Devotional Blog

Game Plan

8/31/2017

Football pre-season is here and the regular season will be starting soon. Do you have a favorite team? A favorite coach? We all watch with great sense of expectancy and hope at the start of a new season as we watch our team take the field. Every player and sports fan knows that the team needs a game plan in order to do well. And every player knows that they need to follow the coach’s game plan in order to do well and succeed. Our lives need a game plan, too. And the best game plan comes from God who has a plan and purpose for our lives. It is a plan and purpose we can trust because God loves us and cares about us and, come what may, God will see us through. Hear these words of hope and comfort from Jeremiah:

(verse of the week)
“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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. I will be found by you” (Jeremiah 29.11-13)

(prayer of the week)
Lord, thank you that you have a plan and a purpose for my life. Thank you that your plans have a hope and a blessed future for me. Help me to follow your guidance and give me strength and courage to follow your plan and purpose in all of life, through your power and to your glory, amen.

Have a blessed week!—Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
O God, my Father, don’t let me die without having really lived and really loved. John Powell

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Work in Progress . . .

8/26/2017

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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 possible 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

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Path

8/17/2017

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Path

Life's journey has its twists and turns, its scenic paths and its difficult climbs--but through it all we can be confident that God has a plan and purpose for our life, and God will see us through. God has promised to show us the way and teach us His paths. Most of all God has promised to be with us, strengthen us, and see us through. Remember whoever you are, and wherever you are on life's journey that God loves you and God will see you through.

(verse of the week)
Show me your ways, O Lord,
Teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
For you are God my Savior,
And my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25.4,5)

(prayer of the week)
Lord, lead me in the path of life. Help me to have faith that you know what is best and trust that you are with me come mountain high or valley low. Help me to grow each day in love for you and love for others, through your power and to your glory, amen.

Have a blessed week—Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God's providence to lead him aright—Pascal

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My Strength and Song

8/10/2017

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“The Lord is my strength and my song”--what magnificent words from Isaiah. Isaiah had experienced some dark storms from kingdoms threatening warfare as well as personal hardship and adversity. He also saw people around him experiencing oppression and injustice. Yet he felt a deep faith and confidence in God. It reminds us that it is not how able we are, but how able God is. God gives us the strength to persevere through difficulties and God gives us the song that gives us joy in the darkest night. Know that wherever you are in life and wherever you are in the seasons of life that God cares about you and is there to give you strength to persevere through the most tempestuous storm and a song that will break through the darkest night. Listen to this great promise from Isaiah:

(verse of the week)
The Lord my Lord is my salvation
I will not be afraid
The Lord is my strength and my song
He has become my salvation -- Isaiah 12.2

(prayer of the week)
Lord, lift my eyes above the storm to see your strength. Give me a heart to hear your song amid the winds of adversity, and faith to trust you in the darkest storm, for you are always faithful. amen.

Open your heart to God’s awesome love—Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark -- Rabindranath Tagore

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Joy

8/3/2017

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Have you ever gotten tired and worn out of working on a perfectly wonderful thing? Even when working for the Lord we sometimes get tired and weary. Nehemiah had given up a life of service in the royal palace to come and rebuild the walls the holy city. The people threw themselves into the labor. But soon the weight of the walls, outweighed the joy of the vision. Nehemiah reminded them that they were not just rebuilding walls, but rebuilding the place of God's blessing. He reminded them of the vision-and he reminded them of the attitude of service: "the joy of the Lord is your strength!" With a renewed purpose and vision, and a new attitude of joy the people completed the task for the glory of God! It is a good lesson for each of us. We do sometimes grow weary in well-doing, but there is hope! Remind yourself of the vision and purpose of our labor and life-showing others the love of Christ; and remember the attitude that inspires-"the joy of the Lord is your strength."

(verse of the week)
"The joy of the Lord is your strength!" (Nehemiah 8.10)

(prayer of the week)
Lord, restore the joy of my heart and life. Help me not to let the burdens overshadow the blessings. Renew your love in my heart. And renew your joy in my heart that I may serve you and others with renewed strength, amen.

Have a blessed week—Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
Joy is the simplest form of gratitude—Karl Barth

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