An Encounter For The Ages

John 4:39- “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified…”

I often wonder, “How many people actually leave church ‘changed?’” Many of us get out our beds and get all dressed up just to exit the sanctuary the same way we entered. While it’s admirable to hear a Word that will challenge us, many of us need to experience God in a manner that changes us. What is the ultimate barometer to gauge a life-changing Christian experience? Being able to leave the encounter and tell others about Jesus!

In John 4, a Samaritan woman had a conversation with Jesus that changed her life. The woman came to the well promiscuous, but she left purged of her sins! Being in the Presence of the Lord set her soul afire to the point that she ran and told the entire city about Him! John 4:39 says, “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified…” Child of God, purpose in your mind to divorce the mindset of going to church because it’s “the right thing to do” or out of an obligation to serve. Let’s believe God that the next time we enter the doors of the sanctuary (prayerfully this weekend), we’ll experience Jesus in a way that will literally change our lives.

Let’s Pray: “Father, we simply ask that we’ll experience Your Glory during worship in a way that we’ve never experienced You before. Change our lives the next time we enter the doors of the sanctuary, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Daily Prayer: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered

I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works

I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee

I confess that I will not be distracted, disorganized, or in disarray,

but I will be diligent to what God has called me to do

I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph

This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.

Anthony, run after it!

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers"...when the term "peacemaker" is used the initial thought is of someone who keeps the peace between two opposing parties. A "peacemaker" solves dilemmas often without the force of violence, although the threat of violence is sometimes present and to be used if necessary.


When I was growing up, I watched dozens of westerns where the sheriffs -- or the good guys -- were armed with the Colt 45 "peacemaker." How ironic that one of the most famous guns of the 1800?s was named the "peacemaker". The rationality is simply you can only have peace through strength.

When Jesus (Yeshua), the Prince of Peace (in Hebrew the "Sar Shalom") returns again, He will usher in the Messianic age of Shalom -- His strength will be on display as He rules with a "rod of iron."

Interestingly enough, as I was studying the Hebrew New Testament, the word "peacemaker" has a completely different connotation than our understanding in English. The word peacemaker in Hebrew is the phrase "rod-fey shalom".


Shalom has a much richer meaning than simply the word peace. It can also mean completeness, prosperity, safety, contentment, health, blessing and rest. The word "rod-fey" in Hebrew literally means to "run after" or "to chase!"

So, in Hebrew it says to "chase after shalom" -- to run after God's shalom! And one can only find God's shalom through our "Sar Shalom" -- our Prince of Peace!

Anthony, let's strive to reach a new level of intimacy with our Lord! Let's run after a deeper knowledge of our Lord and in doing so, we'll experience new levels of peace, contentment, blessing and rest! With so much work to be done, isn?t it good to know this is available to us NOW through our Sar Shalom!

Let’s Pray: “Father, we that You’ll us a new-found passion to chase after You like NEVER before, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”


Daily Prayer:
“Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10



Daily Confession:
Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail
Above only and not beneath
The lender and not the borrower
The conqueror and not the conquered
I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness
And for delivering my life from death and destruction
S11o that I shall live and not die to declare your works
I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body
For by Your Stripes I'm healed
I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed
Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee
I confess that there is no lack in my life today
For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus
Thank You that all things are working together for my good
And that You always cause me to triumph
This is the day that you have made
I will rejoice and be glad in it1
In Jesus, Name, amen.

Peace in the Midst of the Storm

Mark 4:36-41 (NKJV) 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

The great state of Tennessee is not exempt from the storms that are affecting a good portion of our country. The inclement weather that hit our city two days ago left one-tenth of our residents without electricity and caused the schools to be closed again (it was also the reason I didn’t send out a devotional yesterday). There was an interesting discovery that occurred following the storm system yesterday morning. When I called to check on two of the members of my devotional Bible study group (Morning Glory), they informed me that they didn’t know the severity of the weather because they’d slept through the storm! Amazingly, they were able to maintain uninterrupted rest amidst a storm that had awakened many.

In Mark chapter 4, Jesus and His disciples were traveling from one place to the next when they encountered a storm out on the sea. The winds from the storm were so intense that they caused the boat to fill with water. Although the boat was, “reeling and rocking,” Jesus was sound asleep. After being awakened by the disciples, He rebuked the wind and spoke peace to the sea. His Authority over the storm caused the disciples to ask one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

While we are not exempt from the storms of life, we can experience God’s peace in the midst of them. Today’s exhortation is to believe God for peace in the midst of the storms we have to endure.

Let’s Pray: “Father, we recognize that we will experience storms in this life. But we pray that You’ll give us total and complete peace amidst the storms of life, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Daily Prayer:
“Oh, that You would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!”
The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10



Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.

He’s Still Working Miracles!

John 21:25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

The Bible records that after Jesus’ Resurrection, He prepared the disciples for His Ascension and “…spoke to them about God’s Kingdom” (Acts 1:3, CEV) John chapters 20 and 21 record some of the post-resurrection encounters that Jesus had with His disciples. For instance, Thomas got the name, “Doubting Thomas” because of his inability to believe that Jesus had risen from the grave. When the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord,” he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25) When Jesus appeared to the disciples for the third time, He performed the miracle of the great draught of fishes (John 21:1-13)

The final verse in John’s gospel reads, “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written…” (John 21:25) Although John was being a bit exaggerated, this verse has significant spiritual meaning. If you’re like me, you’ve probably wondered at some point or another, “So, what were the miracles?” “Did He open blind eyes, perform miracles to feed the hungry, resurrect others from the dead, or cast the devil out of a bunch of people?” While the Bible doesn’t list these miracles specifically, this passage is significant because it lets us know that The Miraculous Power of Jesus isn’t limited to the pages of God’s Word. If every miracle that Jesus performed were listed, it could suggest that He only performed miracles during one dispensation (time period). But the fact that He did “the impossible” on occasions that aren’t listed, it gives us hope that He’s still working miracles!

The songwriter pinned: Have you any rivers that you think un-crossable? Have you any mountains that you can’t tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible, and He will do what no other power can do. Have you any sickness that you think is incurable, in spite of all the doctors can do? God specializes in things thought impossible, and He will do what no other power can do. The exhortation today is this—“Believe God for a miracle!”

Let’s Pray: “Father, thank You for Your Miracle-Working Power. Help us to realize and believe that You’re still working miracles, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Daily Prayer:
“Oh, that You would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!”
The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10



Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.

THINGS WILL TURN AROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Job 42:10 “And the Lord restored Job's losses…Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

One of my favorite boxing matches of all times was between Thomas “Hitman” Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard. Over 300 million people viewed “The Showdown” as the two men fought for the unified Welterweight Championship of the world. As expected, the fight began with Leonard boxing from a distance and Hearns stalking. Hearns won the first five rounds with ease and built a considerable lead. Although Ray hurt Hitman in rounds six and seven, Hearns regrouped and took control of the fight again. But in the thirteenth round, Sugar Ray came out roaring. Despite having a badly swollen left eye, he hurt Hearns with a right hand and then exploded with a barrage of combinations resulting in Hearns being knocked through the ropes. Although Hitman got up and survived a second knockdown at the end of the round, the fight was stopped in the fourteenth round after Leonard hit his defenseless opponent with numerous punches. Hearns was only three rounds away from winning the championship when the fight turned into Leonard’s favor resulting in his victory.



During some seasons of our lives, it appears that situations are spiraling downward swiftly with no relief in sight. There have been times when not only did I feel like “throwing in the towel,” but I’ve had the unction to set it afire and then throw the ashes in the river! But The Lord always has a way of turning things around for his children. After all Job endured in the first forty-one chapters of the book that archives his life, in the final chapter of Job the Bible says that “…the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Amazingly, God turned things around for His servant!

Don’t count God out! Let’s believe that God will turn things around for you!

Let’s Pray: “Father, turn things around for the ones that need You to do so, in Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.”

Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.

“A God in Crises?”

Psalm 121:1: “I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.” 2 My help comes from the Lord…”

Psalm 121 is called by many, “The Traveler’s Psalm” because it was sung by many of the travelers who journeyed up to Jerusalem to the annual feasts. There is a theological debate over the author of Psalm 121, but some high level commentaries agree that Psalm 121 was probably written by King Hezekiah during the time that the Assyrian Army was threatening Judea and Jerusalem. King Hezekiah’s special distinction, the thing that he was known for above and beyond all the other kings of Judea, was that he trusted God. Someone once said, “A faith that can’t be tested is a faith that can’t be trusted” and Hezekiah’s faith was put to the test when the Assyrians were on the march headed his way.



The fact that the Assyrians were about to attack in Hezekiah’s jurisdiction could have easily caused the king to panic. The Assyrians were a major force during Hezekiah’s reign as king. They had seized Samaria and tortured a great deal of the countrymen there. Many of the people in Jerusalem had relatives who’d come through that siege, but they also had loved ones who had been tortured to death, burned alive, and even staked on wood and left to die. So the Assyrians were not some pushover enemy that was going to bow down, but this enemy of Hezekiah’s was a ruthless one with a reputation of killing unmercifully.



As his faith faced his fear, the writer pinned, “I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.” Most Bible scholars agree that a more accurate rendering of this passage is, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?”

During this 911 situation, the king concluded in the 1st part of verse 2, “My help comes from the Lord…”



The pressure points of life cause us to contemplate and internalize the question, “Who is the object of my faith?” My prayer for the body of Christ during this hour in which we live is that we can answer like Hezekiah (My help comes from the Lord…). It is only when we can look beyond our situations and circumstances and see our God as Lord (the One who rules, reigns, and superintends every situation in our lives) that we’ll have peace in the midst of life’s storms. The exhortation today is simple…trust God!



Let’s Pray: “Father, in the Name of Jesus, I pray that our faith will override the fears we face. Help us to trust You totally and completely, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”



Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body today

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



his is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.

Where Are You?

Genesis 3:9: Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"

Many Bible dictionaries’ definitions of prayer are much more complicated than the act itself. Although it’s defined a plethora of ways in various languages, prayer is simply communicating or communing with God. Of the millions of people who participate in the art, the vast majority of practicing individuals (believers and unbelievers alike) abuse this wonderful privilege—primarily because of our ignorance of its purpose. Most people only solicit or engage in prayer during the “911’s” of life; however, prayer’s primary purpose is to build stronger relationships with the Lord. The Bible is crystal clear that man was created in the image (resemblance) and likeness (manner/similitude) of God (Genesis 1:27). Our natural desire to fellowship with other human beings is a replica of God’s Desire to fellowship with man. The Lord’s Desire for our fellowship is seen in Genesis 3:8-9: “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” How amazing it is that the same God (Elohim) who desired fellowship with Adam still desires fellowship with us today!



As believers, God wants to share His Presence and Love with us. We must not allow the hustle and bustle of life to distract us from continuously building our relationships with the Lord. It’s the Will of God to communicate with us and to bring guidance, instructions and affirmation to the finite state of our human frailties. God is in place, positioned and ready to commune with us. The question today is: “Where are you?”



Let’s Pray: “Father, we commit and re-commit to prayer today like never before. We pray that You’ll help us to not get distracted by the things happening around us. We pray that prayer, study, and spending time with You will be our top priority in life, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.



Daily Prayer:

“Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that I will not be distressed, distracted, or in disarray

But I will be focused on what you’ve commanded me to do



I confess that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.

A Place of Submission

Acts 9:6- So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?"

I’ll never forget our nation’s response to the tragedy of 9/11 because the incident drove a mourning nation to seek The Face of A Merciful God. Even people not interested in God pursued Him during the calamity! Never have I witnessed secular television solicit (even embrace) Christian leaders as I did during this period of trauma in our nation. The slogan, “God Bless America” filled the airways as the common factor of grief temporarily bonded our country together. Because of our nature to blame others during times of trouble, many questioned The Lord’s Protection of our nation by asking, “How could God allow this to happen?”

In the Bible, (more often than not) when God’s chosen people experienced tragedy, it drove them back to God. I’m convinced that this is one of the purposes of God allowing trials to come our way. If we’d be honest, most Christians would confess that we seek God more fervently in the midst of life’s situations and circumstances than we do when things are going well. Many of us were drawn to God and gave our lives to Jesus through the vehicle of trouble. When God was calling Paul into ministry, the apostle fell to the ground and was temporarily blinded. But Paul asked the right question in the midst of the experience: “…Lord, what do You want me to do?” (Acts 9:6)

There are many reading this devotional who have been wondering what is God’s Purpose for the season of testing you’re enduring. God simply wants you to get to a place of absolute submission where you’ll completely surrender to His Will. He’s looking for us to respond the way Jesus responded in The Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42): “…not my will, but thine, be done.”

Let’s Pray: “Father, thank You for every test, trial, and tribulation. We pray that we’ll not blame You for what we’re going through. Lord, let us get to a place of absolute surrender, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Daily Prayer: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Daily Confession:
Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail
Above only and not beneath
The lender and not the borrower
The conqueror and not the conquered

I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness
And for delivering my life from death and destruction
So that I shall live and not die to declare your works

I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body
For by Your Stripes I'm healed
I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed
Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee

I confess that I will not be distressed, distracted, or in disarray
But I will be focused on what you’ve commanded me to do

I confess that there is no lack in my life today
For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus
Thank You that all things are working together for my good
And that You always cause me to triumph

This is the day that you have made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
In Jesus, Name, amen.