By Minister Melanie Dees...

by Minister Melanie Dees Campbell Ark Ministries Hope of the World Thanksgiving is my favorite American holiday. The activities differ for many. Some think of upcoming shopping sales, others the overindulgence of food, some sports, others gatherings of family and friends. ...

by David Sitzes Ministerial Alliance (Part One of Two) There was something strange about that morning as the sun started to peek out on the eastern horizon. John started out of the farmhouse heading toward the barn as he was getting ready to take care of the animals, like he did every morning. But he noticed something strange about that morning...

by Pastor Clark G. Armstrong Marshall Church of the Nazarene The Statue of the Weeping Jesus is a statue of the crucified Jesus in Mumbai (Bombay) which actually weeps tears down Jesus’ face due to a combination of the elevation, humidity and temperature of where it is located. ...

by The Rev. Dr. Clark G. Armstrong Marshall Church of the Nazarene I love a good riddle. But I wasn’t expecting one to be embedded in the sacred writings of scripture. Right there in Isaiah 41, I discovered it in two verses. There appeared to be no posture that the prophet was picturing as he spoke to us about how God is our helper in which both verses could be true at one and the same time. ...

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). ...