Devotional Blog

Deep Roots

3/29/2023

Most of us have challenged ourselves to grow personally and spiritually over the this year. Whatever the challenges and obstacles we have faced; and whatever the joys we have shared, most of us would like to look back and see personal growth in our lives over this year. The secret?--Deep roots. Deep roots come from regular worship and Bible reading, and taking time for prayer. Come sunny skies or stormy nights, like a tree planted by the water we only grow stronger with time, when we nurture our life in God. Listen to the psalmist:

(verse of the week)
Blessed is the person
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on God's law they meditate day and night.
They are like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in due season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever they do prospers. (Psalms 1.1-4)

(Prayer of the week)
Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of another new day. Help me to grow deep roots that will help my life stand the storms of time and bear fruit that will last for eternity. Renew and strengthen my faith that I have a firm hope and confidence in your love and power. Help me to find strength in your Word and your Spirit. Help me to work for things that last for eternity. May I show your love to someone today. Amen!

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

(quote of the week)
Believe in God like you believe in the sunrise. Not because you can see it, but because you can see all it touches—C.S. Lewis
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us/

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Persevere

3/22/2023

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A good runner knows that she has to focus not on her feet but on a point in the distance. Focusing on her feet shortens the stride, and precious distance is lost over time. As Christians, we too, sometimes focus on our troubles and difficulties instead of focusing on Christ. Like a runner looking at their feet, we lose stride. But when we focus on Christ instead of our difficulties, our vision is changed and our stride is transformed. Where there was a grim hopelessness there is now faith in the power of Christ and hope of eternal life. And where we felt alone and surrounded by adversity, we are now comforted by the strength and loving presence of Christ. Life your eyes, focus on Christ, and take hope. For we do not run the race alone.

(verse of the week)
“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12.1-2)

(Prayer of the week)
Lord, help me to lay aside the things that distract and entangle and focus on you. Help me to trust in your love, and your plan and purpose for my life. Renew my faith in you, and rekindle the joy of life. May others see you in all I do, and give you thanks. Amen.

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

(quote of the week)
A little faith and God is enough –Alf Stanway

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

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Not Alone

3/15/2023

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You are not alone! If there is one message that comes to us over and over in the Bible, it is that one message ringing clear-- you are not alone! We were not created to be alone, but to have fellowship with God (Genesis 1,2). And when we blew it and failed, God came looking for us (Genesis 3). Even when friends forsake us, God is there (Job). God's Word lights even the darkest path (Psalm 119). Even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we may have peace because God is with us --God's hand holds ours (Psalm 23). Jesus came that we might know forgiveness and reconciliation with God (John 3.16). And Jesus very words give us this blessed promise of the Spirit's presence:

(Verse of the week)
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever --the Spirit of truth . . . You know Him, for that Spirit lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you alone . . .Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. (John 14.16,17)

(Prayer of the week)
Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you that you love me and your presence is always with me. Help me to open my heart to you and your great love. May your love touch and change my life and may I be a blessing to others, through your power and to your glory, Amen.

Have a great week!—Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
Giving is the highest level of living --John Maxwell

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Waiting

3/8/2023

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How good are you at waiting? I must confess that I am not all that good at waiting. The truth is waiting is a hard thing for most of us. We are a fast food, high speed internet, overnight delivery kind of people. We think of waiting time as wasted time. But so often our rush just runs us in circles; we run without true purpose or direction and we soon find that our strength alone is not enough. God has a different view of waiting. Waiting is a time we tune our spirit into God’s Spirit. Waiting time is a time we reflect on Christ’s love and listen to His still small voice in our hearts. Waiting time is a time that God molds and makes us. Like a tree growing steadily from sunlight and soil as its roots dig deeper and its trunk grows stronger, waiting on God is one of the true secrets of life and a source of true strength. Discover the true source of life!

(verse of the week)
“They that 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)

(Prayer of the week)
Almighty and Loving God, thank you for your great love that reaches out to us and forgives us and gives us new life and hope for tomorrow. Help me to learn to wait on you as a source of strength and love. Open my heart and mind to trust in your plan and purpose for my life. Open my life to your power that touches and transforms life. May your gifts of love, hope, peace, and joy grow within me as I draw my strength from you. And let your love burn within me that others may see you in all I do. Amen.

Wishing you a great week! –Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
There is no greater power in the universe than prayer. Prayer can change the world, because prayer puts us in touch with the One who made the world. . .

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

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Refiner’s Fire

3/1/2023

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Perhaps you have gone to Colonial Williamsburg or some other historical place and like me watched the blacksmith at work hammering next to the fires fanned by the hand-powered bellows. In the workroom of the blacksmith the fires burn hot, and the sound of hammering echoes in the street. The steel is softened and refined in fire, hammered into shape, then heated again, re-worked, and finally hardened in the shock of water and steam. It seems a hard process from fire to hammer and anvil, and finally to the water vat; and yet the master craftsman knows his work. A work of beauty and usefulness is created. Peter likens God’s work in us to that of a master craftsman at work. God fashions us and refines us with the fires of trial, but a work of beauty and faith is being crafted that will last the storms of life and reflect God’s love, giving “praise, glory, and honor” to Christ. Know no matter how hot the fire, or how hard the hammer of adversity strikes, the water of the Holy Spirit will sustain you, for God is creating a work of enduring beauty and you are safe in God’s skillful care. Your faith is more precious than the finest gold. You are in the loving hands of the Divine Master Craftsman.

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

(Prayer of the week)
Gracious and loving God, thank you for the challenges of life that refine, mold and strengthen us. Give me faith to trust in your plan and your strength. Refine me that others may see your true reflection in me. May I be joyful in all things, and may I be loving to all people, that others may see the light of your love in me. Amen.

Blessings in Christ! –Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
It is not how much you do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving --Mother Teresa

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

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Deep Roots

Persevere

Not Alone

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