or marry this man or woman, my l...  Read More

Scripture:  I Corinthians 12:4-6 (NKJ) - There are diversities of gifts; but the same spirit. (5) There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. (6) and there are diversities of activities but is the same God who works all in all.The subject on spiritual gifts always gets a response. The world just does not get it; questioning, “what is it really?”  Believers seems to have mixed responses...  Read More

Scripture:  Ephesians 5:18 (CSB) – Give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.I Thessalonians 5:16 (CSB) – Rejoice always, pray constantly, giving thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ JesusAren’t you comforted when you pray in times of distress, trials, frustration and even when you are tempted to sin?  Some think that we can ...  Read More

Scriptures: Exodus 15:6 - Your right hand, O LORD has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD has dashed the enemy in pieces 1 Chronicles 29:11-13 -  Yours O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all. (v12) Both riches and honor come from Yo...  Read More

Scripture:  John 15: 5 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 am blessed and highly favoredYet, who gets the credit, the blessing or the Savior?Most of the time, blessings are based around what we receiveThe Provider may get a shout out, but the blessing is what we seekSo, our pride goes no further than what ...  Read More

Scripture:  I Peter 1:19 NKJ - …but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.I heard a preacher say, “the blood of Christ ought to be mentioned by all those who proclaim the Word of God every time they have opportunity and stand before worshippers. That is how important the blood of Christ should be treated. I agree with my whole heart, mind, and soul. The b...  Read More

Scripture: I Kings 8:61 -  Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.How is your relationship with Christ? Are you in a committed relationship with your Lord and Savior or are you in an entanglement with Him? Have you decided to be with Christ because it is convenient for you, at this time? Have you decided ...  Read More

Scripture:  Isaiah 41:13 – For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’In our trials, we feel alone and that the trial will last forever.  Reminded of John the Baptist when he was jailed in Rome,  He sent two of his disciples to Christ to get  encouragement.  On John the Baptist’s behalf, the two disciples asked Jesus, “Are You the Christ, or sho...  Read More

Scripture:  Psalm 33: 17,18, 22   (NKJV) - A horse is a vain thing for safety; neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy... Let Thy mercy, O' Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee.'Luke 12:27 (Basic English Bible) - Give thought to the flowers: they do not work, they make no thread; and stil...  Read More

Scripture:  Psalm 90:12 - Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.Luke: 12:27 - Give thought to the flowers: they do not work, they make no thread; and still I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory, was not clothed like one of these.  Psalm 90:12 is offering the understanding that as goals are concerned, gaining wisdom, or becoming wise are primary to being what we are ...  Read More

Scriptures: Psalm 146:10 - The LORD will reign forever, YOUR God, O Zion, to all generationsRevelation 11:15 - Then the seventh Angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The Kingdom of this world has become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year, and I personally enjoy celebrating the birth of GOD...  Read More

Scripture:  Psalms 142:1-7 -  I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me. 4 Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge...  Read More

Scripture:  James 1:2-3 says My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.It should not seem strange that troubling circumstances befall us. We are to be overjoyed, not because of the circumstances, but because God is able to keep us in the midst of the circum-stances. James 1:2-3 says “My brethren, count it all joy when ...  Read More

Scripture:  John 16:13 (NASB) - But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;… and He will disclose to you what is to come.Don’t you just love open-book exams?  The right answers are all out there in the open!  We, the test takers, can just go to where those answers are clearly revealed and record the correct responses!  Is that not every soul’s greatest need? Oh, ...  Read More

Scripture:  John 8:31-32 - Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”Many of us struggle for years with personal addictionsSpiritually held hostage because of physical restrictionsAddictions stemming from alcohol, drugs, profanity, or gluttonyOr even pain killers, social...  Read More