Good morning everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Renewed hope”   Our Bible verse for today: “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NIV)   Our thought for today: “Your attitude is your choice”   I have often found it helpful to personalize Scripture to make it a little more direct and to the point for me personally. Psalm 118:24 is one of those verses. The writer teaches that this day we have before us is a gift from the Lord therefore, let “us” rejoice and be glad in it. I change the wording just a bit so it reads, “This is the day the Lord has made, “I will” rejoice and be glad in it.” In other words, it doesn’t matter if “us” does so or not, “I’m” going to do it. I’m going to rejoice and be glad whether anyone else does or not.   In his book, “The Spartan Way: Eat better. Train Better. Think Better. Be Better,” author Jo De Sena tells a story from the days when he owned a pool maintenance company in the New York area back in the late 1980s and early 1990s. That was during the time when communism was falling across eastern Europe and thousands of people were fleeing those countries and immigrating to the USA. Joe says that he hired many of those immigrants to work for him because they had such a great work ethic. They were overjoyed to be in America – the land of opportunity – and they worked longer and harder than anyone else on the workforce.   For them it was a matter of perspective. They felt so blessed to be here instead of there, and they were so grateful for it, that they made a choice to be happy. They had the exact same working conditions as the others in the work force, and they received the same wages, but their attitude about it was different. They chose to be grateful and joyful – and that made all the difference.   Senneca The Younger was a Stoic philosopher who lived in Rome around the same time as the Apostle Paul. He was known as a very wise man with deep insight. One of his teachings that has survived and been handed down even to our day is, “A man is as miserable as he thinks he is.” Abraham Lincoln, who lived 1800 years after Senneca, took that saying and put a positive spin on it: “Most people are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”   Either way, the lesson is the same: You can choose to be positive or negative; you can choose joy or misery. You will be as miserable as you think you are and as happy as you make your mind up to be. You choose your attitude and the choice you make will depend a lot on your perspective.   This is the day the Lord has made and it is a gift – the gift of life – so choose to rejoice and be glad in it.   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 © 2024 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: “Renewed hope”   Our Bible verse for today: “I’m not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances … I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11;13 (NIV)   Our thought for today: “You can’t change the weather”   I’m currently reading a wonderful little book with the title, “Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier,” by Arthur Brookes and Oprah Winfrey. It’s not specifically a Christian book, but Biblical themes and Christian values are woven all throughout it.   In one chapter, Brookes refers to the work of the Austrian psychiatrist Victor Frankl. Frankl spent four years as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp. He survived, but the rest of his family died in that camp. While he was there, Frankl observed how the other prisoners handled their brutal circumstances. Some cowered in fear, they withered, and they died quickly. But others found ways to handle those circumstances as best they could. They somehow managed to find purpose and hope in the middle of the misery, and many of those (including Frankl) survived.   After he was liberated Frankl wrote a best-selling book about his lessons learned from that experience and why some people are crushed by adverse circumstances while others adapt, survive, and even thrive.  The title was “Man’s Search for Meaning.” One thing Frankl discovered was that life can be lived with beauty and purpose even in the worst of circumstances. The ability to do that is a matter of attitude and perspective. That’s what Paul was teaching in Philippians 4:11-13. Through years of dealing with adversity and trying circumstances, Paul had learned that he could be content and even hopeful when he kept his focus on Jesus.   In the worst of circumstances, Paul found beauty and purpose. We can too. We can’t always choose our circumstances – life happens to all of us. And we also can’t always choose our feelings about those circumstances – many circumstances bring natural feelings that automatically come with them. In my case, my wife died. That’s the circumstance. That circumstance brings with it feelings of sadness and grief. That’s normal and natural (it would be odd and unhealthy if I did not have those feelings). The question now is what to do with those circumstances and feelings.   Arthur Brookes has a suggestion, which he offers by means of an illustration: “Feelings, in the enterprise of life, are like weather to a construction company. If it rains or snows or is unseasonably hot, it affects the ability to get work done. But the right response is not trying to change the weather (which would be impossible) or wishing the weather were different (which doesn’t help). It is having contingency plans in place for bad weather, being ready, and managing projects in a way that is appropriate to the conditions on a given day.”   In other words: roll with the circumstances, accept the feelings that come with the circumstances, then be proactive and positive as you do something constructive about the circumstances. The situation is what it is – now deal with it. You can’t change the weather, but you can deal with the weather.   Paul learned to be content, proactive, and productive in whatever circumstances he found himself, and that gave him hope. Always, he had hope. We can have hope too.   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 © 2024 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: “Renewed hope”   Our Bible verse for today: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” Matthew 6:33 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “He will provide”   In the two previous devotional messages, I shared a couple of my personal life-verses and I told of some ways in which those verses/passages have helped to carry me through tough times in life. On numerous occasions they provided a sense of renewed hope when all might otherwise have seemed lost. I also encouraged you to share your life-verses, and many of you did. Thank you. It’s always interesting and instructive to hear about how others find hope and guidance as God speaks to them in direct and personal ways through His written word.   Today I want to share with you my wife Linda’s primary life verse, and tell you why it was so important to her. It was really a life-passage as opposed to a single verse (Matthew 6:25-34,) but the hinge verse in the passage is Matthew 6:33, cited above.   When I was in the process of retiring from the Navy in 1993 and preparing for my second career in ministry, it quickly became apparent that God was calling me to serve in small churches (and for a time in a small mission agency), and by necessity that was going to involve small salaries.   The prospect of living those decades of our lives on limited and uncertain incomes was of greater concern to me than it was to Linda. She seemed to be more confident in my calling than I was. She was convinced that God would provide as needed and that we would be just fine. She adopted Matthew 6:25-34 as her personal life-verse/passage and she recited it often during those lean years that followed. In that passage Jesus teaches that we should not be overly concerned about money, possessions, and financial security, because our Father in heaven knows what our needs are. Instead, we are to focus on serving Him faithfully and trust Him to provide for us.   As the years unfolded it became increasingly clear to me that Matthew 6:25-34 was true. But it was Linda’s faith and confidence that kept me grounded in this area and focused on the ministry instead of worrying about money. Time after time, as we learned to live below our means with limited resources, God always came through for us and we never lacked in any area of true need.   As a result of that experience, God has given me another life-verse from which I have drawn considerable peace and comfort, and which is also proving to be true now that I am in my older years. This is my tailored and personalized version of Isaiah 46:4, “Even to your old age and grey hairs, Jim, I am He. I am He who will sustain you. I will sustain you and carry you; I will sustain you and rescue you.” And He always has.   It turns out that Linda was right all along (as she usually was. Lol)   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 © 2024 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: “Renewed hope”   Our Bible verse for today: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Let Him be your lead ox”   In yesterday’s devotional message I shared with you my primary life-verse, which is Proverbs 3:5-6. But I mentioned that I have several others as well. Matthew 11:28-30 is one of them. In it, Jesus teaches essentially the same truth that Solomon taught in Proverbs 3:5-6 and in both cases, the instruction is the same – focus on the Lord and walk through life with Him.   For those who have listened to my preaching and teaching over the years, and who have read my books and daily devotional messages, today’s devotional will be a repeat of what you have heard from me numerous times. But I repeat the lesson of this parable so often because the principle it teaches is essential for living the Christian life well.   In this parable Jesus paints a picture of a team of oxen plowing a field. They are yoked together and in every team of oxen there is a lead ox and a follower ox. The lead ox is bigger, stronger, and more experienced. He carries most of the load and he provides all the direction. The follower ox is smaller, weaker, and less experienced. He helps by carrying some of the load and he simply follows the guidance of the lead ox. In this parable Jesus is saying, “Let me be your lead ox. Come alongside me and yoke yourself to me. Then, let’s walk through life together. I will carry most of the load and I will provide all the direction. You just stay next to me and we will do this together.”   That understanding is essential to living the Christian life well. Jesus is our Savior but He must also be our Lord. We must yoke ourselves to Him, follow Him, obey Him, and let Him lead us through life. This is especially important during the tough times, when the burdens of life are heavy. It’s also essential during those times when the way forward is unclear and we’re not sure what to do. The answer is to walk with Jesus and trust Him to guide you.   Whenever we are faced with tough times in life we have two choices: we can be defeated, complain, and do nothing; or we can choose to get on with life, going forward and doing our best under the circumstances as they are. The first choice leads to a sad and defeated life. The second leads to living as well and as fully as the circumstances permit. Jesus wants the second choice for us and He helps us to achieve it. Let Him be your lead ox. If you will, you will discover a renewed sense of hope.   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 © 2024 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: “Renewed hope”   Our Bible verse for today: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)   Our thought for today: “A tried-and-true life-verse”   When it comes to finding a renewed sense of hope during those times when you are struggling with life, few things are more helpful than to have a life-verse to lean on and to claim from God. A life-verse is a verse or passage of Scripture that speaks to you in a personal and powerful way, to the point that you adopt it as a touchstone or guiding principle for your life. It is one that you refer to often and which helps you in deep and profound ways.   For more than thirty years Proverbs 3:5-6 has served as my primary life-verse. I have a few others as well, but Proverbs 3:5-6 is my primary one. I have faced many challenges in my life over those thirty years, there have been many times when life was hard and the way forward wasn’t clear. Often perseverance was required for extended periods while there was no apparent end in sight. During those times Proverbs 3:5-6 kept me going. It encouraged me to seek God, keep my focus on Him, then lean into the situation, put one foot in front of the other, push forward, and just keep on going, trusting that God was guiding me along the right path even if I couldn’t see past the next moment or the next day.   I’m very glad I have had thirty years of learning how to use that principle during the tough times in life because I am currently knee-deep in the hardest period of life I have ever faced. It has now been four months since my wife Linda left us and went to heaven, and it has been three months since our son Rick died too.   I miss Rick very much but after forty-seven years with Linda, I find that I don’t know how to live without her. I don’t know what to do each day except to pray, study my Bible, write sermons and daily devotional messages, preach, teach, conduct weddings and funerals, make hospital visits, counsel others, and lead our church. I know how to do those things, and God has called me to do them. I also know how to exercise each day, and how to ride my motorcycle and mountain bike, go kayaking, play golf, and read books. I know what I’m supposed to be doing and I know how to do those things, so that’s what I do.   I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I do know who holds the future. And so, I just live. I just move forward. And I trust Him. I can do that with confidence because I know from experience that my life-verse, Proverbs 3:5-6, is true.   Do you have a life-verse a life-verse that you turn to and rely on that helps you deal with the tough times in life? Would you tell me what it is? I would love to know. Few things are more helpful in restoring hope and keeping you going during the tough times of life than a tried-and-true life-verse.     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 © 2024 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: “Renewed hope”   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: “This is how God does it”   In yesterday’s devotional we thought about how it is that God is a “force multiplier” in our lives. In other words, when we invite God into our situations and ask for His help, His involvement in our situations changes everything. From that point forward we’re no longer dealing with it in our own wisdom and in our own power, but instead the wisdom and power of God has been added to ours and that creates possibilities that didn’t exist before. That then renews our hope that things are going to be okay.   The Bible passage we thought about which teaches that great truth was Isaiah 40:30-31 which reads, “Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.” Mature Christians know this to be true from personal experience. When we bring God into our situations, He renews our strength and gives us hope. It can then seem as if we are now soaring through or above our problems, as if we had wings like an eagle.   But why is that true? Functionally, how does God do that for us? Isaiah answers that in the very next chapter of his book, in Isaiah 41:10, “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.” That’s the answer. The tangible sense of God’s presence drives out fear. That happens because God is there. He is with us right there in the middle of the situation and He is also giving us strength we didn’t have before. He is also helping us in ways we don’t even understand and might not be aware of, like holding us up when we might otherwise fall.   This is where our renewed hope comes from. This is how it is gained. We stop trying to deal with things in our own understanding and in our own power and we rely on God instead – and we do so with intentionality and in a very targeted and specific way. We pray about it with passion; we mediate on Bible verses that speak directly to our situation; we get good counsel from trusted friends and spiritual leaders; and we also take action and do what we can to deal with the situation. But through it all, our focus is on God. He is our strength. He is our helper. It is His strength that is holding us up.   As we learned yesterday, when we’re dealing with difficult issues in life if we turn to God and rely on Him, it becomes possible for us to soar as if we had wings like an eagle – and now we know how God does that for us.   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 © 2024 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: “Renewed hope”   Our Bible verse for today: “Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “God is a force multiplier”   In my opinion, Colin Powell was a great American, and a one of the greatest military leaders of his generation. He rose to the rank of four-star General in the Army, served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (the senior military leader in the country), and he was the Secretary of State under President George W. Bush. He was widely admired and respected across the political spectrum and internationally.   General Powell had a list of leadership principles he developed, lived by, and taught. He called them “Powell’s Principles.” One of those principles stated that “Optimism is a force multiplier.” “Force multiplier” is a military term that refers to elements that can be brought to bear upon a situation that strengthen your force and enhance the likelihood of victory. They are often intangibles like good morale, a sense of loyalty, trust in leadership, good planning, and other factors that help to enhance the effectiveness of your primary assets like personnel and weapons.   According to Powell, based on decades of successful leadership, optimism is one of those force multipliers. Optimistic soldiers who expect good outcomes fight better than do pessimistic soldiers. Optimism is a force multiplier. That’s true in the Army when applied to soldiers, it’s true in life in general, and it certainly applies to Christians. An optimistic attitude makes a huge difference in how we approach life.   In Isaiah 40:30-31 Isaiah wrote about another force multiplier for the people of God – it is God Himself. That may seem like a no-brainer, like something that is so obvious it doesn’t need to be stated. But it does need to be stated because so many Christians do not immediately turn to God for help. Instead, we often approach life and our problems in our own wisdom and in our own power. We may give God a cursory thought, we might mutter a quick prayer under our breath and then go right on dealing with it ourselves, but how often do we stop, drop, and really pray about it?   When you turn to God, rely on Him, and draw your strength from Him, it improves your attitude and gives you hope you didn’t have before. Now you are soaring instead of struggling, optimistic instead of pessimistic, and much more likely to experience good outcomes instead of bad.   God is a force multiplier. Turn to Him; give your situation to Him; don’t try to do this on your own.   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 © 2024 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: “Renewed hope”   Our Bible verse for today: “How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth! For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.” Psalm 47:2 7-8 (NIV)   Our thought for today: “It matters how you start”   Not only do I write a daily devotional message each day, but I also use daily devotionals written by others in my own quiet time. In addition to early-morning prayer and Bible study, I also always have a daily devotional book written by someone else that I am in the process of working through.   Recently, some friends gave me a copy of a wonderful devotional book that I had previously been unaware of – “Face to Face” by Kenneth Boa. These devotionals are structured to guide your entire quiet time with the Lord. It begins with Scripture and suggested thoughts to guide you through a brief time of adoration. Then the same for confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, thanksgiving, and a closing prayer.   If you ever feel spiritually dry, or perhaps as if you are stuck in a rut and your prayers seem routine and uninspired and your devotional time feels weak, this devotional book can serve as an excellent tool to freshen up and renew your time with the Lord.   I recommend this to you because I believe early-morning quiet time with the Lord is an essential element in living victoriously throughout the day. It really does matter how you start your day because that sets the tone for the entire day. Billy Graham once said, “If I don’t start my day with Jesus, I meet Satan around every corner all day long.”   When it comes to living with a sense of renewed hope, how you start each day matters very much. Start your day spiritually refreshed and with a renewed sense of hope, and there’s a good chance you will carry that with you into your day.   Renewed hope makes you stronger and more likely to live victoriously. It matters how you start your day.   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 © 2024 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: “Renewed hope”   Our Bible verse for today: “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will put my hope in him.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Let’s live with renewed hope”   I love Spring. What a wonderful season it is. After months of cold and dreary weather with barren trees, dormant lawns, and empty flowerbeds, the temperatures are rising, the shine is shining, flowers are in bloom, trees are budding, and the birds are singing. Spring brings with it the anticipation of time on the lake, hikes on lush mountain trails, motorcycle rides, picnics, golf, and lot’s of other outdoor activities. It’s also time to plan those summer vacations!   Spring is filled with signs of new life and renewed hope. It creates a sense of good things to come.   The transition from winter to spring – from a period that is often dark and dreary into a time that is filled with hope and new life, is also a picture of life in general. Life consists of ups and downs, times on the mountaintop and times in the valley. There are seasons that are dark, dreary and difficult, but then we come out of that into something new and better. That’s just the rhythm of life.   Lamentations 3:22-23 is a great reminder of that truth. The prophet Jeremiah wrote those words during a dark time in the history of the nation of Israel. The city of Jerusalem had been conquered by an invading army and largely destroyed. Many of the people had been taken off to captivity in a foreign land. It could certainly appear to any observer of those events that all was lost and there was no hope. But Jeremiah knew better. Not only did Jeremiah understand the cycles of life, but he also understood the ways of God. He knew that with God there is always the hope of renewal, the promise of better days ahead.   God’s people need to approach life with a sense of hope and promise. How sweet it is when the darkness begins to recede and hope is renewed! And sooner or later, the darkness does recede, and hope is renewed. We all need remember that no darkness or difficulty lasts forever and with God there is always a new dawn, a new day, and good things to come.   We will spend the month of April, this first month of Spring, thinking about renewed hope.   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 © 2024 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: “Live like it’s true”   Our Bible verse for today: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Go and tell the world”   Happy Easter! He is risen! That’s what Christians will declare to one another on Easter morning, and those are the most profound, most important words that were ever spoken. Jesus died upon a cross to pay the penalty for our sins; He spent three days in the grave; He defeated death and arose from the grave; He then spent forty days on earth in His resurrection body appearing to numerous people; and then He arose back into heaven.   Acts 1:8 is one version of The Great Commission. These were Jesus’ parting words to His followers just before He ascended back up to heaven. He said it again in slightly different words in Matthew 28:18-20: “Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”   So, Jesus did His part. He died, He rose again, He ascended back to heaven, and He sent the Holy Spirit to earth in His place to empower us to carry on His work. Do you believe that? If so, then you now have the responsibility of living like it is true. That’s what the Great Commission requires of us. We are to “go” and tell the world, and then we are to make disciples. We are to win them to faith in Christ and teach them how to live in this world as His faithful followers.   As we conclude this month of devotionally thinking about how we can live as if our faith is real and true, we need to always hold before us the final words our Lord spoke to us. First and foremost, this is why He left us here on earth rather than simply taking us straight to heaven to be with Him the moment we placed our faith in Him. We are to be on-mission with Him in this world resisting the spread of evil, sharing the Good News, winning people to faith in Christ, and helping each other to become spiritually mature (make disciples).   So, we have our marching orders. Now let’s go do it.   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 © 2024 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571