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.

MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCES 2

THE MOUNTAIN OF TRIAL
Matthew 4:8-9 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; (9) And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

When we think of a mountain top experience we certainly don't think of being tried and tested but that is exactly what Jesus experienced on the top of this mountain. Jesus was tempted in every way that we are ever tempted, yet He never gave in to that temptation and He never sinned. His mountain top experience was a strong lesson to all believers.

Satan showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. Satan offered them to Him if He would bow down and worship him. Jesus refused, knowing that what God has to offer is what is best for us. Satan will offer us many things but we know that he is a liar and the father of all lies. It is strange how many people fall for the lies and follow Satan to a destructive end because the path seems easier than following God.

Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and someday all the kingdoms will bow down before Him. It will be in God's time and it will be God's will.

At some time or another you will be tried and tested. Remember that the easiest path is not always the right path to take. God's way is not just the best way, it is the only way that works. Sometimes the mountain top of trial helps to prepare us for greater things in the future. Rejoice also in this mountain top experience.

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 1

Exodus 3:11-12 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? (12) And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

INTRODUCTION:
When we as Christians speak of mountain top experiences I know we are usually thinking of times like these when God called Moses and placed him in that special role of leadership.

If we really study our Bibles we will find that everything that happened on the mountain top was not always something to jump for joy about. Sometimes there were some hard lessons learned on those mountain tops.

I want to discuss some of those experiences in the next few devotionals. I hope you receive a blessing from them and maybe you will have a mountain top experience.

By the way, Moses wasn't real thrilled with the job God gave him during this mountain top meeting. I, for one, am sure glad Moses didn't rebel but did what God wanted him to.


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.

SILENCE IN CHURCH

Be careful what you do. The kids are watching you.

A JOYFUL NOISE?

Kids can sometimes be brutally honest when it comes to their opinion of talent. You really don't have to have that much talent though to make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

HEAVENLY PLACES 4

Ephesians 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

YOU CAN SIT IN HEAVENLY PLACES NOW!

Isn't it wonderful that you don't have to wait until you die to sit in Heavenly places. We can go boldly before God's throne of grace in prayer and it helps us to realize that we are always in God's presence. We can open the Bible and study God's words to man and realize that God is never silent but always has a word of love and advice to us.

We can meet with others and pour our hearts out to God in a worship service and it should be a little bit of Heaven on Earth. If you are saved you are already living eternal life. Enjoy the blessings of having a close intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and other Christians each day.

If you are not saved please send me a message or an email and let me tell you what the Bible says about eternal life and how it is offered as a Gift to all who will believe on Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.


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.

HEAVENLY PLACES 4

Ephesians 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

A HEAVENLY PLACE IS A PLACE OF FELLOWSHIP

He hath raised us up together. While we can worship and become close to God alone we truly need to have fellowship with other Christians. We need to have others to serve and minister too as well has have others around us to support us and to gain strength from.

Many times I have been struggling with something in my life and honestly sometimes not doing very well with it and then someone would help me with my burden. I could not count the times when going through difficulty that praying with someone or sometimes just an encouraging word from someone would seem to take the burden of the world off my shoulders.

When we talk of church fellowships today we often think of a meal but there is a much stronger and meaningful fellowship. It is knowing we have an eternal relationship with God and with one another and that we are all in this together.

When you are seeking to sit in Heavenly places it is so much nicer not to have to sit alone. Share the experience with your brothers and sisters in 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.

HEAVENLY PLACES 3

Ephesians 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

A WORSHIP SERVICE IS A HEAVENLY PLACE

Do you really listen to the words in the songs you sing in church? There are some great messages there and most of the songs we sing can be used with a scripture reference. If it can't then maybe we shouldn't be singing it.

From the very early years of childhood we learn much about God through songs. "Jesus loves me this I know.. For the Bible tells me so"
Uh huh... you want to sing along don't you. Go ahead and if someone ask you what you are doing just look at them and smile and say, "I just decided that I want to sit in Heavenly places today."

Singing is only a part of worship. We should worship during prayer, the offering and yes even during the message. The best definition I have ever heard for worship is... an overflowing adoration. When our hearts are overflowing with love for God then we are worshiping. When we truly worship that is sitting in heavenly places.

When you complain about church services just remember that is a whole lot of what Heaven will be like. Church is just the rehearsal. Of course we will be changed and made perfect and we will surely enjoy it more in our new bodies.

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.

HEAVENLY PLACES 2

Ephesians 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

A HEAVENLY PLACE IS A PLACE FOR THE SAVED

"He hath quickened us..." In more modern terms He has made us alive. We were dead in sin and in bondage to it. He has made us free from it's penalty and He wants to protect us from it's power. When we are truly in Heaven we will be free even from it's presence.

I wonder often why people think it is effective to invite lost people to church. Church is a foreign atmosphere to the Lost. They don't understand Who we are praising. They don't understand why we are singing. They don't understand what all of the preaching and excitement is about. They are dead to the surroundings around them and there is nothing really going on to appeal to a lost person. I know you are wondering why a preacher would be saying this. I am saying it because I believe it to be true. The great commission is not the field of dreams. We build big buildings and organizations and "...they will come." We are commanded to go out and get them. That means winning them to Christ and then bringing them to the Church. Once we do that the Holy Spirit will teach them about what we are doing.

We are alive and we seek Fellowship with others who are alive and with the Giver of Life Himself. Don't be surprised if you invite the lost to church and they don't come. The first thing you need to do is tell them how they might have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. He will raise them up to sit in the Heavenly places.

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.

HEAVENLY PLACES 1

Ephesians 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

ARE YOU SITTING IN HEAVENLY PLACES

Sometimes we realize that we are sitting in the wrong place and the best thing to do is to just get up and move. Sometimes my wife and I will stop by McDonald's for breakfast or sometimes just coffee. In Kosciusko in the morning you had better beat the crowd or you won't get a good seat. I really don't like it when we have to sit on the East side of the building by the big windows and the sun comes in and nearly blinds you. If another table opens up that is not in the bright sunlight we will get up and move to a better seat. The same is true in many instances. Making the whole experience better can just involve getting up and moving.

Maybe you are sitting in a worldly place and things aren't exactly going the way you would prefer. Maybe you look at the person with a stronger prayer life or deeper devotional life and think, I would like to be where they are.

God intended His best for you. He wants you to have His richest blessings, His greatest gifts, the strongest faith, the sweetest fellowship. Are you content to sit where you are or would you rather get up and move so that you might sit in Heavenly places and enjoy His blessings.

I want to discuss some Heavenly Places in the next few devotionals. I hope you will receive a blessing from this study.


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.

WHEN I SEE THE CROSS

Officer Peter O'Hanlon was patrolling on night duty in
northern England some years ago when he heard a quivering sob.
Turning in the direction that it came from, he saw in the shadows
a little boy sitting on a doorstep. With tears rolling down his
cheeks, the child whimpered, "I'm lost. Take me home." The
policeman began naming street after street, trying to help him
remember where he lived. When that failed, he repeated the names
of the shops and hotels in the area, but all without success.
Then he remembered that in the center of the city was a well-
known church with a large white cross towering high above the
surrounding landscape. He pointed to it and said, "Do you live
anywhere near that?" The boy's face immediately brightened.
"Yes, take me to the cross. I can find my way home from there!"
COPIED

That is the only way to find our way home. We must first go to the cross.

IT WAS ALL HIS FAULT

Just like Annabelle we sometimes want to blame others for things that are our own fault.

FEEDING THE MULTITUDE 5

Mark 6:41-42 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. (42) And they did all eat, and were filled.

AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY
We must remember that God not only owns the "cattle of a thousand hills", He owns the hills themselves. God's supply is always sufficient to take care of any and every need.
Jesus took what they had and made it be enough. There is a great lesson in that. Sometimes we think what we have to give or what we can do for God is not very much.
In our own hands sometimes what we have is very little. In God's hands what we have is a miracle.
God never shortchanges us. God never runs out of blessings. God never says sorry, I just can't do it. He takes what we give Him and uses it to bless others.
God really doesn't just want us to give Him our best. He wants us to give Him our all, no matter how little we think that is.
Just as the multitude was fed without any one going hungry God's grace is sufficient for all who hunger after righteousness. That righteousness can only be found in Christ. Are you ready to share what you have to help feed the hungry multitude. Let God take it and bless 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.

FEEDING THE MULTITUDE 4

Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
DIVINE COMPASSION FED THE MULTITUDES

It was divine compassion that moved Jesus to begin to teach the crowd in the first place. He and the disciples had actually gone away from crowds to find a place to rest but the crowd rushed ahead of them and were waiting.
Knowing their hearts Jesus knew they were looking for direction. They were searching for truth and He was willing to share it with them. The same divine compassion was his reason for wanting to feed them physically as well.
Sometimes we forget that God can take care of physical needs as well as spiritual needs. Sometimes we fail to ask God for the very things in life that we need to sustain that life. Do we forget that Jesus is compassionate?
Not only is Jesus compassionate and wants to meet the needs of others, we who follow Him should want to follow His example of compassion. When have you shown compassion on someone lately and helped to meet their need?
When we call Jesus our Lord we should have the same divine compassion for others that He demonstrated when He fed the multitude.

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.

FEEDING THE MULTITUDE 3

Mark 6:35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
IT WAS A DESERT PLACE
They were in a desert place where there was no water and no food to be bought. It was a place that could barely sustain the life of a few, much less the lives of the multitudes.
The world is quickly becoming like a desert place. People are perishing because of the lack of the "Living Water."
I remember as a child growing up we had a cistern. That cistern would catch the water that ran off the roof...with all the dirt, debris and other stuff that was washed down with it and there was only a screen strainer to keep the trash out. We drank water from that cistern. As I look back on that in kind of makes me cringe a little. We are too often like the cisterns. We have a little spiritual water in our lives but too often it is just what we catch from others, along with all the trash and debris that comes with it.
There are springs that come from beneath the sand in the desert and they are known as an Oasis. Jesus said that we should have the springs of living water within us. I like to think that each of us as Christians should be so overflowing with the love of Jesus Christ that there would be plenty of water to share in this desert world with anyone who had a spiritual thirst.
Are you a cistern or an oasis. The world is a desert place with many people who are literally thirsting after righteousness.

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.

FEEDING THE MULTITUDE 2

Mark 6:36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
THEY WERE A HUNGRY CROWD

Even the disciples knew that they were hungry and needed to eat. Their solution was to send them away to fend for themselves. We look out on a world that is spiritually famished and our first reaction is like that of the disciples. It is not my problem. Let them go find help for themselves.
People without Christ in their lives have an emptiness that they are trying to fill. They may try to fill it by becoming involved in all sorts of things, many times sinful things but they find that it is never enough. Just this past week a young actress that I will not name was back in the news. She was on probation and she failed a drug test and was taken back to jail.
You would think that money, fame and popularity would go a long way in filling the emptiness inside someone but it is all too often we hear of them being engaged in all sorts of destructive behavior. I personally believe they are trying to fill the spiritual emptiness inside them with things that can never satisfy. What they really need is the Bread of Life.. Jesus Christ.
The world is hungry. Don't send them away. Share what you already have with them and they will be miraculously filled. What you have is a personal relationship with Jesus. If you don't have that relationship please write to me and let me tell you how he can meet that need you have in 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.

FEEDING THE MULTITUDE 1

Mark 6:34-42 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. (35) And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: (36) Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. (37) He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? (38) He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. (39) And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. (40) And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. (41) And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. (42) And they did all eat, and were filled.

INTRODUCTION:
Because of the lengthy scripture reference today I will be brief with the introduction. Just as the multitudes were weak from physical hunger in this passage of scripture I believe today that the multitudes are spiritually weak from spiritual hunger. Just as it took Jesus and a miracle to feed them then, it will take Jesus and a miracle to feed them today. I hope you will receive a blessing from this series of devotionals over the next few days.

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.

CONFESS YOUR SINS

Annabelle is a whole lot like a lot of other people. It is always a lot easier to confess someone elses sins than to confess our own.

NOT GUILTY!

Did you ever notice when we ask some people a question they think we are accusing them of something. Sadly there are a lot of adults who know so little about the Bible that they might answer this in the same way.

ARE YOU READY? 5

READY FOR REVIVAL

(2 Chronicles 7:14) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

I hear people all the time saying that we need a real Revival in America. I agree with them on the part about needing it but I have to question whether we really want it or not.

According to the above scripture it does not take magic but obedience. If God's people... hey, that is us.

Will humble themselves,
That just means putting our relationship with God in a proper perspective. He is God. We are not and we are blessed to belong to Him. We belong to Him.

And pray.
I previously did a whole week of devotionals on prayer. Did it help you? Did you improve your prayer life. Until the Christians in America get on their knees America will never get on it's feet again.

And seek my face.
Too often we seek God's hand. We go to God for help or for what we want be we do not seek His face. We need to pray and go to God to see what God wants.

And turn from their wicked ways,

Not just some of them but all of them. Let some things go. Turn away from them and cast them aside that we might better be found in God's will.

Then comes Revival. Are you really ready for Revival?

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.