YOUR DAILY DOSE OF GOD

Good morning Scripture reading: Ephesians 3:15-21 Worship song: Press   Meditation:      Have you ever felt like the struggles of life are weighing heavily on you, pulling you in different directions so that you find it difficult to focus on what is important? We can become so caught up with what is going on in our lives, so focused on what is happening in the world, that we struggle to stay focused on what matters. No matter what we encounter and the challenges we face, we can overcome them all by shifting our focus from our problems to our problem solver. There is a promise of God for every circumstance in our lives, but we must first shift our focus and transform our minds by the Word of God. It is easy for us to get caught up in the worries and cares of this world, but we can shift our focus and fix our eyes on Jesus Christ, the only one who can change our circumstances. Many of us are disabled by our situations, but if we call upon the Lord, Jesus Chri...

Good morning Scripture reading: Matthew 9:9-13 Worship song: Softly and Tenderly   Meditation:      Matthew, a collector of internal revenue, was busy collecting taxes as is customary, but when Jesus called him, he immediately arose and followed him. The Pharisees saw tax collectors as enemies to be shunned. Jesus saw them as friends in need of spiritual healing. The Pharisees could offer nothing to the tax collectors except a list of rules, but Jesus offered forgiveness of sins and a better life. Jesus came to minister healing to the sick, sight to the blind, and redemption for sinners. The word of God in Ezekiel 33:11 says He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his evil way and live. If Jesus is calling you, do not hesitate, do not harden your hearts, turn from your wicked carnal ways, from your self-righteous ways, and you will receive pardon and access to the tree of life. Come to Jesus Christ without delay. Come ju...

Good morning Scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Hymn: I need thee   Meditation:      If you should die tonight, where would you be? Where would you spend eternity? As I ruminated on this very provocative question, I thought of you as much as I thought about myself, my purpose, and the eternal well-being of my soul. As we move about, enjoying life, we should be mindful of how we spend our time here on earth, looking forward to the day when we will become face-to-face with the fuming judge. A day when we will have to give an account of how we spend the time allotted to us. We have been allowed to make choices and our choice will determine how we spend eternity. Knowing that the unrighteous, and those who are ungodly shall not inherit the Kingdom of God should stir our conscience and gear us toward changing our lifestyle so we are not left out of God's Kingdom. Change is inevitable, and therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old ha...

Good morning Scripture reading: Hebrews 13:7-18 Worship song: Good Good Father   Meditation:      Disobedience and lack of respect for those who are ordained to help us navigate through life's rugged terrain and keep us abreast of God's expectations are among the many issues affecting the effectiveness of leadership in our congregation. Hebrews 13 reminds us to obey those who have the rule over us and submit ourselves unto obedience to them, for they have a responsibility to watch for our souls, as they must give account to God. Pastors are chosen vessels whose responsibility is to lead the church here on earth with joy. They are representatives and followers of Jesus Christ, given to us according to the desires of the Lord's heart to feed us with knowledge and understanding by delivering sound, undiluted doctrines that will edify us. A pastor's task is difficult; hence, they must seek the Lord for wisdom to feed the church of God, which Jesus Christ has pu...

Good morning Scripture: Isaiah 41:9-13 Worship song: The Struggle Is Over   Meditation:      Whenever we met to socialize, my sister would jokingly utter, 'Why struggle when help is here?' which would often be followed by an uproar of chuckles. As I sat and pondered her words, I thought of the things we struggle to accomplish or cope with every day. Many of us are facing challenges that are stressful and overwhelming, yet we try to handle them on our own without seeking help. Whatever struggles we are encountering, whether financially, mentally, physically, spiritually, or emotionally, help is always available. God tells us that we will face trials but that we should not lose hope, for He is with us. You might not realize it, but our greatest helper is Almighty God. All of our help comes from the Lord. God is saying to us, come unto me all that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take your worries, your anxiety, your sins, your problems, yo...

G ood morning Scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Worship song: There Is None Like You   Meditation:      Substitute, according to the dictionary, is a person or thing acting or serving in place of another. In the game of sports, there are always selected, qualified players on standby to replace a team member in case of injury or inability to function as required. When you think of education, there are substitute teachers ready to teach when the regular teacher is unavailable. When it comes to the body of Christ, there is a substitute pastor prepared to fill the void and deliver the message if the bishop of the household is unavoidably absent or requires help. In the twinkling of an eye, one who falters is replaced by another because life goes on, and the work must continue. There is always a substitute ready to fill the void whenever the need arises. Abraham, upon the profession of his faithfulness to God, was given a ram caught in the thicket to subs...

Good day Scripture reading: St. Luke 5:17-26 Song: His eye is on the sparrow Meditation:      The men who brought the sick of the plague to see Jesus in Capernaum while he was preaching and healing the sick was an example of faith implemented through works. Their faith led them to carry an immobile, palsy-sick man lying on his bed to seek healing for his condition. When they arrived at Capernaum and realized that the crowd was too thick for them to gain entrance, they went on the roof, removed a section of it, and then lowered the bed with the sick man on it in the presence of Jesus. They were determined to receive healing for their brethren no matter the cost. Their faith caught Jesus's attention, and he turned away from what he was doing and attended to their needs. Jesus first forgave the sick man of all his sins before commanding him to take up his bed and walk. The man immediately rose from the bed, took up his bed, and walked away rejoicing. His faith had made him w...

Good morning I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. Psalms 89:1 Worship song: What a God Testimony:      As I listen to my friend relating her struggles, I notice her enthusiasm and how she rejoices about the goodness of God. If you hear her story, you will marvel. How can someone who has been through so much still be able to give thanks, honor, worship, praise, and trust God? For 18 years, she has been battered by an illness that requires treatment three times a week, but her faith in God never wavers. Her demands are many, including financial deficit due to her inability to work because of her condition, but she continues to rejoice because God has not failed her. Her bills are paid on time, and her barns never run dry. As she relates her story, I realize her faithfulness to God and that God has been faithful to her throughout her years of struggles. The word of God in Matthew 6 says, ...