And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you
As you go through your day I want to remind you:
“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.””
Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV
Stay close to Him, follow His lead because:
“Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them.”
Proverbs 22:5 NKJV
God will clear the path for you:
“God is my strength and power, And He makes my way perfect.”
II Samuel 22:33 NKJV
God loves you:
“The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous.”
Psalms 146:8 NKJV
“for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.”
John 16:27 NKJV
You are valuable to Him:
“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:29-31 NKJV
God made you who you are, the way you are because His Plan required you to be here at this particular moment in time:
“My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”
Psalms 139:15-17 NKJV
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Romans 8:28-29 NKJV
Listen for that Still Small Voice today let God guide you and direct you:
“and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.”
I Kings 19:12 NKJV
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:21 NKJV
God has plans for you. You are NOT stuck here. God IS moving you on, into the next season:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
God IS there to catch you and keep you safe:
“If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.”
Psalms 94:18-19 NKJV
Nothing, no not one thing can oppose, oppress, or destroy you. God IS with you:
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31 NKJV
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.”
Isaiah 54:17 NKJV
Walk with your head up. Not proud and boastful but confident that you are a child of Almighty God. He IS with you:
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:12-13 NKJV
May God give you peace. May He redirect the storm. May He secure your borders. May God protect your heart. May He keep your home. May He protect you against the wiles of the enemy. May He preserve you. May He watch over you. May He raise up the standard against the power of the enemy.
May He increase you. May He make your enemies your footstool. May God silence the mouths of those who speak against you. May He keep you in the fire. May He protect you from the flood. May He prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. May He prosper you. May He increase you. May He enlarge you. May your cup runneth over. May your seed be blessed. May God increase the work and productivity of your hands.
May the Glory of His countenance rest on you. May His Glory be your rearguard. May He protect you on every side. May God’s Light shine on you. May His Favor protect you.
May His Peace cover you. May His Wisdom be your Strength and Song. May His Joy overtake you. May His Power destroy every bondage. May His Blood break you free.
May God’s Favor clothe you. May His Grace comfort you. May His Goodness and Mercy follow you all the days of your life. May you dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. In the Mighty Name of Jesus-AMEN !
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
Pastor Doug
As you go through your day I want to remind you:
“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.””
Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV
Stay close to Him, follow His lead because:
“Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them.”
Proverbs 22:5 NKJV
God will clear the path for you:
“God is my strength and power, And He makes my way perfect.”
II Samuel 22:33 NKJV
God loves you:
“The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous.”
Psalms 146:8 NKJV
“for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.”
John 16:27 NKJV
You are valuable to Him:
“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:29-31 NKJV
God made you who you are, the way you are because His Plan required you to be here at this particular moment in time:
“My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”
Psalms 139:15-17 NKJV
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Romans 8:28-29 NKJV
Listen for that Still Small Voice today let God guide you and direct you:
“and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.”
I Kings 19:12 NKJV
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:21 NKJV
God has plans for you. You are NOT stuck here. God IS moving you on, into the next season:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
God IS there to catch you and keep you safe:
“If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.”
Psalms 94:18-19 NKJV
Nothing, no not one thing can oppose, oppress, or destroy you. God IS with you:
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31 NKJV
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.”
Isaiah 54:17 NKJV
Walk with your head up. Not proud and boastful but confident that you are a child of Almighty God. He IS with you:
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:12-13 NKJV
May God give you peace. May He redirect the storm. May He secure your borders. May God protect your heart. May He keep your home. May He protect you against the wiles of the enemy. May He preserve you. May He watch over you. May He raise up the standard against the power of the enemy.
May He increase you. May He make your enemies your footstool. May God silence the mouths of those who speak against you. May He keep you in the fire. May He protect you from the flood. May He prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. May He prosper you. May He increase you. May He enlarge you. May your cup runneth over. May your seed be blessed. May God increase the work and productivity of your hands.
May the Glory of His countenance rest on you. May His Glory be your rearguard. May He protect you on every side. May God’s Light shine on you. May His Favor protect you.
May His Peace cover you. May His Wisdom be your Strength and Song. May His Joy overtake you. May His Power destroy every bondage. May His Blood break you free.
May God’s Favor clothe you. May His Grace comfort you. May His Goodness and Mercy follow you all the days of your life. May you dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. In the Mighty Name of Jesus-AMEN !
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
-Pastor Doug
Master, commander, savior
I don’t think there is any debate about the fact that Jesus IS the Commander of the Army of God.
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.”
Revelation 19:11-13 NKJV
There IS ONLY ONE!
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 NKJV
And HIS Army?
“And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.”
Revelation 19:14 NKJV
“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
Revelation 19:15 NKJV
“And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Revelation 19:16 NKJV
There is no denying that Jesus IS in Command. Even the Roman Centurion picked up on who Jesus IS.
“The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.””
Matthew 8:8-9 NKJV
And Jesus responds:
“When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”
Matthew 8:10 NKJV
This Roman recognized the Authority of Jesus.
“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.”
Joshua 5:13-15 NKJV
Jesus IS and has Always been the Commander of the Lord’s Army. Keep that in your mind for a minute.
“So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.””
II Kings 6:16 NKJV
“And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
II Kings 6:17 NKJV
In our daily battles remember:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved 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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39 NKJV
Master, Commander, Savior - Jesus!
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
Matthew 28:18 NKJV
“But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?”
Matthew 26:52-53 NKJV
By some accounts at the time Jesus said this to Peter a legion of soldiers in the Roman army was 6 to 8 thousand men. When Jesus was being arrested He could have called 96 thousand angels to rescue Him.
Master, Commander, Savior, Friend - Jesus
“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:15 NKJV
Sometimes the battle for us is long. Sometimes you may feel like all is lost and you just can’t fight the good fight one more day. In those times look up and:
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”
Psalms 121:1-2 NKJV
Pray that God would open your eyes as Elisha did.
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24 NKJV
Remember that Jesus calls you friend and He IS with you.
“Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.””
I Samuel 17:47 NKJV
Your battle is the Lord’s.
“for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’”
Deuteronomy 20:4 NKJV
Whatever it is you are going through, at home, at work, in your finances, with your health, with your family or relationships that battle belongs to The Lord.
You are a friend to the Commander of The Lord’s Army. Your help comes from Him, the Maker of Heaven and Earth!
“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.””
Mark 10:27 NKJV
Don’t give up, don’t give in, don’t surrender. Your battle is already won, the battle belongs to The Lord. You are on the brink of victory, of your miracle, of your deliverance, of your healing!
Stand firm and:
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalms 46:10 NKJV
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Mighty Name - Amen
-Pastor Doug
I don’t think there is any debate about the fact that Jesus IS the Commander of the Army of God.
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.”
Revelation 19:11-13 NKJV
There IS ONLY ONE!
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 NKJV
And HIS Army?
“And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.”
Revelation 19:14 NKJV
“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
Revelation 19:15 NKJV
“And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Revelation 19:16 NKJV
There is no denying that Jesus IS in Command. Even the Roman Centurion picked up on who Jesus IS.
“The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.””
Matthew 8:8-9 NKJV
And Jesus responds:
“When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”
Matthew 8:10 NKJV
This Roman recognized the Authority of Jesus.
“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.”
Joshua 5:13-15 NKJV
Jesus IS and has Always been the Commander of the Lord’s Army. Keep that in your mind for a minute.
“So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.””
II Kings 6:16 NKJV
“And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
II Kings 6:17 NKJV
In our daily battles remember:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved 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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39 NKJV
Master, Commander, Savior - Jesus!
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
Matthew 28:18 NKJV
“But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?”
Matthew 26:52-53 NKJV
By some accounts at the time Jesus said this to Peter a legion of soldiers in the Roman army was 6 to 8 thousand men. When Jesus was being arrested He could have called 96 thousand angels to rescue Him.
Master, Commander, Savior, Friend - Jesus
“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:15 NKJV
Sometimes the battle for us is long. Sometimes you may feel like all is lost and you just can’t fight the good fight one more day. In those times look up and:
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”
Psalms 121:1-2 NKJV
Pray that God would open your eyes as Elisha did.
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24 NKJV
Remember that Jesus calls you friend and He IS with you.
“Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.””
I Samuel 17:47 NKJV
Your battle is the Lord’s.
“for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’”
Deuteronomy 20:4 NKJV
Whatever it is you are going through, at home, at work, in your finances, with your health, with your family or relationships that battle belongs to The Lord.
You are a friend to the Commander of The Lord’s Army. Your help comes from Him, the Maker of Heaven and Earth!
“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.””
Mark 10:27 NKJV
Don’t give up, don’t give in, don’t surrender. Your battle is already won, the battle belongs to The Lord. You are on the brink of victory, of your miracle, of your deliverance, of your healing!
Stand firm and:
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalms 46:10 NKJV
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Mighty Name - Amen
-Pastor Doug
Stand in AWE of HIM
The older I get the more I pray for Gods Wisdom and the Holy Spirits discernment before I make a decision. I pray we all do. It's important to me to strive to stay in the middle of Gods Will and seek His Wisdom to guide me.
So, how do we get the wisdom that God gives?
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5 NKJV
The book of James tells us to ask God for it but, I have found there is more to it than just asking.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7 NKJV
The Fear of the Lord is the beginning? Yes! The Reverential, Awestruck, Majestic, Wonder and acknowledgement of Who God IS, that kind of Fear IS the beginning of wisdom.
These two thing's absolutely go together. King Solomon knew who God was before he asked God for wisdom, as King David's son he had no doubt who God was and feared Him.
“And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?””
I Kings 3:6, 9 NKJV
Having the right perspective and the Fear of the Lord, God:
“The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.”
I Kings 3:10-12 NKJV
Knowing and having Reverence for the Source of Wisdom is the beginning of receiving Wisdom.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;”
Proverbs 2:6 NKJV
“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ””
Job 28:28 NKJV
“The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.”
Proverbs 15:33 NKJV
Be humble and give God the reverence He is due. God IS worthy of all our praise.
“Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.”
Psalms 33:8 NKJV
We sometimes think we need to do more, or work harder to get closer to God, but the reality is that we just need to stand in awe of who God IS. The more you marvel at how great God Is, the stronger your relationship with Him will grow. Standing in awe is the key to unlocking true intimacy with God! That is the beginning of Wisdom!
God, there is so many things going on today in this world and in our lives that we have no way to know how we are going to get through. We have so many decisions and plans for our future it can just be overwhelming. We stand before You today God in awestruck wonder and reverence of Who You Are. You Are God Alone. There is none like You Lord. You are I AM, Lord of Creation. Blessed Be Your Name. Lord we humbly ask for Your Mercy, Grace, and Wisdom in our lives and our decisions. Grant to us the Discernment of the Holy Spirit in all that we do. We long to stay in the center of Your Will. In Jesus Name. -Amen
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name – Amen
-Pastor Doug
The older I get the more I pray for Gods Wisdom and the Holy Spirits discernment before I make a decision. I pray we all do. It's important to me to strive to stay in the middle of Gods Will and seek His Wisdom to guide me.
So, how do we get the wisdom that God gives?
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5 NKJV
The book of James tells us to ask God for it but, I have found there is more to it than just asking.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7 NKJV
The Fear of the Lord is the beginning? Yes! The Reverential, Awestruck, Majestic, Wonder and acknowledgement of Who God IS, that kind of Fear IS the beginning of wisdom.
These two thing's absolutely go together. King Solomon knew who God was before he asked God for wisdom, as King David's son he had no doubt who God was and feared Him.
“And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?””
I Kings 3:6, 9 NKJV
Having the right perspective and the Fear of the Lord, God:
“The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.”
I Kings 3:10-12 NKJV
Knowing and having Reverence for the Source of Wisdom is the beginning of receiving Wisdom.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;”
Proverbs 2:6 NKJV
“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ””
Job 28:28 NKJV
“The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.”
Proverbs 15:33 NKJV
Be humble and give God the reverence He is due. God IS worthy of all our praise.
“Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.”
Psalms 33:8 NKJV
We sometimes think we need to do more, or work harder to get closer to God, but the reality is that we just need to stand in awe of who God IS. The more you marvel at how great God Is, the stronger your relationship with Him will grow. Standing in awe is the key to unlocking true intimacy with God! That is the beginning of Wisdom!
God, there is so many things going on today in this world and in our lives that we have no way to know how we are going to get through. We have so many decisions and plans for our future it can just be overwhelming. We stand before You today God in awestruck wonder and reverence of Who You Are. You Are God Alone. There is none like You Lord. You are I AM, Lord of Creation. Blessed Be Your Name. Lord we humbly ask for Your Mercy, Grace, and Wisdom in our lives and our decisions. Grant to us the Discernment of the Holy Spirit in all that we do. We long to stay in the center of Your Will. In Jesus Name. -Amen
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name – Amen
-Pastor Doug
NOW Faith !
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
I John 5:4 NKJV
Spend time reading the gospels and you’ll notice a running theme between Jesus and the disciples. Over and over Jesus reminds them and sometimes rebukes them for their lack of faith.
“But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”
Matthew 8:26 NKJV
Even after all they witnessed while following Jesus they still had a faith problem.
Jesus even told them even a little faith is enough to do great things.
“So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
Luke 17:6 NKJV
You might be saying “okay, so how do I get more faith”? Jesus answered that question too.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Romans 10:17 NKJV
“Yeah, faith in who exactly”?
“So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.”
Mark 11:22 NKJV
“When do I have to have faith and what is faith exactly”?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV
Now. That’s the answer. Right NOW! Jesus wants us to have NOW FAITH!
Faith should be the anchor of our daily walk as a believer. Trusting God and having faith in Him go hand in hand.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
God has a reputation of consistency that cannot be denied. We cannot walk through life without trusting that God will do what he promises to do. HE ALWAYS DOES.
My wife’s uncle is a bit of a procrastinator. One day Wendy’s aunt was giving him a hard time about putting things off and her uncle said “Okay, from now on I’ll be a Now Man”. “No more waiting I’ll do things Now”.
That’s what God is looking for from all of us, to be NOW people with NOW FAITH and NOW TRUST in Him in all situations.
Even when we can’t see God working and the results may feel delayed by our standards, God IS always working in the background. HE IS A NOW GOD!
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.”
Jude 1:24-25 NKJV
Faith is the anchor that holds.
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:6 NKJV
Faith casts out fear and doubt.
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”
I Corinthians 16:13 NKJV
Faith and trust in God is what God wants from us.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
Faith is our shield the protects.
“above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
Ephesians 6:16 NKJV
Today be a NOW man (or woman), exercise your NOW FAITH knowing we serve the NOW GOD! Remember:
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
II Corinthians 5:7 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
Pastor Doug
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
I John 5:4 NKJV
Spend time reading the gospels and you’ll notice a running theme between Jesus and the disciples. Over and over Jesus reminds them and sometimes rebukes them for their lack of faith.
“But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”
Matthew 8:26 NKJV
Even after all they witnessed while following Jesus they still had a faith problem.
Jesus even told them even a little faith is enough to do great things.
“So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
Luke 17:6 NKJV
You might be saying “okay, so how do I get more faith”? Jesus answered that question too.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Romans 10:17 NKJV
“Yeah, faith in who exactly”?
“So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.”
Mark 11:22 NKJV
“When do I have to have faith and what is faith exactly”?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV
Now. That’s the answer. Right NOW! Jesus wants us to have NOW FAITH!
Faith should be the anchor of our daily walk as a believer. Trusting God and having faith in Him go hand in hand.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
God has a reputation of consistency that cannot be denied. We cannot walk through life without trusting that God will do what he promises to do. HE ALWAYS DOES.
My wife’s uncle is a bit of a procrastinator. One day Wendy’s aunt was giving him a hard time about putting things off and her uncle said “Okay, from now on I’ll be a Now Man”. “No more waiting I’ll do things Now”.
That’s what God is looking for from all of us, to be NOW people with NOW FAITH and NOW TRUST in Him in all situations.
Even when we can’t see God working and the results may feel delayed by our standards, God IS always working in the background. HE IS A NOW GOD!
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.”
Jude 1:24-25 NKJV
Faith is the anchor that holds.
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:6 NKJV
Faith casts out fear and doubt.
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”
I Corinthians 16:13 NKJV
Faith and trust in God is what God wants from us.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
Faith is our shield the protects.
“above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
Ephesians 6:16 NKJV
Today be a NOW man (or woman), exercise your NOW FAITH knowing we serve the NOW GOD! Remember:
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
II Corinthians 5:7 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
Pastor Doug
You are on His Mind
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Psalm 8:3-9 ESV
I cannot count the number of times I have said “Don’t let me forget to call (someone)” or “I need to check in with (someone)” and then I forget to do it. Or when I remember it’s too late in the day or too early in the morning.
Jobs, chores, life just seem to get in the way sometimes. Busyness takes over and time slips away.
“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.””
Luke 10:38-42 NKJV
I can’t even fathom how busy God, the Creator of the Universe must be and yet right now at this very moment God is thinking about you.
“Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.”
Psalms 40:5 NKJV
Jesus himself is sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for us, as you read this!
“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”
Romans 8:34 NKJV
God was thinking about you before He created you.
““Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.””
Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV
God saw your whole life and had a purpose for you in mind as He waited for the perfect time to introduce you to the world He created.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
God thinks about you ALL the time. It’s amazing to consider. It doesn’t matter where you are or where you go or how long it’s been since you spoke to Him last.
“You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”
Psalms 139:2-17 NKJV
Today remember that no matter how busy you are, what you do or where you go, God IS thinking about you. He has a plan for you. He talks about you with His Son Jesus.
No matter what you face today just know that God is not done with you yet. There is so much more to do.
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
Philippians 1:6 NKJV
God IS thinking about you right now and He loves you. Let that be your strength today.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name – Amen
- Pastor Doug
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Psalm 8:3-9 ESV
I cannot count the number of times I have said “Don’t let me forget to call (someone)” or “I need to check in with (someone)” and then I forget to do it. Or when I remember it’s too late in the day or too early in the morning.
Jobs, chores, life just seem to get in the way sometimes. Busyness takes over and time slips away.
“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.””
Luke 10:38-42 NKJV
I can’t even fathom how busy God, the Creator of the Universe must be and yet right now at this very moment God is thinking about you.
“Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.”
Psalms 40:5 NKJV
Jesus himself is sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for us, as you read this!
“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”
Romans 8:34 NKJV
God was thinking about you before He created you.
““Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.””
Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV
God saw your whole life and had a purpose for you in mind as He waited for the perfect time to introduce you to the world He created.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
God thinks about you ALL the time. It’s amazing to consider. It doesn’t matter where you are or where you go or how long it’s been since you spoke to Him last.
“You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”
Psalms 139:2-17 NKJV
Today remember that no matter how busy you are, what you do or where you go, God IS thinking about you. He has a plan for you. He talks about you with His Son Jesus.
No matter what you face today just know that God is not done with you yet. There is so much more to do.
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
Philippians 1:6 NKJV
God IS thinking about you right now and He loves you. Let that be your strength today.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name – Amen
- Pastor Doug
Masterpiece
God loves you! How do I know? He says so!
God calls you His Masterpiece, His work of art:
”For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.“
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
God says you are His Temple:
”Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?“
I Corinthians 6:19 NKJV
God says you are His Messenger:
”But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”“
Acts 1:8 NKJV
God says you are His Child:
”For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.“
Galatians 3:26 NKJV
God says you are Greatly Loved:
”But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.“
Romans 5:8 NKJV
God says you are Free:
”Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.“
John 8:36 NKJV
God says you are Brand New:
”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.“
II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
God calls you Friend:
”No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.“
John 15:15 NKJV
God calls you Chosen:
”We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.“
1 Thessalonians 1:4 NLT
God says you are Wonderfully Made:
”I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.“
Psalms 139:14 NKJV
God says you were created in His Image:
”So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.“
Genesis 1:27 NKJV
God says He Loves You:
”for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.“
John 16:27 NKJV
God says you are Greatly Beloved:
”And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my Lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”“
Daniel 10:19 NKJV
God says you are Known by Him:
”But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.“
I Corinthians 8:3 NKJV
God Cares for you:
”casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.“
I Peter 5:7 NKJV
No matter what the world says or thinks about you, no matter what the enemy plants in your mind about how you see yourself, God loves you and what God says about you is Truth.
“that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, “”
Hebrews 6:18 NKJV
So think about those things:
”Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.“
Philippians 4:8 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
-Pastor Doug
God loves you! How do I know? He says so!
God calls you His Masterpiece, His work of art:
”For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.“
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
God says you are His Temple:
”Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?“
I Corinthians 6:19 NKJV
God says you are His Messenger:
”But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”“
Acts 1:8 NKJV
God says you are His Child:
”For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.“
Galatians 3:26 NKJV
God says you are Greatly Loved:
”But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.“
Romans 5:8 NKJV
God says you are Free:
”Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.“
John 8:36 NKJV
God says you are Brand New:
”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.“
II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
God calls you Friend:
”No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.“
John 15:15 NKJV
God calls you Chosen:
”We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.“
1 Thessalonians 1:4 NLT
God says you are Wonderfully Made:
”I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.“
Psalms 139:14 NKJV
God says you were created in His Image:
”So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.“
Genesis 1:27 NKJV
God says He Loves You:
”for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.“
John 16:27 NKJV
God says you are Greatly Beloved:
”And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my Lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”“
Daniel 10:19 NKJV
God says you are Known by Him:
”But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.“
I Corinthians 8:3 NKJV
God Cares for you:
”casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.“
I Peter 5:7 NKJV
No matter what the world says or thinks about you, no matter what the enemy plants in your mind about how you see yourself, God loves you and what God says about you is Truth.
“that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, “”
Hebrews 6:18 NKJV
So think about those things:
”Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.“
Philippians 4:8 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
Pastor Doug
HE IS Risen !!
”Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”“
John 20:1-2 NKJV
”But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”“
Matthew 28:5-7 NKJV
You may have heard this before:
“Sometimes the devil allows people to live a life free of trouble because he doesn't want them turning to God. Their sin is like a jail cell, except it is all nice and comfy and there doesn't seem to be any reason to leave. The door's wide open. Till one day, time runs out, and the cell door slams shut, and suddenly it's too late.” - God’s Not Dead the movie
That’s just the way the devil works. He is the father of lies and a deceiver. He makes you think that posh house you live is and the fine clothes you wear are the answer. Yeah, you’ve got it going on! You’ve made it. You’re a good person, mostly. You have some money in your pocket. You live pretty good, you do as you please and you did it all without God.
Then it all comes to a screeching halt, the door slams shut, and you’re out of time.
”For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?“
Mark 8:36 NKJV
”For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”“
Romans 14:11 NKJV
Jesus said:
”Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.“
John 3:3-6 NKJV
”Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.“
John 14:6 NKJV
The dictionary defines the word “facade” as: a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect.
Time to pull back the curtain.
When you give your heart to the Lord the devil’s illusion quickly fades. You realize the posh house is a granite tomb. Those fine clothes? They are grave clothes!
”But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;”
Isaiah 64:6 NKJV
”that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,“
Ephesians 4:22 NKJV
Time to get out!!
”Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”“
John 11:25-26 NKJV
”Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”“
John 11:43 NKJV
From death to life. Grave to garden. Time to get up out of the tomb and into the light!
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.“
Isaiah 43:1 NKJV
Out of the filthy rags and grave clothes.
”And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”“
John 11:44 NKJV
”“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.“
Isaiah 1:18 NKJV
”But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.“
Romans 13:14 NKJV
”Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”“
Revelation 21:5 NKJV
The culmination of the preaching of Jesus came into sharp focus when he raised his friend Lazarus from dead and calls him out of his tomb. That is the same salvation he has promised for us if we believe in Him!
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!
”But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.“
Matthew 28:5-6 NKJV
Jesus showed us His Majesty and total Victory in His Resurrection after the cross. He IS Lord of all creation and He Lives!!
Because HE LIVES:
”But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,“
Ephesians 2:4-8 NKJV
”For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.“
I Corinthians 15:22 NKJV
”even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),“
Ephesians 2:5 NKJV
Our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord IS RISEN! Confess His Name and be saved! Get up! Get up and out of the tomb. Take off those filthy rags. Be made new in Jesus Name! Repent and be saved. He stands at the door. He waits for you. Praise the Lord our Living Savior.
”“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.“
I Corinthians 15:55-57 NKJV
"Glorious Day"
(feat. Kristian Stanfill)
“I was buried beneath my shame
Who could carry that kind of weight
It was my tomb
Till I met You
I was breathing but not alive
All my failures I tried to hide
It was my tomb
Till I met You
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
Now Your mercy has saved my soul
Now Your freedom is all I know
The old made new
Jesus, when I met You
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
I needed rescue
My sin was heavy
But chains break at the weight of Your glory
I needed shelter
I was an orphan
Now You call me a citizen of heaven
When I was broken
You were my healing
Your love is the air that I'm breathing
I have a future
My eyes are open
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day”
”For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,“
Romans 6:5 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In the name of our Living Savior Jesus Christ the Son of God - Amen
HE IS RISEN!!
-Pastor Doug
”Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”“
John 20:1-2 NKJV
”But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”“
Matthew 28:5-7 NKJV
You may have heard this before:
“Sometimes the devil allows people to live a life free of trouble because he doesn't want them turning to God. Their sin is like a jail cell, except it is all nice and comfy and there doesn't seem to be any reason to leave. The door's wide open. Till one day, time runs out, and the cell door slams shut, and suddenly it's too late.” - God’s Not Dead the movie
That’s just the way the devil works. He is the father of lies and a deceiver. He makes you think that posh house you live is and the fine clothes you wear are the answer. Yeah, you’ve got it going on! You’ve made it. You’re a good person, mostly. You have some money in your pocket. You live pretty good, you do as you please and you did it all without God.
Then it all comes to a screeching halt, the door slams shut, and you’re out of time.
”For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?“
Mark 8:36 NKJV
”For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”“
Romans 14:11 NKJV
Jesus said:
”Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.“
John 3:3-6 NKJV
”Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.“
John 14:6 NKJV
The dictionary defines the word “facade” as: a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect.
Time to pull back the curtain.
When you give your heart to the Lord the devil’s illusion quickly fades. You realize the posh house is a granite tomb. Those fine clothes? They are grave clothes!
”But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;”
Isaiah 64:6 NKJV
”that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,“
Ephesians 4:22 NKJV
Time to get out!!
”Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”“
John 11:25-26 NKJV
”Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”“
John 11:43 NKJV
From death to life. Grave to garden. Time to get up out of the tomb and into the light!
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.“
Isaiah 43:1 NKJV
Out of the filthy rags and grave clothes.
”And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”“
John 11:44 NKJV
”“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.“
Isaiah 1:18 NKJV
”But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.“
Romans 13:14 NKJV
”Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”“
Revelation 21:5 NKJV
The culmination of the preaching of Jesus came into sharp focus when he raised his friend Lazarus from dead and calls him out of his tomb. That is the same salvation he has promised for us if we believe in Him!
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!
”But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.“
Matthew 28:5-6 NKJV
Jesus showed us His Majesty and total Victory in His Resurrection after the cross. He IS Lord of all creation and He Lives!!
Because HE LIVES:
”But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,“
Ephesians 2:4-8 NKJV
”For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.“
I Corinthians 15:22 NKJV
”even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),“
Ephesians 2:5 NKJV
Our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord IS RISEN! Confess His Name and be saved! Get up! Get up and out of the tomb. Take off those filthy rags. Be made new in Jesus Name! Repent and be saved. He stands at the door. He waits for you. Praise the Lord our Living Savior.
”“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.“
I Corinthians 15:55-57 NKJV
"Glorious Day"
(feat. Kristian Stanfill)
“I was buried beneath my shame
Who could carry that kind of weight
It was my tomb
Till I met You
I was breathing but not alive
All my failures I tried to hide
It was my tomb
Till I met You
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
Now Your mercy has saved my soul
Now Your freedom is all I know
The old made new
Jesus, when I met You
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
I needed rescue
My sin was heavy
But chains break at the weight of Your glory
I needed shelter
I was an orphan
Now You call me a citizen of heaven
When I was broken
You were my healing
Your love is the air that I'm breathing
I have a future
My eyes are open
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day”
”For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,“
Romans 6:5 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In the name of our Living Savior Jesus Christ the Son of God - Amen
HE IS RISEN!!
Pastor Doug
The Hallel
Isn’t it funny how lyrics to songs seem to stick with you longer than just about anything else? I can’t remember word for word anything I read in high school but I can remember the words to just about every song that was on the radio back then.
In Jesus time there were no individual Bibles. Every scripture was written on scrolls and kept in the temple. Memorizing the Bible was the only way to take it with you. Then, there is the Psalms of David.
The Psalms were sung at Jewish festivals and holidays as part of their tradition. During the Passover the Hallel (meaning praise) was sung or recited. Psalms 113-118 were traditionally sung. These psalms praise God for delivering the Israelites out of Egypt.
Psalm 113 opens the Hallel with a call to praise God. Psalms 114 and 115 recount God’s deliverance from Egypt. Psalm 116 expresses gratitude for God’s salvation.
Psalm 117, the shortest psalm, simply invites all nations to praise the Lord.
”And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.“
Matthew 26:30 NKJV
No one can say for sure what hymn they sung before leaving to the Mount of Olives that night but, the final song of the Hallel would have been Psalm 118.
Psalm 118 was often called the “Conqueror’s Psalm” and contained verses of triumph over enemies. It was a perfect psalm for Jesus to sing in light of his impending death and resurrection. Interestingly, Psalm 118 is quoted numerous times in the New Testament referring to Jesus.
1.”Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2.Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 3.Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 4.Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 5.I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. 6.The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7.The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. 8.It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man. 9.It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes. 10.All nations surrounded me, But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 11.They surrounded me, Yes, they surrounded me; But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 12.They surrounded me like bees; They were quenched like a fire of thorns; For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 13.You pushed me violently, that I might fall, But the Lord helped me. 14.The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. 15.The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 16.The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 17.I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord. 18.The Lord has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death. 19.Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord. 20.This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter. 21.I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. 22.The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23.This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24.This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25.Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. 26.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. 27.God is the Lord, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. 28.You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. 29.Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.“
Psalms 118:1-29 NKJV
Psalm 118 has clear connections to the crucifixion story. Verse 22, quoted in the gospels, refers to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Psalm 118:27 mentions a procession with branches, reminding us of Palm Sunday.
Verses 10-13 speak of persecution and being surrounded by enemies – a likely allusion to Jesus’ betrayers. Finally, verse 14 proclaims “The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation.”
Prior to his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus paused to sing hymns of worship to God. This displays his complete surrender to the Father’s will. Despite the anguish he felt regarding his impending suffering, Jesus put God first by worshiping and praising him.
Jesus modeled for all believers how important it is to worship God, especially during difficult times.
”Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.“
Psalms 95:6 NKJV
This brings glory to God when we trust his sovereignty even in the face of adversity.
”Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.“
Psalms 29:2 NKJV
The word Hallel means to praise and it is the root word for our word Hallelujah which means a shout or a song of thanksgiving or praise.
While we don’t know definitively which hymn Jesus sang at the Last Supper, we do know that he engaged in worship with his disciples even as he anticipated his own suffering and death. Through singing psalms and hymns together, Jesus demonstrated love and unity with his followers until the very end.
”While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.“
Psalms 146:2 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
-Pastor Doug
Isn’t it funny how lyrics to songs seem to stick with you longer than just about anything else? I can’t remember word for word anything I read in high school but I can remember the words to just about every song that was on the radio back then.
In Jesus time there were no individual Bibles. Every scripture was written on scrolls and kept in the temple. Memorizing the Bible was the only way to take it with you. Then, there is the Psalms of David.
The Psalms were sung at Jewish festivals and holidays as part of their tradition. During the Passover the Hallel (meaning praise) was sung or recited. Psalms 113-118 were traditionally sung. These psalms praise God for delivering the Israelites out of Egypt.
Psalm 113 opens the Hallel with a call to praise God. Psalms 114 and 115 recount God’s deliverance from Egypt. Psalm 116 expresses gratitude for God’s salvation.
Psalm 117, the shortest psalm, simply invites all nations to praise the Lord.
”And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.“
Matthew 26:30 NKJV
No one can say for sure what hymn they sung before leaving to the Mount of Olives that night but, the final song of the Hallel would have been Psalm 118.
Psalm 118 was often called the “Conqueror’s Psalm” and contained verses of triumph over enemies. It was a perfect psalm for Jesus to sing in light of his impending death and resurrection. Interestingly, Psalm 118 is quoted numerous times in the New Testament referring to Jesus.
1.”Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2.Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 3.Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 4.Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 5.I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. 6.The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7.The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. 8.It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man. 9.It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes. 10.All nations surrounded me, But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 11.They surrounded me, Yes, they surrounded me; But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 12.They surrounded me like bees; They were quenched like a fire of thorns; For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 13.You pushed me violently, that I might fall, But the Lord helped me. 14.The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. 15.The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 16.The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 17.I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord. 18.The Lord has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death. 19.Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord. 20.This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter. 21.I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. 22.The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23.This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24.This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25.Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. 26.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. 27.God is the Lord, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. 28.You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. 29.Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.“
Psalms 118:1-29 NKJV
Psalm 118 has clear connections to the crucifixion story. Verse 22, quoted in the gospels, refers to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Psalm 118:27 mentions a procession with branches, reminding us of Palm Sunday.
Verses 10-13 speak of persecution and being surrounded by enemies – a likely allusion to Jesus’ betrayers. Finally, verse 14 proclaims “The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation.”
Prior to his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus paused to sing hymns of worship to God. This displays his complete surrender to the Father’s will. Despite the anguish he felt regarding his impending suffering, Jesus put God first by worshiping and praising him.
Jesus modeled for all believers how important it is to worship God, especially during difficult times.
”Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.“
Psalms 95:6 NKJV
This brings glory to God when we trust his sovereignty even in the face of adversity.
”Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.“
Psalms 29:2 NKJV
The word Hallel means to praise and it is the root word for our word Hallelujah which means a shout or a song of thanksgiving or praise.
While we don’t know definitively which hymn Jesus sang at the Last Supper, we do know that he engaged in worship with his disciples even as he anticipated his own suffering and death. Through singing psalms and hymns together, Jesus demonstrated love and unity with his followers until the very end.
”While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.“
Psalms 146:2 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
Pastor Doug
Perfect
“God is my strength and power, And He makes my way perfect.”
II Samuel 22:33 NKJV
I remember as a kid riding in the back seat of the car with my sisters and getting the “knock it off look” in the rear view mirror from my Dad or Mom. That’s usually all it took. I said “usually”.
Fast forward to my adult life. My wife and I with our kids, grandkids, and our English Bulldogs. There was always plenty going on in the back seat. I’m not ashamed to say I myself have shot a few “knock it off” glances in the rear view mirror over the years.
I’m sure we all have heard the analogy of the “windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror” to remind us our future is where we need to focus our attention. Jesus was the one who started that analogy.
“Remember Lot’s wife.”
Luke 17:32 NKJV
One of the shortest verses in the Bible. Here’s the back story:
She was the woman running for her life with her family in Genesis 19. As they ran, destruction was raining down on their hometown of Sodom, and despite being told not to look back by an angel who was holding her hand, she turned and looked back. Scripture tells us, “But Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt.”
Lot’s wife was told one thing: “Don’t look back,” and the one thing she was told not to do is the one thing she did. Why?
We all have our reasons for looking back. Maybe it’s fond memories in our past. Maybe it’s to remember where we’ve been or what we’ve been through.
“But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.””
Luke 9:62 NKJV
Talk about distracted driving. Can you imagine trying to drive while only looking in the rear view mirror? You’d be in a wreck in no time. God’s plan IS always moving forward.
Look to Him, eyes forward!
““This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.””
Hebrews 10:16-17 NKJV
God isn’t about dragging up your past or looking in the rear view mirror. God IS moving on, building your future.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
God says:
““Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”
Isaiah 43:18 NIV
Learning from the past is different than living in the past.
“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:14 NKJV
Keep pressing forward, yesterday is gone, today is all you have. The race is in front of us.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
So, the next time you hear a ruckus from the backseat, satan reminding you of your past and distracting you from your future, glance in the mirror and in the name of Jesus tell him to “knock it off” and get back to the road ahead.
“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:19 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
-Pastor Doug
“God is my strength and power, And He makes my way perfect.”
II Samuel 22:33 NKJV
I remember as a kid riding in the back seat of the car with my sisters and getting the “knock it off look” in the rear view mirror from my Dad or Mom. That’s usually all it took. I said “usually”.
Fast forward to my adult life. My wife and I with our kids, grandkids, and our English Bulldogs. There was always plenty going on in the back seat. I’m not ashamed to say I myself have shot a few “knock it off” glances in the rear view mirror over the years.
I’m sure we all have heard the analogy of the “windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror” to remind us our future is where we need to focus our attention. Jesus was the one who started that analogy.
“Remember Lot’s wife.”
Luke 17:32 NKJV
One of the shortest verses in the Bible. Here’s the back story:
She was the woman running for her life with her family in Genesis 19. As they ran, destruction was raining down on their hometown of Sodom, and despite being told not to look back by an angel who was holding her hand, she turned and looked back. Scripture tells us, “But Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt.”
Lot’s wife was told one thing: “Don’t look back,” and the one thing she was told not to do is the one thing she did. Why?
We all have our reasons for looking back. Maybe it’s fond memories in our past. Maybe it’s to remember where we’ve been or what we’ve been through.
“But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.””
Luke 9:62 NKJV
Talk about distracted driving. Can you imagine trying to drive while only looking in the rear view mirror? You’d be in a wreck in no time. God’s plan IS always moving forward.
Look to Him, eyes forward!
““This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.””
Hebrews 10:16-17 NKJV
God isn’t about dragging up your past or looking in the rear view mirror. God IS moving on, building your future.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
God says:
““Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”
Isaiah 43:18 NIV
Learning from the past is different than living in the past.
“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:14 NKJV
Keep pressing forward, yesterday is gone, today is all you have. The race is in front of us.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
So, the next time you hear a ruckus from the backseat, satan reminding you of your past and distracting you from your future, glance in the mirror and in the name of Jesus tell him to “knock it off” and get back to the road ahead.
“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:19 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
Pastor Doug
Be Still
As humans we all have a tendency to try and power through our trials.
We think that through our own grit and determination our situation will change or bend to our will.
Sometimes we are even willing to throw all the resources we have at things to attempt to change our situation.
In Psalms 20 we are reminded to remember the Name of the Lord.
“Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright."
Psalms 20:6-9 NKJV
God is our source of strength and horsepower we need to overcome our challenges. His supply is endless.
“But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
Sometimes being still is the most powerful thing we can do.
“Be still, and know that I am God; -”
Psalms 46:10 NKJV
I know this goes against our human nature. We need results, we need answers, we need to see something move. Believe me when I tell you I know how hard this is.
Laying our burdens down only to pick them up again and again. So, this is for me too....
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.”
Proverbs 3:5-10 NKJV
God, give us the strength to fully trust You for all that You have for us in every situation. We surrender our burdens once and for all to You. Give us the courage to be still and know that You are in control and:
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NKJV
God, You have a purpose and a plan for us that is better than anything we could ever possibly accomplish on our own. Help us in our weakness and unbelief. Show Yourself mighty in our lives.
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.”
Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV
“Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.”
Psalms 25:4-5 NKJV
In Jesus Name I pray. -Amen
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
-Pastor Doug
As humans we all have a tendency to try and power through our trials.
We think that through our own grit and determination our situation will change or bend to our will.
Sometimes we are even willing to throw all the resources we have at things to attempt to change our situation.
In Psalms 20 we are reminded to remember the Name of the Lord.
“Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright."
Psalms 20:6-9 NKJV
God is our source of strength and horsepower we need to overcome our challenges. His supply is endless.
“But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
Sometimes being still is the most powerful thing we can do.
“Be still, and know that I am God; -”
Psalms 46:10 NKJV
I know this goes against our human nature. We need results, we need answers, we need to see something move. Believe me when I tell you I know how hard this is.
Laying our burdens down only to pick them up again and again. So, this is for me too....
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.”
Proverbs 3:5-10 NKJV
God, give us the strength to fully trust You for all that You have for us in every situation. We surrender our burdens once and for all to You. Give us the courage to be still and know that You are in control and:
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NKJV
God, You have a purpose and a plan for us that is better than anything we could ever possibly accomplish on our own. Help us in our weakness and unbelief. Show Yourself mighty in our lives.
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.”
Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV
“Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.”
Psalms 25:4-5 NKJV
In Jesus Name I pray. -Amen
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
-Pastor Doug
Believe in Faith, in every situation
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”
James 5:13
“And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
James 5:15
It's a simple thing we see here in the book of James.
We are told if we are suffering PRAY. If we pray in FAITH the Lord will save the sick and raise him up (verse 15). But, we have to believe in faith, that the healing will come and confess it as though it is.
It's not a "name it and claim it" thing it's a Faith thing.
Believe in Faith, in every situation.
God says:
”Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”“
John 11:40 NKJV
Believing and having Faith comes first and then you will see the Glory!
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
Philippians 1:6
Trust and never doubt. Do not confess evil over your situation while you pray for victory!
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:6 NKJV
I pray and believe that God will continue the healing work He has begun.
That every stronghold of the enemy will be destroyed.
That God will give you victory over every situation and His Grace, Mercy and Favor will be given unto you.
That God will Bless You and Keep you in His Mighty Hands.
I pray that God would give you wisdom and discernment in every detail and decision.
I pray that God would begin to reveal His plan for you and make your path straight and the way clear.
That God would bring peace to your house and all who are in it.
I pray that God would pour out blessings and abundance over you.
Lord, help our unbelief and strengthen our faith that we might see the Glory of God in our lives. In Jesus Mighty Name.
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
“And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.”
II Corinthians 4:13-15 NKJV
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
- Pastor Doug
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”
James 5:13
“And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
James 5:15
It's a simple thing we see here in the book of James.
We are told if we are suffering PRAY. If we pray in FAITH the Lord will save the sick and raise him up (verse 15). But, we have to believe in faith, that the healing will come and confess it as though it is.
It's not a "name it and claim it" thing it's a Faith thing.
Believe in Faith, in every situation.
God says:
”Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”“
John 11:40 NKJV
Believing and having Faith comes first and then you will see the Glory!
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
Philippians 1:6
Trust and never doubt. Do not confess evil over your situation while you pray for victory!
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:6 NKJV
I pray and believe that God will continue the healing work He has begun.
That every stronghold of the enemy will be destroyed.
That God will give you victory over every situation and His Grace, Mercy and Favor will be given unto you.
That God will Bless You and Keep you in His Mighty Hands.
I pray that God would give you wisdom and discernment in every detail and decision.
I pray that God would begin to reveal His plan for you and make your path straight and the way clear.
That God would bring peace to your house and all who are in it.
I pray that God would pour out blessings and abundance over you.
Lord, help our unbelief and strengthen our faith that we might see the Glory of God in our lives. In Jesus Mighty Name.
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
“And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.”
II Corinthians 4:13-15 NKJV
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
- Pastor Doug
Follow
”Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.“
Luke 9:23 NKJV
Daily, active participation. Following Jesus is not passive. God has some expectations for us and our engagement of the process.
”Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.“
Revelation 3:20 NKJV
Open the door, take up your cross, and follow Jesus are things we all must do as Believers and Children of God.
”But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.“
Matthew 6:6 NKJV
Go into your room, shut the door, and pray………
”Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.“
Luke 9:23 NKJV
Daily, active participation. Following Jesus is not passive. God has some expectations for us and our engagement of the process.
”Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.“
Revelation 3:20 NKJV
Open the door, take up your cross, and follow Jesus are things we all must do as Believers and Children of God.
”But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.“
Matthew 6:6 NKJV
Go into your room, shut the door, and pray.
”Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,“
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
”Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.“
I Corinthians 9:24 NKJV
Run the race! Remember that God IS with you, God IS for you, and God Will strengthen you, but it is essential that we engage and participate in the process.
As Gods Children we are warriors who battle against darkness and evil. God supplies all we need for the job but WE have to:
”Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.“
Ephesians 6:11 NKJV
WE are the sowers:
”The sower sows the word.“
Mark 4:14 NKJV
WE are the harvesters:
”Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!“
John 4:35 NKJV
”I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”“
John 4:38 NKJV
There is always work to do in the Kingdom of God.
”And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”“
Luke 2:49 NKJV
Maybe I am the only one this is for today.
There are times when you don’t know what else to do. When you feel like you’ve done all you can and you’re waiting for God to answer, to move, to intervene. You have the assurance that God has a plan for you and your life and His ways are far beyond our comprehension. Instead of just passively waiting or “walking the floor”, get busy!
Follow, pray, sow, suit up, be about your Father’s Business. I know some days it’s easier said than done. Believe me when I tell you I know. God IS working, God IS never passive:
”And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.“
Romans 8:28 NKJV
”For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,“
II Corinthians 4:17 NKJV
God IS never late in His response. God’s plan for you is so far ahead of where you are at this moment in time we can’t even comprehend it.
God IS helping you dodge bullets before the enemy buys the gun!
”No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.“
Isaiah 54:17 NKJV
You Will have victory! You Will take back what the enemy has stolen! Your dawn is coming! Your healing is on the way! You are on the brink of your miracle! Don’t give up. Don’t quit and you Will say:
”I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.“
II Timothy 4:7 NKJV
In the Mighty Name of Jesus, the Son of God I declare this over you and your life!
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance and favor upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name – Amen
- Pastor Doug
A Matter of Perspective
What you see from where you are and how you see it is your perspective.
I get it, we are all humans and our default is to see the bad or difficulties in most things.
It doesn't take long and we can whip ourselves into an emotional frenzy over the littlest of situations.
The more attention we give our problems the bigger they become.
I'm not saying to forget about them but I am saying to keep them in perspective.
“Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way.”
Psalms 119:37 NKJV
If we talked about God and dwell on Him as much as we do our problems, how much bigger would He become?
Believe me when I tell you this is for me today!
God has given us the greatest problem solving tool of all time, our mind.
The problem is that our default setting is not to ponder our Source as much as we do our issue.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
In other words focus on the Source, focus on God and He will lead you to the solution!
“The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
Isaiah 58:11 NKJV
Remember:
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”
II Corinthians 4:17 NKJV
Our issues, roadblocks, stumbling blocks, tough decisions, tough conversations, our health problems, financial issues, family problems, are all "light afflictions" compared to the Greatness of God!
““Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”
Jeremiah 32:27 NKJV
The answer is NO!
““Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
Matthew 6:8 NKJV
And:
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
I John 5:14-15 NKJV
Set your eyes, your focus on God, our Source and not the problem.
You are one “Amen” away from your answer!
“Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”
Jeremiah 29:12 NKJV
My prayer today is Ephesians 3:14-19. This is my prayer for you and me. Dwell on it, meditate on it, and let it change your perspective.
“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:14-19 NKJV
In Jesus Name-Amen
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
Pastor Doug
What you see from where you are and how you see it is your perspective.
I get it, we are all humans and our default is to see the bad or difficulties in most things.
It doesn't take long and we can whip ourselves into an emotional frenzy over the littlest of situations.
The more attention we give our problems the bigger they become.
I'm not saying to forget about them but I am saying to keep them in perspective.
“Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way.”
Psalms 119:37 NKJV
If we talked about God and dwell on Him as much as we do our problems, how much bigger would He become?
Believe me when I tell you this is for me today!
God has given us the greatest problem solving tool of all time, our mind.
The problem is that our default setting is not to ponder our Source as much as we do our issue.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
In other words focus on the Source, focus on God and He will lead you to the solution!
“The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
Isaiah 58:11 NKJV
Remember:
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”
II Corinthians 4:17 NKJV
Our issues, roadblocks, stumbling blocks, tough decisions, tough conversations, our health problems, financial issues, family problems, are all "light afflictions" compared to the Greatness of God!
““Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”
Jeremiah 32:27 NKJV
The answer is NO!
““Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
Matthew 6:8 NKJV
And:
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
I John 5:14-15 NKJV
Set your eyes, your focus on God, our Source and not the problem.
You are one “Amen” away from your answer!
“Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”
Jeremiah 29:12 NKJV
My prayer today is Ephesians 3:14-19. This is my prayer for you and me. Dwell on it, meditate on it, and let it change your perspective.
“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:14-19 NKJV
In Jesus Name-Amen
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
-Pastor Doug
Now What?
We all have those times of uncertainty. Those times when the water is just flat and there is no wind to fill our sails and carry us in one direction or another. You just feel like your killing time drifting, uncertain of what to do next or where to go. You don’t really even know the question anymore much less the answer. The “okay now what” just seems to linger.
““But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.”
Job 5:8-9 NIV
Keep praying and asking God. He IS listening. He does hear you!
“Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”
Jeremiah 29:12 NKJV
God IS still on His Throne:
“The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.”
Psalms 103:19 NKJV
God IS still working all things for the good of those who believe!
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NKJV
He makes a way where there isn’t a way!
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:19 NIV
God still answers prayers. God still performs miracles!
“You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.”
Psalms 77:14 NIV
Pray, knowing you are speaking to the God of the impossible. God IS without limits!
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.””
Mark 10:27 NIV
God wants to hear from you. He wants to show you that He IS able and that He loves you.
“So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?””
Mark 10:51 NKJV
You have an open invitation to speak to the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings, Almighty God, your Heavenly Father:
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Matthew 6:6 NKJV
“Yet you do not have because you do not ask.”
James 4:2 NKJV
And :
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name – Amen
- Pastor Doug
We all have those times of uncertainty. Those times when the water is just flat and there is no wind to fill our sails and carry us in one direction or another. You just feel like your killing time drifting, uncertain of what to do next or where to go. You don’t really even know the question anymore much less the answer. The “okay now what” just seems to linger.
““But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.”
Job 5:8-9 NIV
Keep praying and asking God. He IS listening. He does hear you!
“Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”
Jeremiah 29:12 NKJV
God IS still on His Throne:
“The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.”
Psalms 103:19 NKJV
God IS still working all things for the good of those who believe!
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NKJV
He makes a way where there isn’t a way!
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:19 NIV
God still answers prayers. God still performs miracles!
“You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.”
Psalms 77:14 NIV
Pray, knowing you are speaking to the God of the impossible. God IS without limits!
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.””
Mark 10:27 NIV
God wants to hear from you. He wants to show you that He IS able and that He loves you.
“So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?””
Mark 10:51 NKJV
You have an open invitation to speak to the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings, Almighty God, your Heavenly Father:
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Matthew 6:6 NKJV
“Yet you do not have because you do not ask.”
James 4:2 NKJV
And :
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name – Amen
- Pastor Doug
Broken Things
Broken things. God uses broken things over and over in the Bible.
““I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick;””
Ezekiel 34:16 NKJV
Everybody has a misstep, a stumble, even a fall.
“Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent.”
Genesis 9:20-21 ESV
But God:
“he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”
Titus 3:5 ESV
Take King David. All the battles, defeating Goliath, anointed king, all the great things he did in the name of God, a true hero of the Bible.
“Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.”
II Samuel 11:2-4 NKJV
Not only did David sleep with Uriah’s wife but, David got her pregnant and then had her husband Uriah killed.
But God:
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”
I Timothy 1:15 NKJV
Jacob straight up lied.
“So he went to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.””
Genesis 27:18-19 NKJV
But God says:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV
The Bible is full of stories of broken people that God used to do great things.
Saul persecuted Christians
Moses murdered an Egyptian and had a stuttering problem
Peter denied Christ and had a temper
Rahab was a prostitute
Thomas was a doubter
Jonah ran from God
And the list goes on and on. The fact is God is full of Grace and Mercy.
God doesn’t call the qualified; God qualifies the called. God makes wonderful beautiful things with our broken pieces and the ashes of our lives.
“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
II Corinthians 12:9 NKJV
We worry about not being enough, but God’s grace fills those gaps. We are reminded that it’s through our weaknesses that His strength can shine even brighter.
It’s in the cracks of our lives that God’s grace seeps through. When we lean into His grace, we can find the courage to continue moving forward, understanding that our shortcomings do not keep us from being blessed by Him.
“To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.””
Isaiah 61:3 NKJV
In moments when we feel undeserving due to our mistakes, we should remember that God sees value in every one of us. Our brokenness doesn’t diminish our worth in God’s eyes. Instead, it can be a pathway to understanding His tremendous grace and love for us. We can realize that even in our imperfections, God has a purpose for our lives. Through our painful experiences and struggles, we can find comfort in the fact that God isn’t looking for perfect people; He is looking for willing hearts.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.”
Jude 1:24-25 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name – Amen
- Pastor Doug
Broken things. God uses broken things over and over in the Bible.
““I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick;””
Ezekiel 34:16 NKJV
Everybody has a misstep, a stumble, even a fall.
“Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent.”
Genesis 9:20-21 ESV
But God:
“he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”
Titus 3:5 ESV
Take King David. All the battles, defeating Goliath, anointed king, all the great things he did in the name of God, a true hero of the Bible.
“Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.”
II Samuel 11:2-4 NKJV
Not only did David sleep with Uriah’s wife but, David got her pregnant and then had her husband Uriah killed.
But God:
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”
I Timothy 1:15 NKJV
Jacob straight up lied.
“So he went to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.””
Genesis 27:18-19 NKJV
But God says:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV
The Bible is full of stories of broken people that God used to do great things.
Saul persecuted Christians
Moses murdered an Egyptian and had a stuttering problem
Peter denied Christ and had a temper
Rahab was a prostitute
Thomas was a doubter
Jonah ran from God
And the list goes on and on. The fact is God is full of Grace and Mercy.
God doesn’t call the qualified; God qualifies the called. God makes wonderful beautiful things with our broken pieces and the ashes of our lives.
“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
II Corinthians 12:9 NKJV
We worry about not being enough, but God’s grace fills those gaps. We are reminded that it’s through our weaknesses that His strength can shine even brighter.
It’s in the cracks of our lives that God’s grace seeps through. When we lean into His grace, we can find the courage to continue moving forward, understanding that our shortcomings do not keep us from being blessed by Him.
“To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.””
Isaiah 61:3 NKJV
In moments when we feel undeserving due to our mistakes, we should remember that God sees value in every one of us. Our brokenness doesn’t diminish our worth in God’s eyes. Instead, it can be a pathway to understanding His tremendous grace and love for us. We can realize that even in our imperfections, God has a purpose for our lives. Through our painful experiences and struggles, we can find comfort in the fact that God isn’t looking for perfect people; He is looking for willing hearts.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.”
Jude 1:24-25 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name – Amen
- Pastor Doug
Iron Sharpens Iron
“If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.”
Ecclesiastes 10:10 NKJV
Powering through is usually my default. I think we all do that. When things get tough we lower our shoulders and push harder trying to overcome under our own strength. We don't want to bother others with our problems or trials and we don't want to just get real with God and diligently pray for His help either. We just keep swinging a dull axe hoping our own strength will power us through.
If we would take the time to sharpen the axe:
“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
Proverbs 27:17 NKJV
And if Wisdom brings success:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5 NKJV
Then why don't we:
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
James 5:13-16 NKJV
Seems too easy I guess or maybe the process seems to take too long.
Salvation is for the individual and God alone, but life as a Christian is a team effort. Yes, we all have to run our own race but:
“A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17 NKJV
We all need help getting across the finish line. Encouraging one another by sharing our testimony. Especially if it's an outcome of a prayer you've been asking for. That alone will remind us of the power prayer has and that God hears us when we pray.
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
I John 5:14-15 NKJV
Ask for prayer. You don't have to go into detail but ask for help praying for whatever it is:
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””
Matthew 18:20 NKJV
And the sharpest tool of all, use the Word of God:
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
As believers in Christ there are times when we have to stand shoulder to shoulder as an army fighting against darkness. There are times when we dance and sing before the Lord and there are times when we have to work together, even busting up a roof as we earnestly seek an answer to prayer for each other.
“And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.”
Mark 2:4 NKJV
“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NKJV
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
We continue to pray in Jesus Name-Amen
-Pastor Doug
“If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.”
Ecclesiastes 10:10 NKJV
Powering through is usually my default. I think we all do that. When things get tough we lower our shoulders and push harder trying to overcome under our own strength. We don't want to bother others with our problems or trials and we don't want to just get real with God and diligently pray for His help either. We just keep swinging a dull axe hoping our own strength will power us through.
If we would take the time to sharpen the axe:
“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
Proverbs 27:17 NKJV
And if Wisdom brings success:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5 NKJV
Then why don't we:
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
James 5:13-16 NKJV
Seems too easy I guess or maybe the process seems to take too long.
Salvation is for the individual and God alone, but life as a Christian is a team effort. Yes, we all have to run our own race but:
“A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17 NKJV
We all need help getting across the finish line. Encouraging one another by sharing our testimony. Especially if it's an outcome of a prayer you've been asking for. That alone will remind us of the power prayer has and that God hears us when we pray.
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
I John 5:14-15 NKJV
Ask for prayer. You don't have to go into detail but ask for help praying for whatever it is:
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””
Matthew 18:20 NKJV
And the sharpest tool of all, use the Word of God:
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
As believers in Christ there are times when we have to stand shoulder to shoulder as an army fighting against darkness. There are times when we dance and sing before the Lord and there are times when we have to work together, even busting up a roof as we earnestly seek an answer to prayer for each other.
“And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.”
Mark 2:4 NKJV
“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NKJV
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
We continue to pray in Jesus Name-Amen
-Pastor Doug
The Wilderness
In Exodus we see the Israelites leaving the slavery of Egypt on the way to the Promised Land. To get to the “Land flowing with milk and honey” the Chosen People of God had to go through the wilderness.
Why the wilderness? We are talking about a desolate, desert country with few trees, mostly scrub brush, and a whole lot of nothing except for The Presence of God.
God was there! In the middle of the wilderness, God was there.
“And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door.”
Exodus 33:9-10 NKJV
These people had lived in Egypt all of their lives. They knew the lineage they came from and how their people came to live in Egypt but they had never known life outside of Egypt.
The first thing God did in their liberation from bondage was to get them out of their situation.
“Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said.”
Exodus 12:31 NKJV
If you read the whole story you see over and over the Israelites complaining about everything. Here they are in the very Presence of God saying things like:
“And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.””
Exodus 16:3 NKJV
When Moses went up to the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments they got tired of waiting:
“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.””
Exodus 32:1 NKJV
“And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!””
Exodus 32:4 NKJV
So they insist that Aaron build an idol, most probably an Apis bull-calf, like they would have worshiped in Egypt. What??
It seems unbelievable to us as armchair quarterbacks that the Chosen People of God would do anything like this. But, the truth is in some way we all do. When we haven’t heard from God for in a while, when we pray for direction, when we feel stuck in the wilderness and are waiting for God to move. We lose focus and start looking in other directions for an answer or a way out. Maybe we look to another person to help us:
“It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.”
Psalms 118:8 NKJV
Maybe we think we can spend our way out:
“Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches, None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him—”
Psalms 49:6-7 NKJV
Maybe we think someone we know of influence can help us:
“It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes.”
Psalms 118:9 NKJV
Maybe we think we can just power over the wilderness and find a way out:
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”
Psalms 20:7 NKJV
Whatever it is, it’s not God!
These people witnessed daily the presence of God and still looked elsewhere for help. God went before them day and night. God fed them and clothed them. They could visibly see the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night.
“He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.”
Exodus 13:22 NKJV
No, God brought them into the wilderness because His Presence was there. He didn’t just have to get them out of Egypt, He had to get Egypt out of them! This was a time of cleansing and sanctification. This was a time for learning who God IS and drawing close to Him. This is the time you discover your absolute dependence on God.
“So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”
Exodus 33:11 NKJV
“And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.””
Exodus 33:14 NKJV
And Moses said:
“Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”
Exodus 33:15 NKJV
Lord, if Your Presence does not go with us we would rather stay in the wilderness with You then live in the Promised Land without You. Lord help us to endure and have faith. Give us strength in the wilderness. Let Your presence be known in our struggle. Lord take the Egypt out of us and fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Lead us, guide us, and protect us Lord. Draw us close to You Lord. You are our portion and provision. God, You are our strength and salvation. To God be the Glory forever and ever, in Jesus Name -Amen
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name – Amen
-Pastor Doug
In Exodus we see the Israelites leaving the slavery of Egypt on the way to the Promised Land. To get to the “Land flowing with milk and honey” the Chosen People of God had to go through the wilderness.
Why the wilderness? We are talking about a desolate, desert country with few trees, mostly scrub brush, and a whole lot of nothing except for The Presence of God.
God was there! In the middle of the wilderness, God was there.
“And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door.”
Exodus 33:9-10 NKJV
These people had lived in Egypt all of their lives. They knew the lineage they came from and how their people came to live in Egypt but they had never known life outside of Egypt.
The first thing God did in their liberation from bondage was to get them out of their situation.
“Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said.”
Exodus 12:31 NKJV
If you read the whole story you see over and over the Israelites complaining about everything. Here they are in the very Presence of God saying things like:
“And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.””
Exodus 16:3 NKJV
When Moses went up to the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments they got tired of waiting:
“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.””
Exodus 32:1 NKJV
“And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!””
Exodus 32:4 NKJV
So they insist that Aaron build an idol, most probably an Apis bull-calf, like they would have worshiped in Egypt. What??
It seems unbelievable to us as armchair quarterbacks that the Chosen People of God would do anything like this. But, the truth is in some way we all do. When we haven’t heard from God for in a while, when we pray for direction, when we feel stuck in the wilderness and are waiting for God to move. We lose focus and start looking in other directions for an answer or a way out. Maybe we look to another person to help us:
“It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.”
Psalms 118:8 NKJV
Maybe we think we can spend our way out:
“Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches, None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him—”
Psalms 49:6-7 NKJV
Maybe we think someone we know of influence can help us:
“It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes.”
Psalms 118:9 NKJV
Maybe we think we can just power over the wilderness and find a way out:
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”
Psalms 20:7 NKJV
Whatever it is, it’s not God!
These people witnessed daily the presence of God and still looked elsewhere for help. God went before them day and night. God fed them and clothed them. They could visibly see the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night.
“He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.”
Exodus 13:22 NKJV
No, God brought them into the wilderness because His Presence was there. He didn’t just have to get them out of Egypt, He had to get Egypt out of them! This was a time of cleansing and sanctification. This was a time for learning who God IS and drawing close to Him. This is the time you discover your absolute dependence on God.
“So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”
Exodus 33:11 NKJV
“And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.””
Exodus 33:14 NKJV
And Moses said:
“Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”
Exodus 33:15 NKJV
Lord, if Your Presence does not go with us we would rather stay in the wilderness with You then live in the Promised Land without You. Lord help us to endure and have faith. Give us strength in the wilderness. Let Your presence be known in our struggle. Lord take the Egypt out of us and fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Lead us, guide us, and protect us Lord. Draw us close to You Lord. You are our portion and provision. God, You are our strength and salvation. To God be the Glory forever and ever, in Jesus Name -Amen
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name – Amen
-Pastor Doug
rejoice and be glad
“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalms 118:24 NKJV
As our day unfolds I want to encourage you to remember that God IS with you:
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.””
Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV
God IS protecting you:
“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”
II Thessalonians 3:3 NKJV
God will always love you:
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
I John 4:9-10 NKJV
God will provide for you:
““Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV
God will give you peace:
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27 NKJV
God will answer you:
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
John 15:7 NKJV
God will be your strength:
“But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
God will guide you:
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”
Psalms 32:8 NKJV
God will fight for you:
“The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.””
Exodus 14:14 NKJV
God will keep His word:
““God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
Numbers 23:19 NKJV
Today, lean on the promises of God. Put your full weight down on them. Keep these words in your mind and in your heart as you face whatever comes today knowing that God IS with you and His love for you endures forever. Nothing can separate you from the love of God. So, rejoice and be glad in it!
May God bless you with health and wholeness? May God expand your territory and prosper you and your family. May God reveal Himself to you in a Mighty way. May God show you favor and bless the things you put your mind to and your hands to. May God mend fences and relationships in your life. May God give you wisdom for all the conversation and decisions you have today.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
I pray for and declare all these things over you in the Mighty Name of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords! – Amen
-Pastor Doug
“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalms 118:24 NKJV
As our day unfolds I want to encourage you to remember that God IS with you:
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.””
Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV
God IS protecting you:
“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”
II Thessalonians 3:3 NKJV
God will always love you:
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
I John 4:9-10 NKJV
God will provide for you:
““Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV
God will give you peace:
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27 NKJV
God will answer you:
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
John 15:7 NKJV
God will be your strength:
“But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
God will guide you:
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”
Psalms 32:8 NKJV
God will fight for you:
“The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.””
Exodus 14:14 NKJV
God will keep His word:
““God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
Numbers 23:19 NKJV
Today, lean on the promises of God. Put your full weight down on them. Keep these words in your mind and in your heart as you face whatever comes today knowing that God IS with you and His love for you endures forever. Nothing can separate you from the love of God. So, rejoice and be glad in it!
May God bless you with health and wholeness? May God expand your territory and prosper you and your family. May God reveal Himself to you in a Mighty way. May God show you favor and bless the things you put your mind to and your hands to. May God mend fences and relationships in your life. May God give you wisdom for all the conversation and decisions you have today.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
I pray for and declare all these things over you in the Mighty Name of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords! – Amen
-Pastor Doug
There is a Time
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV
There is a time for every purpose under heaven. God IS The Creator of time.
“God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.”
Genesis 1:5 NKJV
The Bible tells us that in six days God created everything just by saying “Let there be”. For us as humans our concept of time is extremely different from God’s. What we consider forever is just a moment in time for God. What we view as a long time barely makes a hash mark on the eternal clock that God uses.
“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
II Peter 3:8 NKJV
Let’s fast forward to Jesus.
“Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.”
John 5:5 NKJV
Thirty-eight years to us is a long time. I’m sure to this man it seemed like an eternity.
“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.”
Matthew 9:20 NKJV
Twelve years this woman was not only dealing with a medical issue but, because it was blood she was shunned by the people around her because she was considered “unclean”. Twelve years must have seemed like forever to her.
To the man at the pool:
“Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.”
John 5:8-9 NKJV
To the woman with the blood issue:
“For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.”
Matthew 9:21-22 NKJV
In a moment, in an instant thirty-eight years of affliction for the man at the pool was gone. Jesus just spoke and this man’s whole life changed. For the woman, just a touch of the hem of His garment and twelve years of sickness and shame were gone.
It was God’s timing. I believe that every account of healing and deliverance we read about in the Bible was a divine appointment for those people with Jesus The Son of God. Jesus knew when to be at the right time and place to intervene in the lives of all He touched. Nothing God does is random. “There IS a time for every purpose under heaven”.
No matter what you are waiting for, healing, direction, favor, promotion, relationships, a change of address, a job, whatever IT is God knows the need.
“”For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
Matthew 6:8 NKJV
And God says:
“It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.”
Isaiah 10:27 NKJV
What seems like forever for us as we wait on God will be completely turned around in a moment of time.
“I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.””
Isaiah 60:22 NIV
You are literally one Amen away! One hallelujah closer! Don’t give up or give in. Don’t settle or compromise. God’s complete and total restoration is right there and you are on the brink of your miracle!
You can run this race, God Will provide the strength, and with Jesus by your side you will see victory! I declare it in the Name of Jesus over you and your family!
“Don’t give up you’re on the brink of a miracle. Don’t give up God IS Still on the Throne. Don’t give up you’re on the brink of your miracle. Don’t give up, remember you’re not alone!”
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name -Amen
-Pastor Doug
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV
There is a time for every purpose under heaven. God IS The Creator of time.
“God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.”
Genesis 1:5 NKJV
The Bible tells us that in six days God created everything just by saying “Let there be”. For us as humans our concept of time is extremely different from God’s. What we consider forever is just a moment in time for God. What we view as a long time barely makes a hash mark on the eternal clock that God uses.
“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
II Peter 3:8 NKJV
Let’s fast forward to Jesus.
“Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.”
John 5:5 NKJV
Thirty-eight years to us is a long time. I’m sure to this man it seemed like an eternity.
“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.”
Matthew 9:20 NKJV
Twelve years this woman was not only dealing with a medical issue but, because it was blood she was shunned by the people around her because she was considered “unclean”. Twelve years must have seemed like forever to her.
To the man at the pool:
“Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.”
John 5:8-9 NKJV
To the woman with the blood issue:
“For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.”
Matthew 9:21-22 NKJV
In a moment, in an instant thirty-eight years of affliction for the man at the pool was gone. Jesus just spoke and this man’s whole life changed. For the woman, just a touch of the hem of His garment and twelve years of sickness and shame were gone.
It was God’s timing. I believe that every account of healing and deliverance we read about in the Bible was a divine appointment for those people with Jesus The Son of God. Jesus knew when to be at the right time and place to intervene in the lives of all He touched. Nothing God does is random. “There IS a time for every purpose under heaven”.
No matter what you are waiting for, healing, direction, favor, promotion, relationships, a change of address, a job, whatever IT is God knows the need.
“”For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
Matthew 6:8 NKJV
And God says:
“It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.”
Isaiah 10:27 NKJV
What seems like forever for us as we wait on God will be completely turned around in a moment of time.
“I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.””
Isaiah 60:22 NIV
You are literally one Amen away! One hallelujah closer! Don’t give up or give in. Don’t settle or compromise. God’s complete and total restoration is right there and you are on the brink of your miracle!
You can run this race, God Will provide the strength, and with Jesus by your side you will see victory! I declare it in the Name of Jesus over you and your family!
“Don’t give up you’re on the brink of a miracle. Don’t give up God IS Still on the Throne. Don’t give up you’re on the brink of your miracle. Don’t give up, remember you’re not alone!”
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name -Amen
Pastor Doug
Commit
“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Colossians 3:17 NKJV
Commit everything you say and do to the Lord. Sometimes the practical application of this verse may seem tough. We tend to compartmentalize God in our lives for certain situations or settings. The world has definitely drawn the line between God and everything else. The same talking heads we see in the media try to convince us that God has His place in the world but it isn’t in school, sports, politics, corporate America, law making, biology and a host of other places.
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”
Colossians 3:23 NKJV
Everything you say and do matters to God. There is no separation between work, home, church, school or whatever. As a child of God we are called to represent Jesus in all aspects of our life. We do not work for men we work for God.
Jesus said:
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.””
Luke 9:25-27 NKJV
Let your words and actions in all situations reflect the One you belong to.
“because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.””
I Peter 1:16 NKJV
Holy means to be set apart, to be devoted to God and the things of God. Like I covered a couple of days ago, we are just visiting here our home is with our Father.
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
John 14:2 NKJV
In the meantime God expects you to:
“Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
I Peter 2:13-17 NKJV
Obedience to God is paramount. God wants us to obey Him above any other sacrifice we can make.
“So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”
I Samuel 15:22 NKJV
Obedience means to be Holy against the pressure and influence of the world. Being obedient to God will separate you from the world, now more than ever.
Jesus said it this way:
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Matthew 16:24 NKJV
Jesus went to the cross for our Salvation and sacrificed Himself to atone for our sins. He also wanted to be obedient to His Father.
“And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.””
Mark 14:36 NKJV
Jesus crucified His flesh in the wilderness when the devil tempted Him and sacrificed Himself publicly on the cross for us.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Galatians 5:22-26 NKJV
Put God first in all you say and do:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
And:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
God, give us the strength to crucify the flesh today. To be obedient to You. Lord help us to reflect Your Son Jesus in all that we say and do. Grant us the wisdom to put You first before we speak and to acknowledge You in our words and deeds. Lord, as we used to sing in church “Let me be a sacrifice holy and acceptable.” In Jesus Name - Amen
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Colossians 3:17 NKJV
Commit everything you say and do to the Lord. Sometimes the practical application of this verse may seem tough. We tend to compartmentalize God in our lives for certain situations or settings. The world has definitely drawn the line between God and everything else. The same talking heads we see in the media try to convince us that God has His place in the world but it isn’t in school, sports, politics, corporate America, law making, biology and a host of other places.
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”
Colossians 3:23 NKJV
Everything you say and do matters to God. There is no separation between work, home, church, school or whatever. As a child of God we are called to represent Jesus in all aspects of our life. We do not work for men we work for God.
Jesus said:
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.””
Luke 9:25-27 NKJV
Let your words and actions in all situations reflect the One you belong to.
“because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.””
I Peter 1:16 NKJV
Holy means to be set apart, to be devoted to God and the things of God. Like I covered a couple of days ago, we are just visiting here our home is with our Father.
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
John 14:2 NKJV
In the meantime God expects you to:
“Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
I Peter 2:13-17 NKJV
Obedience to God is paramount. God wants us to obey Him above any other sacrifice we can make.
“So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”
I Samuel 15:22 NKJV
Obedience means to be Holy against the pressure and influence of the world. Being obedient to God will separate you from the world, now more than ever.
Jesus said it this way:
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Matthew 16:24 NKJV
Jesus went to the cross for our Salvation and sacrificed Himself to atone for our sins. He also wanted to be obedient to His Father.
“And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.””
Mark 14:36 NKJV
Jesus crucified His flesh in the wilderness when the devil tempted Him and sacrificed Himself publicly on the cross for us.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Galatians 5:22-26 NKJV
Put God first in all you say and do:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
And:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
God, give us the strength to crucify the flesh today. To be obedient to You. Lord help us to reflect Your Son Jesus in all that we say and do. Grant us the wisdom to put You first before we speak and to acknowledge You in our words and deeds. Lord, as we used to sing in church “Let me be a sacrifice holy and acceptable.” In Jesus Name - Amen
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
-Pastor Doug
“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Colossians 3:17 NKJV
Commit everything you say and do to the Lord. Sometimes the practical application of this verse may seem tough. We tend to compartmentalize God in our lives for certain situations or settings. The world has definitely drawn the line between God and everything else. The same talking heads we see in the media try to convince us that God has His place in the world but it isn’t in school, sports, politics, corporate America, law making, biology and a host of other places.
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”
Colossians 3:23 NKJV
Everything you say and do matters to God. There is no separation between work, home, church, school or whatever. As a child of God we are called to represent Jesus in all aspects of our life. We do not work for men we work for God.
Jesus said:
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.””
Luke 9:25-27 NKJV
Let your words and actions in all situations reflect the One you belong to.
“because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.””
I Peter 1:16 NKJV
Holy means to be set apart, to be devoted to God and the things of God. Like I covered a couple of days ago, we are just visiting here our home is with our Father.
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
John 14:2 NKJV
In the meantime God expects you to:
“Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
I Peter 2:13-17 NKJV
Obedience to God is paramount. God wants us to obey Him above any other sacrifice we can make.
“So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”
I Samuel 15:22 NKJV
Obedience means to be Holy against the pressure and influence of the world. Being obedient to God will separate you from the world, now more than ever.
Jesus said it this way:
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Matthew 16:24 NKJV
Jesus went to the cross for our Salvation and sacrificed Himself to atone for our sins. He also wanted to be obedient to His Father.
“And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.””
Mark 14:36 NKJV
Jesus crucified His flesh in the wilderness when the devil tempted Him and sacrificed Himself publicly on the cross for us.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Galatians 5:22-26 NKJV
Put God first in all you say and do:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
And:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
God, give us the strength to crucify the flesh today. To be obedient to You. Lord help us to reflect Your Son Jesus in all that we say and do. Grant us the wisdom to put You first before we speak and to acknowledge You in our words and deeds. Lord, as we used to sing in church “Let me be a sacrifice holy and acceptable.” In Jesus Name - Amen
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
Pastor Doug