by the Rev. Dr. Clark G. Armstrong Marshall Church of the Nazarene I know five persons since Christmas who have committed suicide. As pandemic restrictions, shutdowns, quarantines, economic side effects, family and personal challenges have persisted without any definite relief, depression has begun to greatly increase and take its toll. Mental and emotional health are subtly in danger amongst all of us...

By Melanie Dees Campbell Marshall Ministerial Alliance Hearing believers and friends in leadership and Pastoral service speak of Solomon’s riches implying they/we should be as wealthy while ignoring Solomon’s offense to the Lord, grieves me...

by the Rev. Mary Williams First United Methodist Church member As a reason to be polite, I offered to share my candy bar with a friend. Her reply was, “No thanks, I’m giving up candy and sweets for Lent.”...

by Minister Melanie Dees Campbell Ark Ministries Hope of the World “But there, for the grace of God, go I,” is something I have said since a teenager. If not for the Lord, I could have made devastating choices when at the crossroads of life. The grace of God and prayer are the foundation for developing true compassion, the concern for the sufferings and misfortunes of others...

By Richard DeFord Marshall Ministerial Alliance Change is a hard thing. We generally don’t like change unless we are bored. As we begin today, I want to share a story with you that demonstrates how hard change is...

By the Rev. Dr. Clark Armstrong Pastor of the Marshall Church of the Nazarene The reason for our first devotional of the New Year is to shut one door and open another one. We do this every year. Sometimes we gently shut the first door and sometimes we slam it shut. I am not sure which is the most appropriate for this year! And sometimes we timidly open the door we enter, while other times we boldly or expectantly open it...

As I write this article I think back to the year that we have just gone through called 2020. It has been a year of sadness, sorrow, hurt, fear, uncertainty, confusion, disappointment, hate and just down right bad news everywhere you turn. We have seen this country going from a great economy at the beginning of the year to a total downward spiral disaster overnight. ...

by Eden DeGonia Open Door Baptist Church “I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121 1:2) I am the youngest in a family of boys and the only girl. My three older brothers are years ahead of me and growing up, I wanted to be wherever they were. I assure you they did not feel the same way!...

by Vernon Maxted Retired Baptist Pastor-Minister After His resurrection and ascension the Lord sent the Holy Spirit to empower His churches for their mission in the world - see Acts 1:8. According to Ephesians 4: 11-12 He also provided Spirit-gifted leaders for the churches, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some ‘prophets’, some evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…” It is significant of their importance to the churches that prophets are listed second after the apostles.. ...

by Minister Melanie Dees Campbell Ark Ministries Hope of the World I asked a virtual personal assistant what was worth most in the world. It stated time was worth more than money because money cannot make time, but in time you can make money. I agreed, partially...

by David Sitzes Ministerial Alliance A friend of mine sent me a story recently about a man who was on a trip on a big ship going overseas, and as they got close to Italy the captain lowered the anchor to secure the ship and was explaining to the man the reason he had anchored in a certain location...

by Minister Melanie Dees Campbell Ark Ministries Hope of the World Most have heard, “resist the devil, and he will flee,” but it is not the complete truth. James 4:7 states, “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”. ...

by Pastor Wayne Doolin First Baptist Church “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust!’” The last three months, and the last three weeks have caused great hurt and havoc in people’s lives. ...

by Pastor Randy Shannon Cumberland Presbyterian Church Primary Scriptures: Luke 10: 25-37 Luke 10: 27-29 “…‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind?’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ...

by David Sitzes Ministerial Alliance In Matthew 22: 34-40, one of the Pharisees who was a teacher of the Law was trying to trap Jesus with a question. (The Pharisees didn’t like Jesus and were always trying to trick him into saying something that wasn’t true to discredit him). ...

by David Sitzes Marshall Ministerial Alliance Nowadays, almost everyone that you see out and about has a cell phone in their hands or in their pockets. In some ways that is a good thing, and in some ways not so good. The not so good is when you’re driving and using it or when you’re around power equipment and using it. ...

by Minister Melanie Dees Campbell Ark Ministries Hope of the World Our focus should align with God’s purpose. Many get stressed during difficult times or when confronting upsetting situations, but we don’t have to stay stressed or “camp out” in it; if we maintain our focus on our faith in the Lord, continuing to love and praise him. The Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Yeshua/Jesus who is salvation, the word made flesh loves us...

by Minister Melanie Dees Campbell Ark Ministries Hope of the World Trials and tests reveal people’s character and faith. Obedient faith to the teachings of the Messiah and holy scripture is necessary for success. Benjamin Franklin’s statement, “Well done is better than well said,” sums up our opportunity. ...

by Rev. Richard DeFord, Chaplain at Fitzgibbon Hospital, Associate Pastor of Katy Park Baptist Church You don’t have to look very far to see suffering, grief and anxiety about the events around us. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that a) not all the things we have held dear for so long really matter and b) we take a lot of people and things for granted in our lives...

by Pastor William Voelker Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Marshall We tell the kids that patience is a virtue, we want to have the ability to be patient and wait, but we never want to actually have to wait. We’re fine with the idea — but putting it into practice? No thank you...