Good Questions 3

Ge 3:9-13 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (11) And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? (12) And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. (13) And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

What Have you Done?

Sometimes we need to ask ourselves this question when we have gone astray. What have I done? When we think about it we will sometimes understand where we strayed and why we find ourselves in certain circumstances. We can then get back on the right path.

The question is also appropriate for the things we should do. Have I done that which is right? Have done all I can? Have I really given my best effort in serving Him?

Self examination is a great way to keep yourself on the right spiritual track. Don't wait until you stray so far that it becomes dangerous.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

Good Questions 2

Ge 3:9-13 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (11) And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? (12) And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. (13) And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Who Told You?

If your think about it they never thought about their nakedness until they sinned, before that they were innocent and being naked meant no more to them than it would a baby.

Adam listened to Eve who was deceived by the serpent and they lost their innocence and the Garden of Eden also. Many today are losing out because they are not listening to God.

God always wants what's best for you. He loves you with a greater love than you can imagine. Listen to Him. He will never guide you wrong.

People sin because they think they know more about what is right and wrong than God does. That is why so many today are going strictly against the word of God and trying to make the world accept it. Only the influence of evil will contradict what God says.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

Good Questions 1

Ge 3:9-13 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (11) And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? (12) And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. (13) And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Where Are you?

Adam had sinned and was hiding from God. We know that was foolish because God sees everything, yet sometimes we allow sin to enter into our lives and separate us from God. We find ourselves trying to hide from Him. Did you ever notice that when you are doing something you shouldn't be doing you don't want someone to mention God. It makes us uncomfortable. We would rather not think of Him.

The point is that whether we think of Him or not, He is thinking of us. Sometimes it is good just to ask ourselves where we really are in our daily walk with the Lord. We might be trying to hide and not even realize it.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FIRST THINGS FIRST 6

THE FIRST THING TO GIVE

2 Corinthians 8:5 And , not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

No matter what else we might have to offer, the first thing we have to Give God is ourselves. We must make a commitment to Jesus Christ by accepting Him as our Savior and then by making Him Lord over our lives and all that we have.

God deserves our very best and even our all. He can only take what you give Him and bless it. Once we Give Him our best then we can begin to give ourselves to others.

Too often we are satisfied to give God what is left. What is left of our finances, what is left of our time, what is left of our talents. If we are to truly receive the greatest blessings we must give to Him first and give him our best.

I hope you have enjoyed the series on First Things. Remember that sometimes the recipe of life doesn't come out right because we leave out the first steps.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FIRST THINGS FIRST 5

THE FIRST THING TO SEEK

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

We spend a lot of time trying to see that our daily needs, and daily wants (and those of the future) are taken care of. Our shelter, our food, our clothing are all things we spend a lot of times worrying about.

If we would spend our time seeking the Kingdom of God the attractions of this world wouldn't seem to matter as much. Someone once told me that they had a $150.00 pair of shoes. I told them there was no such thing as a pair of shoes worth $150.00 to me. A cheaper pair of shoes will do the same thing for me, therefore they are worth as much to me as the more expensive ones. Sometimes we place a much higher value on worldly things than they are really worth.

The Kingdom of God and His righteousness is something that is way more valuable than we seem to make it. God is the source of all else. He can provide for everything we need. It only makes sense that we seek Him instead of the trivial things the world has to offer.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

EVERYONE HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND DON'T FORGET WHAT IT IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.

FIRST THINGS FIRST 4

THE FIRST THING TO REMEMBER

Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; {24} Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

The place of worship should be a place of remembering and searching one's own heart. Who have I wronged? Who have I mistreated? Who have I ignored?

This does not say if we have anything against anyone else. It says if our brother has something against me I should try to reconcile with him. Sometimes others fail to forgive us even when we really want to make things right. This is not our fault. When we do not even acknowledge our wrongs and seek reconciliation then it is our fault.

Our prayer and worship can be hindered by the way we treat other people.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FIRST THINGS FIRST 3

THE FIRST THING TO WATCH

Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all,Beware ye of the [leaven of the Pharisees], which is hypocrisy.

Be yourself. God made you special and he made just one of you. I am amazed at the number of people who are always trying to be like someone else or to be what they think someone else wants them to be like. I hear so much about peer pressure being such a big problem when it is really hypocrisy that is the big problem.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be different. We should all strive to change for the better but putting on a false front is not the way to go about it. It is amazing that some people even try to act worse than they really are to impress people.

Be the best you can be but be what you are. God knows who you really are and what He sees is much more important than what others think about you.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FIRST THINGS FIRST 2

THE FIRST THING TO REMOVE

Matthew 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

In modern day language Jesus was saying, "How can you get a speck of sawdust out of your brother's eye if you have a two by four in your own eye."

I try very hard not to be judgemental because only I am aware of all the faults that I have and I feel a bit self conscious judging others. I don't mean that we are ever to be open minded toward sin or ungodly living but we should be careful how we judge others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The message here was on finding fault with others. Many times we can well see the smallest faults in others while we can't see the greatest ones in ourselves.

The only person that you can really change is yourself. Once you become who you should be then you will have a more positive influence on others. You can't change the way others behave but you can change the way you react to them. Make a conscious effort to become more positive. Sometimes the person that you would like to change is reacting to your attitude. It is kind of hard to fight unconditional love.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FIRST THINGS FIRST 1

THE FIRST THING TO DO
Matthew 23:26 blind Pharisee, cleanse first that within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Many times we worry more about the outward appearance than we do about the inward condition of our lives. Lately with some of the fashions, or lack of fashion, that I have seen I am beginning to wonder about that but it seems we worry more about embarrassing ourselves than offending God.

We would never dream of sending our children to school or church with dirty faces, hands, and shabby clothes and yet we have little concern with the things we allow them to put into their minds and hearts. Sometimes we are allowing things to come into our homes and into our children's and our lives that are just downright wrong.

I see people post scripture on the Internet and links to gospel songs in one post and then they are using profanity and talking about the alcohol they are drinking in their next post.

I once heard someone on TV say, "I may be a lowlife, but I look good." I'm afraid that there is a lot more of that going around than we want to think about. The only way we can really clean up the inside of our lives is by trusting Jesus and allowing Him to be our Lord and our Savior.

Many people try to live a good life but miss this important first step. That important first step is trusting Jesus.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

INTRODUCTION:
(I did a series on this a couple of years ago but I decided to revisit the subject)

Zig Ziglar tells a story about cooking a ham. He noticed that everyone in the family always cut the shank end of the ham off as the very first step in cooking the ham. When he asked his wife why she did that she told him that was what you were supposed to do to cook a ham. She explained that she had watched her mother cook hundreds of hams and she always cut the shank end off before she did anything else. Zig, being the curios type decided to ask his mother in law why. She explained that it was just what you did when you cooked a ham. She had seen her mother do it hundreds of times and that was the way to do it.
Zig wanted to get to the bottom of this so he called his mother's grandma and asked, "Why do you always cut the shank end of the ham off first thing before you start to cook it?"

"That's simple," she said, "My roasting pan is a little small and it won't fit if I don't cut off the shank end first."

Sometimes we do things in certain ways and we really don't understand why we do them that way. Sometimes the first step is not as important as we thought it was.

Sometimes the first step in anything is very important. The devotionals this week will be on First Things. I hope you enjoy them and get a blessing from them. While you are thinking about how things are going ask yourself if you are sometimes leaving out the most important steps in have a spirit filled walk with Jesus.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

PRAYER WARRIORS 4

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Make a special effort to have a prayer time or more than one prayer time. My wife and I start the day with prayer. This is not the only time that we but we have learned that it is the best way to start our day.

I am pleased when I hear of students who set aside a time to pray with their friends during school. There are even people who have prayer circles on their jobs and meet and have prayer together.
Having a special place and time to pray is a great asset to your prayer life.
It is also good to have a prayer partner or prayer partners. It is encouraging to have others to pray with and to know that they are also praying for us and us for them.

Make your prayer life a priority. Become a prayer warrior in your home, your church and in your community. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

PRAYER WARRIORS 3

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Make prayer a priority. Make it such a part of your life that you are aware that something is missing when you fail to pray.
My wife and I were about to eat at Subway the other day and as is our custom we bowed our heads and asked God's blessings on our food. We do this even when we eat out. We do not make a scene but we do quietly thank God for the food and ask His blessings upon it. In this instance a man came over and stuck out his hand and shook mine. "I just want to tell you how much I appreciate seeing you do that and what a good witness it is." he said. It gave us a chance to meet and fellowship with another Christian and even our conversation was a witness to anyone else who might have been watching. You never know when someone is watching you. It has actually happened to us on several occasions that someone would come up to us and comment.

Prayer before meals is not enough though. There are many opportunities for prayer. I realize that they are probably more for me because I am a preacher but if we talk of our faith the chances will come. We were in the doctor's office to get a checkup not long ago and the nurse and I usually joke and pick at each other. The conversation got around to our faith and the fact that I was a preacher. She asked me to pray for someone in her family. It would have been easy for me to just say "I certainly will." At that time I felt convicted by God to pray with her at that moment. She and my wife and I held hands and had prayer right there in the examination room. It was an opportunity for prayer and we were all blessed by it.

Be a prayer warrior. Take every opportunity to pray for and with others.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

PRAYER WARRIORS 2

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Remove the hindrances from your prayer life. We know that when we have sin in our lives it is important to confess that sin to God and get His forgiveness. When Paul exhorted us to "pray without ceasing" he did not mean we were to withdraw from society and spend all our time in meditation and prayer. He meant that we should remain in such a frame of mind that would allow a smooth transition into talking with our Heavenly Father without having to stop and change directions in our frame of mind.

There are many things that can hinder us. If we worry or are caught up in the cares of the world it is hard to make the transition into prayer. If we harbor a grudge or have anger or even a negative attitude it is hard to automatically begin to talk to God.

Even fatigue can effect our prayer life. Sometimes we wait until the end of the day to have our special prayer time and we will fall asleep before we have finished our prayers.

If you know of things in your life that hinder your prayer life you should make note of them... pray about them and work on removing them from your life. Prayer is too important to take a backseat to other aspects of your life.


Please feel free to contact me by email at
shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even
suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for
our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that
this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a
closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time
to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

PRAYER WARRIORS 1

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The Church today is in need of prayer warriors. This past week I have thought much about the power of prayer. As I sat in the waiting room of the children's hospital this week with a family whose daughter was undergoing surgery for a brain tumor I thought of how many people were praying for her. There were three pastors present during the surgery. A large portion of her family, all of them faithful in their churches, were there with them.

People were being constantly updated on her progress and condition by text message and I know that many (due to Facebook prayer chains) across the nation were praying for her and will continue to do so. This family has a long road ahead of them but they are strong, they have faith, and they have a support group of people who love them and will pray for them.

There was another family there whose pastor was with them. Their baby had been born premature and had weighed only 1 and 1/4 pounds when it was born. He had been in the hospital for most of his 6 month life and was having major heart surgery at the time. They had faith and they had peace and they also had a large number of people praying for "their miracle boy".

There were others there who I didn't have a chance to learn anything about but I am sure just the fact that they were there would mean that they need our prayers.

I know from experience that having people pray for you when you or a loved one is going through a serious illness is very important. Pay attention to the prayer lists from your church. When someone asks you to pray for them be sure to take it seriously. There is power in prayer. God still performs miracles.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

GOING AWAY SORROWFUL

Mt 19:21-22 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (22) But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Most of you are familiar with the story of the rich young ruler. Because of his wealth he was unwilling to forsake it all and follow Jesus. The sad thing is that he would have been leaving no more behind than those who did follow Jesus. They left it all.

The fishermen left their boats. Even the apostle Paul left a very promising future as a pharisee to follow Jesus for the rest of his life. It doesn't matter if you have much or little, all is all. There are many who will not even forsake their little pleasures to follow Jesus.

No matter what you choose to put over Jesus, if you turn away from Him and follow something else you, just like the rich young ruler will go away sad.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THERE IS WORK TO DO 4

Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. {19} Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: {20} Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I keep hearing about the failings of the church and how the church is falling away from her true mission. I hear how the church is losing her power. If that is the case then the church must refocus on Jesus and His message.

Maybe we are too focused on committees and programs and drives and all sorts of other ministries when we ought to make Jesus the central focus of the church and all it's activities. Jesus is the power within the church and there is no other. He has the power to preserve His church and He will preserve it until He comes back for it.

He gave us the message to spread and He will empower us to spread that message. He will get the results if we just spread the message.

The world seems to be going the wrong way but He has overcome the world and He has given us the power to overcome the world. We need to get on about His work and prepare for His coming again. We don't have time to stand here gazing.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THERE IS WORK TO DO 3

Ac 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10 ) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

WE HAVE AN UNCHANGING MESSAGE TO WORK WITH

It is not complicated. God made it simple enough that even a child would be able to understand it. Jesus came to pay our sin debt and He offers salvation to all who believe on Him.

We are all sinners. "All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God". "There is none righteous, no not one.". It is pretty plain that every man is a sinner. Sin separates us from God. Jesus cam to redeem us or purchase us back to God.

He is the Son of God. He is "the way, the truth, and the life"
There is no other name, no other person, no other method or way of salvation but through Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Salvation is in Him and in Him alone.

Many people are struggling and searching for something. They want something to believe in, something that will give them peace. What they must understand is that they are not looking for something, they are looking for someone and that someone is Jesus.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THERE IS WORK TO DO 2

Ac 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10 ) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

THERE WAS A TASK LEFT TO COMPLETE

While it is true that Jesus finished the work of redemption on the Cross and by rising from His tomb it was a message that has to be believed. To be believed it has to be shared. There were many then who did not know what had happened. There are still many today that have no idea about the redemption through Jesus Christ.

When the apostles did finally become empowered by the Holy Spirit they began to spread the word and it spread like wildfire with many souls being saved. We have the same power available to us today to spread the gospel by seeking the lost ourselves and witnessing to them, by supporting ministries that preach and teach the gospel, and by sending missionaries to areas where the gospel is needed.

We have the Holy Spirit within us and we have the power of prayer available to us. We need to be burdened for lost souls and be determined to reach them by whatever means possible. Why are we still standing here gazing when there are souls to be reached?

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THERE IS WORK TO DO 1

Ac 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10 ) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Jesus had just given them the great commission, their marching orders and then He ascended into Heaven.

They stood there gazing up to where He went and I am sure we would have been just as awestruck as they were. The stood in amazement. It was at this time the full impact of His message should have jarred them awake.

They gazed, I think probably in a daze and probably for some time at the sky long after Jesus was out of sight. It took the heavenly messengers speaking them to jar them into any kind of action again.

Today we too should be jarred into action by the impact of Jesus message because it is no less important some 2000 years later. Like the disciples we too often just stand gazing when we should be motivated to do the work that Jesus left us to do.

I want to talk about that work a little in the next few devotionals. I hope you receive a blessing and some inspiration from them.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN 5

THE WORK OF THE SAMARITAN IS THE WORK OF THE CHRISTIAN

Luke 10 33-35 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, (34) And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (35) And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

The work of the Samaritan was a work of compassion. We can never fully do the work of a Christian if we don't have compassion for those who are wounded by sin and robbed by Satan.

It was a work of healing. Just like the Samaritan bound up the wounds of the man on the road, we sometimes must help bind up the wounds of those in sin. They need care, and they need help. We sometimes have to help them heal.

It was a work of Sacrifice. The good Samaritan spent gave his time, his energy, and his money to help a man he didn't even know. He did all this with no thought of ever being repaid. The true work of a Christian will be not be compensated in this world, but in the next.

It was a work of commitment. The Samaritan was committed to the man's ongoing care. He knew that sometimes things take time.

He was a great example to all of us.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.



If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN 4

MANY TODAY ARE FALLING PREY TO SATAN
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a [roaring lion], walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

HE WAS BADLY WOUNDED

We are always wounded by sin. Even if we feel that we might be getting away with sin in our life we must remember that sin has a built in penalty. It always causes us harm.
Sometimes it will leave us as helpless as the man on the side of the road. There are many who are wounded by sin and can do nothing for themselves.
We need to remember that Christ was wounded that we might be healed.

Isaiah 53:5 But he wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace upon him; and with his [stripes] we are [healed].

Even though there is help and healing through Jesus Christ we must do as the Good Samaritan did and offer our help. Have you had the opportunity to be a Good Samaritan lately.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN 3

MANY TODAY ARE FALLING PREY TO SATAN
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a [roaring lion], walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

THE MAN WAS STRIPPED OF HIS RAIMENT

Satan does not just want to take your posessions and your valuables. He doesn't just want to leave you poor. He wants to leave you in embarrassing and humiliating situations.
I have often wondered about people who drink alcohol until they become completely out of their mind. I have heard them often talk about what a great time they had but when someone begins reminding them of things they did and said they would become embarrassed and would not want to hear or remember it. That doesn't sound like much fun does. Believe me... it isn't.
Satan will tempt you into sin which will strip you of your self respect. When you fail to respect yourself then you lose the respect of others as well.
Sin will strip you of your dignity. You will not want to look people in the eye. When you slip into the depths of sin you will feel as if people are looking at you and judging you when actually it is you who know you have been doing wrong.
Sin will strip a saved person of his testimony. I have known many Christian people who strayed from their walk with Jesus and ruined their testimony. We as Christians should forgive them and should do our best to bring them back into fellowship with the church and with the Lord. The world will not forget. If you don't believe that just look at the news of many preachers or Christians who have fallen into sin and see how the media and the public treats them.
Satan wants to strip you of your Godly raiment. He wants to leave you in that condition for the rest of the world to see.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN 2

MANY TODAY ARE FALLING PREY TO SATAN
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a [roaring lion], walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The man was robbed. Many today are being robbed of the abundant life because they are falling prey to Satan and his temptations. Satan makes sin attractive. If sin wasn't attractive then it wouldn't be tempting to sin. Satan paints a beautiful picture but whatever he has to offer always leaves his victims spiritually bruised and bleeding.
No one ever decides in grade school that they want to be a homeless drunkard, a drug addict or wasted away from immoral living.
They start out taking small steps toward of a destructive life. No man who refused the first drink ever became an alcoholic. A man who treasures his life and the life of others would never become a murderer.
It is the small steps that Satan gets you to take. It is much like the prodigal son who left his father's house. He could have turned around at any point and gone home but he waited until he had reached rock bottom before he came to himself.
If you really want to be a Good Samaritan you might try to keep someone from taking another destructive step. Talk to them, let them know you care. The most important thing you can do is offer them hope and that hope comes from trusting Jesus Christ.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN 1

Lu 10:30-37 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. (31) And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. (33) But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, (34) And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (35) And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. (36) Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? (37) And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

INTRODUCTION:
A Sunday school teacher was teaching a class of second graders about the Good Samaritan. She asked the class what they would do if they saw a man lying beside the road bruised and bleeding from being robbed and beaten.
One of the girls raised her hand and honestly answered "I'd probably throw up."

We might find that story humorous but there are many of us who say we are getting sick of the damage that Satan is doing in the lives of people but that is really all we do...We get sick of it but do nothing.
In the next few devotionals I want to discuss the story of the Good Samaritan. I hope you receive a blessing from these devotionals.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

WHY DO YOU CALL ME LORD? 4

Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which

I say?

THERE ARE THOSE WHO BOTH CALL HIM LORD AND DO THE

THINGS HE SAYS

The last group I want to discuss is the group that I hope you are in. I

sincerely hope that you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. There is

no other way to be accepted by God but through His Son Jesus. We

can not ever live a life of perfection, we can never do enough works,

give enough or sacrifice enough to be saved any other way than

through the grace of God and by accepting the sacrifice that was

made by His Son Jesus.

Once we accept Him as Savior we must make Him Lord over all of our

lives. He is always right. He is always Just. There is no room for

disagreement when it comes to His teachings.

If the people claiming the name of Christians would just crucify their

flesh and selfish desires and follow the leadership of His Holy Spirit we

would see a great revival. It would start in individual lives, fill the

churches, envelope the communities and sweep like wildfire

throughout all of this Nation.

Do both. Call Him Lord and do the things He says.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even

suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for

our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this

devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer

relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read

these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

No Devotional today.

Spend the day giving thanks to God for all His blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving!

WHY DO YOU CALL ME LORD? 3

Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

SOME DO NOT CALL HIM LORD BUT STILL TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS
Mat 21:28 -31 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. (29) He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. (30) And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. (31) Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

This verse has always confused me a little I confess. As I think about it and meditate on it though it is no more confusing than to see people who reject Jesus as Lord but still try to do that which is morally right.

In the second of these devotionals we discussed those that call Jesus Lord but do not follow His teachings and obey His commandments. Here we find just the opposite, those who do not call him Lord but try to live morally and upright lives. As I have studied and meditated on this I have come to an opinion. Both groups are lost. The second group does have a better life because all of Jesus commandments are for our benefit.

It is hard enough to live right and do the right things when we are doing them in obedience to Jesus and trying to follow Him. It would be very difficult to try to do them on our own.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

WHY DO YOU CALL ME LORD? 2

Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

SOME CALL JESUS LORD BUT DON'T DO THE THINGS HE SAYS

Matthew 7:21-22) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. {22} Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

I think I can better understand someone who does not accept the fact that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords better than I can understand the people who acknowledge that fact but still live their lives as if Jesus were not Lord.

Many have a knowledge of Jesus in their heads but have never had a personal relationship with Him. They know of Him but they really don't know Him.

In truth, none of us can live perfect lives. Our perfect spirit is still clothed in this imperfect flesh. Even the apostle Paul admitted to having internal struggles. There is a war going on within each of us as the spirit wars against the flesh.

When we acknowledge Jesus is Lord and still fail to try and yield to Him and follow Him we are being deliberately rebellious against one whom we agree has complete authority over us.

It kind of boggles the mind when you think about it doesn't it. If He is Lord, shouldn't he be obeyed?

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

WHY DO YOU CALL ME LORD? 1

Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

INTRODUCTION:
There are many today who neither call Jesus Lord nor do the they do the things He says. They live their lives in search of something to make them happy or satisfy them.

It is sad but the only time many people use the name of the Lord is when they use it in vain or in some term of derision. They make fun of those of us who do claim Jesus as our Lord and our Savior, never looking close enough to realize that we are not the angry and bitter ones but they are.

There are several different categories of people who do not call Jesus Lord. There are those who do not believe in God at all. There are those who believe in a god but not in the Living God of the Bible. There are those who believe parts of the Bible but do not believe that Jesus is the Son of the Living God.

They all have two things in common. The first is that they are lost and their only hope is in trusting Jesus as their Lord. The second thing is that some day they will bow before him and acknowledge his Lordship.

Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (12)So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

KING OF KINGS 5

1 Timothy 6:15) Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

HIS KINGDOM IS EVERLASTING

Other kings die and someone else has to step in and take their place. Jesus died but He rose again. He overcame death never to die again and now He will reign eternally.

Other kings can be overthrown or defeated. Jesus can never be overthrown and will always be victorious. His reign is eternal.

Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of lords. Isn't it wonderful to know that no matter how much political turmoil and how much unrest there is in this world that we have a King who will be our King forever.

Is Jesus your King? Is He your Lord. If you want to know more about being a child of the king please let me know.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

KING OF KINGS 4

1 Timothy 6:15) Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

JESUS IS WORTHY TO BE KING

HE IS WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE

We should sing praises to Him because he is worthy of our praise. We should praise Him in our speech and in our prayers because He is worthy of our praise.
We should praise Him by our very actions because He is worthy.

HE IS WORTHY OF OUR OBEDIENCE
If we call Him Lord we should obey Him. Many leaders in our world are not worthy to be obeyed because some of their laws and some of their actions are cruel and unjust. Jesus is righteous. He is just and thankfully He is merciful. He is worthy of our obedience to His every command.

HE IS WORTHY OF OUR SERVICE

He gave His life as a ransom for us. We belong to Him and we should offer ourselves as a living sacrifice which is our reasonable service. What is reasonable? To give him our best and our all.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

KING OF KINGS 3

1 Timothy 6:15) Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

JESUS IS WORTHY TO BE KING

He is worthy of our worship.
The best definition I have ever heard of worship is an overflowing adoration. I am afraid that many times we can go to a so called worship service and never take the time to really worship.

I might ruffle a few feathers with this comment but I remember when song leaders were called song leaders. Now they are called worship leaders. I do believe we should worship during the song service in church. I also believe we could just as easily give the title to our ushers who take up the offering because I believe that giving should also be an act of worship. I certainly believe that the one who is preaching whether it is a pastor or an evangelist should be considered a worship leader. The purpose of the preacher is not to lead you to listen to Him but to direct your focus on God so that you might worship Him.

If you are leading in prayer you too should be a worship leader.

Every act, and every ministry should be directed by a worship leader whose primary purpose is to present Jesus in such a way as to make Him real to you. When He is real to you, you can not help but to worship Him.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

KING OF KINGS 2

1 Timothy 6:15) Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

THE POSITION OF KING

Usually someone dies or retires and their son then becomes king. In the instance of the King of Kings, He died for our sins and paid our sin debt on Calvary. He then overcame death and rose up again and His Father made Him King for eternity.

Satan has tried to usurp the position of the King of Kings since the very beginning. He wanted to rise above God and sit as a ruler over all things. He is still trying to sit as king on the throne of people's lives. Once we accept Jesus as our Savior, He comes in and sits on the throne of our hearts and exiles Satan forever.

It is a position that Jesus desires. It is a position that Jesus deserves.
Why not allow Him to be your King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

KING OF KINGS 1

1 Timothy 6:15) Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

INTRODUCTION
There are many kinds of rulers. There are those that are elected by the people such as prime ministers and presidents. There are those who come to power through conquest such as emperors and dictators.

A king is someone who comes into power by inheritance and by a position usually passed down to him by his father.

I must admit that I do my fair share of complaining about our government, yet I also realize that we probably have the best system of government in the world today. We have a voice and we have a vote and sadly we do not always make the most intelligent choices.

When I see people living under the iron hand of some of the rulers throughout the world I do feel a lot better about the government we have here in the United States. I might not always agree with our leaders and I might not like many of the things they do but we do have certain freedoms that many in other nations do not have.

When it comes to true rule and dominion though I really have only one King and that is Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
One can be a part of that Kingdom regardless of his geographical location or what kind of politics his country might practice.

In the next few devotionals I want to talk about my King. The King of Kings.
Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

BUSINESS AS USUAL 2

John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

LEADERS MUST LEAD

Peter was a leader. The rest of the disciples looked up to him. Sometimes leadership is thrust upon people and they become leaders whether they want to or not. I think this was probably more or less the situation with Peter.

I have noticed that when people in leadership positions lose their zeal and enthusiasm that others will follow. Leadership carries with it a great responsibility. When a person is in a position of leadership it is
also a position of responsibility. He is not only responsible for himself but for those he is supposed to be leading.

If you are in a position of leadership always lead toward Jesus and His ministry and never away from it. Our country has been greatly blessed throughout History because our founding fathers also followed Jesus. We are moving farther and farther away from that as a Nation and we are moving farther and farther from God's blessings.

Pray for our leaders. Pray for our Nation. We certainly don't need to go backward but we need to move closer to Jesus.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

BUSINESS AS USUAL

John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

Isn't it amazing? They had left their boats and their nets and gave up fishing to follow Jesus during His ministry. They had seen all the miracles He had performed and had heard all the wonderful things He had said.

It is understandable that they had been discouraged when Jesus was crucified. The puzzling thing here is that they had just found out that He had risen. He had overcome the greatest obstacle of all, death. It would seem that His disciples would be energized to spread the message. Instead they were ready to go back to their old way of life.

Sometimes we are about like that too. We will have a great revival or a spiritual blessing in our life and all too quickly we are ready to go back to business as usual instead of going forward with the true business that Jesus would have us to do.

We need to grasp the moment and go forward, not backward when we have a great blessing in our life.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

LIFECHANGING EXPERIENCES 3

John 21:18-19 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. (19) This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

I can identify with not always being able to go where you want to go. Sometimes God will send you to places that you really don't wan to go to. The Lord has truly blessed me in the churches he has allowed me to pastor. I have always been treated well by (most of) the people and have left behind dear friends that I will always cherish.

Some of those places were places that I was very reluctant to go to. Only after much prayer and self examination did I give in to go there. I believe that God used me wherever I went and it was always such a great blessing to be there and it was always hard to leave them behind.

If my health had not caused me to have to leave the full time ministry I like to think I would still be at the last church I pastored because I had a great 91/2 years ministry there. I still see many of the people and consider them as family. It would have been hard to leave if I had been healthy enough to continue there.

My health was a life changing experience that allowed me to meet new people in a new church in a changed capacity. Now I have a new family that I also dearly love.

Sometimes we are not sure how an experience will change our lives but if we will strive to follow the leadership of God it will certainly be a blessing to us and to others.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

LIFECHANGING EXPERIENCES 2

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

In the early church their lives were truly changed when they were saved and united with the church. They continued in the apostles doctrine meaning they were hungry for the truth and followed it. They had such great fellowship that they had all things common.

They were not bound or governed by their possessions or by their positions. It seems like today people are so actively pursuing position and possessions that they are forgetting the things that are really important.

I am not going to be like some people and tell you to get rid of all your stuff. Maybe because I like my stuff too, but there is a difference in having stuff and liking stuff and letting your stuff rule your life. I have nothing but my family that would be a great loss if it were gone. I have a lot of trinkets and junk that I would miss but it would not ruin my life if it were to suddenly disappear.

The one thing that we can not live a fulfilling life without is Jesus and our relationship with Him. Thankfully no one can ever take that away from us. If we really think about it stuff is not all that important.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

LIFECHANGING EXPERIENCES 1

(Galations 6:15) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

I can remember a lot of life changing experiences. When I was married almost 40 years ago that brought about a dramatic change in my life. I no longer just had to be concerned with how things concerned me but what kind of effect it would have on my wife too. In those early days that was a big adjustment.

Later on when our children were born it really changed our lives. We were responsible for "training them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." We had an example to set and the best way to set that example is to follow Jesus.

There have been other experiences that changed my life. The greatest two were when I was saved at the age of 16 and when I had a great revival in my late twenties. I am sure that many people who knew me when I was younger would not even recognize who I am now. No, I don't mean because of the thinning gray hair and the wrinkles. It is because what mattered to me then is not what matters to me now.

A right relationship with Jesus will change your life. If you are not satisfied with the direction your life is going try following Jesus.



Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE LOVE OF GOD 5

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

GOD HAS EXHIBITED HIS LOVE
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Many religions have all sorts of secrets and rituals that one must go through before they have a promise of seeing God. Sometimes I see people out going door to door and I think, it would be nice if Bible believing Christians would work that hard. The difference is that those people are trying to work their way into something and we know that salvation is by Grace.
I am not saying that we should not do good works. We should work just as hard because we are thankful for our salvation.
God has not kept his love a secret from us. He revealed it through the Old and New Testaments and it has been kept vibrant and alive by His church ever since. He has revealed and exhibited His love toward us and we are to exhibit and reveal His love to a world that needs it badly.

Share the love of God with someone this week by telling them about Jesus and His salvation.



Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail@.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE LOVE OF GOD 5

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

GOD'S LOVE IS NEEDED BY THE WORLD
1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

We can't pick up the paper without reading of a murder, a suicide or a drug overdose. We see people who have accumulated fame, fortune and power but they never seem to be satisfied. It is true the world is truly going astray.
It seems that every culture and lifestyle in the world is being pushed, tolerated and promoted except the only one that can change lives for the better. The world needs Jesus.
Jesus is the only one who can fill the empty void in so many that are searching. I am not talking about some mythological Jesus that people have created in their minds but they need the real Jesus. The Jesus of the Bible. The Christ, the Son of the Living God.
God's love is needed by the world today and anyone who will believe and accept Jesus can receive that everlasting love.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail@.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE LOVE OF GOD 4

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

GOD'S LOVE IS EVERLASTING
Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, , Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Long lasting love is kind of remarkable this day and age. My wife and I are in our 40th year of marriage and I can not remember us not being a couple. There was a time before I met her because we didn't meet until I was 20 years old. I can't imagine not having her in my life. It is a wonderful love that will last until we both die.
There is a love even stronger than that. Jesus loved me before I was even born and He loves me enough that I will never be separated from Him. His love is eternal and everlasting. Nothing can
separate us from His love.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
(39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Doesn't it make you just want to shout that there is nothing that can separate us from the everlasting love of God.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail@.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE LOVE OF GOD 3

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

GOD'S LOVE IS UNFAILING
Proverbs 18:24 A man friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend sticketh closer than a brother.

Friends are important to all of us. There are all kinds of friends. We have close friends, casual friends, old friends, new friends, and these days even facebook friends. I was talking to someone who was upset because someone they barely knew unfriended them on facebook and they had no idea why. I suppose we all have trouble understanding why someone would not want to be a friend.
The scripture above gives us a hint about how to win friends and influence people. We need to befriend others. Even if at first they don't reciprocate they will usually come around if we persist and if they don't, someone else will see our friendly attitudes and want to become our friends.
One thing is for certain, Jesus is a friend that will never unfriend you. When all others seem to desert you, He will be there for you. He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. God's love is unfailing.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail@.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE LOVE OF GOD 2

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

GOD'S LOVE IS UNCHANGEABLE
Malachi 3:6 For I the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

During the last presidential election both candidates ran on the platform of change. We have other elections coming up and it seems that everyone is wanting change. I hope they realize that all change isn't good. Things have definitely changed over the years.
While I was doing some cleaning this week I ran up on an old magazine that was about even older times. There were some great stories of how things used to be in the old days. Those were certainly simpler times. I'm not sure all the changes we've seen since then have all been so good.
Our relationships change, even with our children as they grow up and get more independent. We might change jobs, houses,
locations and yes it seems that some people even change spouses.
The courts are continuously trying to change our laws. Change. Sometimes I just want to say "you can keep the change."
I am so thankful that one thing never changes. The love of God is always there and that never changes. His Word, His Law, His Grace, and His Love are always the same.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail@.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE LOVE OF GOD 1

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

GOD'S LOVE IS ALL INCLUSIVE
One of the things we need to realize is that God's love is all inclusive. God does not only love those that love Him, He loves all of the world. It is hard for us to realize sometimes that His love extends to those who despise Him and reject His Son but it is true. Jesus died for the whole world. He died for everyone who has ever lived or who will live.
That does not mean that all will be saved. Jesus died for the whole world but there is a condition to salvation. A person must believe that He is the only begotten Son of God and accept Him as their savior.
Salvation is offered to men by God's grace. That means that though none of us deserves salvation God provided it to all who will believe. I love the song, "Whosoever surely meaneth me." I know that God's love is a gift to me and all others who will believe.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCES 7

THE MOUNTAIN OF COMMISSION
Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.


JESUS GAVE THEM THE GREAT COMMISSION
Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

This was not a mountain top suggestion but a commission to all believers.
We are to spread the gospel at home, in our communities, in our towns, in our country, and all over the world. It is a wonderful thing to support foreign missions but don't forget that we have mission work to do at home.
We have family members, co-workers, neighbors and friends who don't know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
That commission is for all of us and believe me, when we are successful at winning some lost soul to the Lord then it is the greatest mountain top experience that you will know in this life.

I hope you have many mountain top experiences as we all wait together for the Lord to come and take us home.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCES 6

THE MOUNT OF AGONY
Matthew 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

It was there that Jesus agonized over the sins of the world. Sin He had never experienced but that He would have to bear for all mankind. Sin so foreign to Him and so despised by Him because of it's destructiveness yet, He knew he would have to suffer the penalty for everyone of those sins.

When Jesus hung on that cross He died a death for every person that has ever been born. He suffered the agony and shame for every sin that has ever been committed. While He was contemplating this His agony was greater still for those who needed Him. He agonized over the souls of all mankind.

When is the last time you were really burdened for lost souls? Have you agonized over someone who you believed was lost lately? Sometimes we need to go to the mountain top of agony because it is imperative that we do what we can to rescue the perishing.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

NO HAIRCUT PLEASE

Sometimes you never know what message a child will get from a lesson you are trying to teach.

WHO ARE THEY?

It is not only the children who have misconceptions about the Bible. That is why it is important for us to study it for ourselves.

MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCES 5

THE MOUNTAIN OF SERVICE
Matthew 15:29-31And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. {30} And great multitudes came unto him, having with them lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: {31} Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus came down from Glory to be an example to the rest of us. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords did not come the first time to be a ruler or to be ministered to. He came to set the example of service. He was a servant to all mankind.

Maybe we can't perform the miracles that He did but we can use the talents and gifts that God has given us. Though I can't heal the lame I can offer him a hand and help him in some way. I can't give sight to the blind but I can take him by the hand and lead him or sit and read to him from the Bible or some other good book. I can't give the dumb the ability to speak, but I can let him know I care what he thinks. I can't repair the maimed, but I can treat them like a whole person and help them to have dignity and self esteem.

Yes, there are many things I can't do. There are many things that I could do if I would. When I do these things nothing can match the mountain top experience that I have.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCES 4

THE MOUNTAIN OF PRAYER
Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

If Jesus thought it was important to pray. Don't you think it is important for us to pray.

I am not suggesting that you never pray. Most of us have special prayer times. We pray at mealtime, we pray before we go to sleep at night. Some even pray each day to start their day. We pray when we have problems or when someone we know is sick.

There is nothing wrong with having special times of prayer on a regular basis. There is something very special though about having a burden, or just an overwhelming feeling that you need to spend some time alone with God. The times when you go into a private place and pour your heart out to God.

It is those times you feel and know His presence even as Moses knew it when He was called on that mountain top. The more often you have these types of prayer meetings just between you and our Heavenly Father, the more mountain top experiences you have in prayer.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCES 3

THE MOUNTAIN OF INSTRUCTION
Matthew 5:1-2 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: {2} And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

A lot of people want to have other mountain top experiences without ever going to the mountain top of instruction. If we are really going to experience the blessings we want from God we have to start by learning about Him. After we learn about Him we need to get to know Him.

To many people today know a little something about God without ever really getting into the Bible. It is only in the Bible that we can really get to know God on a personal level.

It is there we learn that God never withholds His best from us and He always forbids that which is harmful to us. When we study and get to know Him we come to the understanding that He is our Heavenly Father and we are His children who should be obedient to Him.

Go to the mountain top of learning. Study God's Word, the Bible and get to know Him on a more personal level. Your mountain top experiences will then come more often and be filled with more joy than you can imagine.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.