Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Selfcare” Our Bible verse for today: “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Order and structure for your inner world” Many years ago, when I was the pastor of a church in California, I knew an elderly lady who was truly one of the great saints of God. She was in her late 70s and early 80s when I knew her. She was a widow who had been a pastor’s wife and then, in her later years, the manager of a small Christian bookstore. She was something of an institution in our town and in our church. She was also one of my greatest supporters and encouragers. Jane had a sweet, peaceful, tranquil spirit. She was always warm and kind, gentle and joyful, and it seemed as if she lived slightly above life – as if she glided through and maybe above the difficulties and challenges of life. She radiated peace and serenity. The secret to Jane’s quiet, peaceful spirit is what Paul was describing in Philippians 4:6-7, her inner world was in order and therefore it imposed order on her outer world. Throughout her long life, Jane had practiced what pastor and author Eugene Peterson once described as “a long obedience in the same direction.” He was referring to good spiritual discipline. The long obedience in the same direction that Peterson wrote about and which Jane practiced consists of lots of prayer and Bible study, fellowship with other Christians, full participation in the life of a good church, regular acts of service to the Lord and to others, and learning to live with an awareness of the presence of God always with you – all practiced daily over a period of years and decades.   I’m a strong believer in the value of having life-verses, Biblical principles, and motivational sayings that I find inspiring and helpful and which I write down and refer to often. I have them on notecards in my Bibles and books; they are written in my journals; they are printed and framed on my desk and bookcases; and I have them written on “Post-it” notes and tucked away in nooks and crannies everywhere. I refer to them often and one of my favorites reads like this, “The more your inner world is ordered and under control, the more successful your life will be.” That is what both Paul and Eugene Peterson were referring to. It’s what my old friend Jane practiced and which made such an observable difference in her life. It’s also what I aspire to in my own life. Creating order and structure in your inner world is one of the most helpful things you can do in terms of selfcare. The more your inner world is ordered and under control, the more successful your life will be. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2025 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Selfcare”

Our Bible verse for today: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “A good attitude is good medicine”

Maintaining a good attitude is one of the most important things we can do in terms of selfcare. As Solomon reminds us in Proverbs 17:22, a good attitude is good medicine. But how do we maintain a good attitude in a world that is so negative? What do we do about our insensitive spouse, our unruly kids, or the unreasonable boss? And how about that inconsiderate neighbor with the overgrown yard and the barking dog?

Grrr… don’t such things just jack your jaws? Don’t they steal your joy and ruin your day? But wait, should they be able to? Are you a puppet on a string being yanked this way and that by outside forces and circumstances beyond your control? Are your emotions really at the mercy of people and events in the outside world, or is your attitude your responsibility?  

That’s a rhetorical question and the answer should be obvious – it’s your attitude and you own it. And this is where good boundaries can be so helpful. Where does your sense of stability, peace, tranquility, and joy come from? Does it come from the outside world and work its way into your heart, or is it something that already resides deep within you?  

You have the Holy Spirit of God living in your heart. And as Paul told us in Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit the Spirit produces in your life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. gentleness, and self-control. And as John told us in 1 John 4:4, “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” In other words, the power that is in you is greater and stronger than the power that is in the world. That being the case, rather than the world forcing its way into your heart, the power of the Spirit should be reigning supreme within your heart, creating a boundary that keeps the spirit of negativity out, (maintaining peace and tranquility and joy), and then even flowing out of you to beat back the forces of negativity all around you.

It’s your attitude and its your responsibility to protect it, nurture it, and keep it strong and positive. You do that by rejecting that which drains you and embracing that which gives life. You do it by following Paul’s directive in Philippians 4:8 “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovey, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy – dwell on these things.” Fill your heart with the good things of God and then stay focused on Him and His blessings in your life.

It’s your attitude and it’s your responsibility to do the things necessary to keep it positive. A good attitude is good medicine.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Selfcare” Our Bible verse for today: “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them, because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. “Romans 16:17-18 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Sometimes you have to make them go away” The first and primary way to create good boundaries with other people is with your words – and the most important and operative word for boundary-setting is “no.” You can use your words to essentially establish property lines and fences that let people know where they can go with you and where they cannot. But sometimes words aren’t enough. Sometimes you will have to make people go away. When they won’t respect your clearly established boundaries simply because you have asked them to, the next step may be to physically remove them from your life – temporarily or maybe permanently. That’s what Paul was referring to in Romans 16:17-18. Some people are simply toxic and they will not accept correction. When it gets to that point, simply for the sake of selfcare, you have to make them go away. Henry Cloud and John Townsend wrote, “Sometimes physically removing yourself from a situation will help maintain boundaries. You can do this to replenish yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually, after you have given to your limit … Or, you can remove yourself to get away from danger and put limits on evil. The Bible urges us to separate from those who continue to hurt us and to create a safe place for ourselves.” They also write, “When a relationship is abusive, many times the only way to finally show the other person that your boundaries are real is to create space until they are ready to deal with the problem. The Bible supports the idea of limiting togetherness for the sake of “binding evil.” I’ll share with you again one of my personal life-principles that I frequently remind myself of and which I use as a guide in making decisions regarding selfcare: “Reject that which drains you; embrace that which gives life.” Sadly, sometimes, that principle must be applied to toxic people who need to be made to go away. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2025 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Selfcare” Our Bible verse for today: “God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” Exodus 3:14 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Establishing good boundaries is God’s idea” There are thirty-five “I AM” statements in the Bible. God used “I AM” statements to tell us who He is, what He is like, what He approves of and does not approve of, and what conduct from others He will accept or not accept. “I Am” statements are boundaries which God Himself has established and which serve to define Him for us. Those boundaries also help to provide clarity and understanding. Here’s how Henry Cloud and John Townsend explain it in their book, “Boundaries”: “The concept of boundaries comes from the very nature of God. God defines himself as a distinct, separate being, and he is responsible for himself. He defines and takes responsibility for his personality by telling us what he thinks, feels, plans, allows, will not allow, likes, and dislikes … He tells us who he is, and who he is not … God also limits what he will allow in his yard. He confronts sin and allows consequences for behavior. He guards his house and will not allow evil things to go on there. He invites people in who will love him, and he lets love flow outward to them at the same time.” They go on, “In the same way as he gave us his “likeness” (Gen. 1:26), he gave us personal responsibility within limits. He wants us to ‘rule and subdue’ the earth and to be responsible stewards over the life he has given us. To do that, we need to develop boundaries like God’s.” Understanding the boundaries God has created for Himself helps us to see how we must also establish appropriate boundaries, and for the same reason – to provide ourselves and others with clarity. Boundaries are anything that differentiate you from someone else. They also help to define what you are responsible for and what you are not, as well as what conduct you will accept from others and that which you won’t. We will think more about this in the days to come but for this morning, I encourage you to first prayerfully consider the boundaries that God has established if perhaps you are transcending any of those boundaries. Then consider what boundaries you have established for yourself and for others who you interact with, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you see if perhaps any of those boundaries need to be adjusted. God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2025 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Selfcare” Our Bible verse for today: “Carry one another’s burdens … For each person will have to carry his own load.” Galatians 6:2;5 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Me and Not Me” “Carry one another’s burdens” says the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:2. “For each person will have to carry his own load” says the same Apostle Paul just three verses later in Galatians 6:5. “He ain’t heavy he’s my brother” goes the popular song that urges us to do what Paul wrote about in 6:2. “Not my circus; not my monkeys” goes the clever ditty that echoes Paul in Galatians 6:5. Is your head spinning? Are you confused about which end is up? Should we carry someone else’s burden or not? Do we have to pay attention to the chattering monkeys in the circus that is not ours or can we ignore them? The answer is a resounding “yes!” Help them carry that burden, sometimes. Then let them carry it alone at other times. Help to silence those chattering monkeys in someone else’s circus, sometimes. And then ignore them at other times. This requires balance and discernment. It requires clear boundaries that are well thought out and respected. In the words of Henry Cloud and John Townsend in their book “Boundaries,” “Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins …” Having clearly defined boundaries for yourself and for others helps you to know what is yours and what is not, and what you are responsible for and what belongs to them. It also gives you the freedom to say “no” when saying “no” is what is called for. Boundaries show you where you begin and where you end, and they also help to control how and when someone else and their issues can become part of your life. I’m not saying this is easy. It isn’t. Doing this well requires wisdom and discernment. It requires sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and it is something we learn to do. As a pastor I wrestle with this dilemma all the time. If you come to me for counsel about financial problems, I will try to help you see some things you can do to solve your problem, but I’m not going to solve it for you. If you call me at 9:00 on a Friday night to discuss a non-emergency church issue just because that’s a convenient time for you to talk, I’m probably going to let your call go to voicemail and I’ll talk to you when I see you on Sunday. (Boundaries!)  We will consider this more in the days to come. For now, I encourage you to give some thought to the boundaries you have established regarding your interactions with others – others who genuinely do need your involvement, and others who may be leaning a bit too heavily on you and who should be doing more for themselves. Ask yourself, “Is this me or not me? Should I own this or is this theirs?” God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2025 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Selfcare” Our Bible verse for today: “So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control …”  1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Selfcare through self-discipline” “Is your life out of control?” “Do people take advantage of you?” “Do you have trouble saying no?” “Are you disappointed with God because of unanswered prayers?” Those are questions that were asked (and answered) by Henry Cloud and John Townsend in their classic work “Boundaries: When to say yes, when to say no, to take control of your life.” They go on, “Having clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. A boundary is a personal property line that marks those things for which we are responsible. In other words, boundaries define who we are and who we are not.” The book teaches about physical boundaries – who may touch us and who may not, and under what circumstances. Mental boundaries – which give us the freedom to have our own thoughts and opinions and to express them. Emotional boundaries – which help us to manage our own emotions and to detach ourselves from the unreasonable emotionalism of others. And spiritual boundaries – which help us to discipline our spiritual life and to distinguish God’s will from our own. This is about selfcare through self-discipline. It’s about living a structured life with clearly defined boundaries that govern our own conduct, as well as the conduct we will accept from those around us. It is about developing a centered life defined by balance, grace, dignity, and poise. Such a life is also thoughtful, deliberate, and intentional. The Apostle Paul was one of the most balanced, focused, and productive men in Christian history. His life was governed by clear boundaries for his own conduct first, and boundaries regarding what he would accept from others as well. That was one of the primary keys to the successful life he lived. In the days to come, we will explore some of the key points taught in the book “Boundaries” and we will see how the discipline of establishing and maintaining good boundaries will go a long way towards good selfcare. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2025 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Selfcare” Our Bible verse for today: “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:3 (NIV) Our thought for today: “Protect your time with the Lord” Pastor Chuck Swindoll once wrote, “How busy we can become … and as a result, how empty.” The great author, preacher, and teacher from an earlier generation, A.W. Tozer, had a similar and more expansive take on the same subject when he wrote, “May not the inadequacy of much of our spiritual experience be traced back to our habit of skipping through the corridors of the Kingdom like children in the market place, chattering about everything, but pausing to learn the true value of nothing?” What both Swindoll and Tozer were referring to is the tendency to allow ourselves to get so busy that we just rush right past our spiritual opportunities, or neglect them altogether, or, as Tozer illustrated, we are so distracted by less important things that what spiritual experience we do have is superficial and treated lightly rather than seriously. Tozer’s illustration reminds me of how sometimes we allow our small-group Bible studies to become more of a talkfest than a Bible study. Participants start with prayer requests, but then get caught up telling stories and chasing rabbits and soon the talk is about things that have nothing to do with the topic at hand (the study of Scripture). Times of casual fellowship and idle chitchat are needed and time should be made for them – in other forums. But if we allow our times designated for serious study to devolve into storytelling and chitchat, then we have become the children Tozer refers to, skipping through the corridors of the Kingdom like children in the market place chattering about everything but learning nothing. In terms of selfcare, the most important step we can take to be healthy at the deepest part of our being (our spirit) is to protect our time with the Lord – both our individual time and our group times. Towards that end, in the days to come we will consider some ways to establish and maintain the appropriate boundaries so we can be sure our time with the Lord is not intruded upon or wasted. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2025 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Selfcare” Our Bible verse for today: “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down to sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of thousands of people who have taken their stand against me on every side.” Psalm 3:3-4 (CSB) Our thought for today: “The Lord will be your shelter in the storm” I read a cute story the other day which beautifully illustrates how God wants to be our shelter in the storms of life. “It was early in the morning, and the little boy awoke to the flash of lightening and the clap of thunder. He felt the house rumble and heard the rain splattering on the rooftop. The tin roof created a rhythmic sound that lulled him back to sleep. Snuggled under his warm blanket, he slept the storm away and then awakened a second time to his mother’s voice calling him for breakfast.” In the middle of our storms in life, as the threatening events are unfolding and with lightening flashing and thunder rumbling, the Lord will be for us like that warm bed was for that little boy – a place of comfort and security. This is the provision of God for those who have learned to trust the circumstances of life to Him. And this is the objective of lifelong discipleship. Our goal is to learn to surrender everything to God and then to trust in His watch-care over us. The greatest act of selfcare is to learn to embrace God-care, and then to surrender everything to Him. This is the goal of Christian maturity. In Psalm 3:3-4 King David was writing about the time when he was forced to flee for his life from the armies of Absolom. He was in real danger of being murdered, but as we read there, he trusted the situation to God and discovered a great sense of peace and security for having done so. It’s our human nature to be anxiously preoccupied with working out the details of our own problems. But it’s our spiritual maturity that leads us to surrender it all to the Lord and then to trust Him to shelter and protect us. As pastor Chuck Swindoll once wrote, “I am finally learning that surrendering to my sovereign Lord, leaving the details of my future in His hands, is the most responsible act of obedience I can do.” May that be true for us too. Surrender your situation to the Lord and trust Him to be your shelter in the storms of life. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2025 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Selfcare” Our Bible verse for today: “Here I am today, eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then.” Joshua 14:10-11 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Stay active and stay engaged” I have written many times about the fact that Caleb is one of my favorite people in the Bible. All the evidence points to a man who was vital, vigorous, and engaged through all the seasons of his life. As a young man we find him being sent by Moses as a spy to the Promised Land (Numbers 13:6). In middle-age we find him continuing to serve his people and presiding as the patriarch over his family (Numbers 14:24). Here in Joshua 14:10-11 we learn that even in his old age he was active, strong, involved, and looking forward to the future. That’s how you do it. That’s how you live life large, make a meaningful difference in all the stages of your life and living fully until the day you die. This is a life lived well and the attitude behind it is a key element in good selfcare. Whereas idleness and living without focus or purpose all add up to a life that is much less than it could be, a life filled purpose, focus, intentionality, and a determined resolve to make a meaningful difference is the key to living well. Not only will that attitude and approach to life help to keep us physically healthy, but it keeps our minds sharp as well. In the Pastor’s devotional book, “Apples of Gold” the editors offer this insight: “Throughout our lives the flexibility of our brains, called neuroplasticity, is reinforced by learning and experiencing new things … Maintaining the ability to acquire new skills and knowledge in our roles is critical to staying current and staying healthy. Doing new things and meeting new people helps us grow in understanding and wisdom so we don’t stagnate in an inflexible life.” Don’t stagnate in an inflexible life. Essentially, that means that we will be at our best, and we will stay at our best, when we stay actively engaged in life by participating in meaningful activities. That’s what Caleb did throughout his long life and we see that modeled for us by active people all around us – people who are living life large and who are helping to make their little corner of the world a better place – and doing so throughout all the seasons of life. So, that’s how you do it. That’s how you stay vital and dynamic even into old age. Stay active and stay engaged.   God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2025 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571

Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Selfcare” Our Bible verse for today: “… my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Live until you die” The singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffet once sang, “I’d rather die while I’m living than live while I’m dead.” What he meant was that he wanted to keep his life filled with meaningful activities right up until the day he died, rather than retiring into a life of inactivity and aimless shuffling through his days. I get it. For more than ten years I lived in a retirement community (although I myself was not retired). In that community there were many people who had retired into a life of nothingness. By that I mean they had little focus or purpose. They spent their days on the golf course and fishing and playing cards and drinking beer and watching television. Day-after-day, week-after-week, month-after-month and year-after-year – nothing. That’s no way to spend an entire season of life. But then I have known many others (especially in the church) who have retired from the working world and then invested their time in ministry activities, community organizations, mentoring disadvantaged children through organizations like our local “Kids on the Rise” program, and other volunteer opportunities. Others have started part-time side businesses or they have gone back to school to learn something new. This is a matter of selfcare. It’s intentionally filling your life with meaningful activities that make a difference. Such people are intentional about staying vital and vibrant while maintaining a sense of purpose and fulfillment. That’s what we’re reading about in Acts 20:24 where the Apostle Paul, towards the end of his life, affirms that he intends to live until he dies – fully engaged and making a difference for the cause of Christ. Yesterday I recommended a book for those in midlife who might need to make a course correction for the second half of life. It was “Halftime: Moving from success to significance” by Bob Buford. Bob also wrote a similar book for those in the next season of life – the retirement years. That title is “Finishing Well: What people who really live do differently.” If you are in the retirement years, I encourage you to resolve to live until you die. Really live. Make a difference with this season of your life. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Copyright © 2025 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571