Natural to Spiritual
by Jeffrey Smith April 22nd, 2016
2 Samuel 7:5,6: Go and say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD, "Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? "For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle."
Matthew 8:20: Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but...
Pearls And Pigs
by Dion Todd April 21st, 2016
This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. John...
Judas' kiss
by Jeffrey Smith April 20th, 2016
Luke 22:47-48: While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, Judas are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?
Betrayal is painful. The thing about betrayal is that it doesn't really hurt us if we don't love the person who does the betraying. Nobody cares if someone says...
Peaceful Easy Feeling
by Dion Todd April 17th, 2016
Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if this cup can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.' He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. Matt 26:42 WEBOn the night that Jesus was betrayed, He was troubled in His spirit and went to the garden of Gethsemane...
The Stealership
by Dion Todd April 15th, 2016
The spirit of man is Yahweh's lamp, searching all his innermost parts. Proverbs 20:27 WEBA friend of mine once worked as a salesman at a car dealership. One day a lady came in that wanted to buy a certain car, but the air conditioning did not work. The manager promised her that they would fix it if she brought it back later in the month, so she purchased the car as is. When she brought the car back...
Where are your accusers?
by Jeffrey Smith April 13th, 2016
Matthew 8:10-11: Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, "where are your accusers? Didn't one of them condemn you?" " No Lord" she said. And Jesus said, neither do I. Go and sin no more.
Can you imagine what must have been going through that woman’s mind? She was dead to rights. She was caught in the act of adultery. She cracked God's top ten! She was drug to the temple courts where...
Mixed Up
by Jeffrey Smith April 12th, 2016
Ezekiel 44:18-19: "Linen turbans shall be on their heads and linen undergarments shall be on their loins; they shall not gird themselves with anything which makes them sweat. "When they go out into the outer court, into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments in which they have been ministering and lay them in the holy chambers; then they shall put on other garments so...
God's calling
by David and Dianna Wyles April 11th, 2016
Hi there:)
I hope this note finds you in good spirits and well. I am sitting here procrastinating about my job hunt this morning as that is what I should be doing but... I'd rather send a note to you;) How are you? It seems from your writings that you have a new found sense of peace that is refreshing you somewhat:) Praise God for all he is doing in your life! I also have learned a little...
Heads or Tails
by Dion Todd April 10th, 2016
For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? But if we hope for that which we don't see, we wait for it with patience. Rom 8:24 WEBOh, I don't want to face tomorrow. I have a bad, bad, feeling about this. On and on we go, into a spiral of self-pity and hopelessness. Fear, anxiety and depression begin to snowball and soon consume us. Eventually...
Possibilities
by Dion Todd April 8th, 2016
Jesus, looking at them, said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.' Mark 10:27 WEBHave you ever faced an impossible circumstance? Something that looked entirely hopeless. Jesus said that ALL things are possible with God. Nothing is out of reach, nothing is impossible. We often try to work things out in our mind, with our own reasoning. We can only see...
Nicodemus
by Jeffrey Smith April 6th, 2016
John 3:4- How can a man be born when he is old? Nicodemus asked. Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!
John 3:7-8- You should not be surprised at my saying, You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus was...
Coming Apart At The Seams
by Dion Todd April 6th, 2016
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there. Simon and those who were with him searched for him. They found him and told him, 'Everyone is looking for you.' Mark 1:35 WEBJesus would often withdraw from the noisy crowds to be alone with the Father in prayer. It was here that He chose His disciples, refreshed His strength,...
Easy or Hard?
by Jeffrey Smith April 5th, 2016
John 16:33- "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Matthew 11:29-30- "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
I hear it all the time. "Being a Christian is hard."...
Star Lord
by Dion Todd April 5th, 2016
God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. Gen 1:16 WEBHe also made the stars. I read this verse sometimes and am amazed by how much the Bible packs into a single verse. Scientists estimate they are around 300 sextillion stars now and that number keeps growing as they develop devices that let them see further. That...
Agreement
by Jeffrey Smith April 4th, 2016
1 John 5:7-9: For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about His Son.
Fear is an opportunistic hunter. Fear is the only trick the enemy has to get you in agreement with him. You see, we have to continually be in agreement...
Trust and Patience
by David and Dianna Wyles April 1st, 2016
Our Beloved Pastor’s devotion entitled “Thunderstorms" inspired me to write about trust and patience. Patience is a hard one, but a lesson I'm in the middle of now, as I try to patiently wait on the Lord’s timing and open doors of opportunity.
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised....
Coping
by Jeffrey Smith March 30th, 2016
Acts: 3:19-Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.
Coping is a man-made way of dealing with something...
Dont Struggle
by Jeffrey Smith March 29th, 2016
Hebrews 4:1-10- Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,...
This Is The One
by Dion Todd March 29th, 2016
Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, 'Yahweh has not chosen these.' Samuel said to Jesse, 'Are all your children here?' He said, 'There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.' Samuel said to Jesse, 'Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.' He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance....
Renew your mind
by Jeffrey Smith March 28th, 2016
Colossians: 3:3- For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Romans 6:4-We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Romans 12:2- And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what...
How my Heart Blessings began
by David and Dianna Wyles March 28th, 2016
How did I become known as the “Queen of Hearts”? It all started through a season in my life where I was struggling to cope with all that life was throwing my way. I felt lost and broken; World/National news was tragic; I was having a hard time accepting truth about a loved one’s fatal illness; I had already lost loved ones I was still grieving for; work was stressful…...
Icy Paint Buckets
by Dion Todd March 27th, 2016
He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? If you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? Luke 16:10 WEBIt was a cold day and the wind coming in off the...
Hope among the Mountains of Virginia
by Linda Darlene Gibson March 26th, 2016
“Resist him (the devil), standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever...
Peace
by Dion Todd March 23rd, 2016
In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6 WEBMany saints and martyrs in the past have faced terrible trials and death with a peace in their hearts that no one could explain. Some sang hymns on...
Strong and courageous
by Jeffrey Smith March 22nd, 2016
Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go
Philippians 4:13: I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Admittedly you can find both of these scriptures on a daily calendar in just about any Christian household across American and probably most of the world. They...
A Fresh Start
by Dion Todd March 22nd, 2016
Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, 'Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.' John 8:10 WEBOne day while Jesus was teaching in the temple, the religious leaders brought in a woman who had been caught in the very act of adultery and stood her in front of the crowd. They asked Him...
Perpetual Spring
by Jeffrey Smith March 21st, 2016
Psalm 41:1-2: As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
John 14:6: Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
I'm sure, and there is no doubt that we have all seen the first signs of spring recently. We are reminded...
The Best of Friends
by David and Dianna Wyles March 20th, 2016
Spring has sprung, and with it unpredictable weather. California has been blessed with much needed rain. A LOT of rain! The prayers of many were answered as this rain is bringing an end to the drought that has plagued our State for too long. As much as we need this rain… it’s seems to go on forever. Thankfully the Lord has also shown us mercy with a few days of sun to warm...
Shock Treatment
by Dion Todd March 20th, 2016
All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby. Hebrews 12:11 WEBWhile at school, I learned to read and write, add and subtract, and much more. However, many times it was after school that the learning really began for me. Dad would tell us 'That electric fence will shock you so...
Be Strong For You Are Not Alone
by Dion Todd March 19th, 2016
Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid or scared of them; for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 WEBWe can become so withdrawn sometimes and begin to feel that it is us against the world, and that no one seems to care or even notice what we are going through, or currently struggling with. Even in a crowd, we can feel alone and all...