Unwavering

 Monday, July 20, 2026

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:22-23

Unwavering We all know that because we are Christians, we are not exempt from trials and tribulations. You may have had more than your fair share of trials in life. Just turning on the TV or getting on social media is enough to send us over the edge as things just keep coming and piling up on top of each other. God knows our hearts and knew that we would face these times. He prepared for trucks us by telling us we would have trials and teaching us to have faith in Him. Unfortunately, faith is never tested in good times. It always takes a trial to test the strength and endurance of our faith. 

Not only does the Bible say to have faith in times of uncertainty, but it says Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering…That is where the really hard part comes in. When we have to stand trials for a long time, it is hard not to waver. When we see one thing after the other coming full speed ahead, it is hard not to waver. When we think about what COULD happen, it is hard not to waver. When we get a diagnosis that scares us, it is hard not to waver. When so much bad stuff seems to be happening, with no break, how can we hold fast? When the unemployment lasts and we don’t know how we will pay the bills, how do we not waver? When our loved one succumbs to disease and their only healing is not this side of heaven, how do we not lose hope? 

How to Hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering…

• Pray – Spend a lot of time on your knees.  Ask God to help you be strong and to not waver in your faith.  Ask God to give you the strength to be an example to those around you who are watching how you handle this storm. 
• Study and learn – Study and learn all you can about God. Read your Bible, do Bible studies, find a mentor, watch sermons, listen to podcasts. Saturate your life with Him and His word. Feed your hunger with the things God has done and left for us to learn about in His Word. 
• Find some friends – Find a support group, a group of friends that you can have coffee with, or even just one close friend. Let them know how you are struggling and ask them to pray for you. Find out what they may be struggling with. We need each other and one of the most beautiful gifts that God has given us is the gift of friendship. 
• Remember the Promises of God – You have learned about them, now remember them. Remember what He did for the people in the Bible. Remember what He has done for you in your own life. Be on the lookout for His hand in your life right now – even though it may not be the “big” thing that you are waiting on Him to fix.  Often, I see His hand in my life and I know He is reminding me that He is in control. Look for your reminders. They are there.

Standing the tests that come our way and holding fast to what we believe – unwavering - is impossible if all we see are the circumstances of our lives and the world around us. The weight of circumstances will crush us. But the promises of God, that stand the test of time, will carry us over, around, and through any set of circumstances that could come. Our human minds cannot fathom a solution, but nothing is stronger than our God and nothing is impossible with Him.  Pray, study, lean on others, remember, and trust – unwavering. 

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.  1 Peter 1:6-9

The Kingdom of Light

Friday, July 17, 2026

The Kingdom of Light Submitted by Kay Crumley

Are we living in the Kingdom of Light or the Kingdom of Darkness? We learned in John 8:2 that Jesus declared Himself to be the Light of the World. Then we can choose to live in the Kingdom He established or to live in the darkness of the sinful world. 

The prophet Isaiah is warning Judah about the coming invasion of Assyria and the darkness that will follow as they live in oppression. However, he assured the people who were first invaded by the Assyrians, Galilee, that they would be the first to see a great light. 

Isaiah 9:2 - The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. The light is the Messiah as revealed in Matthew 4. Jesus began His ministry around the Sea of Galilee. 

John teaches that Jesus was with God in the beginning. He is the creator. He brought life into the world. The life He gives is the Light of men. 

John 1:5 - That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

The truth of God shines through Jesus into the darkness of this sinful world. The good news is that that darkness didn’t win, the Light overcame the darkness. 

Jesus is teaching His followers as they were seated on the mountain. He uses common things to demonstrate their purpose among the sinful culture. He tells them they are the salt of the earth. Salt was precious in that culture; it was a preservative. We have the key to the ultimate life preservation through Jesus. He also likened them to light. Light is critical to our safety in a city. 

Matthew 5:14  - You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 

Because the Light of the world lives in us, since the Holy Spirit lives in us we have everything we need to lead others to Him. The light of a city on a hill cannot be hidden. Our influence cannot be hidden as we point others to Him. 

God revealed the wonder of the new heaven and new earth to John in the Book of Revelation. He didn’t see a temple because the Lord God Almighty and Jesus the Lamb of God are the temple. The Light of the world is the Light of Heaven.

 

Revelation 21:23 - The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

One day we will be in His presence, and the Light will be God’s Glory through Jesus the Lamb. We will no longer fight the darkness of the present earth. Light is joy, beauty, and knowledge. We no longer lack anything. 

In the model prayer Jesus said, ‘Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven’. We have access to His Kingdom on earth because we have Him in our lives. We can choose to live with our focus on Him or on the world. 

To live in the Kingdom of Light we must start our day by noticing His presence, Holy Awareness. We speak to Him honestly, sharing our heart as we trust Him in Prayer. Trusting His guidance, we are led to Cooperate with Him as we follow His plan and purpose for us. We are not alone; He is with us and gives us Community with fellow believers who share our hearts and mission. Your brain changes when you live awake to God’s reality. Science reveals that your brain literally rewires itself around what you pay attention to. Living in the Light alters how we think, live, and navigate life in this sinful world.  

How to Respond to An Offense The Jesus Way

 Thursday, July 16, 2026

 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentilesdo the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 CSB

I am reposting this devotional from The Jesus Way series that Pastor Jim preached in 2024 because it is about how we respond to offense and hurt if we are living The Jesus Way. 

Living The Jesus Way – The Way of Response

As Christians, our purpose from Jesus is to go and make disciples. We do this with our lives when we live The Jesus Way. Every single word, action, and response should reflect the love of Jesus and point others towards Him. As Christ followers, the world will be watching everything we do, especially those who are not Christ followers. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.  If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:39–42

In this passage of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus counters the mosaic law of the Old Testament with what He says it truly means, doing away with the outrageous acts of religion. Pharisees and scribes had taught the “eye for an eye” principle and seeking personal revenge was acceptable. The punishment should fit the crime, so if you were punched then you should punch back, and the law is on your side.

 

When Jesus says, “Do not resist an evil person,” He is saying we should adopt an attitude of humility and seek to be peaceful with those who have wronged us. We can do this by giving even more than what they are taking and responding in kindness. We are to live on the contrary from the world. When we poke back, we aren’t living like Jesus. When we seek revenge, we are as wrong as the offender. 

How does a Christian’s response to offense demonstrate The Jesus Way?

As Christ followers living The Jesus Way, the only response that is right is love. Jesus ends this passage in verses 43-48 speaking about how we are to love our enemies and praying for those that persecute us. We can respond in a way that is honoring to God through Him. We cannot do this in our own power but through Himwe can. 

People will hurt us in this life, that is a guarantee. Jesus suffered at the hands of others, and He understands the pain but every time we are offended in some way is an opportunity for us to be Jesus to the one who hurt us. Living the Jesus Way calls for us to actively love and help our enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. This is not the way of the world. But as Christ followers we are to live contrary to the world. As we live The Jesus Way, we are to be imitators of Christ, glorifying Him in every action, decision, and response, and always pointing others to Him.

I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. John 13:34-35

Has someone hurt or offended you that you have not forgiven?

Name one person in your life who is an “enemy” that you can show love to this week. Who can you pray for?

The Prodigal's Father

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.  Luke 15:20-24

A Father’s Care

It seems almost impossible that anyone can go through life without believing there is God. But a similar, if not greater tragedy, is to go through life with a wrong picture or concept of God.  What is God really like? Jesus reveals the Father for us in the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Some say it should be titled the Parable of the Father because it shows us the right picture or concept of the Father.  Jesus shows us the Father cares for His children. There is God as He is and then there is God as you and I see and understand Him.  It is interesting that the greatest problems Jesus encountered were those who carried their own picture of what and who they thought about God.  Jesus drew the outcasts, publicans and sinners like a magnet.  Why? Because the Father is one who cares.

He is like the shepherd who leaves the 99 and goes after the one, until He finds it.  He is the Shepherd in Psalm 23 who … Provides, Leads, Guides, Comforts, Prepares, and Anoints forever.  He is like the father who has two sons, one living away and one at home. He welcomes home the wayward son and who pleads with the other son to forgive.  The point is to give us the correct concept of a Father who cares for all His children. 

A Father’s Concern

It’s hard to watch your children struggle.  We want to take away their pain and yet realize that it is the great teacher.  The son in the parable of the prodigal son, comes to his father and says in essence, "Dad, it appears that you're going to live a long while yet and I've been waiting a long time for my inheritance. I don't want to wait any longer for it, so give it to me now. I can't wait for you to die." 

We would be quick to say that he deserved what he got. But that's the way we see it when it is not our own children.  Who do you think suffered the most – the father or the son? Every parent knows the answer to that question. The son may have suffered, but nothing compared to what the father was going through.  The Father grieves over the sin of his children. 

But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ “‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:29-32

The older son was offended that his father would throw a party for the younger son who had left and wasted his inheritance. He was offended that he had been a model son and the wayward son is getting special treatment. He was outcast from his family and yet when he came back, the father not only welcomed him with open arms but he killed the fattened calf for him. The father in this story is a picture of our Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally, welcomes us with open arms and rejoices when his wayward children come home to him. 

A Father’s Compassion

While still in the pigpen, the son considers all that his father's servants have to eat.  The non-Christians get along better in life than Christians who are running away from God.  No one on earth is a miserable as a Christian backsliding into the world.  The son saw himself as "not worthy". Why did he ever think he was worthy? The truth is we were never worthy on our own. Our worth comes only through the cross and blood of Jesus Christ.  That's why the Father receives us in His love, mercy, and grace, regardless of how far we've gone.  He bathes and cleanses us from the filth of the world and restores us as sons and daughters as though we never left home.  

He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, Malachi 4:6

An Invitation For All

Tuesday, July14, 2026

 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him. While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:9-13

An Invitation For All

Sunday in the Come and See series, we heard the story of the calling of the disciple Matthew. Our key truth for this series, Come and See: Encounters With Jesus, is All are invited to come and see the truth found in Jesus. Jesus calls us out to follow him. Stepping out in faith and obedience leads to the abundant life we are longing for. Matthew was a Jewish man who worked for the Roman Government as a tax collector. Tax collectors in general were thought of as sinners, traitors, and horrible people all around.  They were unfair in their treatment of people when they collected taxes because they over-collected from the people and were allowed to keep whatever they over-collected. A Jewish man in this profession was even worse, often becoming an outcast from family and society. 

I am sure many people were shocked that day when Jesus walked by the booth where Matthew was working as a tax collector and said to him, “Follow me.” Matthew got up and followed him without hesitation. He was ready for a change. Perhaps he had been watching from his booth. Perhaps he had seen all that Jesus was doing and he knew that Jesus had something to offer that he needed. He was tired of being an outcast. He was tired of feeling rejected.  Jesus wanted him to come and see, to come and be with him. He wanted a relationship with this person that not even his family wanted a relationship with anymore. 

The Pharisees were constantly watching Jesus – looking for ways to catch him doing things that were against the Pharisaic interpretation of the Law. All along the way they were probably adding it all up, making a list. Now they can add that Jesus was hanging out with the outcasts and the sinners. The Pharisees – “religious leaders” – snubbed the outcasts and the sinners, who needed to be ministered to greatly. 

We can be just like that as Christians today. Not only in churches but in our families, workplace, school, etc. We cut people out who don’t look and act like us. We cut people out who don’t share out opinions and beliefs – some of which boast grace and mercy. We are still acting like the Pharisees all these years later. Jesus gave us the example – as he did often with his own life – of how we are to be the very living and breathing testimony of God’s grace and mercy with our own lives in the words we speak and the things we do. How we treat people – and often the most unlovely people – speaks more about the condition of our hearts that anything. 

Ministry is messy. It is not always about perfect worship services, beautiful people, and . Sometimes it is about hurting and broken people. It is phone calls at inconvenient times and hospital waiting rooms in the middle of the night. It is about questions that we can’t answer and wounds we can’t heal but pointing them to Jesus, sitting with them, walking beside them, and holding them up. It is about tables that others would not dream of sitting at and people that others would not give the time of day. And why is this important ministry? Because it is how Jesus did ministry. It is all about living and loving others like he did. 

We can stay back, look away, and pretend we don’t hear but that is not what we are called to do as Christ followers. When we have a relationship with Jesus it changes everything – including how we respond to hard situations and people who offend us. When we have Jesus in our hearts we respond like he did. As Pastor Jim has said – we step where he steps. He leads the way. He prepares our hearts and minds. He gives us strength and the tools we need to do the work he has called us to do. 

Matthew knew that Jesus had what was missing in his life. Jesus loved him and accepted him, called him to be with him, even knowing all the things. The Pharisees were offended that Jesus was spending time with such a person, the irony being that such a person needs Jesus desperately. Jesus reflected this in his response to the Pharisees when he said “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Who are you avoiding that needs to know the love and grace of Jesus through you? 

After the Message: Read Matthew 9:9-13. How do you respond when you are offended? Do you place your offense in light of Jesus’ call to follow Him? Who would you invite to a “Come and See” party?  

Overwhelming Love

Monday, July 13, 2026

So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. John 13:12-14

Show Overwhelming Love  
Have you ever felt the overwhelming love of God? When we feel God’s overwhelming love in our life there is nothing like it.  It consumes and burns up every thread of discord, every worry, every fear, every wrong deed done, every sin. If you have ever known the overwhelming love of God before then you know what I am talking about.  Sometimes we may not feel it when things are hard, but He never takes His overwhelming love from us, as people might. His love is unconditional and covers everything.  It is the overwhelming love of God that allows us to come to the cross and be washed in the blood. There is no spiritual relationship without cleansing, so without this privilege we could not have a relationship with almighty God. 

In this passage we see a beautiful story of humility as Jesus washes the disciples’ feet.  Humility is the beginning of holiness as Jesus modeled for us over and over again in His time here on earth. Overwhelming love will also bring us to humility as we realize just how small we are in the grand scheme of things when overwhelmed by love.

God’s love for us is a gift, not something we have to earn.  You can do all you can to get right with God – but you still have to humble yourself and let Him wash your feet. He alone can cleanse us from our sin and wipe out our transgressions.  And while we can do nothing to earn it, we do have to receive it.  You cannot get a gift from someone unless you actually receive it.  The same is true with love. As humans, many of us have felt the heartbreak of loving someone only to not have that love returned - a very painful experience. God loves us and has so many good things for us but we will never have the benefit of His overwhelming love if we don’t receive it. 

For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. John 13:15

Jesus spent this time with His disciples, knowing He would be crucified soon, so that we would have this example of how to love others.  He exampled a never-ending, tolerant, unexpected, humble, and overwhelming love.  All these things are things we are to show to others if we are going to love people like Jesus loved people.  The last act of Jesus here on earth was the overwhelming love He showed as He gave His life for our salvation.  

Who can you overwhelm with love? It is our responsibility as His children to take this gift He has given us and pass it on to as many people as we can. I believe there is not a person on the face of this earth who does not truly want to be overwhelmed with love. They may say they don’t, and they may act out unkindly towards others, but most of the time that is a cry for someone to care about them. It is cliché but so true that what the world needs now – most of all – is love - the overwhelming love of our Heavenly Father, and we are His tools to spread this love to others. 

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.  Proverbs 10:12 

Come and See: Encounters With Jesus “The Offended”

Come and See: Encounters With Jesus
“The Offended”
Matthew 9:9-13 (CSB)

 

Key Truth: All are invited to come and see the truth found in Jesus.

Main Question: How does encountering Jesus change how we respond to offense? 

1. Matthew’s calling. (vs. 9)

- Christian discipleship is not simply adherence to a religious system or set of doctrinal beliefs, but a whole-hearted surrender to a living Savior.

 

2. The Pharisee’s offense. (vs. 10-11)

 

3. Jesus’ response. (vs. 12-13)

After the Message: 

Read Matthew 9:9-13. How do you respond when you are offended? Do you place your offense in light of Jesus’ call to follow Him? Who would you invite to a “Come and See” party?   

Seek Him With Your Whole Heart

Thursday, July 9, 2026

For I know the plans I have for you — this is the Lord’s declaration — plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you — this is the Lord’s declaration…  Jeremiah 29:10-14 CSB

Seek Him With Your Whole Heart

In the scripture above, the prophet Jeremiah’s letter to the Jews tells them of a future and a hope they can cling to. It was many generations before Christ’s birth and the Jews turned away from God and turned to idols, leading to their exile. They were seeking the wrong things in the wrong places. Their exile was over now and the prophet Jeremiah gives them some good news - For I know the plans I have for you — this is the Lord’s declaration — plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you — this is the Lord’s declaration… 

Jeremiah was telling them that God had good plans for them and that instead of looking for wrong things in wrong places that would never fill them, they could seek Him to find what they needed. The same is true for us today. We will only end up exiled  when we seek something besides God to fill the hole in our lives. But He promises that when we truly seek Him with our whole hearts, we will always find Him. He doesn’t hide or make it hard. He is right there waiting. When we have been seeking the wrong things, we can turn to him, seek him with our whole hearts, and find the fulfillment we seek. 

We are all seeking something. It may be popularity, wealth, or love. It may be happiness, satisfaction, or the perfect job, car, spouse, or children. All these things are good gifts from the Lord as long as He remains on the throne of our hearts. But for many, they will never find what they are looking for because they are looking in the wrong place. We will never find the right thing in the wrong place. We will always find the wrong thing in the wrong place like the Israelites. The void we want filled, the hole in our heart we want patched, the loneliness we want to vanish, the loss we want erased – nothing on this earth will help any of this. Jesus is the only one who can give us what we want and need.

The Israelites were worshipping idols and looking in all the wrong places for fulfillment.  What are you seeking and worshipping today? Are you willing to seek him with your whole heart - getting rid of the idols and wrong things you have been seeking to find what only Jesus can give you? 

We Reflect What We Behold

 Wednesday, July 8, 2026

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Exodus 34: 29-30

We Reflect What We Behold

You know when someone is really, really happy because you can see it all over their face.  They literally glow.  It comes from the inside and radiates off their cheeks.  There are many things in life that can make us glow, like love, family, and health. But nothing makes us glow like being close to God.  

Moses had the unique opportunity of speaking with God face to face on more than one occasion.  When God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, Moses was with God for 40 days and 40 nights on Mt. Sinai.  When he came down the mountain, he was glowing so much that Aaron and all the Israelites were afraid to get close to him.  

Anyone who experiences the Lord will be changed – and they will reflect the glory of God.  Moses’ 40 days and 40 nights in the very presence of God changed him.  He was never the same after that experience.  Neither can we be the same after an encounter with God, and everyone should be able to notice – like the glow on Moses’ face.  If we want to experience transformation, we have to position ourselves for it. If we seek the Lord and position ourselves in his presence we will be transformed because whatever we behold, we will reflect. 

Whatever we seek we will focus on, and whatever we focus on will be reflected in our face and in our lives. What we position ourselves in front of we absorb and it changes us. What do you want to absorb? What do you want to infiltrate your life? Your heart? Your family? What do you behold? It is a weighty thought that we should pay great attention to because when we seek what the would has to offer, it is a dead end street. The more we feed ourselves with the world the more we will desire the world. The more we feed ourselves the things of the spirit the more we will desire the things of the spirit. 

It is a vicious cycle. What we behold we will become and, if it is the wrong thing, what we become will consume us from the inside out. But when we behold Jesus we will be transformed into his image. When we spend time with the Lord it shows all over us. It shows on our faces - our countenance. It shows in our actions and in our words. And when we have that intimacy with God, we have pure, unfiltered worship and adoration for Him. Unveiled - no barriers. Authentic worship. 

When we can see His glory - with unveiled hearts - he will be the object of our affections as he deserves. Abiding in Him gives us the reflection that we need to reflect to the rest of the world. When we abide in him we see His glory and it shines through us to those around us. We reflect his glory to them. 

Today, will those you come into contact with see the glow of God on your face? Will it be evident to them that you have been with God?