My God My Everything

I recently attended a concert that offered the opportunity to sponsor a child in a foreign country. Their stories are often heart breaking and I was touched by the many responses in the crowd. I was also reminded that we have a mission field right here outside our own front doors. The definition of Macedonian cry is an outcry for help. Within our own towns and communities are many people who need help. We’ve all experienced a year like no other and our new normal is anything but normal. The fallout from 2020 has left many depressed, devastated, lost and hurting. The outcry is great….”Come and help us.” We’ve all…

If you’ve accepted Christ’s invitation to come, have you obeyed His commission to go? During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”  After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. – Acts 16:9-10. I was watching a TV series about first responders. A fireman was giving a tour of the fire station to a young group of kids and his response has stuck with me. He said that when you hear the sirens you don’t need to be afraid, they are…

A message from The Daily Bread Reflect & Pray O stir me, O stir me, Lord, till all my heart is filled with compassion for those who are lost. Until Your compelling love drives me to pray and follow Your leading, not counting the cost. –Anon. When the apostle Paul saw in a vision the man from Macedonia, it change the history of the world. Heeding the man’s plea to ‘come over to Macedonia,’ Paul altered his plans. It was in Macedonia he met Lydia and led her to the Lord, and it was there that the Gospel message was first given in the Western World. All Christians should be…

The apostle Paul was on his 2nd missionary journey and was revisiting the churches in Asia Minor to encourage the believers. He was traveling with Silas and desired to take the Gospel message to other cities in Asia. But God had a different plan for them. He prevented them from going to the other cities in Asia so they turned aside and headed towards a different region. Upon reaching the border they were again prevented from going further into those cities by the Holy Spirit, so they passed by and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over…

Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Lydia’s story began long before her name was even mentioned. God was at work not only in her life, but the life of many people because of her and that’s one of the things that makes her story so hopeful and encouraging. As we study Lydia this month we need to remember that…

For the month of August we will discover some the many lessons that can be learned from studying the life of Lydia. Overview – Disciple in the Making Lydia was a businesswoman who lived in Philippi.  She was a dealer in purple cloth which was a luxury that only the wealthy could afford.  Her business provided a large household for which Lydia was responsible.  She was also a spiritual seeker.   One day when she had gathered by the river with other women to pray she met the apostle Paul.  He had traveled to the region because of a vision that the Lord had given him and that vision led him…

Isn’t it fitting that this new month starts with a Divine Encounter. God is so good! On my morning run I was taking in all the beautiful sights. The birds singing, a woodpecker making his own sound, a baby deer under the trees in the bushes, squirrels racing around and ducks swimming in the stream. This path is indeed beautiful. I was getting tired on my run and was taking the inside track around the bends to save some steps. As I trotting along I was thanking God for His amazing creation and that I had not seen a single snake this season. A few steps later as I rounded…

As this series on Mary and Martha draws to an end I’m excited about the many lessons that have been learned along the way and look forward to implementing them in my life. There have been days that I feel the frustration of Martha with so much to do and have learned to give my schedule to God and see what He thinks is the best way to handle the tasks at hand. There have been days when all I want to do is sit at Jesus feet and take in everything about Him. Every word, every moment of peace and just be present in His presence. I’ve been challenged…

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.   This verse holds a special place in my heart because it is the theme for Brock’s Story. Years ago God asked me to share his story and the incredible way that God compassionately and lovingly took care of our family. It was time for me to share the comfort I had recevied with others who would desperately need the same thing. There is an…

 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. – Romans 8:11 NLT What a glorious day that must have been when Jesus called out to Lazarus saying, “Lazarus, come out!” And out of the tomb he walked! You might wonder what it would be like to witness such a miracle, but the truth is that everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their life and turns from (dies) their old life, will find a new life in…