Posts with the category “daily-devotion”
Hope in Trials
by Curt Dodd on April 27th, 2024
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) What are you walking through right now? What circumstances are you facing? What trials and tests are you experiencing? As you answer these questions, are you wondering why y... Read More
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God Has a Plan for Your Life
by Curt Dodd on April 26th, 2024
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21) God has a plan for your life, no matter how you have botched it in the past. Read that again. Simon Peter had a journey from fisherman to follower, from the one who had spiritual insight, to the one who was a coward denying the Lord, to the one who would be the leader of the apostolic ba... Read More
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Surrender Your Life to Christ
by Curt Dodd on April 25th, 2024
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:17-18) The resurrection experience that these women had was very po... Read More
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The Triumphal Entry
by Curt Dodd on April 24th, 2024
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matthew 21:9-11) In the Palm Sunday triumphal entry pass... Read More
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Powerful Prayers and a Burden
by Curt Dodd on April 23rd, 2024
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. (James 5:16-17) Have you ever listened to someone pray and thought, “Wow, that was a power-packed p... Read More
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One Day You Will Give An Account
by Curt Dodd on April 22nd, 2024
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. – Romans 14:12Each of us carries the weight of accountability before God. It's a sobering truth that every soul will one day stand before Him to give an account of their life—every word spoken, every thought entertained, and every action taken.Yet, those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ can rest assured. Through faith, we are en... Read More
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Experiencing Grace
by Curt Dodd on April 21st, 2024
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. – James 4:8Experiencing grace is not always a grand, emotionally charged event. Rather, it is a profound spiritual encounter with God, orchestrated in His perfect timing and manner. When we are open to hearing the message of the gospel preached clearly, the Spirit of God begins a transformative work within us. It's as if He gently nudges our hearts, ... Read More
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Coming Home
by Curt Dodd on April 20th, 2024
But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. – Luke 15:32 I grew up in a family where I had three sisters, one who was nine years older than me, and two who were younger. After I got saved, I shared Jesus with my sisters because I wanted them all to know Christ. The sad story was that one of my little sisters got involve... Read More
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Believing The Truth About Yourself
by Curt Dodd on April 19th, 2024
A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. (Proverbs 21:2) Chuck Colson wrote a book, Born Again. He got saved in the midst of the Watergate fiasco and served time in prison. God saved him and put him on a path to being a blessing to many people. One of my good friends was his pastor. Colson said in his book that the problem with President Nixon was that he cou... Read More
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Are You Feeling Stuck?
by Curt Dodd on April 18th, 2024
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10 Let me ask you a question. Have you ever been stuck? And by that, I mean have you ever been stuck while in a vehicle? I have gotten stuck several times in my life, but one particular instance sticks out in my mind that is ve... Read More
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Allowing God To Do The Changing
by Curt Dodd on April 17th, 2024
“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard this, they had no further objections and... Read More
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A Heart Of Repentance
by Curt Dodd on April 16th, 2024
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:8-9 As we talked about last week, there are many ways you can sense the Holy Spirit as a follower of Jesus. One of those ways is when you are convicted of your sins. The moment you gave y... Read More
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Balancing Truth and Love
by Curt Dodd on April 15th, 2024
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. – 2 Timothy 3:16As children of God, we often find ourselves trying to find the balance between love and truth, especially when confronted with situations where maybe a friend is living contrary to God's Word. Our first reaction might be to show empathy, wanting to suppo... Read More
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The Authority of Scripture
by Curt Dodd on April 14th, 2024
"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." – Matthew 5:16-17In today’s key passage, Jesus imparts a profound revelation about the authority, inspiration, and sufficiency of God's Word. He says, "Let your light shine b... Read More
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A Father’s Word
by Curt Dodd on April 13th, 2024
The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word, which he decreed long ago. (Lamentations 2:17a) When I was nine years old, my father had promised me on a particular Saturday that he was going to go to the Western Auto Store and buy me a 36-inch Schwinn Tornado bicycle. It was 4:00 and he was taking a nap. And I told my mom, “Hey mom, the store's going to close at 5:00 and dad said h... Read More
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A Familiar Experience With Jesus
by Curt Dodd on April 12th, 2024
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:13-14) As you read the account of the events that happened af... Read More
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A Faithful and Helpful Friend
by Curt Dodd on April 11th, 2024
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13 I have a distinct memory of going to church camp when I was about 11 or 12 years old. Whenever I went to church camp, I always took my fishing pole. When in doubt, fish; that was my philosophy as a kid. During some free time at this particular camp, I had the privilege and the freedom to fish. My bes... Read More
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A Desire To Serve
by Curt Dodd on April 10th, 2024
“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave -- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28) Years ago, I was studying today’s key Scripture passage. In the middle of preparing a sermon message, I prayed this prayer, “Lord, ... Read More
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A Defining Encounter
by Curt Dodd on April 9th, 2024
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5) One thing that is true for every follower of Jesus is that there has been a... Read More
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Praying with Power
by Curt Dodd on April 8th, 2024
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. – John 16:23-24 Yesterday, we started a discussion about what it looks like to pray in alignment with the will and heart of God. If you missed yesterday’s devotiona... Read More
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Aligned Prayers
by Curt Dodd on April 7th, 2024
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. – John 14:13-14 My job as a pastor is to make sure that God's people are equipped to do the work of ministry. One of the things that I am charged with doing is teaching people how to pray. With many of us, we wonder why our prayers don't get answered... Read More
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Fighting Self-Sufficiency With Prayer
by Curt Dodd on April 6th, 2024
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:23-24. One of the things that keeps us from getting through to God is prayerful inactivity. We think things like, “I got myself into this mess and it's my r... Read More
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Are You Confessed Up To Date?
by Curt Dodd on April 5th, 2024
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. – James 5:16 When I was in my first year of seminary, a missionary named Bertha Smith spoke to a class I was in. She was a godly woman who had given her life for ministry. As she stood before our class, she looked through her glasses at u... Read More
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Sharing Your Story
by Curt Dodd on April 4th, 2024
From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. – Acts 14:26-27 I firmly believe that every believer needs to be in the habit of sharing how God is working in the... Read More
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Committing Others To Christ
by Curt Dodd on April 3rd, 2024
From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. – Acts 14:26-27 As I was praying this morning, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the people who have kids or family m... Read More
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Are You Encouraging Others?
by Curt Dodd on April 2nd, 2024
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 William Barclay, a devotional commentator, once said, “One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement. It is easy to pour cold water on enthusiasm. It is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another.” This is ... Read More
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Don’t Stop Sharing The Good News
by Curt Dodd on April 1st, 2024
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20Have you ever wondered why you exist? Have you found yourself questioning why God put you on this earth? Well, the Bible tells us th... Read More
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What Hangs In The Balance Of Evangelism?
by Curt Dodd on March 31st, 2024
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! – Psalm 96:3Several years ago, I came across a statement from Penn Gillette. He is a magician, comedian, and an atheist. He said, “I've always said that I don't respect people who don't evangelize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe there is a heaven and a hell and people could be going to hell, and not gettin... Read More
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Believing God’s Word
by Curt Dodd on March 30th, 2024
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) Many people are searching for the will of God. Not only do they want to know the will of God, but they want to stay in His will. Consequently, when someone asks me how they can find God’s ... Read More
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Abiding and Resting
by Curt Dodd on March 29th, 2024
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30) If you are going through difficult times in your life right now, you need to learn the spiritual practice of abiding. What does it mean to abide?... Read More
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Go All in for Christ
by Curt Dodd on March 28th, 2024
Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16) It saddens me that many believers just sit back and say, “I like the information.” They just sit there like bumps on a log. They hear the Word of God, and they identify themselves as disciples of Christ. They don't apply the Word of God to their lives. They live just like the Laodicean Church. The ... Read More
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God’s Healing Power
by Curt Dodd on March 27th, 2024
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:2-5) Have you asked God to heal you from something? Have you seen a friend or family member suffering... Read More
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God Gives Free Will
by Curt Dodd on March 26th, 2024
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:15-17) From the very beginning, God has given all of humanity free will to make our own dec... Read More
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Make Peace With God
by Curt Dodd on March 25th, 2024
And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. - Colossians 1:20When I look at all of the war treaties historically, I’m fascinated. After the American Revolutionary War ended, the treaty was not signed into validation for over two years. The Treaty of Paris made it a reality.After World War I e... Read More
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Taking Up Your Cross
by Curt Dodd on March 24th, 2024
And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. - Luke 14:27One of the most famous statements Jesus ever made was this: “You must take up that cross, deny yourself, and follow me.” I want you to understand what He is saying when He makes this statement. He’s saying to us, His followers, “I want you to die every day to what you want and follow me.” In other words, you ne... Read More
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The Seven Churches
by Curt Dodd on March 23rd, 2024
“The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:20) In the second and third chapters of Revelation, John describes each of the seven churches mentioned in this book of the Bible. The members of each church were in very diff... Read More
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When God Repeats Himself
by Curt Dodd on March 22nd, 2024
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27) As a pastor, I sometimes repeat myself when I’m preaching. In good communications, you tell people the truth, then you remind them of what you told them, and finally, you tell them again, in case they forgot. Repetition is key if you want to remember something. You need to expose yourself to the information over and over ag... Read More
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Every Knee Will Bow
by Curt Dodd on March 21st, 2024
At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11) Scripture is very clear that a day will come when every single person on this planet will bow down to Jesus and declare that He is Lord over everything. This means every Muslim, every Jew, every Buddh... Read More
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Fathers Loving Mothers
by Curt Dodd on March 20th, 2024
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church. (Ephesians 5:25, 28-29) When Paul was writing to the church in Ephesus, he was giving them clear instru... Read More
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Simply Follow Christ
by Curt Dodd on March 19th, 2024
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:22) In one of Christ’s post-resurrection appearances, He was alone on the shore where He had first called His fishermen. After the miraculous catch of Galilean fish, Simon Peter jumped out of the boat and hurried to the shore to be the first one with Jesus. You can almost feel the at... Read More
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2024
January
Building Men Over MembershipsActions and WordsPraying in God’s WillA Call to God’s ChurchFalse ProphetsJesus Intercedes for YouAre You Encouraging Others?Strengthening BelieversSalvation Is SimpleCounterfeit TeachingBe Ready for the End Jesus Understands Your PainLooking ForwardCommitting Others To ChristSharing Your StoryTaking the Time To BlessPraying for UnbelieversA Word of BlessingJesus Cares about YouThe PavementAre You Confessed Up To Date?Fighting Self-Sufficiency With PrayerBe Responsible for Your ChildrenJesus Is Standing with You The Promise of the Holy SpiritBe Aligned in PrayerI Am InnocentAligned PrayersPraying with PowerDealing with ProblemsHandling Stress
February
Come and SeeA Childlike FaithDon’t Miss OutWhy Support Israel?Praying For IsraelHow To Honor GodResisting EvilThe Lord Encourages UsJesus Is the AuthorityGod ProvidesLiving Out The Great CommissionMaking SureA Heart of RepentanceSharing Your FaithSubmitting to God’s WillSecure in Your IdentityHow Are You Filled?God Is All-SufficientJesus Is The Only WayPray, Just PrayNo Sin Is Too BigThe Purpose in PainFeed Your FaithStay in Love with JesusIt’s Only JesusRemember Who God IsGifts from the Holy SpiritThis World Is Not Your HomeBe Different
March
Admitting You Are WrongMoney Can’t Buy HappinessMy ConfidenceChanged by Christ Faith and UnderstandingDo Angels Exist?Falling at Jesus’ FeetBorn AgainThe Fullness of JesusExperiencing Christ’s FullnessThe Lord’s ProtectionPraying FriendsA Hand of BlessingBe StillYour Heavenly FatherBlessing Your ChildrenGod Is Our ProviderTime To StopSimply Follow ChristFathers Loving MothersEvery Knee Will BowWhen God Repeats HimselfThe Seven ChurchesTaking Up Your CrossMake Peace With GodGod Gives Free WillGod’s Healing PowerGo All in for ChristAbiding and RestingBelieving God’s WordWhat Hangs In The Balance Of Evangelism?