Devotionals
Joy on the Other Side of Sorrow
There is kind of joy only found on the other side of sorrow. It is a deep, satisfying, enriching joy that only comes to those willing to muddle through the mire of sorrow. Too often we avoid grief. We run from sorrow. We fill the emptiness with busyness. We drown out the silence with noise. We drink, smoke, medicate ourselves, or eat as an escape. We’re constantly running, but from what? The people of Israel lived that way for years. They had run from God – He was too strict. Year after… Read More
Songs of Hope in the Midst of Injustice
Years ago Carrie and I walked into a old, family-owned BBQ restaurant in a small town in North Carolina. As we entered the door every person inside turned their heads ever so slightly toward us. That split-second encounter seemed to last for three minutes. It felt like an old western movie when the city slicker walks through the swinging saloon doors, the piano player stops playing, everybody stops talking, and then one person says, “You ain’t from around here, are ya? Even though I live right near that restaurant, I still felt… Read More
Baby Names, Name Changes, and the Names of God
My wife and I recently had lunch with some good friends, who are expecting their third child. I asked, “Have you thought about names yet?” The conversation meandered around various suggestions in search of the perfect name. Names are significant for many reasons: some names are passed down from family members, or in honor/memory of loved ones; some are meaningful because of the inherent meaning of the name; and some names just sound good to the parents. (And sometimes you wonder, “What were the parents thinking??”) Through Scripture, names are revealed to… Read More
How to Handle Accusations
It’s one thing to be falsely accused; but what about when the accusations are accurate? The Apostle John describes satan as both a liar (John 8:44) and the “accuser” (Rev. 12:10). There are times when satan will accuse you falsely, and even attempt to get you to believe his lies. But there are also times when his accusations are indeed accurate, and his goal is to ensnare you in shame, fear, and hopelessness. John’s revelation shows that Jesus is the One who was, who is, and who is to come. In other… Read More
What Happened in Heaven on the Day Jesus Died?
On school mornings I would often pack lunches for my kids. Gabby liked fruit, Kaleb liked goldfish crackers. Occasionally I would write notes to them, so when they opened their lunch bags they would see a handwritten message from me, reminding them that I love them. Imagine your Heavenly Father, with pen in hand, writing down His love for you, His plans for your life, and His commitment to bring it to pass. Well, in a sense, that’s exactly what He did. In Revelation 5, the Apostle John was taken “back in… Read More
Pastor Dale Jenkins 