Are you in need of some good news today? Are you facing some giant problems — health problems, marriage problems, emotional or financial problems? Does it seem, perhaps, that God is a million miles away in your hour of need? We often feel like that in times of need but rest assured, He is as near to you as the shirt on your back and has not forgotten you for one second.

The prophet Zephaniah wrote from the land of Israel just before they would fall to the Babylonians. But as he prophesied of the trouble that was to come, he also wrote of the faithfulness of God to deliver His people, saying, “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). What an awesome verse and what good news this is to us from a distant land!

Regardless of what you are facing today, you and I have great reason to rejoice. The Lord is with you, He is mighty to save, He rejoices over you, you can rest in His love, and there is gladness and singing in His presence. Now that’s good news to a weary soul!

Pastor Doug Hardin

Do you know that the Lord delights in you? There are times in our walks with the Lord when we know He loves us, but we feel as though He does not like us. I love this verse because it shows that the Lord rejoices over us with gladness and with singing! When you made Jesus the Lord of your life you were clothed with His righteousness. Now when God looks at you, He sees His perfect Son in you. Because of this, He delights in us and rejoices over us.

If you are like me, you need this reminder often. If you feel the enemy’s lies sneaking in today, allow His love to quiet you and remember He rejoices over you with gladness!

For the King,

Daniel Batistelli

I love that the Bible gives us such specific directions for life. How many times in your day do you go about wondering if you’re making the right choice? If you are saying the right thing? This is why we find the Lord consistently giving us clear directions and how to find the greatest fulfillment in serving Him.

Here, Paul gives us three things to examine. 1) Love in word and in deed. Don’t just say it, do it. Don’t just do it, say it. 2) Hate evil. The word abhor means don’t tolerate, accept, or live with anything that is contrary to God. 3). Kung fu grip or superglue yourself to what is good. The word cling is the same word used when people are married. There is to be a strong connection. As I stated earlier, I love that the Bible gives such specific directions for our life. They aren’t always easy, but praise Him for continually guiding our hearts that we can better glorify Him.

Blessings,

Pastor Sean Boehm

A 40-year-old lame man had been healed and he was now dancing through the Temple courts praising God. This drew quite a crowd but let’s focus for a moment on what the healed man did next.

He could have gone right back to his old spot and continued to beg but he knew his life would never be the same so he was hanging on to the believers. This is a good thing for new believers to do, hang out with God’s people. The lame man could not preach but his new life could draw a crowd and Peter took advantage of this living witness, shared the gospel, and 2,000 people were added to the kingdom.

Are we allowing our changed lives to speak to the glory of God’s kingdom? We should walk every day in the same enthusiasm and excitement as the day we were saved.

Wanting to be infectious for the Kingdom,

Pastor Gerard Deleeuw

If we truly understood the motivations of Satan, we should want nothing to do with him. Jesus says here he comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. When he was dealing with Job, he took everything he had including his children. Satan plays for keeps. Yet despite knowing this, how many times do we give in to his temptations?

I’m glad there’s a second half of John 10:10 because Jesus tells us what He offers. He comes so that we may have life and not just life, but an abundant life.

It’s a clear choice – we can follow the enemy who comes to wreak havoc or follow Jesus, who offers an abundant, fruitful life in Him. Which are you going to choose?

Following Jesus,

Pastor Ron Kitchell

Paul told the believers in Corinth that they were proof of God’s work, walking bibles, so to speak, that could be read by all men. If the world around you read you today, what would they learn about God. Would they learn about His mercy, His love, or His desire to save? The old saying: “What you’re doing is speaking so loud that I can’t hear what you’re saying” is true and valid. Our lost world is looking for answers and hope and it can very well be that your life in Christ lived out publicly before their eyes is exactly what God will use to win their hearts to Him.

Praying to be a good read,

Pastor Jack Abeelen

The Greek word used here for ‘pattern’ is translated as ‘form’ in the NKJV, but the word pattern used in the NET seems to bring a little more clarity to the verse. The picture presented is of making something that looks like or conforms to an original. Here the Roman believers were allowing themselves to be molded and shaped to the teachings of the gospel through the daily process of sanctification.

Picture molten metal being poured into a mold and the molten metal taking the shape of the mold. The believer is the molten metal, and the mold is the doctrine and teaching of the gospel. Molten metal does not retain any of the form that it had before being melted down. As we walk with the Lord, He will work to melt down any remaining fragments from our old life in order that we become more Christ-like. This refining process is not easy, but it is necessary so that God can use us to the fullest as we serve Him here on earth. Let us yield to God’s work in our lives, leaving behind the old man and putting on the new man (Ephesians 4:22–24).

Jeff Mericle

As a familiar passage and worship song, these words take on a whole different meaning depending on what is happening in your life at the moment. Imagine you’ve been out of work and are finally offered a job? What about the one whom the Lord brings a helpmate? What about the one whose health has been restored? But, what if the Lord now decides to take it all away? Will you still love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul and strength? As painful as it is to have something we love taken away, we must remember the Lord has a plan for us that was established long ago. We are simply living out those plans. That same perfect will nailed Jesus to the cross for the atonement of our sins. When He was on the cross, you and I were on His mind.

So what does God give? He gives eternal life. He gives comfort to those in need. He gives tender mercies that are new each day. He gives a hope and a future; He gives peace that passes all understanding. God gives unconditional love.

And what does He take away? He takes away my sin. He takes away my doubts and fears. He takes away my selfishness. He takes away the addictions of my past. He takes away my hopelessness. He takes away my anger and replaces it with joy. Now, that’s something to sing about. He gives and takes away…Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

With a song in my heart,

Tom Moore

At this time, the Apostle Paul was in prison in Rome awaiting his execution. He knew that the time of his departure from planet earth was coming, and he was so excited to meet the Lord in glory. You see, Paul had lived his Christian life sold out to Jesus. He finished his race in full stride, still on fire for Jesus Christ through tremendous difficulties and trials.

All too often, people face death without the humble confidence and joyful expectation that Paul had. So many people face death with regret and shame, knowing that they wasted much of their life off the course, pursuing things that will be left behind or simply spending too much time sitting on the bench.

No matter where you are today in your spiritual life, “it ain’t over till it’s over.” If you still have breath, you still have time to turn it around for Christ. Get back in the race and finish strong knowing that God has not given up on you. “Fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith!”

Pastor Doug Hardin

Have you been resting in the peace of the Lord lately? If you are like me, this is probably a struggle at times. We know that nothing is too hard for the Lord, but we feel that our current trial is too messy or worse, we don’t want to bug Him. Here Jesus gives us a promise of peace and when Jesus makes a promise, He keeps it. When you are feeling restless and peace seems to escape you, remember this promise of peace. Let not your heart be troubled or afraid, lay it in the hands of Jesus.

For the King,

Daniel Batistelli