A devotional blog of Encouragement, Faith & Truth.
The catch phrase “the struggle is real” has been used to describe everyday frustrating situations that are expressed in a joking, hyperbolic, and ironic way. Well, the spiritual warfare going on in our nation is real too. However, so is God. But there is nothing funny or exaggerated about either. My Pastor issued a challenge this week to our ministry… Read More
Luke 2:34 – Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against The holiday frenzy has quieted down as we look hopefully forward to 2021. In thinking about this past Christmas, my attention focused to the birth of Christ. He… Read More
Matthew 13:11, 13-15 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14And in them the… Read More
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us – Ephesians 3:30 NASB For this week’s Five Minute Friday the prompt word is BEYOND. This brings to my mind that God has done exceeding abundantly above and beyond my imagination. When I think… Read More
Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name. – Malachi 3:16 Have you ever listened in on your kids’ conversations? Ok, I admit I have. But it wasn’t to be a busybody in their personal conversations. With a 16-year-old… Read More
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. – Hebrews 10:24 This season, I want to challenge you (and myself) to join the 25 Days of Encouragement! Now that we’ve come off of the Thanksgiving holiday, we see the usual sales and deals for this and the other. Which, got me thinking… Read More
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. – Ephesians 6:13 NLT You may be familiar with the term “stand your ground” from the Trayvon Martin case. That was an awful situation with a young man… Read More
Happy Friday! I’m posting this quickie, as a part of the weekly Five Minute Friday link-up with today’s word being “CANCEL”. These words of Jesus should burn in our hearts as a reminder that: 1. He canceled our eternal sin debt by nailing it on that Cross. 2. That word cancel means it’s a fresh start for you and me. … Read More
My object in life is to dethrone God and destroy capitalism.Karl Marx https://www.azquotes.com/quote/466849 Two things come to mind with Marx’s quote: 1. The fool has said in his heart there is no God. 2. What are you and I saying to God in our hearts? To see what God says about us, read my post here on What is God… Read More
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17 I say this with genuine love for my fellow brothers and sisters in the Christian faith,… it’s timeout for being Disneyland granola Christians! The Disneyland mindset of “so long as… Read More
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. – Proverbs 14:12, 16:25 You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche Knowing which way you’re headed is important. It’s true that as humans we do have… Read More
Do you remember the iconic line from A Few Good Men, by Jack Nicholson, “You can’t handle the truth”? Well, if we’re honest, with ourselves as humans, we can’t. Actually, it’s not so much a question can we handle the truth?… it’s more a matter of, we just don’t want the truth. One of the most controversial statements surrounding Christianity… Read More
“Jesus dropped the charges”. These words were spoken to me by a young man I met during a homeless outreach. How true this statement is for those who place their trust in Christ. News reports constantly show people charged with all types of crimes. It’s also true that some people are charged unjustly, who are innocent. But there is one… Read More
1 Corinthians 4:1 – Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. I became ordained two years ago as a minister at our church. Although unexpected, I was uncomfortable with it until I researched the definition of a minister. Once I saw that it meant “servant” I was immediately able to connect with… Read More
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. – Luke 9:24 You lose what you keep, when you try to hold on to something or someone. I’m reminded of this since my daughter just turned 16 last Sunday. Moms especially, are painfully aware with each passing year… Read More
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. – Judges 21:25 I’ve been wanting to write this post for quite some time now. As a civilized society, I believe, we’ve come to the point of throwing out the baby with the bath. What is happening in America and abroad is playing out like the… Read More
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17 Hearing the disheartening news of the sudden passing of the gifted actor Chadwick Boseman, made me think about living our lives on purpose. It’s impossible for someone to be in Christ and not be… Read More
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. – Romans 8:28 Are we on a collision course? If we go by this year, then the answer is YES! 2020 has shown itself to be a doozy of a year. Look at what we’ve seen just… Read More
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. – Proverbs 18:4-7 How do you respond when life throws you lemons? Most likely you’re not saying I’ll go make some lemonade out of this. We, as mothers, wives, etc.., have a tendency to be very critical of ourselves and… Read More
As a parent, I’m reminded of how fast time is moving. My two kids seemed to have grown up overnight, as I’m certain any parent can relate to. Even amid a pandemic, how is it we’ve been in a state of restriction for roughly six months, yet the days are moving like a runaway train. Friends, it’s later than we… Read More
37On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus… Read More
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. – Romans 11:5 We recently had a new floor installed in our home and there was a remnant of flooring left over. It wasn’t much but would come in handy if a floorboard needed to be replaced. While in prayer the Lord… Read More
19 For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice… Genesis 18:19 We’re living in a time and season where some of our cities feel more like the fire and brimstone hailed down on Sodom and Gomorra. With protest and rioting,… Read More
Lamentations 3:22-24 22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” It’s hard to imagine that out of the dust of ashes from our pain and grief that hope could arise. Yet when I read Lamentations two months ago, that’s exactly what the Lord showed me…. Read More
I know when we hear the word “yield” we go on autopilot and think to submit. Yielding can be challenging. We are naturally prone to self-preservation. In essence, we gravitate to doing what we want, when and how we want. We don’t want to do anything that will make us accountable to someone else. Yielding basically is giving someone the… Read More
This is Part 4 of the Series on PRAYER: If You Don’t Pray, God Can’t Move Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Word of God operates with… Read More
15 Their minds are dull and slow to perceive, their ears are plugged and are hard of hearing, and they have deliberately shut their eyes to the truth. Otherwise they would open their eyes to see, and open their ears to hear, and open their minds to understand. Then they would turn to me and let me instantly heal them. Matthew… Read More
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Jesus sugarcoated nothing. What do you… Read More
Scripture Reference: Psalm 62:11 God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God. PART 2 OF “If you don’t pray, God Can’t Move I mentioned in my last post that PRAYER is our way of communicating with God like we would with anyone we’re in a relationship with. It’s so important that we talk to the Lord… Read More
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. This is Part 1 of a 6-week series on PRAYER. Years ago, before I came to faith in Christ, I remember having conversations with friends about God. I was more curious… Read More
Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He. This week there have been articles, news reports, from corporations pledging their allegiance to support all things pertaining to “black lives matter” and social justice causes. I received a few emails this past week in reference to this from companies making… Read More
1 John 4:7-11 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through… Read More
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. – John 10:10 Right now at this very moment, there are protests going on in cities across America in response to the horrific death of George Floyd at the hands… Read More
27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ” – Luke 10:27 27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with… Read More
What have you been searching for that’s valuable or important to you? It could be something as valuable as a piece of expensive jewelry or as important as a certified document like a birth certificate. Perhaps something that was handed down to you from a cherished relative? Recently I found 2 things that I had been searching for, for over… Read More
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 We don’t realize how malnourished we are to hear words that are positive and encouraging…until we hear them. When we receive a good word from someone, it’s like taking good medicine for your health. We don’t realize how malnourished we are to hear words that… Read More
I am a true sprouting vine, and the farmer who tends the vine is my Father. 4 So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine. 5 “I am the… Read More
Concluding our celebration of Women’s Month, our final quote comes from the most famous woman of all time…Mary the mother of Jesus. This may sound bizarre, but this quote from Mary the mother of Jesus always reminded of a scene in The Godfather Part 3, where Connie, the sister of Michael Corleone, tells her nephew Vincent, “Do it”, referring to… Read More
In the wake of everything going on around us right now, this quote speaks volumes! How many of us are holding on to stuff that in the grand scheme of life, we can’t take with us, and won’t have any value? Closer to home and to our heart is WHO are we holding onto that we don’t want to let… Read More
“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. – John 16:1 Whatever you do don’t stumble… To stumble means to trip or momentarily lose one’s balance; almost fall. In Greek, it means to trip up. The context in which Jesus was speaking to His disciples was essentially giving them a heads up on… Read More
Philippians 3:8 – Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. I love the above quote from Christian author, speaker, and radio host, Joni Eareckson Tada. It forces… Read More
Proverbs 15:23 – Everyone enjoys giving great advice. But how delightful it is to say the right thing at the right time! “If I were you….” How many of you have received advice that began with those words? Sometimes the advice given was welcoming and helpful. Other times, it could be off the mark and cause more confusion than… Read More
The Bible speaks a lot about what makes a fool and foolish behavior. We are living in a time where expressing yourself and how you feel trumps (no pun intended) anything else. Today’s Winsome Word of Wisdom Wednesday post is based on Proverbs 18:2. The definition of a fool according to Webster’s Dictionary is a person lacking in judgment or… Read More
Does going to church make you a Christian? What exactly does it mean to be a Christian? Our “Thought For Today” quote reminds me of what Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 about people coming to Him on the last day saying “Lord, Lord”, and thinking that they’re in good with Jesus. When in fact nothing could be further from the… Read More
Every Wednesday will feature an inspiring lighthearted quote, thought, or scripture to encourage you the rest of the week. Today, we’re featuring a verse from the Apostle Paul found in Colossians 4:6. It can be a challenge to many of us, like myself to watch what we say. This is the most challenging and apparent when I’m at home. As… Read More
Besides the action, adventure, and obvious diversity of this dynamic and much-applauded film, the movie Black Panther offered some very good spiritual insights and comparisons to the Church that I think Christians can glean and learn from. (WARNING: SPOILER ALERT) So disheartening to wake up hearing the news on the passing of Chadwick Boseman. As a tribute, I’m reposting this… Read More
