Today's Verse: After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. ~Genesis 15:1 When I think of a reward, what comes to mind is compensation for finding something or someone that was missing. Law enforcement agencies will offer a substantial reward that leads to the finding and arrest of a wanted criminal. People who lose a valuable item offer a reward for its finding. This morning, l

Today's Verse: But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? ~Galatians 4:9 One of our favorite traditional hymns is “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.” The chorus of this hymn declares, “No turning back, no turning back.” Turning back implies going back on a good decision. It means you have second thoughts and buyer’s remorse, and you changed your mind. The be

Today's Verse: And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words? ~2 Kings 1:7 Our church has been blessed by God with weekly visitors for many years. It is a blessing to look out among the congregation and see many new faces. Oftentimes, I will ask one of our core leaders, “Do you know who that man or woman is?” They will reply, “Which man or woman are you referring to?” I then try to distinguish the visitor by whom they mi

Today's Verse: A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof. ~Proverbs 21:22 Strategic planning occurs when a person or a committee of people write out a plan of action for the accomplishment of a stated goal or assignment. This plan assigns responsibilities, establishes processes and timelines, and identifies the people who will get it done. It thinks through the what, the how, and the when. It takes something that start

Today's Verse: But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. ~1 Timothy 6:11-12 Lifeguards are individuals who have been trained to rescue people who are at risk of drowning. Their duty is to monitor and be alert for anyone showing signs of distress in the

Today's Verse: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ~Matthew 3:17 When someone is pleasing, it means that he has met the approval and satisfied the desire of the person he is serving. I think of a caterer being hired to do a special dinner in honor or appreciation of someone. When the festivity is over the host will tell the caterer, “I am very pleased how this event turned out.” When Jesus began His public ministry, the Godhe

Today's Verse: The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. ~Proverbs 31:1 Today we honor mothers everywhere. We owe a debt of gratitude to Anna Jarvis for diligently encouraging her state legislature in West Virginia to recognize all mother’s one Sunday a year. This noble deed resulted in our Congress passing legislation that made Mother’s Day an official day of recognition on the second Sunday of every May. Today we acknowledge the lives and ministrie

Today's Verse: I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top. ~Psalm 102:6-7 Loneliness is the feeling of someone being left all by himself. It is an utterly desolate and discouraging feeling of abandonment. You feel like everyone in your life has left you. You feel friendless, solitary, and hollow on the inside. The psalmist describes his loneliness as a pelican in the wilderness, an owl of the d

Today's Verse: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. ~Romans 10:4 Prior to Christ dying on the cross for our sins, every Jew atoned for his sins according to the law that God gave through Moses. Once a year, the Jewish high priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of an unblemished lamb and would sprinkle it on the mercy seat. The sprinkling of the blood provided remission for the sins of the entire nation. The law came t

Today's Verse: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ~1 Corinthians 1:18 God has ordained that the ministry of preaching is how His Word is to be communicated to the masses. The Corinthian believers fell into the error of “hero worship” and became divisive over whom they followed and listened to. They made the mistake of being attracted to “preaching styles” instead of being “preaching submissiv