Morning Prayer for Thursday, March 27, 2025

 

Praying the Scriptures

Thursday Morning Prayer

March 27, 2025

For in him every one of God’s promises is a “Yes.” For this reason it is through him that we say the “Amen,” to the glory of God. But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first installment. (2 Corinthians 1:20-22)

Heavenly Father,

As the first light of dawn stretches across the vast desert sky, I come before You with a heart full of gratitude. The cool morning breeze whispers through the mesquites, and the rugged peaks of the Florida Mountains stand firm, a reminder of Your steadfast promises.

Lord, Your Word tells me that in Christ, every one of Your promises is a resounding "Yes." You have sealed me as Your own, anointed me with Your Spirit, and placed Your mark upon my heart as a guarantee of what is to come. In this moment of stillness, I rest in the assurance that I am Yours—claimed, loved, and upheld by Your grace.

As the desert awakens with the warmth of the rising sun, let my soul awaken to Your presence. Strengthen me for the journey ahead, whether it be one of labor, service, or quiet reflection. Keep my steps firm upon the path You have set before me, and may my words and actions reflect the faithfulness of the One who has called me.

Thank You for the hope that is unshakable, for the Spirit who dwells within me, and for the promise that no matter where this day leads, I walk in the certainty of Your love.

In the name of Jesus, my Savior and my Yes and Amen, I pray.

Amen.

May the God of steadfast promises bless your steps this day, filling you with His Spirit, guiding you in His truth, and keeping you ever in the assurance of His unfailing love.

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The Bible passages come from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyrighted © 1989, 1993 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Praying the Scriptures is penned daily by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Morning Prayer for Thursday, February 27, 2025

 

Praying the Scriptures

Thursday Morning Prayer

February 27, 2025

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)

Gracious and loving God,

As the dawn stretches across the vast desert sky and the cool morning air whispers over the land, I come before You in gratitude. The mountains stand firm against the horizon, steadfast as Your promises, and the sun begins its slow ascent, reminding me that Your mercies are new every morning.

Lord, You have called me to faithfulness, to trust in You even in the face of trials. Your Word in Revelation tells me, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” In the stillness of this February morning, I hear Your voice urging me to persevere—to hold fast to the hope You have set before me.

There are days when the road seems uncertain, when the winds of doubt and worry try to shake me. Yet, like the ancient stones of this desert, I long to be steadfast, grounded in Your truth. Strengthen me, Lord, for whatever lies ahead. May I not fear what the day may bring, but instead walk forward with faith, clothed in Your grace and sustained by Your Spirit.

Let my life be a witness of endurance and love. May my words bring encouragement, my actions reflect Your kindness, and my heart remain faithful to the path You have laid before me. As I breathe in this crisp desert air, I am reminded that You are the giver of life, and in You, I have no reason to fear.

Bless this day, O Lord. Bless my family, my friends, and all those I encounter. Fill me with the courage to stand firm in faith, knowing that beyond every trial, You have promised me the crown of life.

I offer this day to You, trusting in Your goodness.

In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer, I pray.

Amen.

May this prayer bring you peace and inspiration for your day.

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The Bible passages come from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyrighted © 1989, 1993 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Praying the Scriptures is penned daily by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Morning Prayer for Monday, February 24, 2025

 

Praying the Scriptures

Monday Morning Prayer

February 24, 2025

For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the Lord of hosts is his name. I have put my words in your mouth, and hidden you in the shadow of my hand, stretching out the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, “You are my people.” (Isaiah 51:15-16)

Gracious and Almighty God,

As the sun rises over the desert, painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson, I lift my heart to You in praise. The cool morning air whispers of Your presence, and the stillness of the land reminds me of Your unshakable peace.

You, O Lord, are the One who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—Your name is the Lord of hosts. Just as You set the boundaries of the mighty ocean, so too have You set Your hand upon my life, guiding my steps even in the wilderness. In this season of crisp mornings and lengthening days, I am reminded that You have placed Your words in my mouth and sheltered me beneath the shadow of Your hand.

Lord, as I go about this day, let me walk in the confidence of Your promises. Let my words speak life, my actions reflect Your love, and my spirit rest in the assurance that You are with me. Whether I stand beneath the vast sky or tread upon the dusty path, I know that I am covered by Your grace.

Like the morning breeze that carries the scent of sage and mesquite, may Your Spirit move through me—bringing peace where there is unrest, comfort where there is sorrow, and hope where there is doubt.

This land, this moment, this life—all belong to You, O Lord. I trust in Your strength, I lean on Your wisdom, and I rejoice in Your steadfast love.

In Jesus' name, I pray.

Amen.

May this prayer bring you peace and strength as you start your day.

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The Bible passages come from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyrighted © 1989, 1993 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Praying the Scriptures is penned daily by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Morning Prayer for Thursday, February 13, 2025

 

Praying the Scriptures

Thursday Morning Prayer

February 13, 2025

Accept whatever befalls you, and in times of humiliation be patient. For gold is tested in the fire, and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation. (Sirach 2:4-5)

Gracious and steadfast Lord,

As the sun rises over the rugged beauty of the Florida Mountains, painting the desert sky in hues of gold and crimson, I turn my heart to You. The cool morning air carries whispers of Your presence, and I breathe in the quiet strength You provide.

Today, Lord, I embrace Your refining work in my life. Your word teaches, “Accept whatever befalls you, and in times of humiliation be patient. For gold is tested in the fire, and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation.” I know that trials will come, just as the desert knows both drought and storm, but I trust that You are using every moment to shape me into something precious in Your sight.

When the winds of adversity blow across my path, help me stand firm like the mesquite, whose roots run deep. When the burdens of the day press upon me, remind me that I am not alone. You, O Lord, are my refuge and my strength, my guide through the wilderness.

Let my heart be steadfast and my spirit unshaken, for You are faithful to those who trust in You. As I step forward into this new day, may my words and deeds reflect the patience and endurance You are cultivating within me.

In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen.

May this prayer bring you peace and inspiration for your day.

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The Bible passages come from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyrighted © 1989, 1993 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Praying the Scriptures is penned daily by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Morning Prayer for Friday, February 7, 2025

 

Praying the Scriptures

Friday Morning Prayer

February 7, 2025

But this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13b-14)

Gracious God,

As the sun rises over the Florida Mountains, painting the sky in hues of hope, I pause to feel Your presence in the stillness of this desert morning. I let go of the worries of yesterday, straining forward to what lies ahead, as Your Word calls me to press on toward the goal of Your heavenly promise in Christ Jesus.

In this quiet hour, my heart aches for those whose lives are uprooted, for families torn apart and dreams dashed by forces beyond their control. Lord, as I reflect on the struggles of those being deported, I pray for Your comforting hand to rest upon them. May they find strength in Your abiding love, even as they face uncertainty and loss.

Teach me, Lord, to be a voice of compassion and a hand of help to those in need. Let me never forget that my faith calls me to walk alongside the displaced, to show mercy and hospitality, and to advocate for justice and dignity for all.

This morning, I recommit myself to pressing on, not just for my own sake, but for the sake of the vulnerable and marginalized. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You, the source of my hope and my strength. May my life reflect Your love as I journey onward, trusting that You are ever with me, guiding my steps.

In the name of Jesus Christ, who walked among the outcast and broken,

Amen.

May this prayer bring you peace and inspiration for the day ahead.

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The Bible passages come from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyrighted © 1989, 1993 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Praying the Scriptures is penned daily by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Morning Prayer for Sunday, October 6, 2024

 

Praying the Scriptures

Sunday Morning Prayer

October 6, 2024

Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:25–26)

Heavenly Father, Righteous One,

In the quiet of this Sunday morning, we approach Your presence with hearts yearning for Your truth and love. As the dawn breaks, let Your light dispel the shadows that linger in our lives, illuminating our path with Your grace.

Lord, You have made Yourself known to us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. You have revealed Your name to us, and through that holy revelation, You have invited us into the intimacy of Your love. We are grateful for this gift, for the love You have poured into our hearts, a love that knows no bounds, a love that enables us to call You Father.

As we gather today in worship and reflection, help us to live out the truth that Jesus has shared. Let Your love be manifest in our lives, so that the world may see and know You through our actions and words. Bind us together, O God, in the unity of Your Spirit, that we may be one as You are one with Christ.

Teach us to love as You love, freely and unconditionally. Strengthen our faith, that we may be steadfast in the face of trials, and generous in the face of need. Open our hearts to receive more of You, that we might in turn pour out Your love to others.

We ask all this in the precious name of Jesus, who reveals Your heart to us and intercedes for us always.

Amen.

I hope this prayer brings you peace and inspiration for your day.

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The Bible passages come from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyrighted © 1989, 1993 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Praying the Scriptures is penned daily by Rev. Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Morning Prayer for Thursday, August 22, 2024

 

Praying the Scriptures

Thursday Morning Prayer

August 22, 2024

As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? … Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him. (Psalm 42:1–2, 5)

Heavenly Father,

As the deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for You, O God. In the quiet of this morning, my soul thirsts for You, the living God. Where can I go to meet with You, to see Your power and Your glory as I've seen You in the sanctuary?

Lord, in the stillness, I remember Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness that has carried me through the darkest nights. I will yet praise You, my Savior and my God, for You are my rock and my refuge. Though my soul is downcast, I put my hope in You, for I shall again praise You, my salvation and my light.

Fill this day with Your presence, guide my steps, and renew my spirit. Let me encounter You in every moment, and through today's challenges, may Your grace be sufficient and Your strength be my joy.

In the name of Jesus, I pray,

Amen.

May this prayer bring you peace and inspiration for your day.

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The Bible passages come from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyrighted © 1989, 1993 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Praying the Scriptures is penned daily by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Daily Devotions for Monday, August 12, 2024: Sweet Words and Open Doors

 

The Daily Devotional

Monday, August 12, 2024

Sweet Words and Open Doors

Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:37)

Introduction

Psalm 119:103 reads, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" This verse invites us to savor the delightful nature of God's Word as we would a delicious treat. But this enjoyment doesn't just stop with us—it extends to how we express and embody these words in our daily lives, transforming our homes into true places of welcome.

Reflection

As I browsed the selection of doormats, each one seemed to offer a different greeting, from cheerful hellos to the warmth of a simple "Home." The one that finally made it to my doorstep was a classic "Welcome." This simple word led me to a deeper introspection: Does my home truly reflect the sweetness and openness of the words I cherish from the Scriptures?

God's words are not merely to be enjoyed in solitude but lived out in active hospitality and openness toward others. Just as honey adds sweetness to our palate, God’s words should sweeten our interactions and our approach to hospitality. They call us to be welcoming not just in written words on a doormat but in the genuine spirit of our home.

Application

Reflect on the last time you opened your door to someone unexpectedly. Was it with a sigh or a smile? Did you feel disrupted or delighted? Being truly welcoming means preparing our hearts to receive others just as eagerly as we would receive Christ himself. It means our homes are places where a schoolchild, a neighbor, or a sudden family visit can feel the warmth of genuine care and hospitality.

Conclusion

In a world where doors often close more than they open, let us be the ones to make our thresholds places of genuine encounter and joy. The true measure of our hospitality lies not in the grandeur of our homes but in the readiness of our hearts to serve and embrace others as extensions of our family.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, let Your sweet words permeate my life and my home. Help me to cherish Your teachings and embody them in the way I welcome and interact with everyone who crosses my doorstep. May my home be a reflection of Your love and a haven of hospitality. Teach me to serve joyfully and to open my doors with a spirit of kindness and generosity. In Your holy name, I pray, Amen.

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Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA

The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV)© 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Reflections From the Chaplain — Why Jesus?

 

WHY JESUS?

“…always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

— 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

Why have you chosen Jesus and the Christian “Way?” Perhaps it was the only option you were presented with as a child. “Jesus loves me this I know, for my mama told me so…” That’s the way most of us came to faith. But, once we are a bit further along in life and have seen other options, why do we still choose Jesus? Have you thought about that?

What is your “elevator speech?” An elevator speech is the time available in those sixty seconds or so that it takes to ride an elevator (or lift) from ground level to the 9th floor. That may be all the time you have to share your story. Or it may be a casual conversation between stops on the underground. You get the point. Have you prepared your own personal “elevator speech”? Are you ready to follow through with I Peter 3:15? Is your response believable?

Deep Relationship

It is said that actions are driven by emotions. Emotions are driven by perceptions. Perceptions are driven by belief. And the human mind can believe ANYTHING. So, there is a connection between belief and actions. Belief can cause a person to give their life in the service of others. It can also cause a religious “true believer” to blow themselves up in a suicide bombing. Your behavior more times than not gives away your belief. Do your actions, your behavior reflect a deep-seated relationship with Jesus? If not, it may suggest that belief is not really present.

So, I ask you this week to share with us your “elevator speech” as to why you have chosen Jesus.

Blessings and peace,

Chaplain Kenny

Daily Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - Where is she now?

Where is she now?

Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too. Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

—Luke 20:27-40 (NIV)

There is a question that can haunt you after someone you love dies. It has been seven years now, today, since my late wife, Barbara, died. Where is she now? We may know where their bodies lie, but what about the rest of them—the mind, the heart, the spirit? Where are they? Do they still exist at all? Or have they vanished, like breath on the wind?

We are Christians. We know the correct answers. But human is human, and grief is grief, and it is not surprising when these kinds of doubts arise in our minds. Jesus does not blame us for it. Instead, He provides us with an answer—and from a really strange place.

Jesus is having a—well, let’s be polite and call it a “discussion” with the Sadducees. This was a Jewish religious group that didn’t believe in the resurrection or in any real kind of life after death, unlike other Jews of Jesus’ time. They try to trap Jesus with a ridiculous story based on a technical point of Moses’ Law. Jesus does answer them—but He does much better for us—He answers the real concern behind the silly story—do the dead still exist?

And He does it by appealing to a really mundane detail—one of God’s favorite names for Himself in the Old Testament. God says to Moses, “I AM the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6a).

Now that only makes sense if Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still exist. Otherwise God would have said “I was the God of Abraham,” and so forth. God and Abraham are still in relationship—even 2,000 years after Abraham’s death.

You may be grieving for someone you love right now. I am. And it’s hard to anchor your mind and heart when you think of the person you love but cannot imagine what they are doing right now—where they are, what their surroundings look like. Jesus gives us an anchor. “I am the God of insert name here,” He says. That person still exists, and is in God’s hands. We can be sure, because as Jesus says, “Now He is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to Him.”

Lord, help me entrust the people I love into Your hands while they live and when they die. Amen.

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny 

In Loving Memory

Barbara Jean Pesicka-Sallee

July 7, 1954—November 22, 2012

Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - Drifting Away

Drifting Away

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

~ Hebrews 2:1 (NIV)

William Edward Parry was a British explorer. In the early 1800s he led an expedition to the Arctic Ocean. They wanted to go farther north to continue their chartings. So they calculated their location by the stars and then started a very difficult and treacherous march north. They walked the whole day. And then totally exhausted, they finally stopped for the night. They took their bearings again from the stars. And they were shocked to discover that they were farther south than when they had started. They then discovered that they had been walking on an ice floe that was moving south faster than they were moving north! They were drifting in the opposite direction.

The same can be true of us spiritually. If we neglect to listen carefully to what Christ said, we will begin to drift away from Him. And our drifting will lead to disobedience. And if we don’t repent, that disobedience will lead to punishment—not loss of eternal life, but loss of the privilege of ruling in Christ’s kingdom. And that would be tragic! Because you were created to rule. God created man to have dominion over His creation. And you’ll get to do that—if you continue to follow Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, forgive me for drifting away at times and not paying close attention to Your life-giving message of salvation. Give me a hunger and thirst for Your Word that no one and nothing can satisfy. Help me to confidently share the love of Jesus with every person I encounter today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny

Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
William Edward Parry was a British explorer. In the early 1800s he led an expedition to the Arctic Ocean.

Daily Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - THE CASE OF MARGARET AULT

THE CASE OF MARGARET AULT

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

~ Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

In his book, The Jesus Creed, Scot McKnight shares the moving story of Margaret Ault. When Margaret was just about to complete her Ph.D. at Duke, something unexpected -- but quite welcomed -- happened: she fell in love. She went on a date with a man named Hyung Goo Kim, and the proverbial sparks flew. But almost as quickly as the sparks became a fire, they were doused with water. Hyung Goo informed Margaret that he was HIV positive. Needless to say, Margaret was devastated. In her own words, "I'd just met someone I liked, and we were definitely not going to live happily ever after. I felt like I had been kicked in the gut by the biggest boot in the world."

Still, she and Hyung Goo were married. In his book McKnight asks the question many of us would ask: "Why would anyone invite into the core of their being so much pain?" He then goes on to share that the answer unfolds in the rest of Margaret and Hyung Goo's story. He writes:

"When Margaret was in graduate school at Duke, she and Hyung Goo loved to walk in the Duke gardens, and so knowledgeable did they become of its plants that they 'supervised construction' of a new project. They walked through each part of the garden routinely and had names for some of the ducks. In their last spring together, the garden seemed especially beautiful [to them]."

Hyung Goo died in the fall and Margaret returned to the gardens in the spring where a memorial garden of roses was being constructed in his honor. In her book, Sing Me to Heaven, Margaret reflects on the days she returned to the gardens. She writes:

"Where peonies were promised, there were only the dead stumps of last year's stalks; where day lilies were promised, there were unprepossessing tufts of foliage; where hostas were promised, there was nothing at all. And yet I know what lushness lay below the surface; those beds that were so brown and empty and, to the unknowing eye, so unpromising, would be full to bursting in a matter of months.

Then she asks, "Is the whole world like this? Is this what it might be like to live in expectation, real expectation, of the resurrection? Was not Hyung Goo's and my life together like this? Empty and sere, and yet a seedbed of fullness and life for both of us. He died, and I was widowed; yet in his dying, we both were made alive." (Scot McKnight, The Jesus Creed, Paraclete Press, 2005, pp. 286-288)

How did Margaret find such hope in the midst of her pain? Well, she refused to focus on the deadness around her. Instead, she focused on the promise of life.

You see, God's promises are like seeds planted in a "brown and empty" world. To the unbeliever, what seems so barren will one day be busting with life and beauty and joy. So don't give up on God, ever, even in the midst of your pain. Instead, Pray in faith, because you are forgiven. Persevere with hope, because God is faithful.

Father, we bless and thank You for a brand new day and for the fresh opportunities and challenges that this day will bring. Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning and I pray that I will walk worthy of You today and be a faithful witness in thought, word and deed.. demonstrating a Christ-like attitude to all with whom I come in contact.

Keep me ever-focussed on You Lord and keep my heart steadfastly trusting You for all my needs and necessities. Help me not to function in my own strength, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. May I stand firm in the truth of the gospel of grace and remain steadfastly looking to Jesus - trusting in Him to supply His sufficient strength for all occasions. Teach me all that You would have me to learn today and give me the courage and strength to press on toward the goal for the upward call in Christ Jesus.. so that I may win the heavenly prize, which God, in Christ, is calling me to do – in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny

Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - STOP MAKING GOD “SAFE”

STOP MAKING GOD “SAFE”

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

~ Matthew 10:34 (NIV)

Our Open Doors colleague, Ron Boyd-MacMillan, shares the following insight from his teaching, “Why I Need to Encounter the Persecuted Church.”

Don’t let them make God safe!” These words of send-off for me at the Bombay airport were from an Indian Christian evangelist. He had a low opinion of western churches. After visiting them he confided, “They have managed to turned a dangerous God into a safe one…instead of a God that burns with fury against hypocrisy, idolatry and injustice, they have a God that turns a blind eye to all our faults, just keeps on loving us with a disinterested air, and seems not to care whether we stand out for him or not.”

The persecuted never let us forget that knowing God should bring chaos, not safety, because God’s gospel is so subversive. The life of the Indian evangelist proves this point. He used to work as a river guide in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi. It was his job to row tourists around the river especially at sunrise so they could take pictures of the morning sun shining on the giant rows of temple steps, called ghats that hugged the river bank. His employer insisted he provide sexual services for the tourists who hired the boat, and he soon became a male prostitute.

A few years later he received the gospel as a result of a chance encounter with a tourist. After becoming a Christian he said, “I felt relief that I did not have to behave that way again. Suddenly a whole new set of choices opened up for me. But I was apprehensive too—the choices that pleased God would not please anyone else.” His employer had him beaten by thugs. But he refused to return to work as a prostitute. He was sacked and immediately had to leave town.

At first he went back to his family, but they were not happy to see him. His mother wailed, “We sold you so you could look after us in our old age, and now you are following a bad god who has made you refuse to provide for us.”

He became convicted that he must return to Varanasi and work to free all the other sex slaves. He began setting up a bank so that low paid workers could borrow at reasonable rates of interest, and not have to go to loan sharks that kept them in financial slavery. He said, “Jesus Christ had given me freedom, and now I had to fight for the freedom of other people just like me. I had to. Jesus makes us pure and sacred, and it is not right that his children should be bought and sold and used like cattle.” He has survived two assassination attempts. His wife had acid thrown over her by thugs employed by the leaders of the prostitution rackets. This man is driven by a love for a God that is determined to set his children free.

God has been made far too safe when we can attend churches and never be roused to do something about the challenge of the poor, the needy, and the persecuted. God wants us to stand up and out against sin. He promised us that following Him would get us into a fight. The fight will come to us if only we realize how subversive His gospel really is. Let the persecuted help.

RESPONSE: Today I will stand up and stand out for God and His righteousness…not look for a safe life.

PRAYER: Lord, bless all, like the Indian evangelist, who stand up for You today in a spiritual fight.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

LHM Daily Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - Jesus Receives Sinners

"Jesus Receives Sinners"

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

~ 1 Corinthians 6:11 (NIV)

The hymn says, "Jesus sinners doth receive."

The problem is, every once in a while, I run into sinners who think that statement is true for everyone ... except them. There are a number of reasons for that:

1. Some people really don't believe they are sinners. That's because they really don't believe God has set up Laws to judge them.

2. There are others who, as they look back on their lives, find overwhelming evidence showing them to be a depraved, debauched transgressor. Their shame is so great, their guilt so troubling and terrifying they believe, if they were ever brought before Jesus, He would recoil at the sight of them and refuse to receive them.

My dear, big-sinning friend, don't be foolish. When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was crushed to the ground by the great weight of humanity's sins. Your transgressions were there that night. Jesus knew you, your life, and every one of the sins you have ever committed.

Trust me on this. There is not a single passage in Scripture which speaks of Jesus carrying the sins of everybody with the exception of you. Nowhere does it record Jesus saying, "Yes, Father in heaven, I'll die to save the world with the exception of Bob or Bertha in the 21st century."

He didn't refuse to redeem you from sin, death, and devil.

Jesus knew your sins, and He carried your sins, along with the sins of every one of us, to His cross. Jesus carried the sins of big sinners and little sinners and even those sinners who pretend they're not sinners. There, on the accursed tree, He gave His life as your ransom and offered His perfection to win your salvation. He paid the price, and then, with His resurrection from the dead, showed to all who are given eyes to see: Jesus receives sinners.

We are all sinners that Jesus wishes to receive and change. Yes, you heard me right: He will receive you, and He will change you.

You didn't think He was going to leave you the way you were, did you? What would be the point in that? If you were going to stay the same, there would have been no purpose in Him living and dying for you. No, Jesus will receive you the way you are and make you into what God wants you to be. Jesus will receive you and give faith to you, and forgive you, and change you.

It's not painful. On the contrary, it's wonderful to be redeemed and recycled, remade with a new heart, a new life filled with forgiveness, lifted up by hope, and given a wonderful life that will never end. It all happens because Jesus, the Savior, receives sinners.

How do I know?

I know because He changed me -- even as He has changed, and been merciful to, many others.

Dear Lord, the tax collector spoke for all of us when he asked for mercy in regard to his sins. I am thankful that just as he was forgiven, I am too. In Jesus' Name I give thanks. Amen.

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Devotion by Lutheran Hour Ministries. Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
The hymn says, "Jesus sinners doth receive."

Daily Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - Things I'd Like to Know

"Things I'd Like to Know"

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

~ Matthew 19:25-26 (NIV)

There are times when the Gospel writers don't satisfy my curiosity.

One of those incomplete (to me) stories is that of the gift-giving lady in the temple. We see her placing all she had into the treasury and then disappearing into the crowd. (See Mark 12:41-44.)

Don't you wonder what happened to her? I do.

You know, the Bible gives all we need, so we might receive eternal life. For this I am most thankful to the Lord, but I must confess there have been times as I've read and studied that I've thought some stories end abruptly. I've found myself asking, "And then what?"

* I really wish one of the Gospel writers would have told me what happened to Jesus' stepfather, Joseph. Yes, I know I'll find out in heaven, but I'd sure like to know now.

* I'd like to know where did the wise men go after they gave their gifts.

* I'd like to know what happened to Pilate. I don't need to know; but I would like to know.

I would like to know how did the story of the widow end? What happened to her?

I've been through the New Testament a whole bunch of times, and there's nothing there. I've looked through some church history books and haven't found anything there. What happened? Did she live a long life? Did she find a rich widower, get married, and live happily ever after? Did she, as she left the temple, stumble over a bag of a billion dollars, turn it into the local police, and when it wasn't claimed, it became hers?

What happened?

Did she live in poverty the rest of her life? I just don't know and, truth be told, nobody else knows, either. Of course, that doesn't stop some people from making guesses as to what happened to her.

For example, I've listened to some preachers on the radio and TV. After hearing some of their messages, I'm not very encouraged as to her prospects. You know, they say, "If you give a big gift to God, He has to give a big gift back to you. If you give a small gift, well ....

Now, if I were that widow, I'd find that kind of theology pretty discouraging. She only had two mites, the smallest amount a person could give to the temple. Now, using the logic of these tele-evangelists, the lady would have finished her life pretty broke.

Thankfully, God doesn't work that way.

He doesn't depend on us to jump-start the relationship between us. When Adam and Eve sinned, it was the Lord who made the first move and promised to send the Messiah. When King David sinned, it was the Lord who initiated the visit which brought repentance and restoration.

When you and I transgress, it is He who finds us and holds out the forgiveness His Son has earned through His life, suffering, death, and resurrection. It is God's answer to our questions on salvation, and no more complete answer can be given.

Dear Lord, only You could answer the questions on how I can be saved. For my Savior who is the ultimate answer, You shall always have my thanks. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny


Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Devotion by Lutheran Hour Ministries. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
There are times when the Gospel writers don't satisfy my curiosity.

Morning Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - What Will You Suffer For?

What Will You Suffer For?

For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

~ 1 Peter 3:17 (NIV)

Suffering is not optional. We might wish it were. We spend millions of dollars to avoid it, ignore it and get immunized for it, but we can never be immune from it.

We mostly think of suffering as negative. And much suffering is synonymous with the consequences of sin or ignorance. But sometimes good comes from pain and suffering. A child is born into the world through pain. When we get a speck of dirt in our eye, pain signals us to do something about it before it does damage. When we have a virus, the pain signals a need for rest or medication before the disease turns into something deadly.

Pain and suffering are inevitable. However, Peter tells us in 3:17 that since we are going to suffer, we are to suffer for doing right. We can choose what we suffer for. We can suffer because we are doing evil, or we can suffer to give life.

We can suffer as a result of stupidity. We can suffer as a result of sin. Or we can choose to suffer. We can suffer for speaking the gospel or defending it. We can suffer for doing the right thing even though we are mocked or misunderstood. We can suffer by biting back angry words when something unfair occurs to us. We can choose to suffer with others when they are hurting, and it forces us to pray, learn, act and minister.

Father, I pray that when I suffer—and it is inevitable that I will—I will suffer in doing the right and the good. If I suffer, let me do so with a contrite heart—a heart that desires to follow you.

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny


Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Devotion taken from NIV LifeConnect Study Bible. ©2017 HarperCollins Christian Publishing.
Pain and suffering are inevitable.