WHY HE CAME 3

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

HE CAME TO DO WHAT NO ONE ELSE COULD DO

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me

.

There is no other way to God and salvation other than through Jesus Christ. Jesus is THE way.  He is not a Way or one Way.  He is the only Way to be reconciled to God.

Jesus is the Truth.  The truth is that without Him there is no way to Heaven, no way to be forgiven for our sins, no way to be saved from Hell.  He is the only Truth when it comes to Salvation.

Jesus is Life.  He created all life.  He paid for our eternal life and when we dwell in Him we have abundant life.

Many are not living the abundant Life Jesus would have them to live because their life is not centered around Him.  When we have our primary focus on Jesus, the rest of the world is in balance and our life is abundant.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

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

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

WHY HE CAME 2

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

HE CAME TO BE THE SINNERS SUBSTITUTE

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep

God is perfect and He required a perfect sacrifice for the sins of man.  No man could be that sacrifice because no man can live above sin. 

God is merciful and full of grace so He became a man and offered Himself, in the person of Jesus as a Sacrifice for our sins.  As complicated as it sounds it is really simple. 

God loved us enough to provide a way of salvation for us that we could not provide for our self.  That way of salvation is through the fact that Jesus took our sins in His perfect body and took our punishment upon Himself.

We must believe and trust Him to save us.  We can't save ourselves.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

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

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

WHY HE CAME 1

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Satan is a thief and wants to rob you of your peace, your joy, and to kill your enthusiasm for serving God.  God is aware of our weaknesses and our frailty.  He knows that we can not possibly serve Him in our own power.  He sent us all the Help we need. Let us not forget why he came.

HE CAME TO MEET THE HUMAN NEED

Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

God is very aware of the needs of man and of man's nature to sin.  He has been a witness to man's fallen condition from the beginning.  Man can not redeem himself.  The only hope from man is to turn from his own devices and turn to God to receive His grace through the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

We can not save our self.  Jesus came because we needed a Savior.  I am thankful for that.

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.

WE MUST HAVE LOVE

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. {2} And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. {3} And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

I usually make a practice after I preach of telling my congregation that I love and appreciate them.  These are not empty words, I really do love and appreciate them and I have loved and appreciated every congregation God has allowed me to minister to.  After I said that one morning a church member told me, "You are the only pastor we ever had that told us he loved us."

I was not only surprised, I was shocked.  The ability and the willingness to love people has been one of the greatest gifts that God has given me in the ministry. 

I have lacked many things in my ministry.  I haven't had the greatest education and this can hinder the ministry.  My speaking ability is a little rough around the edges and to be honest there are a lot of mysteries that I don't understand well enough to explain them to others.  I have only a little faith (I do have it in a Great God though).  So far I haven't bestowed all my goods to feed the poor and I am certainly not in any big hurry to be burned.

Having said all that, the one thing I do have and it has carried me through my entire ministry is a heart full of love for God's people. When I can do nothing else, I can love.  Why should this be so hard?

I am saved because God loved me in spite of everything and I think he has commanded us, "Now you go and share this love with a world who needs 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.

WE MUST DO GOOD WORKS

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

If we are going to really be fruitful Christians we must do good works. We can talk about our faith, we can tell others how much we believe the Bible and we can even tell others how much difference Jesus has made in our lives. If we fail to put what we believe into practice we are not going to be good witnesses.

We can talk all we want to about forgiveness but if we go around holding grudges all the time we are not very convincing. We can talk about the Golden Rule and how we really believe it but if we fail to treat others as we wish to be treated no one is going to think we really believe it.

Someone was once talking about the different versions and translations of the Bible. A man remarked, "I like my mother's version the best." When he was asked what that version was, he answered, "She translated the Bible into her everyday activities and she truly lived it."

That, I believe is the definition of faith with works. Translate the Bible into your life, and live 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.

WE MUST HAVE FAITH TO PLEASE GOD

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It is not necessary for us to have a great education to please God. We do not have to have great strength, wealth, or position to please God.  What we do have to have is faith.

We must believe that He Is.

He Is God.
He Is All Knowing.
He Is All Powerful.
He is Able to save to the uttermost.

These are just a few examples of He Is. The more we know about God the greater our faith becomes and the more we are able to please Him by trusting Him.

He is a rewarder of those who really want to know Him.  He wants to be the center of your life.  Faith makes that possible.

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.

WE MUST HAVE THE BLOOD OF JESUS

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Man is not now nor has he ever been able to keep the whole law.  The Bible tells us that we have all sinned and that none of us are righteous.  God is a Righteous God and He demanded punishment for sin.  "The wages of sin is death."

Jesus took our punishment in His own body and shed His blood to pay for the sins of the world.  He was perfect yet the Bible says he became the sacrifice for our sins,  he took the punishment and offered His own blood as a sacrifice for our sins.

This may be difficult for us to understand but what it really means is that Jesus took the punishment we deserved and offers us salvation if we believe Him and accept Him as our Lord and Savior.

There are lot of things you might be able to do without but if you are planning on spending eternity in Heaven you must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living 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.

THINGS WE MUST HAVE

WE MUST HAVE SALVATION

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Sometimes we get the idea that there are some things that we just must have.  If we take time to think about it we would realize that many of the things we consider so necessary are things that people have been getting along quiet nicely without for thousands of years.

If we are going to live a fruitful Christian life there are some things that are absolutely essential.  I will be discussing some of these in the next few devotionals.  Speaking of fruitful if we are going to bear fruit we must realize that we are only the branches.

Jesus is the vine.  We must be connected to Him and allow His strength and His life to fill us or we will never be able to be fruitful.  When a branch is separated from the vine, not only will it stop bearing fruit, it will wither and die.

Make sure you are alive and vibrant and filled with Jesus by staying connected to Him through study, prayer, service and fellowship with other believers.

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.

FROM WITHIN

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall NEVER THIRST.

Many people are always looking for a blessing.  They want to hear a good sermon that they receive a blessing from, or hear a good special in song that they receive a blessing from.  Maybe they go to a certain Sunday School class because they get a blessing from the teacher or from the fellowship with those in the class.

These things are not bad, unless we are always looking for something external to make us feel spiritual.  When we are always looking for someone or something to bless us we need to be careful that our spirituality is not superficial.

True blessings come from God and we have Him dwelling in our lives in the person of the Holy Spirit.  As a matter of fact we have an abundant supply of God's spirit that is enough to share with others.  We should go about our business trying to be a blessing and that will definitely be enough to cause us to be blessed.

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.

SIT BY THE STUFF 4

1 Samuel 25:13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

1 Samuel 30:24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

In closing this series just remember.  It is important for you to be where God has placed you. Don't look at someone elses ministry and think it is more important than yours because they attract more attention and it seems more glamorous.

God's work is in need of faithful prayer warriors, encouragers, financial supporters, and good listeners.  If everyone was a leader, who would follow them.

Be faithful as you sit by the stuff and support all phases of the Lord's work.  You will receive equal blessings with those on the front lines.

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.

SIT BY THE STUFF 3

1 Samuel 25:13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

1 Samuel 30:24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

I am thankful that God has called men into the ministry to be missionaries.  Whether on the foreign field or planting churches in America where they are needed it is a much needed ministry and takes a very special person to do this kind of work.

One thing we must realize is that they can not do this type work alone.  Those who sit by the stuff and faithfully pray for them, support them financially, and encourage them.  They have left their homes, friends and family members to follow God's call and it is important for them to know that there are people sitting by the stuff while they are away.

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.

SIT BY THE STUFF 2

1 Samuel 25:13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

1Samuel 30:24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

Sometimes we feel that those who are at the forefront of and in the limelight in the ministry have a greater responsibility and will get the greater rewards.  I have often heard someone say, I wish I could play the piano, or I wish I could sing like that.  I have probably said or thought it myself a few times.  I am sure I have heard great sermons and wished that I could preach like that.

What we must remember is to be faithful where God has placed us and use the gifts and talents He has blessed us with.  When someone plays it would be awful tiring for them if there was no one to sing along.  When someone sings it encourages them to know that others are listening and receiving a blessing.  When it comes to music I think God called me to be a good listener.

I think I will just sit by the stuff and listen and encourage those who are on the front lines of the music ministry.

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.

SIT BY THE STUFF 1

1 Samuel 25:13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

1 Samuel 30:24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

We are surrounded by stuff these days.  It seems like some people spend their whole life trying to acquire stuff.  We protect our stuff.  There are bars on windows, guard dogs, burglar alarms and all sorts of methods people use to protect their stuff.

Stuff was important to David and his army too.  They had to carry their food, supplies, and all the things they needed to live on, probably including livestock for meat.  It would have been impossible to carry these things into battle and fight while you watched them so they had to leave them behind.

You couldn't leave your stuff behind unless you had people to protect it and guard it.  David felt that those who protected their supplies were as important as those who went into battle. I kind of like that concept.

The next few devotionals will deal with sitting by the stuff and your importance in doing that.

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 RIGHT CHOICE 5

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, CHOOSE you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

When we make a decision to serve the Lord it will help us greatly in making our daily decisions and choices.

 

I am in Church on Sunday because I know that is where God wants me to be and I choose to be there.  Actually I can't think of anywhere I would rather be.

I am faithful to my wife, because God's Word has taught me to love her the way Christ loves the Church.  This is a conscious choice that we make, these things don't just happen by accident.

People have asked me about tithing.  They want to know should we tithe on our net income or on our gross income. I usually just ask them if they want net blessings or gross blessings.  It is your choice.

I have known of people who had many terrible things to happen to them in their life but their faith did not waver and their spirit was not broken.  They chose to trust God in spite of their present circumstances and not because of them. 

If you choose to serve God, it will help you with your everyday choices.  It will make a great difference in the quality of your life.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

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

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

THE RIGHT CHOICE 4

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, CHOOSE you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Regular Coke or diet coke?  Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi?  Salad or pizza?  Paper or Plastic?

These are all trivial decisions we make each day but making the wrong choices can lead to drastic results later.  After I step on the scales I realize way too late that I should have just had water and the salad.

Sometimes the really big things that happen in our lives come from the really small decisions we make.  I think I have more plastic bags at home than the supermarket has and no one seems to be offering paper anymore.

When I was younger and I was offered a cigarette I made a choice to take it, started smoking, got hooked and had a very tough time trying to quit. I still have health problems based on that one choice even though I made a choice to quit long ago.  We do make wiser choices as we gain experience but some of the consequences of the bad decisions will not go away.  Oh, and that tattoo of an eagle you put on your arm is  going to look a lot like a sick buzzard in about 30 years.  What were you thinking?

If small decisions make a big difference later on in life then think of what the big decisions and choices will make.  There is no greater choice you can make than whether you will serve the Lord 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.

THE RIGHT CHOICE 3

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, CHOOSE you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

The attack upon the Christian faith is increasing more and more.  All you have to do is look at the media and see that we are under an all out assault.

It seems as if any culture in the world is acceptable as long as it is not Christian based.

We are accused of being narrow minded because we believe the Bible and what it says about salvation, morality, and all the basic foundations of a true civilization.  Okay, I'll admit that I am narrow minded.  Jesus said that the way to destruction is broad but the way to life is narrow.

Actually it is so narrow that there is only one way to eternal life and to abundant life.  That is through Jesus Christ as our Lord.  Many people choose the broad path to destruction and wander ignorantly along it each day.  They can attack, ridicule, or even persecute me all they want.  I am still glad I chose the narrow path to Life.

The path you take is your choice.

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 RIGHT CHOICE 2

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, CHOOSE you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

We are in the midst of an election year.  The candidates are all trying to convince us that they are the best choice while at the same time trying to show us how awful the other choices are.

We make the decision in this country who will govern us.  Many vote for the politician that promises that he can do the most for them.  Actually we should see what his stand is on moral issues and vote for him based on that.  Remember the one that can do the most for you can also do the most to you.

I hear people attacking the conservative right in this country.  Just for the record I choose to be conservative and I hope I am right.  I don't trust the government to take care of my every need.  I choose to Trust God to care for me and my family.  He has done a real good job of it so far.

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 RIGHT CHOICE 1

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, CHOOSE you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Each day we are faced with many decisions.  We might not even realize it but choices greatly determine the course of our lives.

Many people suffered in the real estate crash because they chose to live in a house that they could not afford.  The inflated prices of the houses crashed and they wound up owing more on the house than it was worth.  Thankfully I have chosen to live a more simple and affordable life and I don't have the stress of having to make payments on a lot of things that I don't really have to have.

My wife and I were in a waiting room at the hospital not long ago and she commented on the new flat screen TV, "That doesn't really look much better than our old TV does it?", she asked.  I had to admit it didn't.  Our current television is so old that we still have to have a converter box to get a signal. (We choose to not spend money on cable.)  Not long ago I thought I really needed one of the new flat screen TVs but the cost made me choose not to buy it.  Simple choices make a difference in our lives and our lifestyle.

Important choices make an even bigger difference.  I am so glad that I have chosen to Trust God and follow Him.  It has made a vast difference in my life and will make a vast difference in yours too.

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.

I SAT WHERE THEY SAT 4

EZEKIEL 3:14-17

Eze 3:14-17 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. (15) Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days. (16) And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (17) Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

MAKING CHOICES

      I mentioned in an earlier devotional in this series that we are where we are in our life mostly because of the choices we have made.  Sometimes the choices are not bad because they are sinful,  they just might be wrong for a particular person.

 It is great if a young person has a mentor to work with them, encourage them and guide them in the things they are really meant to do.  It is sad if a young adult is pushed, convinced and manipulated into doing something that they are not going to find fulfilling.

 Sometimes we concentrate on security only to find out that the most successful people were willing to take risk.  We sometimes concentrate on the amount of money a person can make and fail to realize that there are rewards to be had that are much more than financial gain.

 The greatest thing we can teach a young adult about seeking a path in life is that God has a plan.  Get to know God.  Let God lead you and you will be on the right path.

 I hope you have been blessed by these devotionals.  There were many more things to be said but these short devotionals are not meant to give you all the answers.  They are meant to make you ask questions and then seek God for your answers.

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.

I SAT WHERE THEY SAT 3

EZEKIEL 3:14-17

Eze 3:14-17 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. (15) Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days. (16) And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (17) Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

WHAT I KNOW NOW

 How many times have you heard it said that I wish I had known then what I know now? I have said it a lot and thought it even more often. 

 I preached a Sermon to a group of High School Seniors and I decided to share with them what I know now that I didn't realize then.  I thought some of it might sink in.  Here are the points to that sermon.

I.  GOD IS NOT MOCKED

Ga 6:7 Be not deceived; GOD IS NOT MOCKED: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

II.  SATAN IS YOUR ENEMY

1Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a ROARING LION, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

III. YOU SHOULD HONOR YOUR PARENTS

Deuteronomy 5:16 HONOUR THY FATHER and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

IV. JESUS WANTS YOU TO HAVE A GOOD LIFE

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly

 These things are still true today and you can expand on each point in any way you see fit.  If you know someone who is about to enter into young adulthood you might want to sit down and have a conversation using these points.  Don't you wish you had realized all these things?

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.

I SAT WHERE THEY SAT 2

EZEKIEL 3:14-17

Eze 3:14-17 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. (15) Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days. (16) And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (17) Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

WE WERE ALL YOUNG ONCE

 It is easy for older people to criticize the young people of today.  Sometimes we forget the follies of our own youth.

 Parents can lose patience with small children because they forget how important certain things were to them when they were that age.  Sometimes we need to just sit down and remember the things that disappointed us or the things that we pleasantly remember.  It might help us understand the way small children act and react to things.

 The teenage years can be very hard.  There is so much competition between peers and even the parents get in on the act.  We see bumper stickers that brag "My Child is and Honor Student at ______ School."

 I always wanted to see a sticker that said "My Child is Just an Average Student But He is an Awesome Son and I Love Him."

 Every child can't be at the head of their class.  If all the children make A's on their report cards then it is not an A any more because then it is average.  Average is a C and I think that no matter what the transcripts say that there are a lot more average students in schools than educators want to admit.

 Every child is special and everyone of them need love, acceptance and encouragement.  I sat where some of the have sat.  I could have used a little more encouragement and a little less criticism.

 When you are dealing with teenagers try to remember how hard it was on you when you were their age.

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.