Week of June 30, 2024 – How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Psalm 139: 17-18
It is impossible to know or even understand what God’s thought about us are. It is priceless that God should think of us at all. It is beyond priceless that He would think good thoughts of us much less as often as He does. Imagine standing on a beach and wondering just how many grains of sand fill the beach yet God’s thoughts of us are so many more times that the number of sand grains along that shoreline. We are constantly in His thoughts. When we go to sleep at night and when we wake in the morning, He is still with us.
I just finished a Bible Study about “Getting Your Fire Back”. Scott Savage put it like this: “Sometimes in order to get back what you once had, you may need to go back and do what you once did”. Do you remember when you first accepted Christ the fire that burned in you? The thoughts of God should be as precious to us now as when we first begun walking with Him. We need to let our ears be trained to His voice and our mind receptive to His truth, get our fire back and share it with others.
Week of June 16, 2024 – And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15:20
This scripture reminds us of our tendency to wander away from our Father who created us and loves us. It reminds us of God’s faithfulness, forgiveness, and compassion, and this is the process of spiritual change. The moment you tell God that you are tired of living the way you’ve been living, He runs out to meet you. He takes the initiative. God the Father celebrates, like the father did when his prodigal child returned. He is just waiting for you to return to Him.
Once again, I will be honest and say that way too often when someone wrongs me or does wrong, I want them to experience the full consequences of it, but this is not consistent with how God treats me. I should also forgive, remove any vengefulness from my heart and replace it with God’s love and grace.
I thank God that He wraps His arms around me when I come back to Him after my mistakes. I am thankful that He chooses to love and forgive me, cleansing me by His own sacrifice. God is more merciful in His judgments than I am. The love of God is much bigger than the love of man. God can forgive when we refuse to forgive. This shows how ready and willing He is to receive and entertain poor returning sinners, according to His will.
What a loving FATHER He is!
Week of June 9, 2024 – Iron sharpeneth iron; so, a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17
Characteristics of a Godly friend:
- They will pray for you.
- They have your best interests at heart.
- They will always tell you the truth.
- They edify you in the things of God.
- They help you grow spiritually.
- They love you unconditionally.
- Godly friends are not jealous.
- They love you in your faults.
- They encourage & uplift you.
- They forgive your offenses.
- They won’t lead you astray from God.
- Godly friends are peacemakers.
- Godly friends are faithful.
BE A GODLY FRIEND
“I am so grateful for godly influence in my life. God has placed people so many times in my life to help to strengthen and sharpen me at my weakest points. I feel this is what is needed for this week. I love you and hope you have a great day!” Brother Jimmy Sharp
Week of June 2, 2024 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29: 11-13
Do you ever wonder about God’s plan for your life? God is faithful, and compassionate and He keeps His promises. When we backslide and
allow sin to take us away from God’s plan, He will always call us back to Him. He calls us to be obedient and faithful. We need to learn to
trust God and to trust that He has a good plan for our lives even when we backslide.
God longs for us to seek Him with all our hearts and to diligently seek His presence. It is in that secret place with God that we will find Him. In that secret place God’s plans can unfold in our lives.
We can take comfort from this scripture knowing God is with us in the middle of our difficulties. We are not promised immediate change in
our situation, but we can know God’s peace in it as we trust Him to work on it. God can restore all that is lost to us. I am amazed at the
changes that God has brought about in my life. Some of the things that I prayed for, waited for, and hoped for a change in, have not always
happened as I expected them to, but sometimes hindsight is a wonderful thing. I am so blessed that God did not answer some of my
prayers in the way I thought He should!
We are called to pray without ceasing and that means we can talk with God at any time, in any place, about anything. I thank God that He is with me in all my situations. I pray that I will always remember that I can trust Him to work in my life and that He will forgive me when I don’t trust Him. I pray that He will help let me hear His voice directing me to choose His plan and path for my life and that He will fill me with a passion to seek Him diligently as I read His word and apply it to my life.
When I am humble and give all my worries and cares to God, it frees me up to enjoy life and be secure in the knowledge that God cares for me.
Week of May 26, 2024 – Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 peter 5:6-7 KJV
Today’s special scripture tells us to let God control our life and trust Him to exalt us at His time.
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we won’t experience worry and stress in life, but it does tell us what to do about it. We are challenged to give our worry to God. The thing about giving something away is that we no longer have it, and that is what we are to do with worry. We are to give it to God and no longer carry the load on our shoulders. We are to humble ourselves before God and recognize that He cares for us more than we can imagine.
It’s so easy to get stressed out with all the pressures from school, sports, jobs, friends, family, and myself personally it’s easy to feel lots of pressure to get things done, and, at times, just plain stressful. I know I’m supposed to cast my cares on the Lord, but sometimes these “life happenings” just weigh me down.
When I am humble and give all of my worries and cares to God, it frees me up to enjoy life and be secure in the knowledge that God cares for me.
Week of May 19, 2024 – Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:14 KJV
One of the hardest lessons we will learn as a Christian is patience. We immediately want a solution to whatever problem comes our way. We want to be in control of the situation, the outcome, and when it will happen. We are quick to act because we are afraid of missing out or afraid someone else will have a different plan that we won’t like.
I will be honest and say that I am bad for not standing still and allowing God to fix my problems. Being patient is not a trait I have learned too well. I have tried too many times to fix my own mess, and I often made them worse, then ask God to bless my mess. My plan is not always God’s will for me. He wants me to trust Him and leave the timing in His hands.
As we wait for God’s timing, we need to ask the Lord for His peace and patience and to trust in Him and know His timing is perfect. We just need to stand still and listen for that small voice and know that God will take care of all our problems.
Week of May 12, 2024 – Hannah’s Prayer
1 And Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in
the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I
rejoice in your salvation.
2 “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none
besides you; there is no rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come
from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind
on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for
bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven, but she who has many
children is forlorn.
6 The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to
Sheol and raises up.
7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and
he exalts.
8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy
from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and
inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he
has set the world.
9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the
wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall
a man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will
judge the ends of the earth; He will give strength to his
king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
1 Samuel 2: 1-10 esv
Let’s be like Hannah and acknowledge God’s
greatness, uniqueness, steadfastness, and holiness!
Happy Mother’s Day!
Week of May 5, 2024 – O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the
years make known; in wrath remember mercy. Habakkuk 3:2 KJV
We all struggle with faith during challenging circumstances. We all face personal crises and uncertainties. God allows us to express our doubts
and questions to Him to seek understanding and trust when things seem bleak. We need to trust in God’s mighty works and plead for
mercy even in the face of God’s wrath. This verse reminds me that God is sovereign and just, even when I don’t fully comprehend His ways.
We are called to live by faith, trusting in God’s promises, in all circumstances and situations. Our faith should impact our daily choices, relationships, and responses to challenges. We can and should find reasons to praise God even in the difficult seasons. If we focus on
God’s goodness rather than the circumstance this will be much easier to do.
We need to go to God in prayer with a humble attitude and remember that He is on His throne in complete power and authority. Each of us
sin daily and need to ask His forgiveness. We need to ask Him to cleanse the Church, HIS Church, and restore the joy of our salvation to
each of us. We need to faithfully keep looking to Him and living by faith. God alone is our strength and our salvation. He is a fair and just
God.
Week of April 28, 2024 – Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; Joel 2:1 KJV
As Triumphant Revival begins this coming Tuesday, pray that God will work through NAMBC to make this a genuine revival, and to start it in you. The world is shaking…but God is not! These are uncertain days, but the people of God have a certain future. He has not failed us, forgotten us, or forsaken us – and He never will!
The events that are happening in the world today has not taken God by surprise, but rest assured the Lord will use this for His own glory. Do not allow the news media to set your tone. Stay in Scripture and keep your eyes on Jesus. Remember that the greatest movements of God have been birthed in times of crisis. The Lord uses such times to get our undivided attention. Look for opportunities to share and show the love of God. There has never been a greater moment for a Christian witness than at this time! Enjoy your family and make the most of quiet times. Sometimes God makes us sit still and slow down. Take this as the gift of God. Talk to one another and talk to the Lord.
Anchor your life in Christ and the Word of the living God. Press on! And sing your way through uncertain times.
Week of April 21, 2024 – O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1 KJV
Praise God every day for the gift of life. Most of us like to receive praise, God also appreciates being praised. We should show Him gratitude, give thanks, and praise Him as we are His children, and we should be thankful for all He has done and continues to do for us. God is worthy of our praises. When we sing to Him, we declare His greatness and His glory.
Singing allows us to express our trust and our need for God. God made your voice, so there is a good chance He wants to hear you sing even if
you don’t think you sing well. He just wants us to make a joyful noise. As long as it’s coming from our heart, how you sound, is probably not that important to God.
No matter what is going on in your life give Him praise. It is easy to give Him praise when life is good, but also praise Him in challenging
times. As Nicky Gumbel said, “Until God opens the next door, praise him in the hallway.”
Week of April 14, 2024 – Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: For my soul trusteth in thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. Psalm 57:1 KJV
In the middle of dreadful circumstances, the faithful person can cry out to God with the confidence that God hears and that He fulfills His purpose for His children.
We as Christians need to have the same committed faith as did David in our trust and faith in the Lord. When the doctor gives us a fearful
prognosis, we should not doubt God, nor shake our fist and blame Him. We should ask for His will and way to be carried out.
If a job is lost and the fear of financial failure seems imminent, God is still good, and He will work it out to His glory and to our benefit. If a move seems expected and being in a new neighborhood with new surroundings raises many unknown “what if’s,” God is still on His throne.
Our faith and trust should not waiver. Relying on the guidance of a loving
God will keep us strong in times of doubt and uncertainty. Being secure and firm in our convictions and trusting God’s promises will guide us
through the unknown of tomorrow. God will work it all out, as He has done many times in the past, so fear not, it will be alright!
A secure steadfast anchored Christian will survive and grow in spite of a frightening future. When all is dark and uncertain, our heart will not
surrender to the circumstances. We will ride over the storm-tossed waves and arrive safely where and when God wants us to be. Our heart will be encouraged, and we will still sing praises to the One that will get us through the scary future.
Give me a devoted heart and a pure heart toward You and Your will.
Week of April 7, 2024 – O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Romans 11:33 KJV
God’s wisdom and knowledge are wide and cover a large range. God is greater than man. He is beyond us. Our minds cannot grasp the greatness of God! We can grasp what He tells us about Himself, but beyond that, there is so much more that we cannot understand. He is always enriching us in ways that we don’t anticipate. God is indeed rich in goodness and grace, mercy and love, wisdom and knowledge, and power. In God, we too have been made rich in everything, for He has gave us the riches of His grace in Christ Jesus our Savior. By faith, we have a rich reward that is kept for us in heaven. I have been born into that new creation in Christ, reconciled back to God, forgiven of my sins, and given eternal life, which comes from Him.
Week of March 31, 2024 – He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:6 KJV
Every year in the spring we get together on Easter Sunday (or Resurrection Sunday) to celebrate and remember the resurrection of our
Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. This miracle shouldn’t be recognized on just one day or even for just one season…it should be celebrated every
day of your life because it’s that important and that wonderful. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christian faith.
Without the resurrection, the belief in God’s saving grace and mercy through Jesus is void. When Jesus rose from the dead, he proved his
divinity as the Son of God and his works of atonement, redemption, reconciliation, and salvation.
“He is risen” means that Jesus has defeated death and asks us to share in eternal life with Him. Christ conquered death, and to those who believe in Him, He grants eternal life. Because Jesus has risen and lives, you and I will one day be resurrected and live as well. Christ’s resurrection guarantees your resurrection. We know this good news, so let’s make sure we’re sharing it. The gospel had
the power to transform lives then, and it has the same power now. It’s up to you and me to let everyone know about this wonderful, resurrected Jesus.
He came, he died, he resurrected, and he’s coming again. This is the message the world needs to know now more than ever before.
Week of March 24, 2024 – On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. John 12:12-13 KJV
Today is Palm Sunday which starts the celebration of Holy Week, where we look at the events leading up to the crucifixion of Christ. On this day we celebrate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. His grand march was not what we’d expect of a typical “parade”, but His victory on the cross is not what we’d expect of the Son of God. But Jesus did then and does still now the unexpected in amazing and life-changing ways.
Jesus came humbly, to seek and save the lost. He didn’t always do things in the ways that we expected, but He fulfilled God’s plans and redeemed us from sin. Palm Sunday reminds us that He is great and mighty and worthy of our praise and adoration. We can rejoice in who He is and celebrate why He came whether we lift up our palms or lift our voices in song. Unlike the first Palm Sunday, where they didn’t know, we know the end of the story and acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and savior, not just for the day but for eternity.
Week of March 17, 2024 – Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Isaiah 55: 6-9 KJV
Are you seeking the Lord? Nobody knows when that door will shut. People may think they’ll look into Jesus later, but nobody can
guarantee that there is a ‘later’. Why should we seek the Lord? Because He is God Almighty… the creator of the universe. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. They are so much higher and so much deeper than our thoughts. Yet He asks us to come! He desires and asks us to seek Him so that we can share that which is good and live.
Week of March 10, 2024 – Isn’t it ironic that we spend so much time and energy trying to figure out how to get to where God wants us to go, when all we have to do is simply say, “Here am I”? It’s God’s job to get us to where He wants us to go; our job is to make ourselves available. Our readiness to respond is what God is looking for. Sometimes it’s a simple prompting to go out of our way and love our next-door neighbor. Sometimes it’s a calling to move halfway around the world. But it always starts with the little three-word prayer of availability: “Here am I.”
Has God called you to do something out of your comfort zone? How did you respond? Were you willing or standoffish? When it comes to my comfort zone, I will be honest, I like it and feel extremely uncomfortable leaving it. I know as a Christian, when God asks me to do something, my heart should be ready to respond with the readiness to carry out His purpose. I have an obligation to serve others in His name. My life should reflect the privilege of being used by God. I don’t always have that willing response like Isaiah had. I am learning little by little day by day through prayer to jump at the chance to serve Him in whatever He calls me to do.
Ask God to give you the heart and willingness to obey like Isaiah. To have the ability to listen to His voice and respond at the chance to serve Him in whatever He calls you to do. Ask Him to teach you about readiness, surrender, and the privilege of being chosen by God to participate in His work. It encourages me to listen for His voice and respond with a willing heart: “Here I am. Send me!”
“Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:8 KJV
Week of February 25 & March 3, 2024- An essential step in salvation is confessing that we are sinners. We must acknowledge that Jesus, God’s only son, is alive. He is not dead. He has risen from the dead. Because Jesus did the “impossible” by getting the victory over death, our Savior made it possible for Himself to be the payment for all our sins. Jesus did what no other man could do. He died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God. No remains of His body are left on this Earth because Jesus is still alive.
Believing Jesus paid for our sins with His death is admitting that there is nothing we can do to earn us a way to Glory. He paid for our sins with His blood. With this belief, we can be saved from what is due to us: the penalty for our sins. Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins, confess Him before others. You can have God’s promise of eternity with Him in Heaven.
“That is thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. for there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:9-13 (KJV)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, right now, I receive Your Son, Jesus Christ, as my Savior. I thank You for the gift of my salvation. I ask You to set me free from the sin in my life. Wash away my sin so I can be clean. Make me Your child. I believe that Jesus is the only way to receive this precious gift. I believe He suffered on the cross for my sin, that He died, and that God raised Him from the dead. I am no longer lost. I am found. I will live with You eternally. Because of the blood that washes away my sin, and because Your word says so, I am saved. I am set free. I am born again. Thank you, Jesus, Amen!
Week of February 18, 2024 – How comforting is the reality of knowing that nothing can separate you from Christ? As God’s child, you are never alone. No matter what you are facing today, tomorrow or any other day, God is with you. God is there for you no matter what adversity, discouragement, or struggle you are trying to understand or overcome. He is there with you whether you are at home, the store, or if you go to the mountains or the middle of the ocean, He will always be there.
People go through hard times. Life has a way of doing this to all of us. If you find yourself alone, facing an unexpected loss, or surrounded by many but feeling unknown, He is there. He knows you. There isn’t anything that we have done, should have done, or that’s been done to us that can keep God from loving us. His love is constant and unstoppable. Know that the Lord is with you today and loves you beyond measure! His love is for you, and absolutely nothing can remove you from it.
While we will face trials, difficulties, and pain in this world, we can be assured that Christ is at work on our behalf. He will use our pain to draw us to Him and to transform us into His likeness.
Thank you, Lord, that no matter what we face today, You are with us.
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 38-39 (KJV)
Week of February 11, 2024 – Valentine’s Day can create a variety of emotions for different people. For some, it creates great satisfaction celebrating the love you have between you, your spouse, and your family & friends. For others, it can cause feelings of loneliness. Whether you are single or in a relationship, let the special scripture below encourage you to celebrate, for God has unconditional and indescribable love for all of us.
No matter your age or stage in life, Valentine’s Day can be celebrated because of God’s great love. Share this love on February 14th and throughout the year to spread the love with those you hold near and dear! May our lives be a testament to the boundless and enduring power of love.
“…I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV)
Week of February 4, 2024 – One of the hardest things to do in life is to be kind to other people when they aren’t kind to you. When you’re in these situations, how do you usually respond?
The easy response is to get even, lash out or do something mean right back to the person who did you wrong. However, as a Christian we are called to love others. We each are challenged to be kind and forgive others regardless of how they treat us.
You can’t change how someone treats you, but you can choose to respond to them with kindness and forgiveness because God in Christ forgives us. When you remember what Jesus did for you and how much he loves you, it empowers you to love others. You begin to value other people when you see how much Jesus loves you.
You can’t change how someone treats you, but you can choose to respond to them with kindness.