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Photo by Lauren Richmond on Unsplash And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 2 Corinthians 5:18 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.5.18.NLT The cultural conversation today about religion is surrounded with words of proselytize, solicit, convert, and indoctrinate. These words are spoken as if religion is just selling and convincing people to simply choose “my religion.” It is tempting to play this ...

Photo by Michael Skok on Unsplash In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right. Isaiah 26:9 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.26.9.NLT Be in pursuit of God every day. God’s ways are so much better than our ways. Seek to live right and do good by all those in your life. Do not become arrogant in your own abilities, that is when things ...

Photo by Kari Shea on Unsplash And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. James 1:13 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.1.13.NLT Temptation to do things that are not right are common to every one of us. Any temptation that has come your way is not unique to you. As near as I can tell, temptation has three source points: You: Each of us are ...

Photo by Samuel McGarrigle on Unsplash Providing Christ-centered environments, experiences, and resources that draw people of all ages to God through camping ministries, conferences and events (The stated mission of WBC). Today’s devos begin a thoughtful reflection about the mission we are on together through Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center. God has established and called Warm Beach Camp to be His kingdom on earth in some specific ways that deserve reflection and shared understanding. At the core of our ...

Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.19-21.NLT I have a 1962 Studebaker Champ Pickup that was given to me as a gift a ...

Photo by Wade Austin Ellis on Unsplash Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. 3 John 1:2 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/3jn.1.2.NLT I hope all is well with you. I wish you health in your body and strength in your spirit. May God be near you with blessing, encouragement, and abundance. The apostle John is writing this letter to a friend, thanking him for the hospitality given ...

Photo by Volkan Olmez on Unsplash Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 1 Peter 3:13 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.3.13.NLT  Most people believe in doing good. Around the world acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion are encouraged. People are moved by being part of something good. On any given day, there are more acts of human kindness towards one another than can be told. Doing good is core to the way this world lives day ...

Photo by Toimetaja tõlkebüroo on Unsplash The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/nam.1.7.NLT Several years ago, it was a time of real challenge in my life. Family needed help on one side of the state, my father was in the hospital on the other side of the state, and I had leadership responsibilities at Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center. I was exhausted in ...

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord —his name alone will be worshiped. Zechariah 14:9 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/zec.14.9.NLT All of us have those “on that day…” thoughts. “On that day…” represents a point of arrival in one’s journey. Perhaps it is individual or the work of a community, church, or nation. It can represent a milestone or a brief moment of deferred gratitude come ...

Photo by Baylee Gramling on Unsplash Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. Proverbs 12:25 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.12.25.NLT A common unwanted guest in life is worry. Worry is habit forming and addictive. We devote entire patterns of communication to the art of worrying. Worry wakes us up at night. Our thinking escalates from one hill of anxiety to another creating an anxious mountain range of the soul. Worry takes life away one inch at a time. ...

Photo by Duy Pham on Unsplash But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.1.7.NLT  Community is part of living. Everywhere that people live and work together a sense of community is formed. The strength that arrives from being together includes qualities of love, acceptance, common interests, fellowship, and support. The ...

Photo by Fabien Wl on Unsplash Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. 1 Chronicles 16:11 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1ch.16.11.NLT I have a confession to make. Sometimes I think I have arrived. I have actually mastered something and no longer need to pursue additional knowledge, learning or application. I ignore the possibility of new learning because “I have this figured out.” Nothing could be further from the truth. I have been driving for a few decades now. Even ...

As a little girl I was terrified of the dark. It seemed to have its own weight and shape-shifting qualities that made it overwhelming. Living in a huge old Craftsman style home that went from comforting to ominous when the shadows turned long, set the stage for those anxieties more than efficiently. I remember on certain nights how my eyes would search for light. Light from the street lamp, light from the hallway, light from the neighbor's window. Remembering where ...

Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Romans 1:17 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.1.17.NLT It is all about faith. God, through Jesus Christ, makes us right with Him. God establishes righteousness in us. We are asked to believe. From start to finish, it is about our belief in ...

Photo by Sean Stratton on Unsplash May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Romans 15:5 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.15.5.NLT The idea of complete harmony is beautiful to consider. In music, harmony can stir the spirit and emotions taking the content of the music to a whole new level. In creation, the harmony of life draws a sense of awe and wonder that leads us ...

Photo by Simon Maage on Unsplash “Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” Sacred Hymn, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross written by Isaac Watts. Gratitude requires perspective and insight. A view on our own lives is needed to see all of the help given to us by others in order to make life work. In the pressure of a production ...

Photo by Kobu Agency on Unsplash A just king gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it. Proverbs 29:4 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.29.4.NLT There is a direct relationship between a just and honest leader and the overall health and stability of the community being led. The integrity of a coach, president, CEO, pastor, teacher, manager, or head of household is significant to the well-being of the people in their sphere of leadership. People thrive where stability in leadership ...

Photo by Jonathan Zerger on Unsplash So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.10.35-36.NLT What do you need right now to continue to follow God in your life? There are many possible answers: More joy would be nice. Less temptation to ...

Photo by marcos mayer on Unsplash Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.10.23.NLT This morning was an early morning of no sleep. I have learned, that often, the Lord has something He wants me to pay attention to, and for me, the best time to get my attention is when there are not very many distractions – EARLY MORNING. This morning was no ...

Photo by Richard Ciraulo on Unsplash All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. Isaiah 60:3 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.60.3.NLT  Do you wait with a sense of longing for God to restore and make things right? Do you long for others to show appreciation and value to you and yours? Do you desire God’s abundant presence and blessing in your life? At face value, this verse of scripture seems to be written about God and ...