Scars Can Be Scary And Hurt

May 24 & 25, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 119:1
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     I remember when I was younger, I recall watching the occasional scary movie on TV. I admit I loved watching them and being scared half out of my wits. Certain people would seem to scare me more than others. Add to that the fact that the music would get all eerie sounding and there always seemed to be a thunderstorm when scary people were around. Other details only added to the fright. In many of these films, there was a man with a scar on his face, and for whatever reason the scar made him look tough and scary. Something bad must have happened to him in his past for him to have to carry that ugly old scar around for the rest of his life. At least that was what the mind of a young boy thought.

 

     Nevertheless, life leaves scars. Some are more visible than others. Some are physical scars that others can see. There are also emotional scars that tear at the heart which often are not so visible. Some hurt us personally, while other scars will also hurt our Lord. You might be wondering, “How can my scars hurt Christ?” Well, scars from the sins of the past before our salvation, God can turn and use for His good, as He saved and forgave you for those past sins. However, the scars of sinfulness after we are saved will often damage the testimony of a Christian. These scars not only hurt the believer, but they also hurt the one whose name we now bear. They hurt the name of Christ. God forgives us of all our sin, yet sin can leave a nasty scar. As believers, we should do all we can not to add any more scars as we go through life’s journey.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     I can still recall my dad saying, “Son, it is not just your name you are dragging through the mud, it is my name too.” That did not make a lot of sense to me back then, but I sure understand today. As Christians, we need to remember God could also say, “It is not just your name you are dragging through the mud child of mine, it is also my son Jesus’ name too.”

 

What will you do with the name 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 24, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
2 Samuel 7-1 / Psalm 119:1-32
Proverbs 24 / Acts 28 

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
1 Kings 15-17 / John 7:37-53

 

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:  May 25, 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

 

He Moved In And Brought You Something

May 23, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

2 Samuel 6:11
And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     

     Oh, how sweet are little babies. They gurgle, coo, and make such cute little faces and noises. However, along with the joy of babies come the responsibilities of feeding and changing them. You need to take them to the doctor when they are not feeling well and then give them their medicines. As they get a little older and begin to toddle around the house, you need to make sure the house is as safe as possible for one of such an age (if that is possible). These are all things that come automatically when you have children. You do not get a checklist of responsibilities to check off, of things you like or dislike. To raise a child in a safe and healthy environment, there are things you must do like it or not.

 

     Well, that is how it is with God. In the Old Testament, the Ark represented the place where God dwelt. In addition, where God dwelt, the blessings of God dwelt. That is unless you mishandled or took the ark somewhere it was not to be. If so, then the blessings of God that were with God were withheld. The good news is God is still the same today. When you got saved and God moved in, He brought you something. The Holy Spirit of God now dwells in the hearts of all believers and the blessings of God still dwell where God dwells. That is unless you mishandle the Word of God in your life and walk contrary to His will. Then He may withhold the blessings temporarily. Even so, the blessings of God are still with God and are still available to every believer today. You have every opportunity to receive the blessings of God when He comes into your life to stay.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     Today, if you know Jesus as Lord and Saviour, your body is the dwelling place of God the Holy Spirit. You are the host of the Most High God. As His host, how will you treat this royal resident today? Remember, His blessings are available each and every day because He lives in you, and He brought you something.

 

As His host, how will you treat this royal resident 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 23, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
2 Samuel 5, 6 / Psalm 118 15-29
Proverbs 23 / Acts 27

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
1 Kings 13-14  /  John 7:1-36

 

You ALMOST Got Me
May 22, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Acts 26:28
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     Picture with me if you will a man working in the yard or possibly tinkering with something in the garage. He has almost finished with his project when his wife yells out, “Are you done yet?” Now I know that her asking does not change anything. However, for some reason it seems to cause a huge distraction in his train of thought on what he is doing. He yells back, “I’ll be done in a few minutes.” “When?” she asks. “In just a minute,” he replies. Then the magic words that make him want to hurry and finish. “Well, dinner is almost ready.” Almost ready! Not quite ready, but close. This means in just a little bit it will be completely ready, and he definitely wants to be there. The word “almost” seems to give him, not much, but at least some time.

     King Agrippa said to Paul, “ALMOST thou persuadest me…” Almost! He is not completely persuaded, but close. What kept the king from being persuaded completely? Could Paul possibly have said something, anything else that would have changed his thinking? I doubt it. Could the Holy Spirit have moved any more in the King’s heart? Probably not. Almost is close, but not close enough. King Agrippa may have thought to himself; I have a little more time.

     Almost is where most people live today. I am almost ready to be saved. Almost ready to give up this lifestyle. Almost ready to turn my life over to Christ. ALMOST…but not quite, because I think I may have just a little more time. It has been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. People almost made it, almost got saved… almost!

UGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

Almost could be an interesting word used for salvation. However, you must divide it up for it to work. You see, ALL is the MOST you can give to the Lord. That is just what He wants. If you give him your ALL, He will make the MOST of your life.

What has God done in your life to make the MOST of ALL that you are?

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 22, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
2 Samuel 3, 4 / Psalm 118 1-14
Proverbs 22 / Acts 25, 26

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
1 Kings 11-12  /  John 6:34-71

Whoops! Did I Do That?

May 19, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

1 Samuel 28:6
And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     Have you ever played Follow the Leader? In this game, you were to follow right behind the person in front of you and do exactly what they did. The person in the very front sets an example for the entire group. Now imagine you are in the middle of the line, but you keep jumping out of line, doing your own thing, and not following the example of leaders before you. All the people who are behind you follow your example and not the true leader before you. However, their disobedience was because of you, not the real leader. Suddenly, the one leading just stops. No movement at all. Now what? You say, “Ok, I will do what you say.” However, the leader refuses to move. Not left, right, forward, or back. You yell, “OK I will do what you do,” but the leader seems not to listen. The leader is still there and can hear you. Still, you cannot make them respond because you have disrupted them too many times, and they will not move.

     That is somewhat how things were with King Saul. He had been disobedient so many times, that God finally decided, “I am not listening to you or responding to you anymore.” What a terrible feeling this must have been for someone like Saul who relied on God’s direction for success in leadership.

     The concept is still relevant in our lives today. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” God may not listen until we repent from sin and ask for forgiveness. While He can still hear us, He may refuse to respond until we begin to obey. What a terrible place to be in for those of us who rely on God’s direction for success in life – and for those who are following behind us.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     In 1 John 1:9, it says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We need to ask God to forgive us of anything that might stand between us and Him. Then we can let God lead again.

How important is God’s leading in your life 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 19, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
1 Samuel 28-29 / Psalm 115
Proverbs 18-19 / Acts 21-22

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
1 Kings 6-7  /  John 5:1-27

 

Smile, People Will Wonder
What You’re Up To

May 17 & 18, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     You know it has long been a documented fact that happy, smiling people tend to be healthier and live longer. In fact, there was a study done one time that concluded that people who smile live longer than people who do not.

 

     Stop reading just for just a moment and go look in the mirror. By the looks of things, it sadly appears that some of you might not make it through this day!

 

     I have long said Christians should be the happiest people in the world. We have so much more to look forward to.

 

     If something would happen to me today and my life would be ended here on earth, God says I have a home waiting for me in heaven.

 

     If I live through this day, God says He will never leave me nor forsake me.

 

     If I am hurting physically or spiritually, He is the Great Physician.

 

     If I am lonely or distraught, He is always ready to listen, and through the power of the Holy Spirit whispers sweet peace to me.

 

     Why shouldn’t we be happy? Our text today says; “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:”

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” If you are feeling down, try this. Get out an old Hymnbook, find the peppiest song you can find, and start praising God. It may surprise you that in just a few minutes of following this practice, you will find joy once again. Try it!

What song is flooding your soul 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 17, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
1 Samuel 24-27 / Psalm 113-114
Proverbs 17 / Romans 16

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
1 Kings 3-5 / John 4:39-54

 

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:  May 18, 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