Tag: #biblestudy

More Than Enough…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Good morning, Precious Family:

I wake each morning with the spirit of praise in my heart. God is so faithful to His promise of me never being thirty. He truly is the Living Water. My soul is more than satisfied with God’s amazing love.

There is absolutely nothing that can compare to the peace that comes from trusting and loving God. I am more than satisfied. There is nothing that compares to the love of God. He continually satisfies my heart.

Scriptures of Hope

John 4:7-14

English Standard Version

7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.[a] The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Song of Worship and Praise

Todd Dulaney

Our Prayers…

Merciful and Everlasting Last,

I know that I should not still be amazed and surprised by how good and faithful you are. I think it is because I know I don’t deserve it. Your love conquers everything. I am so satisfied by your love. May we, as your children, never grow complacent or numb to how good you are. Thank you for each new morning. We love you. Thank you for satisfying. We are humbled by your sacrifice at the Cross of Calvary. We bow in adoration to the empty tomb. We celebrate and worship in the Holy of Holies. All glory, honor and praise belongs to you, the one who satisfies my soul. In Jesus’ great and mighty name, Amen.

Family, I love you all with the amazing, everlasting, and satisfying love of God. Go and serve others as you serve God.

Rev. Marcia F. Davis

Living On Purpose…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To Wholeness1 Comment

Good morning, Precious Family:

Before I say anything else, I have to tell each and every one of you how blessed and thankful I am for you being a part of my life.

I am so honored that God has allowed me to speak to you each week. God takes so much joy in letting us know how much he truly loves us. That is why it is so important to live each day ON PURPOSE. There is a good way to walk, may we all follow it obediently and with purpose.

Scripture Selection and Direction

Romans 8:28-30

New International Version

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Song of Praise and Edification

May God bless you all in your journey on the Path. We have each been chosen for respective paths. I pray for your strength, in the Lord, that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Stay strong in the Lord. I will continually lift you up to the Father, through Christ Jesus.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Total Praise…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To Wholeness1 Comment

Good morning, Precious Ones:

We give God total praise for a new year. We give God total praise for health and strength.

This year will be a year of walking the path of our destiny. Last year, we may have taken time for granted, thinking that much more time was available. This season, every minute, every second, and every hour has to count. Take nothing for granted. This year must be walked in obedience and truth.

Psalm 121

New International Version

A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Richard Smallwood Total Praise

May the magnificent God we serve bless you and allow you to finish your race with joy and praise.

I love you all with the amazing and everlasting love of Christ Jesus,

Rev. Marcia Davis

I Will Bless The Oh Lord…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To Wholeness1 Comment

Good morning Family,

I pray that this week has greeted you with peace. I am eternally grateful to God for going before me to prepare me for my next season. This season that I am currently in has introduced me to a different pace that I am NOT used to running.

There is an urgency in this season to make sure that we are very prepared for what is coming. Do not take your training lightly. It is important that we perfect (verb) our craft, talent, gifting, and anointing.

This week, every time my mind becomes quiet, the hymn I Will Bless Thee Oh Lord keeps playing. The lyrics of “I will bless the oh Lord with a heart of thanksgiving, I bless thee oh Lord” are directing my thoughts and actions. The song goes on to say, “With my hands lifted up, with my mouth filled with praise, with a heart of thanksgiving, I will bless thee oh Lord.”

Due to the uniqueness of this season, we have to have our heart and mind grounded in worship and the Word. No matter how difficult or challenging things my be, if we face those challenges with worship and the residue of having intimacy with God in our heart, we can face anything.

Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Righteous Judgments

Psalm 9:1-2

9 I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

Family, keep the praises of the Lord continually in your heart and mind. I pray the Lord’s blessing over your life. Go in peace, while praising the Lord!

Rev. Marcia Davis

Whew…Im Still Standing…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To Wholeness1 Comment

Good morning, Family:

First, I have missed you all so much. I thought about you every day that I have been away. A brief update on where I have been and what has been going on.

I’m almost at the finish line of my Master’s degree. Many of you know that I am working on obtaining my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Couseling from Liberty University. In this season of my life, I am fulfilling my internship requirements with an amazing counseling treatment facility. I am also maintaining my full-time job with an amazing company that I have worked with for the last twenty-one years.

A few weeks ago, I contracted the flu and it had me in complete shut-down mode for about two weeks. Thanks be to God, I am feeling much better. Any time there is a gap in our communication I am always so excited when God releases me to write to you againt. Please know that I thought about each of you and how excited I was in anticipation of reconnecting with you. Thank you for your patience and prayers.

One thing that blesses me so much is that God has always consistently and constantly been faithful in protecting and covering me. Even when the outcome was not what I wanted, or planned, I still always felt God’s presence around me. I guess it’s because I have learned, over the years, to truly trust God.

Trust is a two-way street. As with anyone else, trust takes time. What I have found is that as I have trusted God with different areas of my life my peace increases. I don’t stress out as much as I used to. I lay whatever my worry is at the feet of God and I leave it there….with no take-backs. I’m not sure who this message may be for but I encourage you to trust God and trust the process..

I leave you with the worship video for today entitled Im Still Standing by Bishop Paul Morton under the direction of Kirk Carr.

Ephesians 6:14-17

New International Version

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Be blessed family,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Preparing For The Next Season…

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Good morning, Precious Ones:

I’m so grateful for you this morning. I want to send a quick note to encourage you to keep pushing through your current course. I know right now many of us are on the precipice of our new season. However, there are still things that must be completed in the current season.

The preparation in this season is taking longer than usual. If you get tired just take a deep breath, pray, cry, or even scream….just don’t stop. There are people depending on you to complete your assignment. Eventually you will be able to enjoy the fruit(s) of your labor but right now is digging and planting time.

People, as well as the enemy, will try to discount you and even discourage you from what God has shown you. Stay faithful to the path. It is your calling and no one else’s. In time, we will be able to say, “Look what God has done in and through me!!!”

Galatians 6:9-10

New International Version

9 Let us not become weary in doing good,(A) for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.(B) 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good(C) to all people, especially to those who belong to the family(D) of believers.

Be blessed,

Rev. Marcia Davis

I Never Lost It…

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Good morning, Precious Ones:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Yes, indeed, God desires all of our praise, no matter what we are going through.

The last few of years have been tough for most of the world. I know more than a few people, who are Christians, who had some real questions for God. We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t ask why.

People who read the Sacred Journey Devotionals sometimes ask me why I include music videos in my devotionals. The main reason is because music can get inside crevices of the heart that words cannot.

When our hope is teetering on the ledge. praise and worship music can pull someone back from walking away from God. One of the only things that has kept me during any season of hardship is music that uplifts my spirit and gives me hope.

There is a song by Tramaine Hawkins entitled, “I Never Lost My Praise.” The words to this song always cries out to me to remind me that I’m not the only one going through something. The song shifts the focus from me and places it back on God. I pray that this song blesses you the way it does me every time I let it wash over me.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

New International Version

2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom(A) as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.(B) 3 I came to you(C) in weakness(D) with great fear and trembling.(E) 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,(F) but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,(G) 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.(H)

Rev. Marcia Davis

Defending Your Faith…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To Wholeness1 Comment

Good morning, Precious Ones:

I pray that the love of God engulfs you today. I pray that the peace of God flows through you today. I pray that the protection of God surrounds you today. I pray that the grace and mercy of God goes before you and behind you today.

Have you ever been asked if you know how to defend your faith? That particular question has always given me a little bit of … concern. When I hear the word “defend” it automatically makes me think of a defensive or battle stance.

Yes, it is important to know why we believe in the Triune Godhead. However, I believe that instead of defending our faith, we should show our faith. The word of God says that people will know that we belong to Jesus by the LOVE we show one another. If more people would show, rather than defend, the world would be a much more peaceful and loving place. Be the change you seek…

John 13:34-35

New International Version

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

I’m highlighting this amazing band because of their love for Christ and their love of people. Music can reach where words cannot. (Rev. Marcia Davis) #Christafari

I love you with the never-ending, ever reaching, and amazing love of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Love Language…

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Good morning, Precious Ones:

I pray you were greeted with love this morning. If that was not your morning, please let me be the first to hold your face in my hands and tell you how much I love you.

I love you because I know that you were fearfully and wonderfully made. I know that the same amazing Creator that made a rose also made you. Yes, we all have our thorny places, but we also have great beauty, because we are a reflection of our Creator.

I know there are many different types of love languages that help us express and receive love from one another. As children of God, we are the reflection pure love. We are love in action. We are acts of service, loving touch, words of affirmation, giving of gifts and so much more.

The instructions we were given to reflect and show the love of God is this:

Matthew 22:37-40

New International Version

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Be blessed family,

Rev. Marcia Davis

A Clean Heart. Running Back To God…

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Good morning, Precious Ones:

In the 51st Book of Psalms, we have heard and read the very familiar scripture passage of “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me (vs 10, 11).” David knew that his heart and mind were out of synch, or cadence, with the God.

David also asked God to, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit within me (vs 13),” because his attitude needed a true adjustment.

The question that must be extracted from this plea to God is what characteristics results from having a clean heart, a renewed and right spirit, a restoration of joy, and a generous spirit? David tells God that when he is restored and renewed he will, “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways and convert sinners to God (vs 13).”

David also declares in verse 14 that if God forgives him and removes the heaviness of the sins he committed that “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise (vs 15).”

Family, what joy we are able to experience if we are living a life dedicated to God. What a LIGHT we can can be for the Kingdom of God! I invite us ALL to search our hearts and minds. Have we become so focused on all other areas of our lives that we have slowly moved away from our first love?

How do we get back to God? We must return to God with a “child-like” attitude. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 19 and verse 14 Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such AS THESE.”

When a child has been away from a parent for an extended amount of time, what is their typical reaction? The child drops everything and runs with excitement, hope, and joy back into the parent’s arms. The parent picks them up and holds them tight. Oh how we could be if we ran to God that way? That’s right, WE CAN!!! RUN FAMILY, RUN!! The arms of God are waiting.

Pastor Smokie Norful

Father God,

Psalm 51:10-17

New King James Version

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.

14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.

Rev. Marcia Davis