Riding The Storm Out

 

Scripture   Acts 27:20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. Vs 22-26

Observation The storms were intense and prolonged to the place/point of hopelessness.

Application Life can be rough and seemingly hopeless and -rocky  at times but God sees, knows, has a plan in/through it all.

Prayer Father, I am thankful and trusting that even though circumstances can be trying at times and for seasons, You are in control and have an eternal plan and purpose at work in and through it all. So, I will trust You wholeheartedly no matter how stormy this life may get.

Victory in Jesus

 

Today I am THANKFUL for the hymn, Victory in Jesus, and share the story behind the song for the writer and for me with a special THANKS to my mom. Check it out and leave a message about how that hymn has touched your life, too.

“Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior forever, He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood, He loved me…and all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.”- E.M. Bartlett- Mr. Bartlett suffered a paralyzing stroke that left him unable to walk or even speak and for the most part, he was bedridden. Many felt the stroke ended his teaching ministry, yet It was during these dark days that Eugene would write his best-known hymn, Victory In Jesus

Thank You Jesus for so loving me. I want to love You more and share Your love. I’m pretty sure I first heard this hymn at Allen Park Church of the Nazarene because my sweet Mom took us, my sister Tina and me, from my earliest memory. Thanks, mom,  I will always remember and be thankful that I first heard about Jesus because of you. This also became a favorite hymn of my Pop who found victory in Jesus at the age of 52.

Remember His Sacrifice

 

Scripture Luke 24:6-8 He is not here but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered His words.

Luke 24:45-47 He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures . . . it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations.

Luke 24:53 They were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.

Observation It was necessary for Jesus to suffer and rise again.

Application Today, I remember and am thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice and that He conquered sin and death for me.

Prayer Thank You Jesus for doing what only You could do defeating sin and death for all who would believe, including me. Thank You for the gift of eternal life. May I live a life that blesses and praises You.

Open the Door

 Scripture Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Observation Jesus is calling, knocking, will you hear, will you believe, will you receive?

Application  We must be more than hearers but open the door of fellowship with Jesus and be doers of  God’s Word.

Prayer Thank You, Jesus for knocking on my heart’s door, I am thankful that I opened up to You.

Whole-Hearted Service

 

Scripture I Samuel 12:24 Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

Observation Reverence for and wholehearted service to God should be my response out of gratitude for all He has done for me.

Application I would revere and serve God with my whole heart out of thankfulness for all He has done for me.

Prayer Thank You, Father, for Your limitless blessings toward me. I would love, serve, and honor You wholeheartedly.

ST. PATRICK-The True Story

 Today is the day that the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, is honored. A native of Britain, he was captured in the late fourth century A.D. by Irish pirates at age sixteen and enslaved for six years in Ireland. During that time he committed himself to Christianity. He escaped and returned to his family in Britain where, a few years later, he had a vision of the Irish calling him to return and minister to them.

Rather than resenting his years as a slave to the Irish, Patrick used the time as a shepherd to contemplate what it meant to know Christ, what it meant to know God’s forgiveness. He left Britain as an unconverted teenager but returned as a believer in Christ. Without those six years of suffering, who knows how different Patrick’s life might have been. And who knows how many Irish might never have heard the Gospel through Patrick’s ministry in Ireland in the fifth century?

Thankful for those who answer the call to take the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the Earth.