Was your cup filled today? If the words of God had special meaning for you, please share your reflections in the comments section at the end of each post. We would love to hear Christ's impact on you.

“Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.” (James 1:21-23 ESV) The Epistle of James Chapter 1 is so full of wonderful truths from our heavenly Father, like what we talked about last time in v

Father God, Today on Your day, the Lord’s Day, we pause with grateful hearts, thankful for Your deep, sustaining love and mercy for Your children. We thank You for the people who fill our days with love, and for the blessings, both seen and unseen, that help us navigate the narrow path. We give thanks for the fulfillment of all our needs even before we recognize them, and for unchanging love that provides. In times of joy, may we remember to be humble, as You are the source o

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”  (James 1:6-7 ESV) One of the first Biblical truths that James tells his believing brethren is in verse 5  “if any of you lack wisdom, let him as of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV) Jesus said this while speaking to Thomas in the upper room. Can you even fathom what took place in that upper room, sitting with Christ for the Sabbath meal? Even more so because it was a doubly significant sabbath involving the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Friday sabbath. Yet after three years, the apostles still did not truly grasp who Jesus wa

"But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me." (2 Timothy 1:12 ESV) “For I know whom I have believed.” Paul's transformation from Pharisee to apostle shows that change is possible, inspiring believers and seekers to trust in God's power to transform lives. Paul was the Pharisee of Pharisees. He knew the Jewish laws and scripture better than the majority of His peers. Yet, on th

“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5 ESV) In this verse from Paul’s letter to Titus, Paul clarifies three things that are often lost in the battle over denominational truths. It is these truths that, when twisted, lead many to hell. It is all about the root of works or the fruits of service to God. “He saved us.”  Christ saved us; it is not the

“ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1 ESV) Paul gave every part of his being to Christ. He held nothing back in his devotion. In his epistle to the Romans, Paul calls on believers to do the very same thing. You see, devotion is not about promises or beliefs. Devotion is a very different thing. Through God’s grace, we are gifted the a

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”   (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 ESV)  In chapter 5 of 1 Thessalonians, Paul continues his teaching on eschatology (the study of end-time events, such as the Rapture, the Second Coming of Jesus, the Tribulation, the Great White Thr

Heavenly Father, Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life and the opportunity to serve You today. Help us recognize Your daily blessings and feel grateful for Your presence in our lives. We worship and give you praise for You alone, are the Lord our God. We lift you up before the nations, before those who do not believe, and we pray for them. Father, God, we pray for each other that we may be willing and faithful servants of Your Word, trusting in Your guidance every step of the

“And I, when I came to you, brothers,   did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1Corinthians 2:1-2 ESV). This focus on the cross should inspire reverence and gratitude in our hearts, reminding us of Christ's sacrifice as the foundation of our faith.   Testimony may carry weight with others; however, it does not carry the weight of the cross. More often th

“And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?’” (Luke 2:49 ESV) Having celebrated the birth of the Messiah, our Savior Christ Jesus, we look forward from that blessing towards the cross. There is not much written about the life of Christ before His ministry. We know that He was preceded by John the Baptist, but there is no mention of Jesus's childhood, except in today's passage, which is part of Luke's narrative. Jos

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said

“And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”  Luke 2:6-7 (ESV) There is a popular and beautiful song titled “Mary Did You Know?” by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene. It really explores the wonder of the birth and life of Jesus and asks the question, “Mary, do you understand what has happened?” I believe the answ

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,... And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.” (Luke 1:76-80 ESV) As we continue reading about how God fulfilled an ancient prophecy from the Prophet Isaiah, about the forerunner of the promised Messiah, we find Zechariah   being “filled with the Holy Spirit” and prophesying about

“Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.” (Matthew 1:57 ESV) Typically, we don’t think that a woman giving birth to a child is a big deal. Since the beginning of time, women have been having babies and will continue to have babies as long as this earth remains. But this was no ordinary birth. This was the birth that was prophesied some 700 years before this event. In Isaiah 40:3, we read, “A voice cries in the wilderness, prepare the way of the LORD

“ And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy !” Luke 1:43-44 (ESV) Once Mary, the mother of Jesus, was visited by the angel Gabriel, and the Holy Spirit miraculously impregnated her, she wanted to be with her extended family. She left and went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who just six months ago had a miracle of her own. Elizabeth’s husband, Zecha

“ And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”   (Luke 1:36-38 ESV) Could you imagine just going through life doing your everyday activities, and the Angel of the Lord appears and greets you with “Greetings, O favored

“And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”   (Luke 1:18-20 ESV) The time is drawing near; God’s p

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2  He was in the beginning with God. 3  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4  In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe throu

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2  Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3  and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4  and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5  and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the fathe