Posts with the category “daily-devotion”

Rooted Together
by Ministry Support on March 5th, 2026
How do giant trees survive massive storms? I remember losing the transmission in my car at the top of a mountain in Sequoia National Park in Northern California. While I was stuck there, I learned something fascinating about those giant Sequoia trees.  Read More
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When Tradition Becomes a Trap
by Ministry Support on March 4th, 2026
What are you guided by—Scripture or superstition? I grew up with a mother who had a black belt in anxiety. She filled my head with superstitions: "Don't walk under a ladder—it'll bring bad luck." "Don't let a black cat cross your path." These came from ancient Egyptian beliefs and old wives' tales, not from God's Word.   Read More
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Don't Twist the Translation
by Ministry Support on March 3rd, 2026
Are you building theology on English alone? Look at Acts Chapter 2: "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'" (Acts 2:38). Some of you are saying, "There it is. You have to be baptized in order to have forgiveness of your sins." That teaching is called "baptismal regeneration." That is an error! Why would I say that to you? You might say, "It is in black and white. You have to be baptized to have all your sins forgiven." No!  Read More
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Dead Men Feel Nothing
by Ministry Support on March 2nd, 2026
What does a dead man feel? We are dead in our sins, the Bible says. What does a dead man feel? Nothing. Nothing. Nothing! You can be part of a church. You can think that you have enough information, but the real issue is not whether you have gone through catechism or been confirmed. The issue is not that you have taken communion, been sprinkled or immersed, or have your name on the church roll.  Read More
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Crooked Lines to Straight Destinations
by Ministry Support on March 1st, 2026
Is your life a straight line? Let me ask a question. How many of you would say, "I gave my life to Christ, and it has been straight up ever since?" I cannot raise my hand. I look at some of the paths that God has allowed me to go, and I don't get it.  Read More
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One Life Is Worth It All
by Ministry Support on February 28th, 2026
Is the cost of following Christ too high? Paul knew what sacrifice looked like. In Philippi, he was beaten with rods and thrown into prison just for sharing the Gospel. His back was scarred from forty lashes minus one—five different times. He'd been shipwrecked, stoned, left cold and naked, gone without food. Was it worth it?  Read More
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This World Is Not Our Home
by Ministry Support on February 26th, 2026
Right now in our country and on our planet, more things are wrong than right! As a result, this reality creates conflict inside the life of a believer. We want to cry out, “God, how long will you tolerate men and women living with this mentality? How long will you tolerate the treatment that we inflict on each other, to hurt each other, to manipulate each other, and to abuse each other? How long will evil reign?” I don't know about you, but those are my biggest questions.   Read More
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Spiritual Alignment
by Ministry Support on February 25th, 2026
Andrew Murray said many of us need to understand what prayer is. He said, “Prayer is not so much trying to get God to align with you, but rather it helps you align with where God is going.” This is exactly what needs to happen in our lives.   Read More
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Specific Confession
by Ministry Support on February 24th, 2026
If you want God to do something through your life, it will not happen until God does something in your life! Do you know what I did? I found a place where I could get alone with God. As a believer, as a child of God who was preparing for ministry, I said, “Lord, I really want to make sure that there is nothing between you and me. I desire to make certain that I'm not harboring anything in my life. I'm praying right now that you would reveal to me whatever needs to go. Is there any attitude, any action, anything I've said, anything I've done that is dishonoring to you, and that has broken your heart? I want my life to be clean. I want my life to be a conduit for your Spirit.”  Read More
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Replacing God
by Ministry Support on February 23rd, 2026
One of the tragedies that we see in our nation every day is that we have forgotten the Lord and have replaced Him with our activity. Think about that for a moment. Many people want to do the activities of religion, rather than actually knowing the Lord intimately.  Read More
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Real Friends
by Ministry Support on February 22nd, 2026
If our world becomes unstable, we need the kind of friendship that is found in stability. With every one of us, there will be multiple times when the only solid tree to lean against (other than the Lord of All) is the one He planted many years ago in our life. A true friend does make it all the way through with us in our difficult, transitional seasons. Thank the Lord, if you have such a friend.  Read More
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Your Pain Has a Purpose
by Ministry Support on February 21st, 2026
You might think it's when everything is going well—when you're strong, successful, and put together. But I've discovered something that doesn't make sense to our human minds: God often uses us in the greatest way in the middle of our greatest pain.  Read More
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You Made the Team
by Ministry Support on February 20th, 2026
When I was in ninth grade, I tried out for the basketball team. At 5'4" tall, I didn't exactly look the part. I watched the coach scrutinize us through the drills, knowing that not everyone would make the cut. He told us he'd post the names on his door the next morning.  Read More
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Praying To Remind Yourself
by Ministry Support on February 19th, 2026
Prayer is an ongoing conversation with God. Praying without ceasing should be the default position for every believer as they live moment by moment. Many of our prayers are more self-reminders than news flashes for heaven. This prayer is the same. The psalmist is verbalizing in prayer a fresh commitment to the Lord to live a certain way. We could learn a great deal from him today, if we would simply implement the same kind of prayer.  Read More
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Praise the Lord
by Ministry Support on February 18th, 2026
Whether you are a morning person or an evening person does not matter. The words that come out of our mouths every day do matter. The psalmist is calling on himself to engage with praise and we should consider doing the very same thing ourselves every day. Notice the self-talk here and in other passages of Scripture. Surely, like the writer of this Psalm, you have talked to yourself at times. A man once said, “This is how I am assured of having an intelligent conversation.” If you need motivation, tell yourself to get up, get awake and get actively praising the Lord.  Read More
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It’s All About Jesus
by Ministry Support on February 17th, 2026
I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was 12 years old. The moment I turned from sin and placed my faith in Jesus Christ, I rode my bicycle home singing and praising God. Filled with joy, I made up words to a new song. (I wish I had written the words down because I thought they were pretty good at the time.)   Read More
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Never Stop Worshiping
by Ministry Support on February 15th, 2026
The angels never stop worshiping. Night and day, they continue to worship the Lord; they never stop. That needs to apply to us; because they don't stop, we shouldn't stop. That doesn't mean you sing songs all the time, but you are honoring God all the time. Nothing is more important than for you to stay lined up with Him when you worship Him. If you are having a difficult time aligning and looking at the throne, you need to worship until you are aligned with the throne, and then stay right there.   Read More
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Forgetting Your First Love
by Ministry Support on February 14th, 2026
The first step to apostasy is falling out of love with Jesus. The church at Ephesus had lost the passion and the fire for Christ. Now they are living on the fumes of what they once had. Jesus said, “I have a big concern. You have fallen out of love with Me. You have left your first love.”  Read More
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Truth Over Applause
by Ministry Support on February 13th, 2026
Who are you trying to please? Here's a real problem many of us face: We think we need to please people. When that happens, one of two things occurs. Either we stay silent and uninvolved because we're afraid of saying the wrong thing, or we get manipulated into only telling people what they want to hear.   Read More
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Trust over Worry
by Ministry Support on February 12th, 2026
I read a quote that said, “Once you become a parent, you never stop worrying for the rest of your life.” If you have children, I’m sure you can identify with this statement. We worry about our children. We worry about how they are doing in school. We worry about the decisions they make and the friends they have. We worry about making sure they stay well fed and decently clothed. We worry about making enough money so we can buy them the things they need. We worry about everything when it comes to our children’s lives.  Read More
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A Safe Person
by Ministry Support on February 11th, 2026
My definition of a safe person is an individual who can see and listen to your pain without passing judgment. They don’t offer trite recipes for “the fix you need,” and they trust the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. That’s a friend…a real friend. Does that mean they will always agree with you or justify your sinful choices? Of course not! As “truth speakers,” they know “when,” “how” and in “what tone” to speak truth to you.  Read More
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Seek God First
by Ministry Support on February 10th, 2026
In God’s perfect timing, He will use every detail of your life for His Glory. Anything you have gone through, God can use. You can say, “I'm so broken. I'm so ruined. I'm so damaged.” That doesn’t mean God can’t redeem you.  Read More
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Do Your Words And Your Actions Matchup?
by Ministry Support on February 9th, 2026
There’s an age old saying that goes like this, “Don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk.” We’ve all heard this statement at one time or another. People say this phrase when they want action. They don’t want to just hear what someone has to say. They want to know that the person talking can back their words up with their behavior.  Read More
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Don’t Abuse Your Free Will
by Ministry Support on February 8th, 2026
One gift that God has given you as a human being is free will. Because He has given you free will, God will never make you do something. He will not force you to do something, even if the thing you’re going to do is not what He wants you to do. He will abide by your personal will.  Read More
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Ministry Happens Heart to Heart
by Ministry Support on February 7th, 2026
Paul says something powerful in his letter to the Thessalonians: "Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well" (1 Thessalonians 2:8). The word Paul uses describes his soul—everything about him, holding nothing back.  Read More
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God’s Plan Needs You
by Ministry Support on February 6th, 2026
Do you ever wonder if you're qualified enough to be used by God? Maybe you're thinking, "I'm not ordained." Or "I haven't gone to seminary or Bible college." So you sit on the sidelines, believing that real ministry is for the professionals—the pastors, the trained theologians, the people with credentials after their names.  Read More
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God Is Working In Us
by Ministry Support on February 5th, 2026
When you become a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you and guide you through life. There are several different ways the Holy Spirits works in us, so today I want to talk about a few of the ways He works.  Read More
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Learning To Say No
by Ministry Support on February 4th, 2026
When it comes to discussing temptation and sin, there is a big distinction that we need to take note of. Being tempted is not sin. Just because you’ve been tempted doesn’t mean you’ve sinned. Rather sin is what happens when you take that temptation and act on it.  Read More
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We Are Different For A Reason
by Ministry Support on February 3rd, 2026
Every single person who has ever lived is completely unique. No two people have ever been exactly the same, not even identical twins. We can see this clearly as we look around and see the differences we all have as humans. We talk differently. We dress differently. We work differently, and we are gifted by God differently.  Read More
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Praying According to God's Will
by Ministry Support on February 2nd, 2026
If there was ever a time you needed to be praying, it is now. Praying to God and spending time communicating with Him should be a regular part of your daily routine. However, many people are intimidated by prayer. They don’t know where to start and what to say. They don’t want to “bother God” with their requests and issues.  Read More
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Jesus is Coming Back
by Ministry Support on February 1st, 2026
There’s a song from the 1960s written by Larry Norman that shares a heartbreaking picture of what it will look like for those who are left behind after Jesus returns. The song goes like this:  Read More
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When God Nudges Your Heart
by Jared West on January 31st, 2026
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." — Hebrews 3:15 I need to change this worship service right now. Have you ever had that moment? When you're in the middle of something planned, something organized, and God speaks to your heart? If there's a persistent tug on the inside, you need to respond immediately because this worship service belongs to Him. It doesn't belong to me. It...  Read More
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You Must Be Present to Win
by Jared West on January 30th, 2026
All the believers were together and had everything in common... Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. — Acts 2:44, 46 When I went to college in Houston, I was looking for a church. I wanted good preaching and encouraging worship. I thought I found it, and I walked down the aisle to join. The pa...  Read More
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Worth the Sacrifice
by Jared West on January 29th, 2026
What's one life worth? Would you endure beatings, imprisonment, and humiliation if it meant reaching just one person for Christ? Paul would. And he did. In Philippi, Paul was beaten with rods and thrown into prison for preaching the Gospel. His body was broken, his feet locked in stocks, yet at midnight he and Silas were singing hymns to God. When an earthquake shook the prison doors open, the jai...  Read More
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When Your Faith Has a Reputation
by Jared West on January 28th, 2026
"The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia -- your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us." — 1 Thessalonians 1:8-9a Your faith has become known everywhere. Think about that. The church in Thessalonica had a reputation. People were talking about them. Not ...  Read More
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When Love Changes Everything
by Jared West on January 27th, 2026
We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Your work for God will not be sustained unless it's produced by your love for Christ. If your work is not produced by love, coercion and expectations cannot underwrite a life that completes the race. If you are in love w...  Read More
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When Light and Darkness Collide
by Jared West on January 26th, 2026
"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." — Joel 2:28 Something remarkable is happening. Across our country, young people are coming to Christ in numbers we haven't seen in years. Students are standing boldly for Jesus. Politicians are speaking about the Gospel with clarity. God ...  Read More
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When God Calls You to Small Things
by Jared West on January 25th, 2026
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (Isaiah 6:8) Do you ever feel like your ministry doesn't count because it's small? Maybe you teach three kids in a Sunday school class while someone else has thirty. Maybe you serve in a role that nobody notices. You wonder if God's hand is even on what you're doing. Let me t...  Read More
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What are You Still Holding?
by Jared West on January 24th, 2026
"They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven." — 1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10 You turned to God from idols. When you hear "idols," what do you picture? Stone statues? Golden calves? Ancient temples? That's what the early church dealt with. They literally walked away from shrines dedicated to false gods. They turned from physical idols...  Read More
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The Question That Changes Everything
by Jared West on January 23rd, 2026
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." — Romans 10:13 One day, when I stand before God, if the Lord should say, "Curt, why should I let you into my heaven?" what would I say? I could say, "I was Pastor of Westside Church for over two decades." But I wouldn't. I could say, "Lord, you know all those theological degrees I worked for. I studied Greek and Hebrew." But I wouldn't. I...  Read More
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finisher finish fire firm flow focused focusing focus followed followers follower following follows follow fooled forever forgave forgiveness forgiven forgive forgiving fortunate forward foundation founders found fracturing free will freedom freewill free freidnships fresh friendship friends frustrated fulfilled fulfillment fullness future gathering gave generations generation generosity generous genuine gifts gift given givers giver give giving glady glad glimpse glorfiy glorified glorify glorious glory glroy godly goodness gospel goverment government grace gracious grateful gratitude grave gravity greatest grew grieve grieving grope growing grows growth grow grumbling guard guidance guided guides guide guiding guilty guilt habit handling happiness happy hardship healed healing health heal hearing heartbreak hearts heart heaven help hesitate holiness holy honest honorably honored honoring honors honor hoped hopefulness hopeful hopelessness hopeless hopes hope hoping horror humanity humble humbly humility identification identified identifies identify identity idols ignited ignite ignorant ignore imagine immature immediatly impacted impactful impact impatient implications importance important impossible including increase inevitable influence information inherent innocent inspiration inspired inspires instance instant intended intensity intentional intentions interceding interceptors interesting interest interpretations interrupted intimately intimate intrude investment invitation invite inviting involved itimacy jogging join jorful journey joyful joy justice justification justifying kindness knowing knowledge known laborers labor leadership leaders leader leading lead leaning learning learn leaving legacy limitations listening living lonely longing lordship loved loves love loving manipulate marriage married martyr mature maturity mediator meditate meditation membership members memeber memorable memory mentality merciful mercy message mindful minds ministers minister ministry miracles miracle miraculous misplaced missing mission moment motive moun new year notice nourished nourishment numerous obedience obedient obey obligation observer observe offering operate opinions opportunities opportunity oppressed ordered outcome outward overcome overcoming overflowing overlooked overpowered overpowering overpower overwhelmed overwhelming ownership painful pain paradise parenting particular partnership passage passing passion pastors pastor path patience patiently patient peaceful peace peae perception perfectly perfect performance perform perishing perish persecuted persecution perseverance personally personal perspective persuade plans plan pleasing pleasure poetry political politics pondering popular population positioned position positive possession possibility powerful power praised praises praiseworthy praise praising prayed prayerful prayers prayer praying pray preached preachers preacher preaching preach prepared prepare presence present preserves pressured pressure prevail prevented prevent pride primary principle prioritize priority privilege proactive probelm problems problem process proclaim produce productive profess profit promised promises promise promote proof prophecy prophicies prosperous prosper protected protecting protection protect proud proved proven prove provided providence provides provide providing provision purify purity purposes purpose pursuing quality time raises raise rapture reaction reading reality realized realize realizing reaping reassured rebelling rebellion receive recieved recieves recover recuperation redeems redeem redemption redemptive referring reflection reflects refuse reignite rejected rejection rejoice relate relationships relationship religion religious remaining remedy remember remembrance reminded reminds renewal renewing repeated repentance repent represent reputation reservation resistance resisted resisting resist resolution resolve respect responsibility responsible ressurrection restful restoration rest resurrection retreat return revealing reveals reveal revival righteous risk ritual royalty running sacrificed sacrifice safe person safest safe saints salvation satisfied satisfies satisfy saved saves save saving scattered scriptual scripture second chances secured security seeking seek selfish sensitive separated seperated seperate seperation sermon servants servant served server serve service serving several shame shaping shared share sharing showed sidelines significance silence silent simple simply sinful sinless sinners sinner sins sin situation solve soul speaking speak specific speech spiraling spirirt spirits spiritually spiritual spiritully spirit spiriutal spoken spread srve stability stalking standards standing starting storms strengthen strength stressed stressful stress strive strong struggles struggle struggling submitted submit substain successful success suffering supply supported supportive support surrendered surrendering surrender surroundings surrounding surround survived sustain symbolic talents teachable teachers teaches teachings teaching teach tears temptaions temptation tempted testify testimony theology thoughtful thoughts through thrown together tolerance tradition transformation transformed transforms translation treat trees trouble troubling true truly trusted trusting trustworthy trust truths truth trutyh ultimate unbelievers uncertainty uncomfortable understanding understand union unshamed utilize validate validation valuable values value vanishes verbally victorious victory violated vocal vulnerable waiting wandering wants watchful water willingly willing wisdom wisely wise witnessed witness wonderful wondering wonder words worried worrying worry worshipped worshipping worship worthy wrath