Good morning, Loved Ones:

Jesus was always known as a radical, in his time. More than anything, he wanted to be able to do three things. First, Jesus wanted to heal broken hearts so that people could be whole. Second, Jesus wanted to save and set free all who were captive to sin, which means all of us. Third, he wanted to show the church, and its members, what it truly meant to be a house of God. 

Question? Have you ever attended a church or been a member of a church where you  didn’t feel God’s presence? I know that is a strange question to ask, but it is an important question. 

Here is the reason that I ask. There are so many hurting and broken people in the world today. A world that is looking for love and hope and more than anything something or someone to save them from their pain and emptiness. 

Do you remember reading any passages in the New Testament where Jesus turned away from healing someone? NO!!

Do you remember a time where someone’s sin was so great that Jesus condemned them right there on the spot and did not address the person’s issues? NO!!

Soooooo….. if we are representatives of Christ and we build houses of worship in His name, why dont we have his heart? 

Loved Ones, there is a world out there that needs us to extend our arms instead of pointing our fingers. 

Revelation 3:20 

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door [of the church] and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me.

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Good mornings, Loved Ones:

I’m so grateful and blessed to be called a child of God, through my kinship with Christ. What an amazing thing happened when I walked to the altar, at the age of five, to publicly give my heart to God. As I have grown in age and in maturity in my Christian walk, I understand the words of this Psalm so much better. 

Psalm 16 

The Message (MSG)

A David Song

16 ^1-2 Keep me safe, O God,
    I’ve run for dear life to you.
I say to God, “Be my Lord!”
    Without you, nothing makes sense.

³ And these God-chosen lives all around— what splendid friends they make!

⁴ Don’t just go shopping for a god.
    Gods are not for sale. 

I swear I’ll never treat god-names
    like brand-names. 

^5-6 My choice is you, God, first and only.
    And now I find I’m your choice!
You set me up with a house and yard.
    And then you made me your heir!

^7-8 The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake
    is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I’ll stick with God;
    I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.

^9-10 I’m happy from the inside out,
    and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.

You canceled my ticket to hell—
    that’s not my destination! ¹¹ Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, 

I’m on the right way.

Good morning, Highly Favored Loved Ones:

Can you imagine any better news than to realize that God has assigned Goodness and Mercy to follow you wherever you go??!! That is exciting news for me. 

I’m not sure if you are like me, but I love a good smelling cologne or fragrance. When I hug my husband, at the front door each morning, one of my favorite things to do is to take a deep sniff of his cologne. I love how he smells. Because I know the scent of his cologne, I can tell exactly where he is in the house. 

It’s the same with Grace and Mercy. These two are attracted to the fragrance of God. Consequently, anyone who carries God’s scent will be chased down by this spiritual tag team. 

Psalm 23:6 

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.

Good morning, Loved Ones:

I just want to encourage you today. Every once in a while, the bible shares secrets of the Kingdom of God to those who go into the deeper places of worship. 

However, today’s scripture passage is an open and free secret of how to stand your ground when you are being challenged. What is the secret weapon to gain strength???

THE JOY OF THE LORD!!!

Nehemiah 8:10

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁰ And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

Psalm 28:7 

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁷ The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

 

Have an amazing day today. I love you with an amazing and everlasting love. 

Rev. Marcia Davis 

Joyful Servant

 

Joshua 24:14-24 

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. ¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,we will serve the Lord.”

¹⁶ Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!¹⁷ It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. ¹⁸ And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”

¹⁹ Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. ²⁰ If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.”

²¹ But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.”

²² Then Joshua said, “You are witnessesagainst yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”

“Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied.

²³ “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

²⁴ And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”

May God add a blessing to the readers, hearers and doers of His word.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Servant

Psalm 23

Living Bible (TLB)

23 Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!

^2-3 He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He gives me new strength. He helps me do what honors him the most.

⁴ Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way.

⁵ You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest; blessings overflow!

⁶ Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home. 

1 John 4:7-11

New International Version (NIV)

God’s Love and Ours

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

 

Be blessed today. Make every thought, word and deed be submitted to the God we serve. Our flesh may try to overtake us, but He that is in you in GREATER than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

Rev. Marcia Davis

Called Servant

Happy Friday, Everybody!!!

My husband and I experienced a new adventure this week. We, (I say “we” because my husband is the one on front line – LOL), experienced our first glimpse of menopause symptoms this week. My poor husband looked like a deer in headlights. 

In December of last year, I had a hysterectomy, but my doctor left my ovaries in intact. The ovaries are the hormone regulators. Within 10 minutes yesterday, I was sad, crying, then ended it all with laughing. It felt like the invasion of the body snatchers. I have been having the hot flashes and night sweats for a while. I mistakenly thought that the flashes were the totality of menopause. 

My sweet husband, after the initial shock wore off, just gently said, “Now that we know what it is, we can do things to make it easier.” It made me feel loved, appreciated and more than anything, I didn’t feel like I was facing this alone. 

Why am I talking about this for a devotional? First because it is something that almost every woman will have to go through. Secondly, you probably know someone who is going through it or will be going through it soon. Finally, it’s a reminder to be gentle with yourself and with others. 

Gentleness goes a long way. Here is what the bible says about gentleness:

Philippians 4:4-7 

New International Version (NIV)

Final Exhortations

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Go in peace today. Walk in love with boldness for the Lord. Be gentle with others. You never know who may come closer to Christ, because of your gentle actions. 

I love you, 

Minister Marcia Davis

 

Good morning, Manifested Miracles of God:

I pray this morning you are in a place of wholeness, peace and love, in Christ. If you are not in that place, I pray that you would understand that what needs to change is not on the outside but rather on the inside. 

Luke 6:45 

The Message (MSG)

Work the Words into Your Life

^43-45 “You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.

The closer you get to your God ordained life, you will begin to see glimpses and dreams of the things that are ahead. You will be able to see glimpses just long enough to know that you are on the right Path. 

I dont know how many days, months, or years I will continue to write these devotional messages, but as long as God continues to give me glimpses of what must be written, I will continue. I am only a vessel and carrier of the Holy Spirit. My only purpose is to be filled up and then poured out, only to repeat the process over and over again. 

Over time, the filling and pouring out produces a beautiful garden. Not one that I can get or take glory for, but a garden in which God deservingly gets the glory. God is the one who has the vision on what the garden should look like. God has the blueprint and has arranged each flower and plant with careful intention. 

The vessel used to carry the water (Spirit)  did not make the garden grow. It was just available for use, over and over again. After a while, great joy comes from being filled up and poured out. Why Joy? Because, I am able to get a front row seat at what the hand of God has done and will continue to do. 

Are you willing to be used for God? Are you ok with not getting the glory? The more joy you feel in being used by God, the more that peace and love will surround you. 

Find joy in a surrendered life. In the life of service, it doesn’t feel like work. It feels like love. 

Go in peace today, while joyfully serving the Lord. 

Rev. Marcia Davis

Good morning, Highly Favored Children of God:

Yesterday, I served my jury duty obligations to my county. I’m blessed to be allowed to serve. Being an active participant in our judicial system is very important to me. It’s also the reason why I vote every opportunity I am given. 

In the same way, I obey the laws and guidelines of the government, I also obey the voice and instructions of the Lord and the bible. 

God promised, that if I follow His word and if I believe in His Son, in whom He is well pleased, the result will be that I am blessed. I will be blessed in my coming in and going out. That means I will have blessings and favor going before me and coming behind me. Praise God!!!

Deuteronomy 28:1-6

Living Bible (TLB)

28 “If you fully obey all of these commandments of the Lord your God, the laws I am declaring to you today, God will transform you into the greatest nation in the world. ^2-6 These are the blessings that will come upon you:

Good morning, Loved Ones:

I’m writing this morning’s message, as I sit in front of the DeKalb County Courthouse in Decatur Georgia. I have been called to serve Jury Duty. I hope it will not be longer than one day, but if it is, I understand that it is a part of the duty that I share as an American citizen.

Like the duty I hold as a citizen of the United States, in my personal life, I also have a duty to God, the Cross of Christ and the Good News of the Gospel. It is my hope that as I live this life that I represent God well.

What does the bible say about serving God and serving government and governmental authorities?

Romans 13:1-7

New International Version (NIV)

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Have an amazing day today. Remember that I love you and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.

Go in peace while joyfully serving the Lord.

Rev. Marcia Davis