SCRIPTURE: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." 1 John 5:14 Disregarding today’s title verse, I suspect, has led more souls to be disappointed with God than you or I can identify. This verse, mind you, was never given by the Spirit to serve as a blank spiritual check for every earthly desire we’ve ever had. The practice of fr...  Read More

SCRIPTURE:  “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.” Psalms 33:11 The four seasons of the year bring changes in temperature, weather, and the length of daylight. Yet, some regions don’t experience all seasons. Many times, we change our environment looking for the ultimate place to settle down and establish ourselves and still find restlessness. The Lord ...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.” 1 Samuel 12:23-24 Our eternal Father in Heaven, we gather ourselves together as a people called by Your name and we p...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Therefore since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 (NASB) The word “witnesses,” as used in secular circles, has received a bad rap! I believe the pejorative term is “snitch?” Evildoers, of course, despise the te...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 I absolutely love love. Therefore, I tremendously enjoy weddings, and I absolutely get excited about a love story. Usuall...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 After a great achievement, has the reality of the weight of the new role come crushing down? In the case of Joshua none of his elder peers who mentored him, some for good others for bad, entered the promise land with him. His life ha...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: "Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it." Matthew 7:13 Robert Frost wrote a poem about reaching a fork in the road and standing there trying to decide which path to take. He wrote that “two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both…” Sometimes the Christian Walk is simila...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit inits season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”   Psalm 1:3 A good root system serves two purposes in a tree’s development: it functions as an anchor and the roots collect moisture without which the tree could not thrive. Some roots are like a strand of hair, yet the en...  Read More

SCRIPTURES:“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; fo...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 Almighty God and our eternal Father, this morning once again as a...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” Galatians 4:16 Those who declare the Word of God and challenge our thinking with godly admonishing are treasured relics. Not many have the temerity to confront the wayward with, “thus sayeth the Lord” in fear that favor would be lost.  Such sweet timid creatures want to win us with easy talk, flattery, and soft spankings...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 For all intents and purposes, I have decided that on the day of Jesus Christ I will not stand before Him. I can only imagine falling before Him. The Lord is marvelous; and I am simply amazed that He loves me! When I think of those who lost their lives for their choice of disobedien...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Luke 4:8 We rejoice in knowing Jesus, and sharing the life of Jesus, and the gospel, that great 'good' news. Jesus, however, as God and as man can be a bit of mystery, for the Bible reader or the invested listener. Even with the clarity of ...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: "And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You." Psalm 39: 7 There is a wonderful hymn called “The Solid Rock” in which the first stanza says, “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…” Hope means the sum total of expectation and confidence in something or someone. Jeremiah 17:7 says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose hope is in th...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 It was not unusual for kings to have magicians or soothsayers in the times before Christ. Julius Caesar was no different. Although he did not claim the name king because Romans disliked kings; he was indeed a Roman dictator. His seer told him multiple times of impending danger prior to his documented betrayal. In the...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 It’s my choice to activate the ultimate weapons to address sin,Intentionally focusing on the Lord’s promises and drawing closer to Him.It’s my nature to see circumstances my way rather than the Lord’s way,He graciously commands me to abide in Him as He ...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16 Father, we bow our hearts before You as we come to Your throne of grace, once again, opening Your Word and desiring ...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8 When we hear the word “disobedience” we can become indifferent to it because it is an attitude often ascribed to children. When t...  Read More