Good morning, Loved Ones:

The one thing I keep hearing this morning is, “Part-time Praise.” Trust me, I had a blank stare on my face, when I first heard it myself. Of course, I had to ask the question, “Father, what are you wanting me to hear?”

There are times when we go through hard times. Life’s circumstances is one thing we all have in common. If we are children of God, even on hard days, what should our response be when hard times creep into our lives?

The bible is full of examples of hardship, suffering,  pain, imprisonment and even death. How are we to respond to God during those times? Does God expect us to break-out into a cheer of happiness when we lose our job, or face other disappointments? I would say definitely not. I do believe that he expects us to continually look to him. It’s about how we RESPOND to those difficult times.

Let’s look at Paul and Silas:

Acts 16:22-34

New International Version (NIV)

²² The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. ²³ After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴ When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. ²⁷ The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

²⁹ The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

³¹ They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”³² Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³ At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. ³⁴ The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

Look at how Paul and Silas used their hardship to bring others to Christ. The first that we must all know, as Christians, is this.

1. People watch how we as Christians respond to hard times.

2. Based on how we do respond, it will either push people away from Christ or pull them closer.

This walk we have is not a part-time walk. It is a daily, 24 hour, full-time walk. Our walk is sacred and divine. Every step has a meaning. Every response is an act of worship, based on our relationship with God. 

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love. Go in peace, WHILE SERVING the Lord.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Good morning, to my beautiful family of fellowship of believers, followers, lovers and disciples of our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer Jesus Christ. We magnify the Divine Trinity that includes the God who created us, the God who Redeemed us, and the God who walks with us. 

This week, we have truly gone inward!!! We had a thorough spiritual tune-up.

If you missed any part of this week’s devotionals, I invite you to go back through and meditate on them. 

If you dont remember anything from the devotionals from this week, remember this:

Matthew 22:37-40 

Living Bible (TLB)

³⁷ Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ ^38-39 This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets stem from these two laws and are fulfilled if you obey them. Keep only these and you will find that you are obeying all the others.”

Ok, let’s get our praise on!

Have a wonderful and blessed day and a safe weekend.

I love you soooooooo much.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Good morning, Family:

This week of devotionals has been focused on our personal relationship with God. Every once in a while, God has to do a wellness check, to make sure we are on the right trajectory to living our best life in and with Him. 

Today, the Holy Spirit brought to mind a song that goes along, very well, with the theme of this week…getting our house (temple) in order. 

Meditate on today’s scripture reference and then go in peace and SERVE the Lord. 

Galatians 5:16-25

Living Bible (TLB)

¹⁶ I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to. ¹⁷ For we naturally love to do evil things that are just the opposite from the things that the Holy Spirit tells us to do; and the good things we want to do when the Spirit has his way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures. ¹⁸ When you are guided by the Holy Spirit, you need no longer force yourself to obey Jewish laws.

¹⁹ But when you follow your own wrong inclinations, your lives will produce these evil results: impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, ²⁰ idolatry, spiritism (that is, encouraging the activity of demons), hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group—and there will be wrong doctrine, ²¹ envy, murder, drunkenness, wild parties, and all that sort of thing. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

²² But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  ²³ gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws.

²⁴ Those who belong to Christ have nailed their natural evil desires to his cross and crucified them there.

²⁵ If we are living now by the Holy Spirit’s power, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Good morning, Royal Family:

When we ask God to help purify and sanctify us, what does it mean? Yesterday, God called us to be holy because He Is holy. However, the Word of God also tells us to sanctify and consecrate  ourselves. Apparently, that means there is some work that we have to put in as well. 

Romans 12:1-2

The Message Bible (MSG)

Place Your Life Before God

12 ^1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

I’m going to share something very personal, in regard to consecrating my life for God and to God. About a month ago, I was having my prayer time and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “Remove everything from your house that dishonors me. Get all of the pictures and statues of Buddha out of your house.”

At first I was very confused. Images of Buddha evoke feelings of calmness and tranquility. I asked the Lord, “Why, Lord?” He clearly said, “Because, I ALONE am ENOUGH. You do not need to look to anything or anyone to be your peace except for Me. Marcia, there are blessings I want to give you, but I cannot release them until you fully consecrate your home and your life to Me. I have already prepared a GREATER PLACE for you, Marcia, but you must know that it was ME AND ME ALONE that poured out the blessings and favor.” In that instant, I called home, told my husband to throw away everything. I didnt want ANYTHING between me and God. 

You are welcome in this place, Jehovah God. Purify this (pointing at yourself) temple. Not only the buildings made of stone and metal, but the temple that contains my heart, mind and soul. You are welcome in “this” place.

https://youtu.be/15r85dRrHFI

Signed, A Willing Servant,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Leviticus 20:26

New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ You are to be holy to me because I, theLord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

Good morning, Children of the Most High and Holy God.

I have a question for you this morning. Why is a name or title so important? A name, title or label gives identity to a person, place or thing.

One more question for you? When you think of the word “holy or holiness” in conjunction with God, what images or characteristics come to your mind? To be holy means to be set apart.

In today’s scripture reading, God tells us that we are holy because He is holy. God has given us an identity. God has PURPOSELY said that He set us apart. That means that we are different than the rest world. Our fragrance should linger with presence of God. 

Why does God call us Holy? Why are we to be “set apart”? As a holy people, we come from and are dedicated to a Holy God. Our lives are not our own, but as people that accept their new identity in Christ, we are the set apart ones, whose lives have been sacrificed to live in holiness and who wake each morning on the journey of daily sanctification. A holy people is our given title and identity. A sanctified people is our ongoing daily work. Find out more about sanctification tomorrow. 

I love you with an amazing and everlasting holy love.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Good morning, Family:

This morning, I woke up with a tap in my toes and song on my heart. Today is Monday!!! (Crowd Cheering!!!)

I just kept saying, “It sure is a beautiful day.” We have had almost three weeks of straight rain in the Metro Atlanta area, which as caused flooding, sinkholes, downed trees and power outages. So today, I am especially grateful for a bright, clear and sunny sky. 

I dont take any day for granted. Whether is a clear day or not, it is another day that the Lord has allowed me to see. And for that simple fact, I am so very grateful. 

What are you grateful for today? I would love to know. 

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis 

 

Good morning, Beautiful Creations of God:

In this day and age of beauty consciousness, I truly want to take the time to celebrate each and every one of you. Everything about how you were created is perfect. Everything you call an imperfection, God calls perfect. 

Whether you are a size 2 or a size 32, you are perfect. You were fearfully and wonderfully made. Nothing about you is a mistake, an opps or an afterthought. You were divinely designed. 

Don’t believe me???? Ok, then believe God!!

Psalm 139:14-16

The Message (MSG)