I Hate Being In The Dark
May 1, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

     You are sitting at home, minding your own business on a Tuesday evening. Nothing special is happening so you decide to catch up on some reading. The wind begins to blow a little outside, and so you cuddle up with a good book and some hot cocoa. After just a little while of reading, you are so into the book that you do not even realize the storm raging outside around you. That is until suddenly, everything goes dark in the house. All the lights go off and it is pitch black. Two minutes ago, the light bulb in the lamp was the last thing on your mind. Now, you just wish that somehow the light would come back on. Then when they do, you look at the light as if almost to say, thank you. I just feel better when the lights are on.

     Often people do not realize the soothing Light of God’s Word all around them daily. The comfort He gives us day after day. Then suddenly the storm of the moment makes life seem dark and lonely. It is in those trying times that people will cry out for God, wanting some reassurance from the Light of His Word. To receive the light and the wisdom of God’s Word we must realize where it comes from. It is not just words on a page… these are GOD’S WORDS WHICH BRING LIGHT.      

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     God’s Words are special. The words are not special because of the words, but because of who said them. The fear or reverence of the Lord and His wisdom and instruction are only the beginning of knowledge. Nevertheless, it all starts there. A wise man once told me, “If you grab hold of God’s hand in the Light, you will never have to search for His hand in the dark.” Grab hold of God’s hand through His Word while the Light is shining today.

Have you taken hold of the mighty loving hand of God today?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 1, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Judges 18, 19 – Psalm 103
Proverbs 1 – 2 Corinthians 10, 11

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
1 Samuel 18-20 / Luke 20:1-26

A Picture Of The Church And Christ

April 28, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

2 Corinthians 3:2
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     Have you ever heard people say, “I do not care what people think of me; it is my life, and I will live it any way I want to.” You would think that only those who were lost and unsaved might say such a thing, however, it is not only the unsaved who make this claim. I hear this from Christians as well. I have heard, “I don’t care what people think of me, let them think what they want, they are going to think that anyway.” What a terrible thing to say about a life that does not belong to you. I know some of you might be thinking, “What, my life does not belong to me, why not?” Well, I am glad you asked.

     First, we have given our lives to Christ. Therefore, this life is no longer our life to begin with. Everything you do is a reflection on God.

     In addition, you are an example of the body of believers you have joined with as well. As Paul said to the church in Corinth, “ye are our epistles,” or our letters, our statements of what God can do in the life of a person who is saved. We are an open book of what we say we believe for all to see. When people look at you, they say in their hearts, “So that is what a Christian is supposed to do, say, or be.” In addition, they think, “That is what the church they belong to believes is right.” Whether this way of judging is fair or not does not matter. What does matter is your testimony. So the next time you get ready to do something, picture the whole church and Christ doing it with you. Would they do it too? If not, then neither should you.

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     There is a lot of truth in the little poem that says, “The only Christ some people will ever see will be the Christ they see lived out in you and me.” The only thing they know about the church you belong to might be you as well. Let’s not degrade the body or the blood of Jesus Christ. Instead, we should be an epistle. One that the apostle Paul and Christ could write that they are proud of. 

What story is your life writing for the world to read?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  April 28, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
Judges 12-14 – Psalm 101
Proverbs 27-28  –  2 Corinthians 1-5

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
1 Samuel 12-13  –  Luke 18:31-43

What Can God Get Out Of My Failures?

April 26 & 27, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 99:8
Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     Oh, how wonderful it is that God forgives us of our sins. All our sins were washed away on the day we put our faith in Jesus and asked Him to come into our lives. However, is there still a price to pay for our sins?

     The short answer is YES. If we sin, we often must pay the earthly penalty for those sins. Can a thief be forgiven? YES! Does he still need to pay for his crime? YES!

     The good news is that God can now take what was a punishment and turn it into a blessing. How, you might ask? By teaching others how not to fall into the same pits of sin which we have fallen into. We can walk with those who are struggling in similar areas of life as we were. God can use anything to glorify Himself if we will allow Him to.

     What a wonderful truth to know that God forgives our sins even if we must pay an earthly price for them. Nevertheless, in heaven, it is gone. In the presence of God, our sin is washed away in the blood of His precious Son, Jesus Christ.

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

   

When faced with paying the earthly price for our sins, we should ask God to use even this to glorify Himself. Not asking how we can get out of this situation, but what can God get out of this with our life?

What might God teach you out of a failure?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  April 26, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
Judges 9-11  –  Psalm 99-100
Proverbs 26 – 1 Corinthians 16

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
1 Samuel 9-11   –  Luke 18:1-30

WHAT TO DO ON SUNDAY:

    There will not be a Daily Devotion sent out on Sundays. Instead, we encourage you to attend your church and listen intently to what God has prepared in the heart of your Pastor. Write down all the scriptures he uses in that message, then when you get home re-read those passages for today’s reading. God has given to your Pastor exactly what He desires for you on that day.  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  April 27, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
NO READINGS ON SUNDAY

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
NO READINGS ON SUNDAY