Devotional Blog

Jewel

1/30/2025

You are a jewel! A treasure of incredible worth! God has created you a rare and beautiful gem, a treasure beyond belief. Most jewels are formed under intense pressure; and then require the experienced eye and skillful chisel of the jeweler to bring the beauty to full brilliance through careful, precise chiseling. Our faith and character are often formed and strengthened under intense pressure. And like the gems that a jeweler chisels, we too must experience the careful and loving chisel strikes of the Master Jeweler. Though sometimes painful, it will bring your true beauty and brilliance into the light of God's love and service. You are more than a diamond in the rough--take heart, you are a jewel in the master's hand.

(Verse of the week)
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1.6,7

(Prayer of the week)
Gracious and loving God, thank you that you care about me and love me. Give me strength to face the challenges of life, and fill me with faith to trust your plan and purpose in all things. Re-kindle the joy of life in my heart. And make me a light that others may see your love. Amen.

Have a great week! –Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
God made you as you are in order to use you as He planned --S. C. McAuley

Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Podcast: Inspire Message

0 Comments

Work in Progress

1/23/2025

0 Comments

The Apostle Paul reminds us that God’s love and God’s work in us does not stop at salvation. Just as birth is only the beginning of our lives and we continue to grow and develop in incredible ways, so also our new birth of faith in Christ is the beginning of a life where we grow and mature in faith, hope and love. God, in love that is more infinitely loving and wise and powerful beyond what we could possibly imagine, continues his work of love in us throughout all of life. Like personal growth, spiritual growth is often exciting, difficult, sometimes painful, but always worth it in the end. Take heart! Have confidence that God will see you through. The One who knit the tapestry of the night sky and wove the fabric of the rainforest; the One who sculpted the masterpieces of the great canyons and paints each sunset, then limns the canyons with the first light of dawn; the One intricately designed each living creature, is still at work in you! God is creating a masterpiece in you. Together you and God can create a great work of promise and praise for the good of others and the glory of God. Reach out. Trust God. God will see you through to the end!

(scripture of the week)
Being confident of this, that God who began a good work in you will carry it on until the completion until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1.6)

(prayer of the week)
O Divine Creator, who fashioned the heavens and the seas and all the worlds that stretch to every corner of the universe, renew my life and paint anew the colors of your grace and love in my life. Help me to be open to your Spirit and empower me to share your love with others, through your power and to your glory, amen.

Blessings in Christ –Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
Love is the abridgment of all theology—Francis de Sales

Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Inspire Messages:
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us/

0 Comments

God Calls Us By Name

1/16/2025

0 Comments

What wondrous news! –that God, who created all that is, calls us by name. There are times in our lives when we hear our name and our heart is warmed just by the sound of our name spoken by someone who loves and cares for us deeply. God knows us, loves us, and calls us by name. It is the call of love and forgiveness. It is the call of the One who formed and fashioned us. It is the call of the One who has a plan and purpose for our lives. Listen for a moment. . .and hear God’s call. Hear your name spoken lovingly by God. Come to Christ and know God’s love. For God loves you and calls you by name like a loving and forgiving parent. And God’s promise comes to us, come what may, like a quiet, comforting whisper, “I will be with you!” Trust God. God loves you!

(scripture of the week)
Fear not for I have redeemed you,
I have summoned you by name; you are mine. . .
I will be with you. (Isaiah 43.1,2)

(Prayer of the week)
Almighty and Loving God, thank you for your great love and the way you know us and call us by name. Open my heart and mind to trust in your plan and purpose for my life and your power to see me through. Renew within me a fresh appreciation and confident hope in your love and plan and purpose for my life. And may my life, radiant with your love, touch others today. Amen.

Open your heart to God's amazing love!
--Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
Love is the abridgment of all theology—Francis de Sales

Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Inspire Messages:
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

0 Comments

New Year, Fresh Start

1/9/2025

0 Comments

The new year is a time for fresh starts, resolutions and goal setting. We celebrate the accomplishments of the past. We let go of those things where we fell short. We treasure the memories we shared. But with the new year, we look forward to setting and accomplishing some new goals with renewed strength. Strengthened by our faith in Christ, we press forward to use our gifts and talents to accomplish some goals that will honor God and bless others. The Apostle Paul shared all these experiences and expresses it beautifully in this passage written from a prison cell to people facing challenge and adversity, yet it rings with a positive note:

(scripture of the week)
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12–14 NIV11)

(prayer of the week)
Loving God, thank you for a new year! Thank you for the blessings of the past, and thank you for your grace for the shortcomings of the past. Bless our life with goals that honor you and bless others, and renewed strength to serve you and others. Grant us a fresh vision of life as you intend it, guided by your Word and empowered by your Spirit, through Christ Our Lord, amen.

(quote of the week)
Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man--Benjamin Franklin

Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Inspire Messages:
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

0 Comments

Star

1/2/2025

0 Comments

God put a star in the night sky to guide the wise men to where the Christ child lay. God still puts stars in the sky to light our night and guide our way. On that first Christmas challenges had to be overcome, long distances had to be traveled and a king tried to deceive and misguide them, but through it all God guided the ancient magi with a star. The star was a sign of God's love to all people in all places that God's love was reaching out to them. Through darkness and adversity, God will guide you, too. In your darkest night, through your greatest trial, God will never leave you alone. God will put a star in the night to break through the darkness and guide your way. Your star may take on different forms, but take hope and know that God will shine through the darkest night to show you love and life. How can we trust God's love for us? -Simple, because God cared enough to share all of our life with us in Christ born in a humble manger, and then in Christ to show us the way of love and new life.
Whatever challenge you face, however dark your night, take heart! Follow the star, and kneel before the Christ child, and know the peace and hope and love that only He gives. Know that in the greatest darkness God's love shines brightest, and God loves you!

(scripture of the week)
The wise men went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. (Matthew 2.9-11)

Amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas, open your heart to God's amazing love . . .and the miracle of Christmas!

(Prayer of the week)
Loving Heavenly Father, I open my heart to your amazing love, let the light of your love shine into my life. Forgive me of failures of the past, and give me new life through the miracle of Christ. Fill my life with the true gifts of Christmas . . .your love and hope and peace and joy. May I find a new purpose in life and a new promise for the future, through your grace and to your glory. Amen.

From all of us at Immanuel --may you and your family and all you love have a Very Happy New Year. . . and may God bless us one and all. . .
--Pastor TJ

Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Inspire Messages:
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

0 Comments

Jewel

Work in Progress

God Calls Us By Name

New Year, Fresh Start

Star

Author

Archives

Categories