Greetings on this beautiful Saturday afternoon. Here’s something to think about, what if all we had was our Faith in God and could only survive by trusting In Him…… Hmmmmm, when I came across this question, it quickly spoke to my heart. It’s easy to say we trust God, but it’s another to completely Trust In Him…. Definitely something to think about. 🤔

If we were given the opportunity to describe our thoughts about the Lord in just a few words, what would you say? Thankful, grateful, underserving, just a few of mine, what about you? 🤔 As you ponder this, here's a reminder about this Sunday's service, we are Celebrating our 17 year Anniversary, (WOW) the Lord has been Soooooooo good to us. We will be having a covered dish fellowship following the service, so invite a friend or 2, bring your favorite side item, and come expecting to not only experience the Lords presence, but to also CELEBRATE what He has done for us!!!!

Greetings on what is known as the Holy Week. A walk back in time reveals that it was just a few days ago many were yelling out, “HOSANNA, “ and covering the streets with palm leaves, and now perhaps the most memorable event known to mankind is on the horizon. Think about this, in the life of a believer, we have been given the opportunity to celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord this week. Why is it that we sooooo often wait until EASTER, to celebrate these events and not celebrate them throughout the year? ( hmmmmmmm🤔)

From time to time, we all have a tendency to be too busy doing many things, going here and there, and in great need of some slowing down. As you read the scriptures here, we are quickly reminded that through all of the stuff we get caught up with, choosing to slow down and sit at the feet of the Lord is not only possible, but what is in His Words, the BEST………..

Here we see perhaps one of the greatest reminders needed in our technology driven worlds. We often can get so wrapped up in the goings, doing this and that, and never slowing down, that our connection or our prayer lives often gets interrupted, the connection is bad, or in some cases, completely lost. Today, let’s take a few moments to make some personal calls to the Lord, knowing that His reception is always clear of distractions…..

From time to time, we go through many things that can shake us up, that affect us deeply, and just might cause us to wonder. Let us also not forget that there is a real enemy who daily tries to destroy our lives, kill our relationship with Christ, and steal our confidence and trust in the Lord. As you read the image and passages, take a few moments to allow the scriptures to not only sink in, but also bring us the confidence to keep trusting in Him, the LORD….

Every once in a while, we will find ourselves in search of some kind of confirmation that we are doing the right thing or going the right way. In the Bible, we can not only find the answers to these and many more questions, but also find a destination with Heavenly directions……

When you just can't seem to catch a break:

God's Word gives us simple instructions on how to handle the bad days. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24). Isn't it interesting that God's Word doesn't say "This is the day the Lord accidentally let slip through the heavens; let us tolerate it and be done with it?" Rather, God's Word specifically states that this day that He has made, therefore, it's one worth rejoicing in.

Here we are, a great comparison that can relate to just about every age group. A question for the ages, a few moments to truly ponder the answer to this question. What if we _____?

This morning, as I was seeking the Lord on what to share, I was drawn to the statement above. Who am I IN CHRIST….. It didn’t take too long to start finding scriptures that reveal the answers. As you look at each of these statements and scripture, take a few moments to allow them to truly sink in…….. Afterwards, take some time to express your gratitude to the Lord, giving Him your very PRAISE!!!!!!!

Peace, it’s something that we all at times are in need of. So what is it really? Well, according to the Bible, it’s something that isn’t just a feeling, nor is it something that can be bought. Peace is something that God grants us in some of the most difficult times and situations in our lives, and when given by Him, passes all our understanding. I for one am extremely Thankful for not only peace, but especially the Peace of God……

Have you ever found yourself in need of that special verse? Many times we are faced with so many different opinions, ideas, and suggestions about God, which can leave us feeling well overwhelmed. It is an absolute that the Bible is the best place to find info about God, and who He is. As you look at the verses here, ask the Lord to reveal to you something new about Himself that you just might be in need of……

Here we see the other side of our FAITH. Yes, it's true that we need to focus on our faith in many areas of our lives, but FAITH also requires us to often take many steps that can seem overwhelming and uncertain. Let’s take a few moments to reflect on the times that God has lead us to challenging situations, and has Faithfully given us the strength to walk through them…..

Amen…… If you have ever needed a reminder that God is in control, this image makes it EXTREMELY CLEAR. No matter what the adversary throws at us, or what the world puts in the way, know that With God, All things ARE possible!!!!!!

Have you ever found yourself at a loss for words on the who, what, when, and why to one’s prayer life? Of course, we all have. Sometimes help can come in the form of just a few couple sentences. As you look at this image, take a few moments to modify it to help in your prayer life today…..

So often we hear that a picture can be worth a 1000 words. I’d say that this one could possibly be worth more than 1000. How many times have we been faced with the decision to either walk alone or to follow the crowd? If we really think about it, more times than we could count. Aren’t you thankful that even when we feel like we’re walking alone, the Lord is walking right beside us…..

As I was looking at the picture, I began to first think WOW! Afterwards, I realized that these are just a few examples of what He is to (me/us). Here’s today’s challenge... What else can you add to this list that’s not already on it? What else is the Lord to you? As you begin to reflect, take a few moments to apply the list above to your life…. Throughout the day, continue to add to this list as He reveals more to you….

Here we read a great and very personal promise from the Lord. He is the source of our help….. Most if not all of us have either read this or heard this verse, BUT, taking a few moments to realize that HE is talking to you, well that’s when the Bible becomes alive. Think about this, the Creator, the Author and finisher of our Faith, the Alpha & Omega, the beginning and the end, offers to be our help…… Now that is something to think about…….

As we embark on a new year, there are a few things that are certain. There will be ups and downs, there will be good days and some not so good days, and there will be many many lessons to be learned. That being said, scripture reveals to us that the Lord is preparing something NEW for us, and that (IT) will spring forth. Oh, and let’s not forget that He will even make way in our wilderness!!!!!

As we draw closer to Christmas Day, we have the opportunity to reflect on what Christmas really means to us. As Christians, we often respond with the normal answers without taking a second thought. Which is the very reason I present this question once again. What does CHRISTmas really mean to us? One’s answer will be revealed through one’s life, not just with a simple answer……

Here we see one of the most amazing truths about our Lord. We so often find ourselves feeling like we are all alone, or drowning in situations that are too big for us. Sometimes we even begin to feel like there’s no hope…… Then as we look to scripture, we find a PROMISE, not from this one, that one, or something, BUT from the LORD HIMSELF…… Take a few moments to apply this verse to your current situation, and remember the Lord is ALWAYS with us…..

Here we see an open field, a clear sky, and very few distractions. What we also have is the opportunity to pause and reflect on one of 100's of scriptures that are life changing. When we seek the Lord, and shut out the MANY distractions of our everyday lives, often the Lord will reveal Himself in some very clear ways. Maybe even through an open field or a very clear sky…….

As we gather around our tables throughout the day, let us take just a few moments to truly reflect on the MANY blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us and express our gratitude towards Him……

Just imagine the atmosphere when the Lord asked those who followed Him, "WHO do you say that I am?" The first response would be, "you are this or that, you did this and that" and so on . The impact of Peter’s answer still resounds even to today, but also needs to be answered by those who follow Him today. If He was to ask us, "WHO do YOU say that I am," what would be our answer? Remember this, who we say He is will be lived out through our daily walks...

There’s a saying most of have heard, "things are not always as they appear." The picture here is great example of just that. What looks like crooked lines, are actually all straight, but our eyes don’t see it that way. What’s the point? From time to time, we too are often fooled by the way something may appear, only to have the Lord reveal to us that we need to refocus our spiritual eyes, and see what He is trying to reveal…….

Have you ever wondered, ”Why are there so many valleys?" Me too, but as we begin the process of finding out the reasons, the Lord quickly reminded me of this. If it wasn’t for the valleys, there wouldn’t be any mountain tops. Also, there are SOOOOO many life lessons that are learned while we travel through the many valleys, it almost makes you wonder if God knows something that we don’t……

As you take a closer look at the waves, what seems to come into focus?  It’s amazing how often and how easily we are distracted from WHO can calm the waves of our lives. Throughout today, let’s take a few moments to take a deep breath, and take a closer look around us, and see how the Lord is trying to reveal Himself to us, even through the many different types of waves we may encounter.

At first glance, what we see is a big pile of stones and probably saying, “ What is the point?” Upon a closer inspection, you will find a phrase that the Lord said in the scriptures that is a profound statement to all believers, especially in regards to remaining quiet.

Sometimes we can find ourselves wondering why is this happening, or how much longer will what I’m going through last. Many would agree that it’s very hard, often seemingly feeling next to impossible. In Romans 5:3-5, we are given the Lord's insight, and can see His answer to some of the questions we may have. There’s one more thing that we can read that many of us are in need of, a four letter word that God grants us access to: (HOPE)……

Have you ever found yourself saying, "what can I do for the Lord?" Often, we will find ourselves looking at those who have the ability to do many huge and notable things and compare ourselves to them. This isn’t what the Lord desires, rather, He gives us all the ability to do both small and huge things that are equally important. Such as being an example to not just believers, but to unbelievers too. Reread the scripture, this time ask the Lord to reveal to you which of the examples listed, just might be your “Something Huge”…….

Wisdom is what we all could use more of, and what many rarely attempt to obtain. Think about this. How many times have we seen a situation that could have been avoided, but because of someone’s lack of wisdom, it quickly went the wrong direction? Wisdom is something to be prayed for, and after receiving it, to be applied to our daily lives. Take a few minutes to reflect on where in our life we could use a little or a lot more wisdom………

Take a closer look at the picture. What tends to stick out the most? It’s not by chance or just because the trees are so big. It’s because of their ROOT system. We too, are a clear picture of our roots. The deeper we grow in the Lord, and the more we depend on Him to sustain us, the more we will become established in our faith. Take a few minutes to evaluate just how deeply rooted you are in the Lord……

As we read the verse, we are reminded that our connection to the Lord is crucial. With so many things that often try to take His place, and the many imitations that our world offers us, it’s important to remember that He is THE ONLY SOURCE of Life, and without HIM, we truly can do nothing. But that’s not the end of the story. You see with HIM as our VINE, we can bear much fruit, and as scripture reveals, (nothing is impossible). Definitely something to think about…..

Work, work, work, all the live long day….. Sound familiar?  As much as we often grow weary of all the ”fun” of working, we can find some rewards of doing so. There’s the fulfillment of finishing a task, there’s the satisfaction of hard days work, and there’s those opportunities to show others that God lives in us ……(hmmmmm) When others see how God works through us, the joy that He gives us and that at the end of the day, they see Christ in us. That’s truly one of life’s greatest rewards ….. (Definitely something to think about.)

As you read this verse, we quickly see that prayer is more than saying a rehearsed word or two. In this prayer we see a child of God holding nothing back, being completely honest, and seeking God for guidance and protection. We too can seek the Lord with this approach, and in the end, watching the Lord Enlarge our Territory….. (Something to think about.)

Within the pages of this book are the answers to not just some of life’s questions, but answers to all of the what-ifs, the whys, and to all of the ones that arise throughout our daily lives. The secret to finding them is actually pretty simple, we have to open This Book, read it for ourselves, and apply what is written. Something to definitely think about……

Sooooo as you read the verse, what situation in your life jumps out to you..... What a great opportunity to pause and reflect on this.... Also, before you're done, try squinting your eyes just a little as you look at the picture, you just might see the answer to life's troubles.....

Here we read that our Heavenly Father is always with us, that He is protecting and caring for us even when we are confused or afraid. With all the uncertainty we have around us, and the craziness of todays world, it is a HUGE comfort to know that God offers to be our SAFE PLACE, our SHELTER, and the ROCK we can cling on to…..

Here we see what many of us would say is an easy one. If we were asked, we too would say, “You are the Christ.” We would be correct, (BUT) who we really say He is, and who He really is to us will be lived out through our daily lives, (NOT) just with our words. Today, let’s take a few moments to examine our lives thoroughly, and ask the Lord to reveal any areas in our lives where we are in need of some adjustments so that He may be clearly seen….

Looking closely, we can see a great Biblical truth. Even though we will go through many valleys, the view from there doesn’t have to always be bad. Let me explain, have you ever looked back and wondered, WOW, how in the world did I make it through that?  It’s often in that moment, God reveals something that grabs our attention. Sometimes, the most beautiful things we can see and experience, come from going through the valleys……..

Greetings on this beautiful day, as you read Matthew 6:6, the main focus isn’t just about prayer, rather it’s revealing to us that going to our secret place to pray, shutting the door on all the outside static, and knowing the creator of all, not only sees us, but is listening. And if that wasn’t enough, HE reminds us that HE will reward us openly….. Let’s take a few moments to fully reflect and embrace this promise from the Lord…..

Let's take a closer look at one of the most used and probably overused words, ”love.” The goal for each of us while on this journey called life is not just to be loved, but to love others as Christ loves us. Throughout the Bible we can find example after example of what love is and what it isn’t. Shall we begin……..

It often amazes me how many ways God reveals Himself to us. So many times we can get soooo caught up in going and doing that we forget to seek the Lord and to realize just how near He desires to be. Sometime through today, take a few moments to acknowledge the Lord, and stand in His presence…..

Being prepared…… This is something we learn at a young age to do. When a test is on the horizon in school, we prepare. When we have an interview, we prepare ourselves, when we take a vacation, even then, we prepare….. Soooooo, why not apply this to our everyday Christian lives? (But) here we see a HUGE plus, our God will help prepare us for what we have on the horizon. Take a few moments to reflect on the many times God has prepared you, and make sure to spend some time expressing your appreciation…

There are often times in our lives that we just (Need To Know). In Deuteronomy 4:29, we can see that the Lord offers to give us that assurance, but we have to seek Him to find it. There’s a (p.s.) here, in order to do so, we have to seek Him with (NOT) some, (NOT) most, (NOT) even 99.9999999%. We have to seek Him with (ALL) of our hearts , if and when we do, the Bible clearly reveals, WE WILL FIND HIM……

How can we declare His glory today? As we pause and reflect on this, several things come to mind. We can sing of His mercy, forgiveness, love, and His Amazing Grace. We can share with others the many things that HE has not only done, but also the things HE didn’t allow to happen. We can proclaim to a hurting world that HE cares and wants them to the trust in HIM, and how there is NO OTHER like HIM. (Something to think about.)

As we begin another day, here is a great scripture to help us as we face whatever comes our way. Not only can we find clarity in the Bible, but we can also find peace of mind as we (Think on THESE things).

Canadian Pastor Mark Buchanan in his book "Your Church is Too Safe" points out the radical difference between a traveler and a tourist. "A traveler literally means 'one who travails.' He labors, he suffers, endures. A traveler -- travailer - ...immerses himself in a culture, learns the language and customs, lives with the locals, imitates the dress, eats what's set before him. ... He is gone a long time. If ever he returns, he returns ever altered."

"Tourist means literally, 'one who goes in circles.' He's just taking an exotic detour home. He's only passing through, sampling wares, acquiring souvenirs. He tastes more than eats what's put before him. He retreats each night to what's safe and familiar. He picks up a word here, a phrase there, but the language, and the world it's embedded in, remain opaque and cryptic, and vaguely menacing. ...He returns to where he comes from with an album of photos, a few mementos, a cheap hat. He's happy to be back. He declares there's no place like home."

Jesus calls us to follow him not as tourists but as travelers.

As you read Jeremiah 29:11, take a few moments to consider this: In those times of confusion God, has a plan for clarity. During those times of chaos, He has a plan peace. In those times of hurt, He offers His plan for relief. For the many times that we feel alone and without hope, He offers to never leave us and provides an amazing plan to restore our HOPE….

As we glance at Jeremiah 33:3, its easy to overlook what’s really being stated. Upon a closer look one should see something “”Epic””!!!! Today we will be discovering just that!!!!!!!!!

Have you ever had (one of those days)? We all have, actually we all have had several of them. We can find ourselves thinking, when will this day ever end, or why in the world is this happening? In Genesis 50:20, God reveals an amazing reality that every once in awhile, we all could use a little reminder….. Take a few minutes to reflect on where the Lord might be doing just this.

WOW!!!! The background paints such a beautiful picture. It it also a great reminder, that the only way to get to the destination is by following the narrow road provided. Hmmmmmmm.