"I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:12-13) There is an old story about a son who was tasked with removing some stones from his father’s garden. Try as he might, the boy couldn’t remove the boulders. He returned to his father, saying, “I can’t do it.” The father told him to give it another try. Then, after a few more unsuccessful attempts, the boy said, “Father, I’ve tried with all I have, and I still don’t have the strength to do what you require.” At this, the boy’s father replied, “You haven’t tried with all your resources, because you haven’t asked me to help.” That’s a good reminder for us all: We can do all that God requires of us through His strength! Apart from Him we can do nothing (Jn. 15:5), but through Him who strengthens us we can do all things. ____________________________________________ Bryan Chapell. Devotional. May 2024

Corporate worship is designed to once again clear up our confusion as to what is truly important in life. In grace, God has designed us to regularly gather together and remember the things that are worth living for. Corporate worship reminds us of his power, glory, and grace. It reminds us of the depth of our spiritual needs. It reminds us of the eternity that is to come. It reminds us of salvation past, present, and future. And as it reminds us of these things, it clears up our values confusion once again, rescuing us from our wandering and often-fickle hearts, and pointing us to the One, who, rightly commands our allegiance and in grace gives us every important thing that we would ever need. For further study and encouragement: Hebrews 10:19–25 ----------------------------------------------- Paul Tripp - New Morning Mercies.

Don’t buy the false gospel of self-reliance. If you could make it without help, Jesus would not have needed to come. Paul Tripp. New Morning Mercies

God first rescues the people from Egypt [Exodus 20:1-2], and then he gives them the Ten Commandments [Exodus 20:3-17]. Keeping the Ten Commandments is not what saved them; God had already done that. God did not first give the Law and then deliver the people—first he delivered his people, and then he gave them the Law. Thus, we are not saved by the Law, but saved for the Law. The Law is how we conduct our love relationship with God, not the way we merit the relationship. We are saved by faith in Christ’s substitutionary life and death alone. ________________________________ Tim Keller. Gospel In Life. Devotional. 7th December 2022

A pastor asked an older farmer, decked out in his overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast. "Lord, I hate buttermilk", the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going. The farmer loudly proclaimed, "Lord, I hate lard." Now the pastor was growing concerned. Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, "And Lord, you know I don't much care for raw white flour". The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn't the only one to feel uncomfortable. Then the farmer added, "But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So, Lord, when things come up that we don't like, when life gets hard, when we don't understand what you're saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits. Amen." Within that prayer there is great wisdom for all when it comes to complicated situations like we are experiencing in the world today. Stay strong, my friends, because our LORD is mixing several things that we don't really care for, but something even better is going to come when HE is done with it. AMEN! ________________ Anonymous