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This from my sanctified friend Mary R.  From Ludington, Mi. and Indianapolis, In. …

…“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied:  ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way.’ So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.” Love and blessings to you, dear Bill, as you continue to share your faith with us and open our minds and hearts to the gifts of God and reach for His Hand. 💝🙏🏻  Mary R. 29Dec24

Put Your Hand In The Hand 

Tennessee Ernie Ford – Put Your Hand In The Hand (1970) (Original) – ElvisKlan

We are spiritual beings here to have a human experience.

May you exercise your spiritual muscles each day in the New Year!

Consider subscribing  to our “Devotions Done Daily” email. 

The cost is zero. The value is priceless and eternal 

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Have a great week and keep your spirits high.

Hugs, 

Bill

“Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. “

1John 2:24-25

The Apostle John wrote 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John at the mature age around 80 years old. (Let’s hear a cheer for octogenarians!) John had experienced a lifetime to devote his thoughts to his personal experiences with Jesus as a witness to His ministry, the Crucifixion, burial, Resurrection, and Ascension. 

John knew Satan’s most effective tactic deployed with Adam and Eve is planting the seed of DOUBT.

John says “let what you HEARD in the beginning, stay with you”.  

Jesus keeps HIS promises-Eternal life!

Good morning as we start this day,

🎵”Standing on the Promises🎶

On second thought, start the day singing,🎵”Jesus Saves”🎶

(Don’t ever forget it!)

Johnny

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he

Pro 23:7

Alan Jackson – Standing On The Promises Of God (Live) – Gaither Music TV

Jesus Saves – Gospel Music Hymn Sing

“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Luke 9:23

Jesus laid out the conditions to be a follower. This  is no place for prima-donnas or privileged.

Jesus gave 3 qualifiers;

    1.    Following Jesus requires self- denial. It is about others!

    2.    Following Jesus is 7 days a week not just on Sunday.

    3.    To follow Jesus will take you to the following people and places that you might be uncomfortable with. 

         • Prisons (visiting the incarcerated)

         • Hospitals (visiting sick people)

         • Feeding the poor

         • Clothing the less fortunate 

         • Giving water to the thirsty

         • Welcoming and befriending Strangers 

So Jesus is straightforward. There are no days off, we put our personal desires on the back burner, and following Jesus takes us to places and with people who are not like us. 

Good morning and the signup sheet is located at the Cross. 

Oh, we can sing 🎵”There’s Room at the Cross for Me”🎶🎶

Johnny

“As a man thinketh in his heart so is he 

Pro 23:7

Room At The Cross For You (Live At Studio C, Gaither Studios, Alexandria, IN/2016)

Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone – Ernie Ford – Morgenster 24

“All true Christians must be content to WAIT for their wages.”

C.W. Ryle

Jesus did not promise instant gratification as His follower. Quite the contrary. 

“In the world you will have troubles. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Paul brings wisdom to our plight;

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” 

Rom 8:18

The psalmist encourages us: 

“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” 

Ps 27:14

Good morning and join me in singing my mother’s favorite hymn

🎵”Sunrise Tomorrow, Sunrise Tomorrow 

Sunrise in Glory is Waiting for Me”🎶

Johnny

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he

Pro 23:7

Sunrise Tomorrow – arr. Wyrtzen

Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is a room for Jesus

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:7

The Gospel of John vividly reveals the divinity of Jesus. 

Jesus described himself as the great “I Am” which is how God referred to himself in the Old Testament. 

John reported Jesus as stating:

• I am the bread of life: (John 6:35)

• I am the light of the world: (John 8:12)

• I am the door: (John 10:7) 

• I am the good shepherd: (John 10:11, 14) 

• I am the resurrection and the life: (John 11:25)

• I am the way and the truth and the life: (John 14:6)

• I am the true vine: (John 15:1)

Jesus stands at the door and knocks. 

Do you have a room for him?

Good morning as you usher Jesus to His room; the “Honeymoon  Suite” in your heart!

Johnny

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he

Proverbs 23:7

Casting Crowns – Make Room (Official Music Video) ft. Matt Maher

We are a few days into 2025, and many Christians have made resolutions. By now, we may have broken many of them.

Every Christian recognizes that there are important stages of life. The terms Christians use to describe these important moments are justification, sanctification, and glorification. Justification is “an act of God whereby He pronounces us righteous because of our faith in Jesus.

Sanctification is “the PROCESS by which Christians are set apart for God by which Christians are made HOLY” (2 PETER 3:18).

We are SANCTIFIED as we grow in HOLINESS through the work of the HOLY Spirit (Ephesians 4:11-32; Galatians 5:16-24). We are forever justified, we are being SANCTIFIED, and we will be glorified (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Jesus will hold us accountable for our sanctification process. Our rewards in heaven will be based on our sanctification process. What are you doing in 2025 to become more like Jesus (sanctification process). 

Are you going to follow Jesus in 2025 or ask Jesus to follow you.

Praise God always 

Dave

Go to GotQuestions.org and search for: “How are justification, sanctification, and glorification related?” Also, “What is progressive sanctification?” 

Sanctified Shadows ~ A Christian Country Gospel Song  Holy Harmonies

Sanctuary – worship video with lyrics.wmv  allfords4me1

When I walk, I walk slow. But I never walk backwards.” — Abraham Lincoln

You get the power to fulfill your calling in private (prayer, study, fasting, suffering), not in public. It is easy to focus on public ministry instead of private.

Some scholars say, “Solomon asked for wisdom,” but the text translates that he asked for a “listening heart.” In turn, God gave him the result of a listening heart: wisdom

“Give your servant therefore a listening heart to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil.”
1Kings 3:9

And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, ….I give you a wise and discerning mind.”
I Kings 3:12

“Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.” — Jesus
Mt. 20:25

Good morning as you learn the first step in leading is serving

Johnny
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he
Pro 23:7

Hillsong United – Lead Me To The Cross with Lyrics – New Beginnings LAX

I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR by Fernando Ortega – lindsaygillespiw

My friend Mary S. From Grand Rapids and Naples shared this on New Year’s Day.  Too good not to pass along…

As The Chapter Closes…author unknown to me

…As we stand at the threshold of another year’s end, our hearts hold both shadows and light. 2024 brought us moments that tested our strength, taught us resilience, and showed us who truly stands beside us when storms gather.

To those we lost – your absence echoes in the quiet moments, but your love continues to guide us forward. To the challenges that brought us to our knees – thank you for showing us we are stronger than we knew.

Some of us carry scars that the world cannot see, fought battles in silence, and found courage in the darkest hours. Yet here we stand, breathing, hoping, dreaming still. Tonight, we release the weight of what was, honoring both our tears and triumphs. They have shaped us, but they do not define our tomorrow.

As the sun sets on this chapter, we gather our hopes like stars, ready to paint them across a fresh canvas. Tomorrow brings not just a new year, but a chance to begin again – wiser, braver, and more grateful for each breath we share.

To 2024 – thank you for your lessons. To 2025 – we step toward you with open hearts, ready to write new stories of love, healing, and possibility.

May we all find peace in letting go and courage in beginning anew.

Happy New Year! 💝

MORNING HAS BROKEN – Cat Stevens (Lyrics) – Rachel Reyes

We are spiritual beings here to have a human experience.

Stay in shape.  Exercise your spiritual muscles …

Subscribe to our “Devotions Done Daily” email. 

The cost is zero. The value is priceless and eternal.

 https://www.devotionsdonedaily.com/subscribe

Have a great week and keep your spirits high.

Hugs,  Bill

“It is more important to influence people than to impress them.” 

Adrian Rogers

God made mankind to be physical, mental, and spiritual .

We IMPRESS people by our physical prowness such as athletic skills and creative talents as well as with those with exceptional mental abilities. 

However, we INFLUENCE people with our SPIRIT!

Our Spirit will always be our greatest strength.

We have limited control of our physical and mental gifts, whereas we have unlimited control over our spirit through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

“Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the BREATH OF LIFE.”

Gen 2:7

The ” Breath of Life” is referred to in the Bible as our spirit. 

Good morning as you strive to live in the Spirit. 

Johnny

“As. Man thinketh in his heart, so is he

Pro 23:7

Vertical Worship – Spirit of the Living God (Music Video)

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Rom 12:12

Attitude + Actions = Outcomes

Paul gives us a perfect formula for life that we have total control over:

1. Joyful in Hope 

         * See yourself as the Victor; not the Victim

2. Patient in Affliction 

           * “Though there be tears of the

                night, there will be joy in the 

                morning.”

            * “And this too shall pass!”

    3.  Faithful in Prayer

             *”Pray without ceasing”

Paul tells us in Phil 4:8-10 how to implement the above:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, THINK about these things. What you have LEARNED and RECEIVED and HEARD and SEEN in me—PRACTICE these things, and the GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU.”

Good morning as you incorporate the attitude of Christ into your actions today in order for God to reveal His Glory

Johnny

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he

Pro 23:7

Through It All – Hillsong Worship