Can You Hear Me Now?

June 2, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 2:4-5
If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     As the Pastor of an average-sized local church, I cannot tell you the number of times I have heard a mother or father say, “If they would have only listened, I tried to warn them.” Neither can I recall the number of messages preached on obedience to God, only to find someone trapped in the grips of sin later, and I have thought to myself, “If they would have just listened to the message.” All too often, we find people who have run from the truth and destroyed their lives and are now in seemingly helpless conditions. I wonder if they are not saying in their heart, “I wish I had listened when I had the chance.”

 

     I have a bit of good news for you today. If you are still breathing and can read this devotional, there is still hope for you. No matter your condition today or your sense of hopelessness, God is still in control. Jesus is the same forever. He still loves you just as you are. He still wants to make something of your life right where it is. If you have found yourself struggling with the temptations of this old world, Jesus understands the torment you are going through. He is waiting to change your life if you will completely give it over to Him. The question again today is… Will you listen NOW?

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     Today is the day of salvation. Make your life count for the Kingdom of God. Give yourself completely to Him and watch Him do miracles in your life. You can almost hear God leaning down from heaven and asking … “Can you hear me now?”

 

When God speaks to us, do we listen and obey?

 

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:  June 2, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
1 Chronicles 1, 2 / Psalm 119:145-160
Proverbs 1-2 / Hebrews 11-13

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
2 Kings 9-10  /  John 11:1-37

 

Better Than 911

May 31 & June 1, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

2 Samuel 22:4
I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     People today spend thousands of dollars on security. There are burglar alarms for homes and cars. Surveillance cameras are used to watch every movement around us. We possess personal alarms and horns that we can carry in our purses or pockets to sound off if we are attacked. You can carry mace, stun guns, and a variety of weapons to protect yourself from attackers. Personal safety and security are a multi-billion-dollar business. I am not saying these things are not warranted. In fact, I believe in the day and age in which we live, it is to some degree necessary.

 

     However, truthfully where does our protection come from? Is it from cameras, horns, alarms, mace, and weapons? Not really. The truth is our only real security is from the Lord. I know He gives us all wisdom to be able to protect ourselves. Yet in the end, when all is said and done, God’s desires and designs for our life are in play all around us. So then, what would be our greatest protection against the enemies of this world? Our verse has the answer. I will call upon the Lord because He IS worthy to be praised: and by trusting in Him and His decisions for my life, I will then be saved from my enemies. Even if this ultimately means God needs to take me home to heaven to protect me.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     Keep a constant line open to heaven. It is so much better than 911 ever will be. In addition, God’s response time can be a lot faster.

 

When it comes to your safety, who do you trust most?

 

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 31, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
2 Samuel 21-24 / Psalm 119:113-144
Proverbs 31 / Hebrews 10 

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
2 Kings 6-8  /  John 10:22-42

 

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:  June 1, 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

 

It’s On Your Schedule!

May 30, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Hebrews 9:27-28
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     Death! Even the word sounds creepy. The idea of dying is not something most people want to dwell on. I heard tell of a preacher who stood on the platform behind the pulpit and said, “Everyone who wants to go to heaven, please raise your hand.” Almost every hand in the building went up. He reached under the pulpit, pulled out a pistol, held it above his head, and said, “Who wants to go right now?” All the hands went down. You see, we all want to go to heaven, but we all like what God has provided us with here and now.

 

     The Bible says every person who was ever born has an appointment to keep with death. It is a time when we will close our eyes to the things of this present world. What happens then? That depends on what you believe while your eyes are still open. If you have trusted in Jesus’ death and resurrection to pay the full price for your sins and completely turned your life over to Him, when you close your eyes here, you will open them in a wonderful place called heaven. You will be judged as an athlete who finished a race. The Righteous Judge of all eternity, Jesus, will reward you for all the things you have done for His Kingdom. However, if you have not trusted Jesus for salvation, you arrive in a place of torment for the lost. There is a judgment there also. This judgment is not one of reward, but a sentence to a second death. Brought before Jesus, the same Righteous Judge of all time, He will say, “Depart from me, I never knew you.” A second time, you will be separated from Him but this time for all eternity and placed into outer darkness. This is called the second death.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     Check your schedule. You have an appointment you will keep. 

 

Where are you making plans to go?

 

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 30, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
2 Samuel 19, 20 / Psalm 119:97-112
Proverbs 30 / Hebrews 8, 9

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
2 Kings 4-5  /  John 10:1-21

What Makes You Feel Secure?
May 29, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     The word “fear” in the Bible often refers to someone having reverence or a very high level of respect for something or someone. It is you believing in and giving honor to what you trust. For example, if you would say, “I fear that is true,” the message you would convey is, “I believe that is true.” In today’s passage, that is how the word fear is used. What a man trusts in will be his snare in life.

 

     Some people put their trust in money. They want money so badly that they spend their entire life doing whatever it takes to earn it. Sadly, it never seems there will ever be enough money for them to be satisfied. The more wealth they get, the more they feel they need. Finally, toward the end of their life, when years of labor have helped them gain some practical wisdom, they often find out that all that work, all those hours of toil for wealth, never brought them real happiness.

 

     Some people want to be famous. They go to great lengths trying to get people’s attention. When, and if people finally do begin to clamor around them, they will then spend enormous amounts of time and money trying to regain just a little bit of privacy. They go to great lengths to hide from the very same people they wanted to recognize them just a short time ago.

 

    Getting what we want in life is not always getting what we need. However, those who put their trust in God always find a sweet safe place to live. Not just for a few years here on earth, but for eternity.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     Money is not evil unless it controls your life. Being popular is not wrong if God has directed it to be so. However, the only place we should ever place our trust is in Jesus. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

 

Which would you rather be? Rich, popular, or in the center of God’s will?

 

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 29, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
2 Samuel 18 / Psalm 119:81-96
Proverbs 29 / Hebrews 6, 7

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
2 Kings 1-3  /  John 9:24-41

 

Trustworthiness – More Than A Big Word

May 26, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Colossians 3:24-25
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     We have all heard the phrases, “You get what you deserve,” “Keep it up, and you will get what is coming to you,” and “You only get out of life what you put into it.”  Does any of this sound familiar? I guess in certain areas of life these are all correct statements. Even in the Christian life, we only seem to get back out of life what we are willing to put into it.

 

     The truth of the matter is we should all rejoice in the fact we will not get our just rewards if we know Jesus as our Saviour. In fact, if we all received what we deserved, it would surely not be heaven. We are the reason Jesus had to suffer and die on the cross of Calvary. It was for our sins that He came to this earth, to make a way for us to be forgiven and miss sins penalty. So, in actuality, we are going to get what we never deserved. We did not deserve to be forgiven, but we were. We do not deserve a home in Heaven, but there is one there. We do not deserve the love of Christ, but we receive it every single day. We received all this simply because we made Jesus, Lord, and Saviour of our life.

 

     However, if we choose to rebel against the love of God and refuse the forgiveness available, we will receive what we deserve. This is not God’s design or desire for us. Nevertheless, it is what we do deserve. In addition, God does not show favoritism among us. No matter how good we try to be, or who we are, God is not a respecter of persons. It will come down to this. Did you give your life to the one who gave His life for you?

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     If you do not want to receive what you rightfully deserve, accept the Love of God today. It is our only hope of escaping our earned destiny. He is the way, the truth, and the life…. This life, and life eternal.

 

Do you really want to receive what you deserve?

 

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 26, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
2 Samuel 12, 13 / Psalm 119: 33-48
Proverbs 25-26 / Colossians 1-4

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
1 Kings 18-19  /  John 8:1-30