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  • HOME
    • WHAT'S NEW?
  • ABOUT
    • contact us
    • our history
    • our pastor
    • visitors (FAQ)
    • what we believe
    • WHAT'S NEW?
  • AUDIO & VIDEO
    • AUDIO ARCHIVES
    • -----------------------------------
    • audio - 2025 radio
    • -----------------------------------
    • audio - 2024 revivals & CM
    • audio - 2025 weekly services
    • -----------------------------------
    • VIDEO - 2024 revivals & cm
    • VIDEO - 2025 revivals & cm
    • -----------------------------------
    • VIDEO - 2024 weekly services
    • VIDEO - 2025 weekly services
    • -----------------------------------
    • music [choir]
    • -----------------------------------
  • CHILDREN
    • children's choruses
    • KAREN'S KORNER
    • printable lessons
    • sunday school
  • EVENTS
    • Calendar of Events
    • camp meeting
    • dates and reservations
  • GALLERY
    • -----------------------------------
    • 2023 portraits
    • 2022 portraits
    • 2021 portraits
    • 2020 portraits
    • 2019 portraits
    • 2018 portraits
    • 2017 portraits
    • -----------------------------------
    • - 2015-2016 archives
    • - 2013-2014 archives
    • - 2011-2012 archives
    • - 2005-2010 archives
    • -----------------------------------
  • LIVE STREAMING
    • JOIN OUR LIVE BROADCAST
  • RESOURCES
    • -----------------------------------
    • -----------------------------------
    • study materials
    • - by author
    • - by category
    • - by title
    • -----------------------------------
    • sunday school (adult)
    • sunday school (primary)
    • sunday school (youth)
    • -----------------------------------
    • The Gospel Trumpeter
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    • -----------------------------------
    • Revelation Explained
    • the revelation chart
    • the tabernacle study
    • -----------------------------------
  • YOUTH
    • -----------------------------------
    • meet our local youth group
    • -----------------------------------
    • youth devotions
    • youth lessons
    • -----------------------------------
    • ARCHIVES (audio & video)
    • -----------------------------------
    • 2024 audio messages
    • 2025 audio messages
    • -----------------------------------
    • 2024 video messages
    • 2025 video messages
    • -----------------------------------
    • bible studies
    • senior bible studies
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    • video lessons
THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY​
​
​devotions for daily living
| inspiration from our youth leaders |

Lift Up the Banner of Love

12/10/2021

 
Picture
When the children of Israel set up camp in the wilderness, the tabernacle was placed in the middle and the twelve tribes camped on each of the four sides (three tribes per side). Numbers 2:2 says, "Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard." Standards (flags, banners, etc.) often included colors or drawings that represented families and tribes. They showed where the family or tribe was to camp and what that tribe stood for.

In battle times, flags boosted morale and showed the troops where to gather. In the intensity of a fight (before the time of radios), vocal commands and bugle calls might not be heard. The soldiers were trained to follow the flag. Being a flag bearer was a high honor and dangerous! Often soldiers were assigned to protect them. The flag bearer could not turn and run from the battle in fear, for the army was following that flag!

Today's verse tells us that God's banner over us is "love." That is what drew us to Him. He loved us so much that He gave His Son to die for our sins. Yet, what is a banner or a flag without a standard bearer? God needs His people to CARRY that banner of love, showing a lost world where there is hope and that God is a God of love. When life gets hard and trials come, we are tempted to flee, but who will be lost if we (as flag bearers), turn and run? It is a great honor and privilege to carry the banner for Christ! God will protect us. Let us stand true and lift up the banner of Christ. There are so many who need to see it.
I'm my Beloved's and He is mine;
His banner over me is love.
— Unknown

Be Faithful in the Little Things

12/6/2021

 
Picture
Booker T. Washington was a freed slave who desperately wanted an education. In 1872, he traveled more than 300 miles to Hampton Institute. He only had a few dollars when he arrived at the school (not near enough for tuition). The head teacher, Miss Mackie, told Booker to sweep the floor of a classroom. Booker swept and mopped the floor; he dusted the furniture and washed down the walls. He cleaned that room thoroughly from top to bottom. When Miss Mackie returned, she was so impressed that she hired Booker as a janitor at the school, which enabled him to afford the tuition. Three years later, Booker graduated and soon became a teacher at Hampton Institute.

How many times do we do the bare minimum (just "sweep the floor")? Do we rush through reading a Scripture verse or two and say a quick prayer, thinking that is all that is required? Might the word "faithful" in this verse encourage us to do a little more? What could happen if we put extra time and care into our daily devotions? Had Booker only swept the room, he quite possibly might have missed the opportunity of the janitor's job. What opportunities are we missing by failing to be faithful in the little things?

The story of Booker is inspiring. Just as he was determined to get into that school, we should be determined to be "faithful," not doing just enough to get by, not being faithful in only the big things (that which is most noticeable), but also being faithful in "that which is least" (the little things).
Any man's life will be filled with constant and unexpected encouragement, if he makes up his mind to do his level best each day and as nearly as possible reaching the high-water mark of pure and useful living.
—Booker T. Washington 

More Value Than Many Sparrows

12/5/2021

 
Picture
The sparrow in Jesus' day was considered to be of very little value. If you bought two at the market, the cost was one farthing, but two farthings would purchase five sparrows (an extra one was thrown in for free). Some historians say a farthing would today be equal to a fourth of a penny. How many times have we seen a penny laying on the ground and did not think it worth the effort to lean over and pick it up? That was the worth of ten sparrows.

Jesus' disciples were facing great persecution. Jesus was letting them know that difficult days were ahead. Then, He reassured them by saying that God takes notice of when every sparrow falls. The Greek says the word "fall" means "to light" or "to land." Not only does God care when a sparrow falls and dies, but He also notices every time a sparrow lands! Nothing is too small for His care.

Jesus then reassured His disciples, "Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:31). We do not know what we face in the days ahead. Times are looking spiritually dark, but we can rest assured that the God who cares about the landing of every sparrow can certainly take care of His people!
“Let not your heart be troubled,”
His tender word I hear,

And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth,
But one step I may see;

His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

—  Civilla D. Martin

Are We Pleasing the Lord?

12/4/2021

 
Picture
A favorite song of mine says, "I just want to please the Lord; Be in His will in every way. … To hear Him say well done someday."*    When it is sung in the church service, my hand is up and my heart says, "Amen!" Yet, throughout my daily routine, I wonder, "Am I truly doing ALWAYS those things that please Him?" In my work, in my words, in my attitudes, in my down time - am I ALWAYS pleasing Him?

It is easy to rationalize something, thinking, "This isn't sin," but does it please the Lord? Is it in His will? Often, I compare my relationship with God to being a parent. There are times when my children were not disobeying rules, but their actions were disappointing. They were not making good choices.

As a mother, I noticed that if I was with the child, they were much more likely to do the things that pleased me. So, it is with our Heavenly Father. He has not left us alone; He is always with us, but an increased awareness of His presence helps us to choose "those things that please him."

I wonder, how many times has God looked at me and thought, "She is not making good choices today"? It is my desire to ALWAYS do "those things that please him." Today's verse is a reminder that He is always there, waiting to help me. All I need to do is ask.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight, O LORD.
— Psalm 19:14 AMP
*    "I Just Want to Please the Lord" by ​Brian Free & Assurance

God Will Not "Forget Thee"

12/1/2021

 
Picture
My mother frequently wrote things on her hand to be sure to not forget them. There have been times when something extremely important needed to be remembered, and I have written it on my hand. Years ago, I was asked to give my grandmother a ride church. This was not part of my routine. So, I completely forgot! When I came out with the choir to sing that morning, I looked for Grandma to be in her seat. Then I remembered, and I felt terrible! I hurried to her apartment and found her outside, patiently sitting on a bench. 
 
When Israel was delivered from Egyptian bondage, God told them to remember this event every year. This was called "Passover." In Exodus 13:9 God told them this remembrance would be "a sign unto them upon thine hand." It would continually remind them that "with a strong hand hath the Lord brought" them out of Egypt. What God asked of Israel, God told Isaiah He is doing for His people.
 
When life gets difficult and trials are hard, the thoughts might come: "Where is God? Has He forgotten about me? Why isn't He doing something?" This verse is an encouragement—God has my name on His hands. It is ever before Him. When I write something on one of my hands, all the time my hands are working, I continually see that reminder. While God does not need a reminder (for He never forgets), He gives us reassurance through the words of this verse. Written on God's hands, which are working all things together for good for them that love Him (Romans 8:28), are my name and yours. He will "not forget thee!" 
Our Father remembers the sparrows,
Their value and fall doth He see;
But dearer to Him are His children,
And He’ll never forget to keep me.
—    ​F.   A.   Graves

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