Category: Devotionals Page 4 of 49

I Will Seek You

On September 9, 2024

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. Psalm 63:1

Many think that they need to go to church to seek God or have fellowship with Him. There are places which promote solitude of heart, such as a church building. Communing with the Lord seems to be sweeter there. When my husband and I were out sightseeing one day, we came across this quaint and very old church (built in the 1800’s) in Virginia. But is this the only place we can find God and find peace with Him?

The Natural Bridge in Southern Virginia is so beautiful and the work of God’s hand is breathtaking. Just walking the trails to get to the bridge are peaceful and serene. All one can hear is the babbling of the brook as it leads to a small waterfall. Then sit through the Genesis story in the evening and watch the light show in conjunction with each day of creation, God’s beauty combined with His Word will fill your hearts.

One does not need to look far to see the Lord at work. I believe we live in one of the most beautiful areas in our great Country, near the Blue Ridge Mountains. What breath taking scenes, to say the least. Again, God’s handiwork fills one with awe for a God who intricately created this earth and its beauty. God reveals Himself in His creation if a person will take the time to meet Him there.

This same God who created this beautiful world, created you as well and all your intricacies.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psa 139:14)

Do you believe we’re wonderfully made? Google search pictures of the inner ear, or the structure of cells in the body, and you will see just how intricate our bodies are. It will reveal a side of God that should overwhelm your spirit! All the parts of our bodies are equally intricate. But the point is that God is the creator of them all. God is in the smallest details of creation!

We should be seeking to learn more about Him and becoming more like His precious Son. We should seek after God as if we are dying of thirst and can’t get enough of Him. We can find these beautiful places in our mind’s eye even if we are sitting in our private place as we do our devotions and studying. God promises to reveal Himself to the one who is seeking after Him. One will never be disappointed!

Jer 29:12-13 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. (13) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

There is peace and solace at the end of your search for God. Burdens can be unloaded and God promises to speak to you through His word!

Mat 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Dear God…
May I seek You early
Before the start of day
And cling to every word
As I go along my way

Thankful

By Kate Plourde

On September 6, 2024

In Devotionals

Thankful for ALL things? - Housing and Homeless Supports

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. (Psa 95:2)

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it is fitting to focus on a thankful heart. I love Noah Webster’s definition of the word psalm:

A sacred song or hymn; a song composed on a divine subject and in praise of God. The most remarkable psalms are those composed by David and other Jewish saints, a collection of one hundred and fifty of which constitutes a canonical book of the Old Testament, called Psalms, or the book of Psalms. The word is also applied to sacred songs composed by modern poets, being versifications of the scriptural psalms, or of these with other parts of Scripture, composed for the use of churches; as the Psalms of Tate and Brady, of Watts, etc.

Can you imagine how our Heavenly Father feels when His children come before Him in their prayer closets or church services with this kind of grateful and thankful prayer? Can you imagine what it would be like if God’s children would make this joyful noise to Him with this kind of sacred psalm? I have chill bumps just thinking about it.

I know how blessed I am when my children are thankful for their blessings in life and say so. How much more our Heavenly Father? All blessings come from Him. God enjoys blessing His children just as we enjoy blessing ours. Do we like it when our children are ungrateful? Of course not. Nor should we be ungrateful to our precious Heavenly Father. After all, He sent His only Son to take our punishment for sin so that we may inherit eternal life! There is no better reason to be thankful!

Psa 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Share with me today as we start preparing our hearts for one of the best holidays this country has. Yes, the world has turned it into a money-making holiday. As Christians, we must remember why we are thankful and sing sacred psalms to the One who has provided for us. I can think of many reasons why I am thankful – not just at Thanksgiving but every day: my salvation, my husband, my family, my Pastor, my dear friends, my church family, my health, and the list goes on. When I focus on being thankful, I am not thinking about my problems and trials.

O King of Kings, O Lord of Lords
Henry Burton, 1887

O King of kings, O Lord of hosts, Whose throne is lifted high
Above the nations of the earth, the armies of the sky,
The spirits of perfected saints may give their nobler songs
And we, Thy children, worship Thee, to Whom all praise belongs.

Thy hand has hid within our fields treasures of countless worth;
The light, the suns of other years, shine from the depths of earth;
The very dust, inbreathed by Thee, the clods all cold and dead,
Wake into beauty and to life, to give Thy children bread.

Thou Who hast sown the sky with stars, and set Thy thoughts in gold,
Hast crowned our nation’s life, and ours, with blessings manifold;
Thy mercies have been numberless; Thy love, Thy grace, Thy care,
Were wider than our utmost need, and higher than our prayer.

O King of kings, O Lord of hosts, our fathers’ God and ours!
Be with us in the future years; and if the tempest lowers,
Look through the cloud with light of love, and smile our tears away
And lead us through the brightening years to Heaven’s eternal day.

There are 34 verses in the Bible, one for every day of the month, that tell us to “give thanks.” That should tell us something!

2Th 2:13-14 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (14) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Why Worry?

By Kate Plourde

On September 4, 2024

In Devotionals

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. (Psa 127:2)

As we see the day of Christ’s return fast approaching, there is much in the news that would cause a person to worry. But it is worthless, fruitless, empty and unsatisfying when one stays up late and gets up early to worry. I never gained a moment’s pleasure or peace from worrying. The Lord emphasizes in today’s verse how futile it is to worry. In fact, the Lord promises His beloved children rest! (Matthew 11:28-30)

God does not promise this wonderful rest to the unsaved. How do I know that? The verse says that His beloved receive sleep. Remember, the moment we are born again, we become the children of God.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Rom 8:16)

We are His beloved! A search to the word “beloved” in the New Testament will show that the Scriptures were always referring to the brethren in Christ. The child of God does not have to worry because we have a loving Father who desires that we find rest in Him! That is why today’s verse says it is vain to worry!

Noah Webster defines the word vain as:

Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance.Fruitless; ineffectual. All attempts, all efforts were vain.

Empty; unsatisfying. The pleasures of life are vain.

False; deceitful; not genuine; spurious. James 1.

Since I became a mother, so many Scriptures seemed clearer to me. What would I think if my children stayed up nights worrying? I would be devastated if I discovered they were worrying! But most importantly, I would wonder why my child feels he cannot turn those worries over to his parents. I can just imagine how our Heavenly Father feels when we take upon our own shoulders the cares of this world which have not even happened yet. Our Father in Heaven loves us so much and wants so much to provide for us and comfort us. Why do we insist on taking this worry upon ourselves? I have heard that 85% of what we worry about doesn’t even come to past; the other 15% weren’t worth worrying over. The time and effort spent in worrying could easily have been spent in the word and finding comfort there. The Lord has so many golden nuggets in His word that will calm our spirit and fretful heart. We just have to search them out.

Matt. 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (28 ) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (29) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (30)

What better verses can there be that prove God’s character and desire to give us peace? After reading these verses, I decided to do a phrase search for “give rest” and have listed some below. I need not say anything more; let God’s word speak to your hearts!

And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. (Exo 33:14) God’s presence goes with us (His Holy Spirit) and provides rest.

Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. (1 Chr 22:9) We find much rest from the book of Proverbs if we heed its warnings.

That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. (Psa 94:13) The chastened man receives rest from the days of affliction.

Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. (Pro 29:17) We receive rest when we have corrected our children – they will delight us.

And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,(Isa 14:3) Again, the Lord provides more rest from sorrow and fear.

Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. (Jer 50:34) Our Redeemer provides rest.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Mat 11:28 ) Jesus, our Redeemer, provides the rest we need.

Dear God…
May I always be looking to You
Until I find comfort in Your care
And rest from my burdens of worry
At Your feet will I lay them there

Where Can We Get Help?

By Kate Plourde

On September 2, 2024

In Devotionals

Psalm 121:1-8, “[A Song of degrees.] I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.(1) My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.(2) He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.(3) Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. (4) The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.(5) The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.(6) The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.(7) The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (8 )

Where Can We Get Help?

Not a single human being a live has had a life without trials. Think about that for a moment. A runner prepares for a marathon by training every day; no matter what kind of weather. Everyone is running the marathon of life. Some of us are slower than others but we have to remember that every single one of us will finish the race at some point or another. That race ends when we close our eyes at that final moment of life.

How we deal with trials as we run our marathon of life all depends on how we prepare for them and how we handle ourselves during the trial. When you prepare for a long trip, what do you do? You make sure you have a full tank of gas; you check your tires and all the fluids in your car. Shouldn’t we be preparing for our daily spiritual walk in the same manner? Shouldn’t we be fueling ourselves with the God’s word, and putting on the full armor of God so we can be sheltered by the Lord during our trials? Why do we make it difficult on ourselves by not doing so? Who in the world would run a marathon with no training whatsoever?

I am particularly fond of Psalm 121. I have run to this Psalm many a times. During the major trials of my life, I especially ran to this scripture to find peace. It is there that I experienced the Lord’s love and compassion. At the time I am experiencing a trial, however, the Psalm means more to me than it has ever meant. Here’s what I noticed – the Psalmist makes different points:

1. I have to make a conscious effort to seek my help. God won’t force Himself upon me. But when I seek Him, He is there!

2. I have to recognize where my help comes from. I don’t rest in the counsel of my spouse or my friends, as good as their counsel may be. I know that God is the only One who can take care of my trial and see me through to the end.

3. I realize that my Shepherd won’t allow me to falter. The more I am in the scriptures, the more my faith is built… brick by brick. As I need encouragement, verses come to mind that I can recite to myself and encourage myself. Each step is guided by my Shepherd.

4. I realize that my Shepherd never sleeps! This one gives me goosebumps! It brings me to tears because I know that since He never sleeps, nothing can happen to me that God’s not aware of. Nothing! My Shepherd is ever watching over me!

5. I have come to know that my Shepherd will keep me safe. The Lord keeps me – watches over me – provides me with shade from the heat of those fiery trials. That shade is found when I sit quietly reading my Bible and soaking in what He has for me. This picture is exactly what comes to mind as He keeps me safe through life’s storms.

6. I trust that my Saviour will keep me from the enemy, Satan, and preserve my salvation. I know that everything that happens to me has been allowed in my life for my benefit so I can grow in my faith. There is great comfort knowing that my eternal security can never be removed because God is the One that preserves my soul, not me. It is not by my own efforts that I gained salvation and, therefore, is not by my efforts to keep it.

7. I know that my Shepherd will guide my path forever more. When I am in God’s word and feeding my soul, my Shepherd can keep me from taking the wrong path in life. I cannot claim this if I am not soaking in God’s word daily. NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psa 119:105) and Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psa 119:11)

I must seek for my help and know where that help comes from; I must recognize that this help will keep me safe when I abide in Him; and lastly, my help preserves my soul – which cannot be said of any other self-help this world has to offer. Why not go to the expert? Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness in my life. Teach me what I must learn from each trial.

Dear God…
I cherish my time in Your Word
That peace and comfort there lies
I keep my eyes fixed on those hills
Where my Helper comes to my side

Taking Heed

By Kate Plourde

On August 30, 2024

In Devotionals

Psalm 119:9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

I feel as though I am living in a washing machine. I am being spun around, bounced around as it agitates, in waters filled with the world’s sins. All along I am praying I will come out clean! It can be compared to washing your clothes in mud, doesn’t it? The Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies made it obvious that believers are walking through very muddy waters! I didn’t watch the Olympics, but I saw clips of the ceremonies! How evil and blasphemous! I can imagine what Lot saw prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah!

It is quite the challenge for all believers today. We attempt to keep our eyes (the window to our hearts) from sin and not to let it dirty us. The only way to keep our spiritual garments clean from the mud of this world is to be in God’s word and to apply it to our lives! As we open the bible’s pages, it is like bathing in living waters. It is spiritual laundry day, every day!

Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

I’ve seen older Christians who have remained “spiritual babes” because they have not spent time in the word of God. Taking time in the word is work but a blessing follows. Some work for a living and at the end of the pay period, a check is received. At the end of reading and studying, we also receive a check – a spiritual check. As well, our garments become less soiled from the world’s mud. However, if you’re not reading your bible daily, it’s like standing in front of the world and allowing it to sling mud at you. Some of that mud will stick!

Paul spoke on these spiritual babes. 1 Cor. 3:1-2, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” Paul likened the spiritual babes as carnal. They were still more concerned about the things of the flesh than spiritual things. After all, isn’t that what a human baby does? He cries and cries until he is fed. Paul used the right choice of words here, didn’t he? Is that how we react to reading the bible?

The more we grow in the Lord, the more we become spiritual adults. The world’s sinful behavior (that mud if you will) doesn’t stick to us or influence us because we have been armed! We’ve learned to trust more in the Lord; we’ve learned that God is faithful and won’t abandon us; we’ve received this peace that spiritually immature Christians can’t understand. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phi 4:7) Suffice it to say, however, that just reading the word doesn’t make your armor stronger. One has to heed and obey its warnings, as the Psalm continues to point out. What’s the use in reading a self-help book if you don’t apply what you’ve learned, right? Applying God’s word to our lives is the key to maturing as a believer. It is the key for Christians to survive in this world that has obviously gone mad!

God stresses over and over in His word that we need to be IN the word and applying it to our lives! Obedience shows our love to God – it shows our gratefulness for our salvation! (1 Samuel 15:22) Your car manual explains how to change spark plugs. However, if you don’t apply that knowledge, your car won’t start. It’s the same as reading the bible and obeying what God commands. This also provides us with a spiritual Teflon garment where the mud of this world doesn’t stick to it. This world is not going to get any cleaner. We are living in the end times of 2 Timothy 3:1-7! Be encouraged, reader! If you’re weary, dive into the bible and let the Holy Spirit encourage your heart!

Dear God…
May I come to you each day
On you my heart will lean
Let me search until I find
How to keep my garments clean

My Hiding Place

By Kate Plourde

On August 28, 2024

In Devotionals

Psa 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psa 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

My father used to own a piece of land that was nestled in the woods in Northern Maine. On it was a ponded creek with a beaver’s dam, very much like this picture. He and I would sit for hours watching the beavers swimming to and from the dam doing their work. When their work was finished, Dad would go over the dam and remove one of the big branches. This would cause the current to go through and the beavers would sense it immediately. No more than just a minute or two later, you would see a head pop from near their lodge and off to work they would go to repair the damage. My father loved this hiding place and he would take me to it often. Out of all the memories I have of him, this one is the most special.

So many times I’ve wanted to run away to this place where I can hide from the day’s drama! Unfortunately, Dad sold the land to someone I don’t know – plus we live a thousand miles away. But the Lord showed me this morning that I did not need a physical hiding place because I had my time with Him. That hiding place can be anywhere and any time. I don’t even have to waste gas getting there!

Psa 119:151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.

As long as I am in my hiding place with the Lord, He will keep me from trouble. The Lord will bring such peace that He will surround me with songs of deliverance and escape from our cares, trials, tribulations, temptations, depression, anxiousness, sorrows, etc. God promises to give us song! It is not natural to sing when we are sad, is it? David says he was surrounded with songs of deliverance from God. Meditating in God’s Word surrounds us with the Lord’s goodness and mercy. All through Scriptures we are lifted up, comforted, given joy, given peace and comfort. We are also given instruction in how to move forward. How can we not have a song on our lips when we serve such a compassionate God!?

Notice also that the dam is a great representation of what we do with what God gives to us during our time in that hiding place. Do you take what God has given you and stand still like the water in the dam? Do you keep it to yourself? Or does God’s love and teaching trickle down to those you come in contact with throughout the day; like the flow of water after the branch is removed? God’s Word is constantly moving! Stagnant water smells and attracts unwanted critters. However, moving water is filled with life!

Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Where is your hiding place, my friend? Have you run to it today to discuss the cares of this world with your Shepherd? He awaits to guide you, comfort you and encourage you. All you have to do is show up. Then take what He gives you and share it forward!

So I retreat to that haven each morning
All my cares at His feet I do lay
I leave them with Him for He loves me
As I move along life’s narrow way.

My Refuge

By Kate Plourde

On August 26, 2024

In Devotionals

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psa 91:2)

How I love the Book of Psalms! I have to admit that this book is one of my favorites because it has brought me much comfort during trial and tribulation. It’s as though God knew His children would need uplifting and encouragement.

In today’s reading, I noticed that David began with stating “I will say of the LORD.” I believe David didn’t plan on keeping this information to himself; he was affirming that he was going to tell others about what God was doing for him. He was bragging on his Lord and was going to spread the joy. Do we brag on the Lord? Do we share the blessings God has bestowed upon us with those around us? It’s one thing to share a blessing during testimony time in church but it’s quite different to share what God has done for you with an unsaved person.

This is especially true when we are experiencing trials in our lives and the Lord has brought us through them. Sharing our experience with other believers serves to strengthen them in the Lord. Sharing our experience with the unsaved world shows them that we are sheltered and protected by our Heavenly Father and He sees us through difficult times. Speaking of God’s goodness is a testimony to others of His love and power.

David goes on to say that the Lord is his refuge and fortress. We all have a picture in our minds eye depicting what a refuge and fortress is. Oh my friend, doesn’t that just excite the spirit within you? Your Heavenly Father provides a refuge which shelters and protects you from danger, distress or calamity, and the enemy!

When I think of a refuge and fortress, I think of Christ’s teaching about building our house upon a rock. I believe David built his spiritual house upon this rock through his faith in his God. His rock was God. There are countless Scriptures which show God as the rock. One that I love is, For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? (2 Sam 22:32) David knew this rock intimately because he ran to this rock, his refuge and fortress, in time of need. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psa 61:2)

When I was first saved, I remember reading, And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Cor. 10:4) Christ is our Rock!! I noticed that the word rock was capitalized. So I did a word search in my e-Sword for the word rock to see if rock was capitalized anywhere else! At this point, I almost came unglued! Here are the verses for you! Be ready to be blessed as you see verses depicting our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deut. 32:4)

But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. (Deut. 32:15)

Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. (Deut. 32:18 )

How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? (Deut. 32:30)

For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. (Deut. 32:31)

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. (2 Sam. 23:3) (Christ speaking to the Father!!)

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Cor. 10:4)

A simple word search revealed that the word rock appears 119 times in 109 verses. Out of the 119 occurrences, it is capitalized seven times! Seven is God’s number for perfection! There is no other firm and solid place to go to in order to find refuge. Christ is our perfect gift and the Jews’ spotless Lamb and sacrifice. Christ is revealed throughout the Bible in total perfection! Rejoice, oh my soul! What lovely nuggets You have given to me this morning, Lord!! What better refuge and fortress can be provided than by the Rock of our salvation, the Lord, Jesus Christ!

Who wants a flimsy refuge in the midst of a storm? It would be like hiding under lean-to on the beach when a hurricane is coming through, right? No one wants that. However, we have no need to worry because God is our refuge and in the midst of any storm, we can safely hide in Him!

Dear God…
I never cease to be amazed
At the peace Your Word provides
I run to my Rock and refuge
In Your fortress there I hide

How to Be Born Again/Saved and Know It!

By Kate Plourde

On August 1, 2024

In Devotionals

Please read through the following Scriptures. This post is not “my opinion” but quotes directly from the Bible. They will walk you through God’s words to show you how you may be born again. If you sincerely desire to be saved, please take this seriously.

“As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, no, not one.’” (Romans 3:10)

There is no human being that is “righteous” – No one is without sin. Adam and Eve brought sin into this world and since then, every human being was born with a sin nature. You don’t have to train a child to sin – it is a natural thing.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Paul is showing us that the standard isn’t your neighbor or anyone else, but rather God Himself is who you need to compare yourself to. You can say, “Well, I’m not as bad as that person.” The standard is God’s holiness. And all of us fall short of that standard.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

So we have seen from the Bible that we are ALL sinners and all of us fall short of God’s glory, correct? The Apostle Paul explains that the “wages” (or payment) of our sin is “death.” This includes both physical death and spiritual death. When you die, your body goes into the ground but your soul goes into eternity (either Hell or Heaven), that is called spiritual death. This separates us from God and this separation is for all eternity for those who die in their lost and sinful state.

Paul doesn’t leave us with just the bad news. He says that there’s a gift: what gift? It is the “gift of God” and that gift is “eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

God didn’t send Christ to die for only good people. This verse says that “while we were yet sinners” Christ died for us! Paul says that God demonstrated or commended (gave) love to us even when we didn’t deserve it. Even when we were deep in sin, “Christ died for us.”

So what do you do with this information?

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

The bad news is we all fall short of God’s glory and we all face both physical and spiritual death because of it. The good news is that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us, and anyone who calls upon “the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

But friend, anyone can pray a prayer and think they are saved. But did that person repent of his sin?

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luk 13:3)

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Co 5:17)

Once you repent of your sins, it means that you will live your life according to God’s word. You won’t stop sinning altogether but you will be striving to be more Christ-like. The proof of repentance is revealed in your life and how you live it. If you claim to be a Christian but you are still a thief or you’re still habitually lying, you did not repent.

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” (Eph 4:28)

You can apply this to every sin – if you were a liar, lie no more. If you were an adulterer, stop! The Holy Spirit will teach you how to be more like Christ. You will be under conviction when you do sin. You will be remorseful and will repent from that sin. You won’t be sinless but you will sin less!

Please, if you have benefited from this page and have been born again, please leave me a comment and I will help you to grow in Christ Jesus.

Taking a Sabbatical

By Kate Plourde

On August 1, 2024

In Devotionals

I will not be posting for a while. Feel free to visit the Devotionals page as well as the Bible Studies page; there are a lot of topics to pick from! 😃

Any Day Now – Day 65

By Kate Plourde

On July 31, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

Do you believe God’s Word or don’t you? Is the Bible something you read when you have time or do you make time to read it? It is not called the Living Word for nothing. It’s pages are new every day that a believer reads them. The Bible never grows old, even though it is a book of history. The Bible gives us upcoming news because it is a book of prophecy! We are not left unarmed to face this world.

1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

It is because it is the Living Word that it never grows old. Its pages reveal something new to us every single day we read it. Jesus Christ, the Word of God, lives, reader! (John 1:1) His promises to return are still valid and will be fulfilled. But when?

Mat 24:3-33 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (4) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (6) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (7) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. ( 8 ) All these are the beginning of sorrows. (9) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. (10) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. (11) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (12) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (13) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (14) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (15) When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (16) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: (17) Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: (18) Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. (19) And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! (20) But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: (21) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (22) And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. (23) Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. (24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (25) Behold, I have told you before. (26) Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. (27) For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (28) For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. (29) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: (30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (32) Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: (33) So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

See also Luke 21:7-36 and Mark 13:5-37

Three of the four Gospels cover the events of the end times spoken by Jesus. Highlight these verses in your Bible and turn to them frequently to encourage yourself. We also have other books, like Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Revelation, etc. If you want to be encouraged, study them! You will be empowered knowing what is to come and you won’t be deceived. There are many deceivers out there. Many mock the pre-Tribulation Rapture view, as we have seen recently in the Tucker Carlson interview with John Rich. How very sad to watch as he criticized and misled Carlson! A few preachers called him out but will he even watch their messages? Reader, you cannot be deceived if you are in the Word and paying attention! There are many verses supporting the pre-Tribulation Rapture. But how can you defend the view if you are merely regurgitating what a pastor believes? You can’t! You must study the matter out for yourself. This blog is filled with this viewpoint. All you have to do is read the devotional series below and you will get some good teaching on the subject:

Friend, if you are not born again, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Don’t you want to be a part of the Church when she is raptured into the clouds to meet Jesus? (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!