Good morning, everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Just keep dancing”   Our Bible verse for today: “The warden did not bother with anything under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him, and the Lord made everything that he did successful.” Genesis 39:22-23 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Don’t give in to self-pity”   All this month we’re exploring a theme that’s related to our theme from last month which was “Lighten up a little.” That was about learning to live a more care-free and enjoyable life with a light-hearted demeanor. Doing so is a quality-of-life issue. This month we’re considering the role perseverance and tenacity play in achieving a better quality of life. Tough times will come and we must learn to deal with them in a positive and constructive way rather than being crushed and defeated by them. One way we do that is by refusing to give in to self-pity.   One of my heroes is General Colin Powell. He was a four-star Army General. He rose to the highest ranks of both military and civilian leadership in our nation, serving in various capacities in the administrations of four U.S. Presidents, including as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as Secretary of State.   General Powell had a set of principles which guided his own life, and which he looked for in others. He called them “Powell’s Principles”. He had one regarding self-pity. It reads, “I am capable of self-pity, but not for long.” That principle acknowledges the truth that self-pity is a natural human emotion, and we are all susceptible to it. So, the question is not if we will sometimes feel sorry for ourselves, but how long will we allow ourselves to wallow in self-pity? The person who wallows in self-pity will live a defeated life. The person who shrugs it off and just keeps going will excel regardless of the unfortunate circumstances they are faced with.   That was the case with Joseph in the book of Genesis. Hated by his brothers; sold into slavery in Egypt; falsely accused of sexual assault and thrown into prison for years; Joseph had plenty of reasons to feel sorry for himself. But even though the Bible used fifteen chapters to tell Joseph’s story, there isn’t even a hint of self-pity in it. Not once. I believe that was a big part of the success Joseph experienced and why God was able to bless him so much. Joseph refused to give in to self-pity. That doesn’t mean he never experienced even a twinge of it, it just means he refused to live there. He refused to wallow in it.   I want to share with you a few inspiring statements about resisting self-pity from Tim Hansel’s book “You Gotta Keep Dancin”:   “The choice for all of us is not if we will accept pain, but how.” In other words, you will have painful and hurtful experiences in your life, it’s inevitable, and you will have to make a choice about how you allow them to impact you.      “If you can’t change your circumstances, change the way you respond to them.” Same point expressed a little differently.   “What a test of character adversity is. It can either destroy or build up, depending on our chosen response.”   I encourage you to resist the temptation to wallow in self-pity. Shake it off and deal with your circumstances in a positive way that honors God and inspires others. Your quality of life will be better if you do.   God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you are 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 © 2026 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: “Just keep dancing”   Our Bible verse for today: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 (NIV)   Our thought for today: “God will enable you”   Our theme this month was inspired by Tim Hansel’s great little book, “You Gotta Keep Dancing.” It was based upon the story of his own life after he suffered a life-altering accident that left him crippled and in pain for the rest of his life. Tim resolved to live life and to live it large, despite the constant pain and the significant limitations his injuries created for him.   I’m so grateful to God for all the good examples He has shown me of determined people who refused to give-up. These are people who had to deal with great adversity, but who were determined to live life and to keep dancing. They turned to God, they leaned on Him, they drew their strength, courage, and hope from Him, and then they lived to the fullest possible under the prevailing circumstances.   There was once a man in our church named Tom who had a massive stroke which left him bedridden. He had to be fed and changed and bathed. Although the doctors expected some level of recovery, they told him he would never walk again. But he refused to accept that diagnosis. He called to God for help and then he asked for a walker. He forced himself out of bed and he learned to walk. Then they told him he would never be able to drive a vehicle again. So, he got his car keys, got some help, and learned to drive again. Then they told him he would never be able to work again. So, he grabbed his walker and his car keys, drove to some businesses, and found himself a job.   For more than thirty years after that stroke, until he went to heaven a few years ago, he walked, drove, and worked – even though he was supposed to be able to do none of those things. Oh, and he was in church virtually every time the doors were open. I’m grateful to have known him and to have had him as a friend.   At about that same time there was another man who had a heart condition that was going to require open heart surgery. The situation was serious. Was he concerned about it? Of course he was. Was he taking the appropriate doctor-suggested precautions to guard his health until he could get the surgery? Yes. Did he give in to fear, afraid to do anything and live instead in a protective bubble until the surgery? No. No he didn’t. Instead, he trusted the situation to the Lord, he took reasonable precautions, and he lived his life. He went to work; he participated in his ministry assignments in church; he continued his outdoor recreational activities; and he continued to live his life as best he could under the conditions as they were.   I don’t know what your situation is, but I do know that if you want to keep dancing the Lord will help you to keep dancing. You don’t have to give-in, give-up, or shut-down. Commit your circumstances and your life to the Lord, resolve to do your best to honor Him in the middle of it all – and then dance.   God bless, Pastor Jim     (If you like what you are 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 © 2026 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: “Just keep dancing”   Our Bible verse for today: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “What If?”   “What if?” What if I lose my job? What if I don’t have enough money to pay my bills? What if my spouse gets sick? What if I get sick? What if the wrong candidate gets elected? What if …?   If we aren’t careful, we can live our life based on the “what ifs”. What if this and what if that and what if all sorts of things. The problem with the “what ifs” is that we don’t know the answer to the question. Beyond that, most of the “what if” scenarios will never happen. I read a study one time which revealed that something like 80% of the things we worry about never happen. Another 10% do happen but turn out good rather than bad. Only about 10% of the things we worry about happen and turn out to be bad, but even then, the result is seldom as bad as we thought it would be. And yet, “What if …”   Fear, doubt, and worry about the future are common and natural. We all do it, especially when we’re struggling through difficult circumstances and the outcome is uncertain. Our thoughts and feelings about such things are deceptive and lead us to all sorts of wild conclusions. The answer in such situations is to focus on and trust in the promises of God as given to us in the Bible. We need to read, memorize, and focus on what God has told us is true about Himself, and we need to remember the promises He has made to us.   In his book “The Hand of God: Finding His Care in All Circumstances”, Alistair Begg writes, “… the reality and truth of who God is and the promises He has made are more significant than the doubts and misgivings that so frequently arise in the life of a believer. The antidote to this kind of self-condemnation and fear and mistrust is a solid, experiential grasp of what the Bible has to say.”   Bible study, memorizing Bible promises, listening to Christian music, being in church and surrounding yourself with supportive brothers and sisters, are all ways in which we focus on God and His promises rather than on our feelings, fears, and doubts.   The great Protestant reformer Martin Luther had a cute little poem he wrote to remind himself of this. In contemporary language it goes:   For feelings come and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving. My peace is in the Word of God, nothing else is worth believing. Though all my heart should feel condemned for want of some sweet token, There is One greater than my heart whose Word cannot be broken.     I encourage you to trust God and not your feelings. Fight the “What ifs” by immersing your mind and heart in the character and promises of God. Isaiah 41:10 (above) would be a good place to start.   God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you are 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 © 2026 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: “Just keep dancing”   Our Bible verse for today: “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Resolve to live well anyway”   Yesterday I introduced you to the story of Tim Hansel. After the rock-climbing accident that left him permanently disabled and in chronic pain for the rest of his life Tim had a decision to make. He had to decide how he was going to deal with his affliction and what kind of life he was going to lead from that point forward. He could live the rest of his life feeling sorry for himself and complaining; he could rely on massive amounts of drugs to kill the pain and dull his senses; or he could resolve to push through it as best he could and live life to the fullest under the prevailing circumstances. Tim chose life.   It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was hard. Very hard. Tim said he couldn’t remember a day when he woke up and felt good. The moment he opened his eyes the struggle began for that day.   He said one thing that helped tremendously were the examples of other people who were dealing with, or had dealt with, similar or even worse circumstances. The courageous examples of other people inspired him to deal with his own situation with courage, dignity, and grace. He thought of those people as “everyday heroes who have chosen not to be victims but gallant fighters in spite of incredible odds.”   He also resolved that he would not allow his affliction and the resulting challenges to define him. He would not make it the center of his life. Sometimes when people are dealing with difficult life issues it becomes all they think about, all they talk about. Tim decided not to do that. But he also decided he wouldn’t hide from it either. Sometimes people try to pretend the situation doesn’t exist (when it obviously does), and it becomes a forbidden topic of conversation. Here’s the balance Tim arrived at:   “There is a delicate balance between being honest and being overly dramatic. I want to admit struggle without giving way to despair. And I want the ultimate message to be positive without sounding pious or tinny.”   In other words, if there was a reason to talk about his constant physical pain, or if someone asked about it, he talked about it openly and honestly. But he didn’t make a big dramatic deal of it either. It simply was. That’s all. It’s just what the situation was, nothing more and nothing less.   The lesson for us from Tim’s example is that he accepted his situation and he resolved to deal with it well. He woke up each day and prayed for strength to handle the challenges with grace and dignity. He then leaned into it, pushed through it, and just lived life. That’s a pretty inspiring example for the rest of us.   May you have the courage and grace to live well today despite whatever challenges you may have to deal with.   God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you are 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 © 2026 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: “You gotta keep dancing”   Our Bible verse for today: “You have changed my sadness into a joyful dance.” Psalm 30:11 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Just keep danccing” Your wife is mad and the kids have the flu? You gotta keep dancing. Your boss is a jerk and the bills are all late? You gotta keep dancing. Your mamma don’t dance and your daddy don’t rock & roll? You gotta keep dancing.   I’ll admit without apology or shame that I have borrowed the title for this month’s series from Tim Hansel’s great little book by the same title, “You Gotta Keep Dancin”. I also freely admit that I have used this theme before, years ago, in a different devotional series, and I’m eager to use it again now. Last month our theme was “Lighten up a little”. It was a quality-of-life issue. This month we are going to continue that thread of thought but by shifting gears a little and thinking about how we can keep life light and fun, even when our circumstances are not.   Tim Hansel was the founder of a ministry called “Summit Expeditions”. He led groups of men on challenging wilderness adventures with the dual purpose of having fun while conquering challenges in nature, but also as a time of Christian discipleship and spiritual discovery.   On one of those expeditions Tim had a rock-climbing accident that resulted in a serious back injury that would never heal. After numerous surgeries and treatments of all sorts, combined with more medicine than any person should have to take, Tim ended up spending the rest of his life with chronic daily pain. From the time of the accident forward he was never without pain.   What to do? How do you live like that? You can succumb to despair and sink into a pit of despondency. Or you can live like a zombie zonked out on painkillers. Or you can simply resolve to get on with life as best you can under the circumstances as they are – you can choose to just keep dancing. Tim decided to dance.   I like Tim’s story because I find it inspiring. I’ve read his book multiple times over the years. It has helped me to stop being a whiny little snot and to just suck-it-up and get on with life. (Okay, I’m still working on the whiny little snot part.)   I like the quote from famed Bible scholar and theologian Frederick Buechner, “My assumption is that the story of any one of us is in some measure the story of all of us.” In other words, we can learn from each other. We can be inspired by each other’s examples. I can learn to stop being a whiny little snot about my own small problems by considering how Tim Hansel and others like him handled their big problems with grace and courage and dignity.   That’s what we will do this month. We will learn from others who have handled big life problems well. The truth is that life happens. It happens to all of us – but you just gotta keep dancing.   By-the-way, did you hear the story about the pastor who had a terrible accident and lost an arm? A fellow pastor heard about it and rushed to the hospital to see his friend. He was sure the guy would be devastated. However, when he got there his friend greeted him with a friendly smile and thanked him for coming. The visiting pastor asked his friend how he could be so upbeat and positive in the face of such a profound loss. The other pastor answered, “You know, I’m not really that good of a preacher, and I know I’ll never be the best preacher in town.” Then with a grin he said, “But maybe now I can at least be the best one-armed preacher in town.” And I’ll bet he was!   You gotta keep dancing, my friends, you just gotta keep dancing.   God bless, Pastor Jim    (If you like what you are 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 © 2026 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: “Lighten up a little”   Our Bible verse for today: “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 4:19-20 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Live, love, and laugh”   As we conclude our month-long study about learning to lighten up a little, I want to revisit a few of the key themes we’ve considered.   One important way to develop a lighter countenance is we need to learn to trust God. In Philippians 4:19-20 the Apostle Paul made a pretty bold statement, a promise really, about the provision of God in our lives. Please note that he wrote about God providing for “all” of your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. That’s a pretty all-inclusive statement. It’s a reminder of that great passage from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:25-34 where Jesus taught us about the sovereignty and provisions of God. Your Father in heaven is aware of your every need, He has the power to provide for you, and He is committed to doing exactly that.   Another lesson we learned was that laughter is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22), but a heavy spirit dries up the bones. A heavy spirit makes you sour and grumpy. Laughter lightens things up and makes you feel better. Happy people are healthy people. Even if your body is sick, your spirit is healthy. Laughter is good medicine.   Many of our devotional messages were about the importance of being intentional about being happy (Psalm 118:24). You can’t always choose your circumstances, but you can always choose your attitude about your circumstances. I encourage you to go back and review some of the strategies we discussed for being intentionally joyful in your outlook and attitude.   We have also considered the brevity of life (Psalm 39:4-5) and the value of time (2 Corinthians 7:2). Life is too short and our time is too valuable to waste it in trivial pursuits or with a negative attitude. Life is also too short to live small or to whine about getting old. By-the-way, a great question once asked by Pastor Chuck Swindoll is “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” In other words, if you didn’t know your biological age and you had to guess based upon your physical condition and your attitude about life, how old would you suppose yourself to be? You’re as young as you feel. Laughter and a happy light-hearted spirit keep you feeling young. The goal is to die young, as old as possible.   What we have really been talking about this month is quality of life, and that is largely determined by your perspective and by your attitude. This is important. Therefore, for the next two months we are going to continue thinking about things we can do to have the best quality of life possible under whatever your circumstances happen to be. That will require an attitude characterized by determination, tenacity, and perseverance to deal well with the trials of life. It will also require intentional actions taken on your part to live a structured and disciplined life that includes taking good care of your physical body. We will address both of those subjects in detail.     For now, in the immortal worlds of that much-loved Vulcan philosopher, Mr. Spock, “May you live long and prosper.”   Live, love, laugh, and enjoy this gift of life.   God bless, Pastor Jim    (If you like what you are 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 © 2026 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: “Lighten up a little”   Our Bible verse for today: “Lord, make me aware of my end and the number of my days so that I will know how short-lived I am. In fact, you have made my days just inches long, and my life span is as nothing to you. Yes, every human being stands as only a vapor.” Psalm 39:4-5 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Dying young, as old as possible”   Lately I’ve been thinking about life and death. Mostly about holding off death and extending life. In a couple of months, I will be seventy-two. I don’t tell you that because I’m looking for “Happy Birthday” wishes (you can reach me on Facebook, text message, email, or phone); nor am I looking for presents (my shirt size is large; I love ice cream, golfing, hiking, and kayaking; and books are always a nice gift); and I absolutely am not looking for anyone to treat me to a birthday meal (Italian is my favorite).   No, I don’t tell you my birthday is coming up for any of those reasons (did I mention I like books?), I’m telling you because it’s a convenient and relevant bridge into a discussion about the brevity of life. As King David noted in Psalm 39, life is short. Even if we live to be 70, 80, 90 years old, our life is but a dot on the timeline of eternity. It is a vapor – a wisp of smoke that is here for a moment and then vanishes.   Life is too short and too precious to be wasted on trivial things or to be spent moping around in bitterness and resentment. As we’ve been learning all this month, life should be embraced and enjoyed, fully and with gusto. Also, we must be careful not to take our problems and difficulties too seriously. Will the things you’re worried about today matter much this time next week, next month, next year, or a decade from now? Probably not. So why let them get you down now? Life is too short to live small, or to be negative and pessimistic. Embrace life and enjoy it.   I’m currently reading a book with the title: “Keep on Keeping On: How to die young as old as possible.” It was written by a seventy-eight-year-old pastor and his wife. They are spunky, living with zest and enthusiasm. That’s also the attitude Aimee and I try to have. We’re grateful for this season of life God has given us and we’re determined to live it to the hilt. Like Jimmy Buffett once sang, “I’d rather die while I’m living than live while I’m dead.”   Also, we must learn to laugh about old age issues. It annoys me when I hear people complain about getting old. Many people never live long enough to get old! If you’re 60, 70, 80, or 90 years old, you have been given a privilege that many people never get. Appreciate it, savor it, and enjoy it!   Just the other day I heard a guy laughing about his old age issues and making fun of himself because of them. He said that the older he gets the more his body becomes like an old junk car. He said that now-a-days every time he sneezes it causes his radiator to leak and his exhaust to backfire!   I can relate, brother. Mine too. But so what? Let’s just laugh about it and enjoy another day of life that the Lord has granted us!   God Bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you are 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 © 2026 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: “Lighten up”   Our Bible verse for today: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Choose Joy”   I read an interesting statement the other day about choosing joy. It read, “Without exception, people who consistently laugh do so in spite of, seldom because of anything. They pursue fun rather than wait for it to knock on their door in the middle of the day.”   I think the author is correct. I think people who are habitually happy, upbeat, and joyful – people who laugh easily and often, are that way on purpose. They’re intentional about it. It’s not that they don’t have issues, they do. And it’s not that their lives are problem free, they aren’t. It’s just that these people have chosen to be intentional about maintaining an upbeat and positive attitude. They’re not being naïve they’re just “choosing” joy.   Is it really possible to be faced with problems, even serious problems, and deal with them effectively and realistically without giving in to brooding and despondency? Evidently the Apostle Paul thought so. In Philippians 4:4 he issued a very direct command. There he told us to rejoice in the Lord always. And just to be sure we didn’t miss his strong emphasis he repeated, “I will say it again: Rejoice!”   Philippians is considered the most joy-filled letter in the entire Bible. But Paul wrote it when he was an old man, sick and in prison, and probably facing execution for his faith. So, Paul wasn’t telling us to ignore our problems or to pretend they don’t exist, he was simply telling us to not be defined by our problems and to not let them steal our joy. It is possible to deal with your problems while still being happy about everything else in your life that is good and positive.   But sometimes even our best efforts to be positive can go array if we aren’t careful. Once on Facebook I saw a picture of a real church sign which listed the sermon titles for the Sunday morning and Sunday evening services at that church. The title for the morning sermon was “Preparing for Marriage”. The title for the evening sermon (no kidding) was “A Look at Hell”.   If those sermons were both part of the same series, that preacher must have had a pretty dim view of marriage! Maybe that described his marriage but it sure doesn’t describe mine and I hope it doesn’t describe yours.   I encourage you to be intentionally positive today and to choose joy.   God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you are 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 © 2026 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: “Lighten up a little”   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: “Pray about it”   Many Christians are too serious. Some of us go through life with long faces and heavy hearts, dreading what the day might hold. Sometimes our burdens and concerns seem more than we can bear and our countenance reflects it. People see us coming and they know before we even begin speaking that something is bothering us.   But shouldn’t Christians live above their circumstances? With the power of the Holy Spirit in us, with the peace of Jesus pervading our hearts, and with the joy of salvation that is ours, shouldn’t we be able to handle the simple trials of life with a better attitude?   The answer of course is “yes”, we should be able to. It’s certainly true that in every life there will be major events that cause us pain and suffering, and there will be moments of discouragement and even depression, but overall, our lives should be characterized by light-hearted joy, a sunny and whimsical personality, and laughter.   In Philippians 4:6-7 the Apostle Paul tells us how to achieve that. There he instructs us to pray about the things that are bothering us. It’s hard to remain downhearted and depressed if you really do bring your issue to God in prayer and then leave it there with Him. Like Paul says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”   So, pray about it. You can even get creative about it. I recently read a story told by Pastor Chuck Swindoll about a woman he knew who desperately wanted to get married and have children. But at the age of 31 she was still single, with no man in sight. (This is a true story). So finally, she decided to get creative in her praying about the issue. She took a pair of men’s pants and hung them on the end of her bed. Then each night she would get down on her knees in prayer, and this is the little prayer she recited:   “Father in heaven, hear my prayer, and grant it if you can. I’ve hung these trousers here, as you can see, now please fill them with a man.”   No kidding, within a year she was married and she had her first child at the age of 32. But the story didn’t end there. Pastor Chuck says he told the story once as a sermon illustration. A couple of weeks later a father in the congregation approached him with a grin on his face and said, “When you told that story two weeks ago my teenage son was sitting next to me in church. I noticed that while the rest of us were laughing he just sat there looking thoughtful. Last night I went into his bedroom to say “goodnight” and I saw that he had a bikini hanging on the foot of his bed!”   So, there you have it. Evidently the trick is to be creative with your praying.   God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you are 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 © 2026 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: “Lighten up a little”   Our Bible verse for today: “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Just love them.”   I once heard a disgruntled pastor say to another pastor, “You know, the only thing wrong with churches is that they’re full of people!” Evidently, he was having a tough day. Someone in his church was probably making things difficult for him and he was exasperated with them. Church life gets that way sometimes.   Some of the best advice I ever received came from my Pastor, Oren Teel. Oren was the man who baptized me as a new believer. He then discipled me, guided me into my first ministry assignments, and when I sensed a call to preach, he led the church to license me to preach. He said, “We can’t have you bootlegging the Gospel, Jim”. Oren also encouraged me to go to seminary, and he then led our church to ordain me as I was being sent out to become the pastor of my first church.   The advice he gave me went like this: “Just love your people, Jim. Congregations will forgive a lot if they just know that you love them. They will put up with bad sermons; they will laugh at your silly jokes; they will even ignore your ugly ties if they know you love them.” And he was right. Underlying any successes I’ve had in ministry over these decades has been my efforts to simply communicate love to people.    That’s also true for life in general. If you are a person who radiates warmth and love for others, people will respond positively to you and your relationships will be healthy. That will be true regardless of whether you are rich or poor, fat or skinny, good looking or not, and regardless of your skills, talents, abilities, or achievements. People will like you simply because you are so likeable. And you will be so likeable because people will know that you love them.   Also, people who love easily and freely are the happiest people you will meet. A warm and loving heart makes for a happy person. If you simply love and accept others, you yourself will feel happy and mostly content. This is part of the lesson Jesus was teaching. Strive to love others fully and unconditionally just as He loves you. Not only is it an effective method of evangelism and a great witness to the world about the love of God, but it makes for a happy life for those who have learned to love like that.   But sometimes love can be confusing. For instance, have you ever wondered why a wife can wear one of her husband’s shirts and it’s okay, but if he wears one of her dresses suddenly it’s time to talk?   I know, it’s confusing, and it doesn’t seem fair. Just love her anyway, leave the dress alone, and have a good day today.   God bless, Pastor Jim   (If you like what you are 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 © 2026 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571