Merry Christmas

We Hope You
Have a
Merry Christmas
and a
Happy New Year

We will be back with new devotionals the second week of January.

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

John 1:4-5 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.(5) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

 

I love the lights at Christmas.  The great decorations in the small towns and cities are beautiful.  Some individuals have some spectacular light displays and I even like the ones that some people might consider over the top or gaudy.

 

As I write this we have a very small tree with the lights already built in but it is beautiful to me.  When the children were at home we always had a much bigger tree and now that we have an empty nest we have downsized.

 

I'm not sure what it is about the lights that I love so much but I like what they remind me of.  They remind me that Jesus truly is the Light of the world.

 

He came into the world to be a light to show us the way to God, through Him.  He came to light the way of men and when we accept Him we too have that light.  A light that is supposed to shine in through the darkness of this world and guide others to Jesus.

When you look at the lights during Christmas season, think of the fact that you to are to be a light in this dark world.  Men might not comprehend it but they didn't comprehend Jesus either.

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.

IN THE BEGINNING

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 

The Trinity is a hard thing for our feeble minds to comprehend.  Actually I am a little skeptical of anyone who says they fully understand the Trinity.  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, one God in three persons.

 

What I do know is that God manifests Himself in these ways so that men might know Him.  Jesus has always been because He is God yet he came to Earth to be in human form for the sake of mankind.  He fulfilled the law because we couldn't.  He paid our sin debt because we were morally bankrupt.

 

No only has He always been, He always will be.  When He ascended into Heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of all those that would accept Him and believe on His name.

 

Since God is all knowing it means from the very beginning Jesus knew He would have to come and suffer in our place yet He loved us enough to come and be our Savior.

 

Do I understand all this?  Not really but I do believe it and I have comfort in knowing that God loved me enough to pay the penalties for my sins and offer me salvation through His grace.

 

By the way, I don't fully understand electricity either but I don't intend to live in the dark until I do.

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.

Peace On Earth

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 

In light of some of the tragic things we have witnessed in the last year it is sometimes hard to imagine Peace on Earth.  Some even have trouble believing in God's good will toward men because  of the natural catastrophes that happen.

 

We must sometimes step back and take a look at the bigger picture.  God came himself in the flesh to pay the penalty for our sins.  He provided a way to reconcile us to Himself.  If there is peace on Earth it is to be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

Natural disasters happen but when we realize how small this is in the scope of eternity it should cause us to step back and give Glory to God.

 

There will always be bad things that happen but  we need to remember that God is always there for us to help us through these things.  I personally believe that as we get nearer to the end times we are going to see more and more tragic events, especially if America doesn't turn back to God.

 

Take time this Christmas to stop and Glorify God.  Know Jesus as your Savior, experience God's good will and peace in your heart that passes all understanding.

 

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 HOPE THAT CHRISTMAS BRINGS

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 

Many people fill out their wish list for Christmas hoping that it will be filled by someone.  I am afraid that many people fill their lives with wishes just hoping something good will come their way.

 

Thankfully we who know Christ do not have to fill our lives with wishes.  Our lives are filled with Hope.  This hope is rooted in our faith in the gift of salvation that God gave to us through Jesus Christ.

 

Over 2000 years ago, lying in a manger in a small town in Israel was the Hope of all mankind.  The hope of eternal life,  the hope of an abundant life in this world.  That Hope was Jesus.

 

I hope you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  You can receive Him into your heart and your the wishes in your life can be replaced by Hope.

 

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 Room For Jesus

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

I have often wondered about that inn keeper.  If he ever realized that he had caused the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to be born in a stable because he didn't have room for him in the inn. In today's world of advertising and capitalizing on every opportunity he would probably put up a neon sign proclaiming "Jesus Was Born Here".

 

With all the shopping, decorating, cooking and planning it seems like in many lives there is still no room for Jesus.  Fanatic groups are protesting manger scenes on public property and others are eliminating any mention of Christ during the season for fear they might offend someone.

 

It would be wise if people would make room for Jesus in their hearts today.  The day will come when
Php 2:10-11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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.

WISE MEN STILL SEEK JESUS

Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

 

I sometimes wish I was more of a scholar and knew a little more about these wise men from the East. How did they know it was time?  How did they know who this baby born in Bethlehem was?  I am sure that there are men with more education and knowledge than me who can answer these questions.

I know they had studied the prophecies concerning the coming Messiah.  I know they recognized Him as the King.  I'm just not real sure how they knew all this and came to the right place at the right time.

 

I know they were wise because the Bible tells us they were wise.  They came bearing gifts and they came to worship this newborn Babe because they knew who He really was.

 

There are a lot of questions that I can't answer concerning this event but I do know one thing for sure.  Wise men still seek Jesus.

 

In a day and age when it seems that so many want to turn inward to themselves or turn to philosophies and other ideals...we need wise men who know that the world needs a Savior.  People who know that we as individuals need a Savior.

 

Yes, indeed, wise men still seek 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.

Tis The Season

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

 

Is it that time again already.  It seems like we just took the tree down and got rid of all the wrapping paper.  It must be though, because the stores have been decorated and the advertisements have been bombarding us since the first part of November (or earlier).

 

People enter this season with a lot of different attitudes.  There are those who are filled with excitement and anticipation and then there are those who are stressed.  They become stressed over decorations, gifts, parties and family gatherings. 

 

Sometimes we over do it.  We over spend, we over eat, we try to squeeze more into our schedule than we can possibly keep up with without being stressed.  Maybe we should just stop for a few minutes and think about what we are really celebrating.  God sent His Son into the world to be our Savior.

I don't like the phrase Happy Holidays.  It is Christmas...the time we celebrate the greatest gift man ever received.  A Savior.  It was a joyous time and I believe a tranquil time.  Now as we celebrate, I believe it should be a worshipful time.  It should also be a time of reflection on God's love for us and His marvelous grace.

 

Don't let the Christmas season stress you out.  Just look up, give thanks to God.  It is the season to celebrate God's love for 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.

BEING CAREFUL 5

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known unto God.

Two small children were in their bedroom praying and one was telling God what he would like to have for Christmas and he was speaking in a very loud voice.  His brother said, "You don't have to pray so loud.  God is not hard of hearing."  "No, but grandma is in the other room and she is." he answered.

 

Maybe sometimes we ask God for things and hope someone else will hear and supply it for us.  God doesn't need any help.  He can supply our needs according to His own vast riches which are endless.

Many times we seem to hint about things to God instead of asking Him directly and making our true requests known.  Yes, God already knows your heart but sometimes he wants us to ask specifically for what we want.  I believe in asking for specific things it causes us to really meditate on our reason for wanting these things.

 

Daydreaming is not asking God.  Prayer is asking 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.

BEING CAREFUL 4

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known unto God.

IN EVERYTHING

Sometimes it is hard to have a thankful heart during the bad times but it is important that we remember that God is with us and blesses us through these times too.

 

Sometimes I forget to be thankful for my heart trouble.  Yes, I know that sounds crazy but because of it I have really had some great opportunities to serve God that I might not have had if my health had been perfect.

 

Twice I have been told that my heart was in such a bad shape that I might not leave the hospital. In both cases I used that time to show those around me that I really believed what I preach and that I was not afraid of going on to be with Jesus.  In both cases I did leave the hospital and most of those who knew me attributed it to a miracle from God, therefore He received Glory from it.

 

If I had not had heart trouble I would not have had to leave the full time pastorate and ministry and would never have ended up filling the pulpit at the small church where I reach now.   I have been with this wonderful church family for over ten years and it has been a great experience and I would not trade it for anything.

 

Be thankful when you are going through difficulty.  God just might be preparing your for a miracle or to use you in a great way.  You could receive some of His greatest blessings through the difficulty.

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.

BEING CAREFUL 3

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known unto God.

 

Some things we do are just using common sense. We  should fasten our seat belts..but it is just as important to stay within the speed limit.  We should watch what we eat and take care of our bodies, but they are the temple of the Holy Spirit...not an idol to be worshiped.

 

I guess I am more aware of my mortality than a lot of people.  Two weeks ago I had another heart attack and again one of the doctors was very skeptical that I would ever leave the hospital.  My heart has so much damage that there is nothing they can do for it but I know that no matter what happens I am in God's hands.

 

It is not my nature to worry.  While I was in the hospital I tried to witness to everyone who came into my room (maybe that is why God keeps allowing me to spend so much time there).  The reason I did this is that I am assured by my faith in Jesus of where I will spend eternity.  I wasn't sure if all the hospital staff knew this or not.

 

Sunday is coming and I will try to preach again for the first time since my heart attack.  I have some concerns but I am willing to let God have His way.  My life, my family, my ministry are not mine...they belong to Him and they are in His care.  It is His business how he cares for them, it is my business to trust Him to do it.

(At the time I was writing this it was before Sunday.  I was able to preach Sunday and I plan on preaching again this Sunday.  God always enables us to do what He has called us to do.)

 

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.

BEING CAREFUL

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known unto God.

 

While Jesus was teaching He taught us to put all our cares upon Him and not worry about the things of this world.

 

I have been astounded all my life at the number of people who desire designer jeans and who would by a pair of athletic shoes that cost more than my first car.  Come to think of it I am amazed at the number of people who will spend way to much for an automobile because it is a status symbol.

 

I guess I am just a simple man who was raised in tougher times.  Times when we were thankful for the new pair of shoes because the old ones were coming apart, when we were glad to have any automobile that would crank and run, when a pot of dried beans was mighty good and if you had some fatback to flavor them with it was a feast.

 

Jesus described one of the signs of the last days as

 

Luke 21:26 Men's hearts FAILING THEM for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

 

Maybe we should focus on our true and eternal home and not fret so much over the things that are going on in this world.

 

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.

BEING CAREFUL

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known unto God.

 

My wife's last words to anyone leaving our home, especially our kids and myself are, "Be Careful."

Actually what she really means is "Take Heed" but we know that folks in the south just don't talk that way.  It is a common phrase that we use almost daily. "Be Careful".

 

The Bible actually tells us that in many cases that we should "Take Heed" but it tells us that we should "be careful for nothing".  What this means is that we shouldn't worry.  Actually worry is nothing but negative fantasy.  We can work our way up into thinking the most awful things are likely to happen to us when actually they usually aren't.

 

We should be aware of danger, of trouble, of temptation and all of the bad stuff out there but we need to do the best we can to avoid it and just Trust God to provide us with safety and security.  When we get right down to it we are in  God's care and if we worry we are trying to infringe on His territory.

 

Take heed today, but don't worry.

 

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.

Redeeming The Time

Ephesians 5:15-16 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 

Time...it is the stuff that life is made of.  We all have the same amount of it each day but it seems that some people are able to do so much more in a day than others.  You can attribute this to organization or lots of other factors but it is the simple truth.  Everyone has the same amount of time each day as everyone else.

 

Sometimes we get caught up spending so much time on the urgent that we never get around to doing the things that are really important and sometimes we don't even recognize the different.

Time is a gift, a very precious gift that God has given us to use to fulfill his purpose.

 

As I get older (and my health continues to fail) I am more aware of the value of time than I have ever been.  I find myself trying to squeeze every drop out of every day trying to accomplish things because I know that I have just about used up the time that I have been given.

 

I have lost a lot of time, wasted a lot of time, and misused a lot of time in my life.  I realize now that I can never get it back.  Time is a precious gift from God and is only valuable when it is redeemed and used for His Glory.

 

 

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.

NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT

Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

 

As I was studying these verses in Ephesians this one jumped out at me.  In this age of political correctness it just seemed to stand out. Whenever someone speaks out against sin (the works of darkness) today he is referred to as a bigot or a hater and this could not be farther from the truth.

 

That is like saying that you hate someone if you warn them that a bridge is out.  Would it be kinder to let them run into the river?

 

Sin is wrong.  It is dangerous and it is harmful to all those who engage in it.  As Christians we are to warn people of the dangers of sin and of sinful lifestyles.  We are not to tolerate them in our own lives, accept them in others, or embrace them in society.  This is a matter of caring and the reproof in no way signifies a mean or hateful spirit.

 

Regardless of what people think, it is possible to hate the sin and still love the sinner.

 

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.

A CHILD OF GOD

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

 

In my senior years sometimes I forget things that I was told, or things that happened recently but it seems that the older memories such as memories of my childhood are just as clear and maybe even clearer than they used to be.

 

I remember as a child the devotion and the awe and respect I had for my parents.  I tried to be what they wanted me to be and it pleased me to please them.

 

As we grow older we lose some of that fascination with our parents and we not only quit trying to please them in everything but sometimes we become defiant and go completely against their wills.  When we follow God it should not just be as children but it should be as "dear" children.

 

We should follow God with every intention of doing whatever we can to please Him and cause Him to be pleased with 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.

SITTING IN HEAVENLY PLACES

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.

 

When we come together to worship we should definitely be sitting in heavenly places.  We should clear our minds of the problems of the world and our every day cares as we sing, pray and listen to the message.  Our entire focus should be on Jesus and what He has done for us.  That will help us to create a heavenly atmosphere.

 

When we pray we should also shut out the world and actually recognize the presence of Jesus and turn our prayer closets and our family and group prayer sessions into a heavenly place.

 

No matter where we go we can represent Jesus as His ambassadors and we are then in the atmosphere of a heavenly place.  Let's do our best to turn every place we sit into a heavenly place.

 

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.

HE IS ABLE TO KEEP ALL THAT WE COMMIT TO HIM

2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

 

Sometimes when the trials and suffering begin we, unlike Paul, begin to be filled with fear and doubt.  Paul suffered about as much abuse as anyone that I have read about but he never wavered.

Paul was not looking at the now.  He was looking at the forever. He knew that the only really important things were the things he had committed to Christ.  He knew the day would come when he would be rewarded by being united forever with Christ.

 

The same is true for us.  We might lose sight of what is really important but the truth is all the really important things are those that are committed to Him.  They are not the temporary things we think of every day but they are the eternal things that He is able to keep forever.

 

This world is temporary for all of us, but the things we commit to Him will last for all eternity.

 

 

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.

HE IS ABLE TO KEEP US FROM FALLING

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Sometimes I don't feel as spiritual as I know I should.  Sometimes I don't feel as close to the Lord as I know I should.  There I have confessed, I have said and I have put it on the Internet for the whole world to see if they want to.

 

I know that I don't deserve the blessings that He has given me and only I know what type of person I really am.  I guess that should be a frightening thought but it is really not all that scary.  The reason is that I have not been depending on my feelings, or my actions, or my emotions.

 

I trust completely in Jesus, in His atoning death, in His miraculous resurrection and in His promises.  I trust in His blood to cleanse me from all unrighteousness and know that outside of faith in Him I would have no hope.

 

When I remember Him I have to think of the song, "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow."

 

I know that He is able to keep me from falling and someday He will present me faultless before our Heavenly Father.  When I think of this and become thankful I can't help but feel a little closer to 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.

HE IS ABLE TO CHANGE US

Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

 

That is just the way I am.  How many times have you heard or said that, or "That's just the way he or she is."?  We learn to accept people, especially ourselves, as being less than what we ought to be.

God is still able to change lives.  He is still able to help people conform to the image of Christ.

 

So many times we will pray for someone with a serious sin problem and yet we fear that they will never change.  Maybe we are praying more that God will just take away the sin and the problems it cause them (and us) instead of praying that God will transform their lives into a beautiful vessel for His service.

 

Sometimes the process of change is not a pleasant experience.  Sometimes we have to be broken and then be remolded into a different person.  Sometimes we have to hit bottom before we look up and are willing to give all the pieces of our broken lives to the one who can mend them.  We don't want to go through it and we don't want those we pray for to go through a painful transition but we have to realize that God is able to fashion each and everyone, and to subdue all things unto Himself.

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.

HE IS ABLE TO DO MORE THAN WE ASK OR THINK

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

 

Most of us think and ask too small.  We go to our Heavenly Father in prayer asking as if we believe He rations our blessings.  When Jesus encountered a blind man and asked him what he really wanted the blind man answered that he wanted to see.  Jesus gave him is sight.

 

I have often thought that today so many would have asked for so much less.  They might have asked for a dog or a cane to help them get around.  They might have asked for someone to help them to take care of themselves.  It took a lot of boldness to ask for his sight but he learned a valuable lesson that we too should learn.  He is able to do even more than we think or ask.

 

Are you a little shy about asking God for what you really need? Sometimes even when we pray for something specific that we really need we do not really expect God to grant it.

 

Believe that God wants to bless us.  He is able to do more than we think or ask.  Increase your faith by increasing your expectations.

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.

HE IS ABLE TO SHOW US GRACE

II Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

 

Grace means unmerited (undeserved) favor.  Sometimes we feel that we will not be blessed because we don't deserve to be blessed.  We feel that we can't succeed because we don't deserve to succeed.  The truth is that God is glorified in blessing us.  He receives glory from seeing us succeed.

 

God did not create all the good things in the world for the devil's crowd.  He does not take pleasure in us failing. 

 

It is true that sometimes we fail because we do things for the wrong reasons and in the wrong way.  Read Hebrews 11 in the Bible.  It is the Hall of Faith that shows how God's grace was sufficient for all those He chose to do His work. 

 

It is our job to believe God.  It is our job to do the good works He directs us to do.  He will provide the grace and the power to see those works through.  He is able to help us whether we deserve it or not.

 

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.

HE IS ABLE TO KEEP HIS PROMISES

Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

 

It is an honorable thing for a man to keep his word.  It is especially important for him to keep his promises.  I can remember many times when my children were growing up I could not make certain promises because I knew that I might not be able to keep those promises.  What I could do was tell them I would try.  If for some reason then I could not keep our plans I still needed a very good explanation of why not but at least I did not break a promise to them.

 

The children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and the older generation died, (without entering the promised land) simply because they did not believe God could keep His promise.  Joshua and Caleb entered in and received the promises because they trusted God to deliver.

 

Man may fail.  He may not be able to deliver on his promises.  That is not true with God.  Whatever He has promised us in His Word, He is able to deliver. 

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.

FREE TO SERVE

1 Peter 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Praise God, salvation is free to us.  It was paid for by the Son of God, Jesus Christ and offered to us as a gift.  Not only is salvation free but it is eternal and can not ever be lost.  If it were possible to lose your salvation no one could get to heaven because it is impossible for us to live above sin.
That does not give us a license to sin.  What it should do is motivate us to live for Jesus and serve God from a thankful heart.  Our attitude should be that He died for us, we must live for Him.  He left work for us to do in spreading the gospel to a lost and dying world.
I read of a man once who told an older lady that he had been called into the ministry.  The older lady said, "Then you have been called to be a light toter."  You might not be familiar with the word tote but down here in the south it is another word for carry.  I believe that not only are the preachers to be "light toters" but that every Christian should carry the light of Jesus Christ into this world filled with darkness.
Tote The Light
As the dusk is here and it'll soon be night
We need to be faithful to "tote the light".
Souls are in danger to be forever lost,
"Tote the light" whatever the cost.
Men stumble in darkness and sin every day,
"Tote the Light" to show them the way.
Brighten the path so others may claim,
Their gift of salvation in Jesus Name.

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.

SUBMISSION

1 Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; (14) Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

 

Whether we like it or not we are subject to the laws of the land. This has been a presidential election year and frankly for the last few elections I haven't been overly fond of any of the candidates.  That does not mean that I am not to respect the offices they get elected to.

 

Sometimes God even raises up men to punish an evil population.  I am not sure if you have noticed it lately or not but we are certainly living in an evil time when people take sin lightly and when it is wrong to criticize anyone except Christians.

 

I believe that if a law doesn't cause me to directly go against God's Word, I am subject to it.  Yes, this even means the speed limit.  We must remember that it is God that ordains Government and it is for His honor and glory. It really doesn't matter who the president it as long as we recognize that Jesus is still the 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.

A CHOSEN PEOPLE

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

 

Whenever you feel insignificant take out your Bible and read this verse.  It should make you aware of how special you are to our Creator.   If you are saved you have been chosen as an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ and should be representing Him in this world.  When people see you they should see Christ working in you.

 

If they are not saved, you are the one who can go before God's throne of grace and pray for them and their infirmities.  You are a part of a Royal Priesthood that has access through our High Priest Jesus Christ.  Now that is something special.

 

You are important in God's plan and He has great work for you to do.  You have no right as a Christian to feel insignificant.  Instead you have a duty to show forth His praises and reveal to the world how He called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

 

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.

A SPIRITUAL HOUSE

1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

 

We sometimes forget that the Church Jesus is building is not in fact a building.  It is made up of those people who accept Him and are obedient to His teachings.

 

We are a spiritual House.  Living stones that make up the greatest living organization in the history of the World.  We should be excited to be a part of this great body.

 

We are a Holy Priesthood.  Saved by God's marvelous grace and we should be offering our reasonable service as an acceptable sacrifice to God.  Just what is reasonable service?  Jesus paid our sin debt on the cross and offers salvation to all who believe.  Is this just worth an hour or two each week or is it worth a dedicated life, spreading the message of salvation to a world that is so much in need of a Savior?

 

I believe if you really think about it you will find the right answer in your heart.

 

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.

GROWING UP IN JESUS

1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, (2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

Sometimes the number of immature Christians we encounter is surprising and more than a little frightening.  The sad thing is that they are not even aware that they are babes in Christ.  Sadly I am not talking about those that have just been saved.  Many of the most immature Christians I have met have been in the church for ages.

 

They are focused on themselves.  If you think about it one attribute of a child is that they think everything is about them and they are the center of the universe.  When they don't get their way they become angry, they attack others, they are envious and they think they look better by putting other people down.  Does this sound like anyone you know, that is, besides children.

 

I have known many people like this and still they did not desire the sincere milk of the Word so that they could grow.  They desired the milk because that is all that they could digest.

 

As we grow in grace and begin to spiritually mature we should be able to digest more of the Bible, the meat of the Word.  As we become more mature we realize that our focus should not be on our self, or even on others but should be on 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.

By Faith 20

Hebrews 11:39-40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (40) God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

 

I believe these verses refer to the time when Jesus shall return and we shall be made like Him.

 

1th 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

Men of faith have served boldly, even unto death, since this book was first penned.  There is no way to name them all here but one thing we must remember.  Even though we might think of these men as great men they did not have a thing that we don't have.  They just used the faith that God gave them.

Don't try to have great faith.  Just exercise the faith you have in a Great 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.

By Faith 19

Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

 

We see these great names written in the Hall of Faith and we know that this is not an end to the list.  If the writer of the Book of Hebrews were alive today he might mention Peter who even though he once denied Christ repented and was faithful to the end.

 

He might mention Steven who was stoned and looked up into Heaven seeing a vision of Christ ready to receive him as he died.

 

He might mention so many of the new testament saints who gave their lives for the cause of Christ or John who was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and saw great visions of things to come.

 

The Bible is filled with men of faith and if we are going to turn our nation around our churches also must be filled with people of faith.

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.

By Faith 18

Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

 

This verse teaches me that anyone can be saved by faith.  Even Rahab the harlot was saved when she received the spies sent in to spy on Jericho.

 

Never underestimate the seriousness of your sin.  Sin is sin and God frowns upon all our sin.  The great news is that regardless of the seriousness of our sin, "the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

 

There is none so righteous that he doesn't need Jesus as his savior and there is none so sinful that Jesus can not save him.

 

It is by faith that we trust in Jesus and in Jesus alone. 

 

 

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.

BY FAITH 17

Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

Many of God's promises are conditional and need to be followed to the letter.  I personally believe that we would see a lot more of God's miracles if we would just believe God's Word and take it to heart.

 

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with OIL in the name of the Lord

 

I have been in the ministry since 1978 and I have yet to receive a call from someone in my congregation who was sick and asked for this to be done.  I must confess that even with some severe health problems of my own I have not done it either.

 

I sometimes wonder if we might see more of the sick miraculously healed if we would just follow God's instructions to the letter.

 

I am not talking about some televangelist running around with oil and anointing everyone he comes in contact with.  I am talking about a member of the Lord's Church calling on the pastor and deacons to come and perform this duty.  If you will look closely at the verse, it says that the person who is sick has to do the calling.

 

Maybe we don't see great miracles like the falling of the walls of Jericho because we don't follow God's instructions exactly the way He gave them to 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.

BY FAITH 16

Hebrews 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

 

I can only imagine the faith it took to march through that opening in the Red Sea.  I remember watching the movie "The Ten Commandments" for the first time many years ago and the reality of the walls of water on both sides of them really became real to me as I watched.  It was most certainly an act of faith for them to move through the sea as the waters parted.

 

Many skeptics try to explain away the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea.  They don't spend quiet as much time on the pillar of fire or the pillar of cloud that went before the children of Israel.  Some have said that the place where they crossed was actually very shallow, only several inches of water.  If that is true then there was still a great miracle when God drowned the entire Egyptian army in only a few inches of water.

 

We should be less busy trying to disprove the miracles of the Bible and busier trusting God for the miracles that He can perform in our lives today if we will only live by faith.

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.

BY FAITH 15

Hebrews 11:25-26 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (26) Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

Our lives are filled with choices every day.  If we are honest about it we are where we are today mostly because of the choices we made earlier in life.  I have made some terrible choices in my life and even now I am paying the price with my health.  I have made the right choices too.  Those I made by placing my trust in God have always led me in the right direction.

 

In this day of instant gratification it might seem hard to resist the pleasures of sin for a season but if we know the scriptures and we trust God for the outcome we will understand that what God has in store for us is much greater than any pleasure that the world has to offer.

 

It takes faith for us to trust God's promises.  Be sure and study the Bible, God's Word.  It will teach you about God.  It is much easier to trust someone that you know very well.

 

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.

BY FAITH 14

Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment

 

When all the babies were being killed by Pharoah,  Moses was hidden by his parents.  I am sure that took much faith because if they had been discovered they too would probably have been killed.
 

Pharaoh's daughter found Moses and raised him in Pharaoh's house making her a part of what Pharaoh feared most.  It was these acts of faith that made it possible for Moses to grow up and lead God's people out of bondage and to the promised land.

 

Even though Moses himself never entered the promised land he was used in a great way by God.

 

We never know when we are going through difficulty how much God might be preparing us for something great in the future.  We must trust Him, and put ourselves completely in His hands.  Now that takes faith.

 

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.

BY FAITH 13

Hebrews 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

 

I love reading about the life of Joseph. He was certainly not always dealt with fairly.  First he was sold into slavery, then he was unjustly cast into prison but he did not become bitter toward God.  He remained faithful to God in all matters and because of his faith all the descendants of Abraham were saved, as well as a multitude of others who would have died in that great famine if they had not listened to Joseph.

 

Even as he was on his deathbed Joseph had faith that his family would return to the land that Abraham was promised.  I am not sure if he realized that the children of Israel would be multiplied into a great nation at that time but he knew it would be long after his death when they returned.

 

He instructed them to carry his bones home.  I'm not sure what will happen to my bones but I do know that I will have a new body in my home in heaven some day.  That is what is important to me.

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.

BY FAITH 12

Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.

 

I can't imagine the faith that it took for Abraham to place his only son upon that altar.  He obviously believed God.  He believed in His person, His power, and His promises.  God had promised that Isaac's descendants would be that great nation that He had promised Abraham.

 

How could this happen if Isaac were dead?  Abraham believed God enough to believe that with God all things are possible.  He knew that God would keep His promise even if He had to raise Isaac from the dead.

 

We can look back and see how God kept His promise.  We too can look back and see that God's love for us was so great that He did not hesitate to let His only begotten Son die in our place.  He did raise Him from the dead.

 

We don't need to have faith in what God has done for us in the past.  We also need to have faith that He will keep His promises to us in the future.

 

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.