Isaiah 41:10Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.A new year, a new beginning, a chance to be better, do better, maybe make amends for things we didn’t settle this past year. Everything that lays ahead of us in the new year will be a challenge of some sort. Simply getting thr...

Colossians 3:13-1413) Make allowances for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which fosters a perfect harmony among us.Well, we’ve reached the end of another year. I’m certain some of us may have felt like we wouldn’t make it to the end, but as they say, “God wasn’t finished with...

Matthew 2:9-119) And the star they had seen in the East guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.10) When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!11) They entered the house and saw a child with his Mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh....

John 13:34So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.Back in October, when I discussed the treasures of the heart, I mentioned the Fruits of the Spirit. These are listed in Galatians 5:22-23 as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the qualities that come from the wo...

Proverbs 21:23Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.I’m thinking I should write this on a Post-it notes and strategically place them around the house, such as on the refrigerator, bathroom mirror, or beside my chair. This could potentially alleviate a significant amount of grief and anguish at times. However, I recognize the importance of self-control in addr...

Philippians 4:6Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.We are approaching a very stressful time of year for many people, the holidays. To add to our stress, the government decided to take a few weeks of, but thankfully, I believe that situation is finally resolved, at least for now. We all experience stress at some point...

Ephesians 4:2Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others faults because of your love.Jesus is the ultimate role model of gentleness, he was humble and caring with people yet he would opt to suffer willingly rather than to retaliate against anger and fury.Being gentle demands a significant amount of self-control. It involves patience, concentration, and...

PSALM 130:5I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put hope in his word.Well, it’s been a challenging few months. In July, we discovered that my husband, Steve, had a malignant melanoma. He was referred to a local oncologist, and as anyone who has dealt with the medical world knows, these appointments don’t happen overnight. In the meantime, he underwent a pet scan and a brain...

Hebrews 11:6And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.The life of faith, it is said, comprises at least three essential components. Firstly, it demands a sincere approach to God, a fervent seeking of His presence. Secondly, it necessitates a firm belief in the existence of God. Las...

James 1:2-32) Dear brother and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.3) For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.It’s safe to say that we’ve all faced our fair share of challenges in life, some more daunting than others. However, we’ve all persevered through those difficult times when our faith was tested ...

Matthew 6:19-20Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.We had a second home on the lake, a place where we could escape for a few days to relax and unwind, a gathering spot for the family during the summer holid...

Romans 12:21Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.It’s always God’s plan for us to release the hurt, resentment, and bitterness that stem from others’ actions. However, it can be challenging to let it go sometimes. It’s difficult to “turn the other cheek,” overlook one’s own foolishness, and be the bigger person by walking away. Some of us are naturally inclined to fight, whil...

Psalms 143:6I stretch out my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirst for rain.Last week, I discussed the questions that permeate our daily lives. They are everywhere we turn, and I suspect that many of us ask ourselves these questions every day. I certainly do. We are constantly seeking answers, seeking affirmation that we are doing things right, and trying to satisfy our i...

Matthew 7:7-87) Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened for you.8) For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.Ask, seek, and receive—that seems simple enough, but is it? Do you recall when you were growing up and being told that if you d...

Habakkuk 1:2-42) How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry. But you do not come to save.3) Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.4) The law has become paralyzed and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked f...

Psalm 119:105Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.That verse is telling me that the Bible is a guiding light, one that shines on the paths we follow on our journey in life.Growing up, I never read the Bible because we weren’t taught to do so. Instead, we had Catechism, which was taught by the devout mothers of the church who had time to dedicate an hour each week to this cl...

2 Timothy 2:2You heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them onto others.When our Pastor first approached me about leading a devotion session before Sunday service, I was initially hesitant and unsure of myself and the challenge. However, after some contemplation, I decided to accept the...

Philippians 4:13For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.Where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.As I sat and listened to those words being sung at a recent Sunday Service, I couldn’t help but reflect on their profound truth. He may not always respond to our desires or actions, but his presence is unwavering. He is always present in ...

John 11:35Jesus wept.When we were growing up, my brother was always active in sports, particularly baseball, basketball, and track. As a result, I spent a lot of time sitting in the bleachers, watching and listening to the events. Yes, I said listening, because you often hear a lot of things being said or, more often, yelled during these games. Sadly, most of that yelling came from the fathers of ...

Philippians 4:6Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.Take a moment to reflect on the blessings in your life. Consider your journey and the lessons you’ve learned. Reflect on how you’ve become the person you are and how fortunate you are. Think about the love you’ve received and, more importantly, the love you’ve given to...