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2024 Hope In Action 3 27 24 - Lisa 2023 When Battles Come Our Eyes Are Upon You 4 17 23 - Lisa 2022 “You Give Them Something To Eat” 3 31 22 - Lisa Pondering God’s Word 12 9 22 - Lisa |
2021 Fellowship Blessings 1 8 21 - Lisa Wearing A Mask 3 30 21 - Lisa Let's Have Christmas Every Day 12 20 21 - Lisa 2020 Don’t Be Afraid Of The Wilderness! 2 28 20 - Lisa What Can Someone Like Me Do? 5 14 20 by Bruce Who Is Leading Your Way? 5 23 20 - Lisa 2019 And That Is What We Are 4 9 18i - Lisa |
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Wednesday, March 27, 2024 Hope In Action by Lisa |
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Scriptures: Luke 22:42 (NIV) – “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Micah 7:7 (NIV) – “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” Message: When Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, was he filled with fear? Anxiety? Doubt? After all, Jesus was human flesh. But, He was so much more! He was God incarnate who came to save all whom He loved. Therefore, Jesus prayed earnestly and faithfully to God to “remove this cup” from Him, but in the end, He proclaimed, “yet, not my will, but yours be done”. Jesus knew that God’s plan was perfect and that the path of that plan was Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, so that you and I could find salvation, grace and forgiveness. He shed His blood willingly, so we could know the joy of His resurrection and come into fullness of life. Jesus surrendered His own will to God’s will, fully convinced that His Father knew what was best. When we pray this way, we put our hope in God’s wisdom, trusting Him to work out what’s best for our lives. Micah 7:7 promises, that, when “I watch in hope for the Lord,” ….“my God will hear me”. At this time in our lives, my husband and I are in a season of hope. We are seeking God’s will waiting for my husband’s kidney transplant. We have put our hope into action by going to numerous doctor appointments, taking many medical tests, and preparing for surgery and post-operative care. We pray as Jesus prayed in Luke 22:42, and believe in God’s perfect plan. It is not easy; the obstacles and pain sometimes make us very weary and almost hopeless, yet we know that God can use our circumstances to accomplish His purposes. Jesus has broken through our pain and doubt and made a hope-filled path for us. We must lean into Him and trust in His goodness. Prayer: Thank You Jesus, for being our example as we pray, not my will, but Yours be done on earth as it is in heaven. Help us to watch in joyful hope for the Lord, because He hears us. May we be people who allow God’s grace and hope to rule in our hearts and lives. Amen. Lisa Wallace |
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Tuesday, April 18, 2023 by Lisa |
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Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 (NIV Extract 2 Chronicles 20:1-20 limited to 500 words by copyright) – “After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar’ (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’ ‘But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.’ [bolded for emphasis] All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord. Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. He said: ‘Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.”’ Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.’ (Please read the entire Scripture 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 in your Bible.) "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." ( Please read the entire text in your Bible)Message: We all face battles and challenges in life. What do we do when overwhelming circumstances come upon us? Recently, I discovered a prayer that is helping me face my battles. King Jehoshaphat, 4th king of Judah, was a "good" king who "did right in the eyes of the Lord." Jehoshaphat learns large armies were ready to invade Judah. He was terrified. His response can be ours too. SEEK THE LORD: Jehoshaphat brought his people together to pray, fast and seek God's help. (vv. 3-4a) "Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord;" ACKNOWLEDGE HIS POWER: Jehoshaphat remembered who God is and what He has done. (v. 6c) "Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you." ADMIT OUR WEAKNESS: Jehoshaphat told God what was happening and Judah needed Him. (v.12b-c) "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." WAIT ON HIM: Jehoshaphat waited on God and God spoke through the priest Jahaziel. (v.15b-c) "This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.'" WORSHIP HIM: Jehoshaphat worshipped and praised God in Judah's darkest hours. (v. 21b-c) "Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: 'Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.'" GO OUT AND MEET THE ENEMY: Jehoshaphat had to face his enemies, but trusted God. (v.16a, 17a) "Tomorrow march down against them." "You will not have to fight this battle." In his praise-filled prayer of deliverance, Jehoshaphat and his people were rescued through an amazing twist. Incredibly, the enemy armies turned against each other and were completely destroyed! Prayer: Lord, when we face battles and don't know what to do, thank You for going before us and giving us Your victory. Lord Jesus, You have already defeated death, so in You, we can victoriously proclaim life! Holy Spirit live in us. Amen. Lisa Wallace |
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Thursday, March 31, 2022 ing To Eat by Lisa |
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Scripture: Matthew 14:15-17 (NIV) – “As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’ ‘We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,’ they answered.” Message: The miracle of Jesus feeding five thousand hungry men plus women and children with just five loaves and two fish has always been special to me. It is the only miracle, aside from the resurrection, recorded in all four gospels. According to Matthew, this event took place as Jesus had gone away to be alone. He was mourning the death of John the Baptist, His cousin and friend, who baptized Him. But the people came to Jesus, and, even in His despair and need for solitude, He was “moved” with compassion and healed their sick. Jesus and His disciples spent that whole day serving those people just after burying a good friend. Then dinner time comes. Everyone is hungry and Jesus tells the disciples, “You feed them”. The disciples must have thought He was crazy. They were exhausted and hungry too. They even questioned Him. But, in obedience to Jesus, they gave Him all they had, five loaves and two fishes and watched the miracle take place. As the disciples gave out the blessing of all that food, they were blessed to be part of the miracle. There is so much to learn from this miracle. Here are some key points:
Prayer: Precious Jesus, we ask You to use our lives to bless others. Thank You for allowing us to be Your hands and feet. Make us aware, obedient and willing to receive the blessing when we serve others with whatever we have. Give us strength and courage to do so every day. In Your name we pray. Amen. Lisa Wallace |
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Friday, December 9, 2022 Pondering God’s Word by Lisa |
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Scriptures: Luke 2:19 (NIV) – “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Psalm 119:11 (NIV) – “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Message: When Mary experienced all the wonders of giving birth to the Son of God, scripture says she treasured each moment in her heart and pondered them. Ponder means to preserve, keep, remember, meditate and reflect on deeply. In Luke 1, God sent the angel Gabriel to deliver the news to Mary that she would have a son and call him Jesus. God has never talked to me with an audible voice, not yet. He has never sent an angel to deliver an important message to me. Yet, God has given me a very great and precious treasure that He uses in my life every day to communicate with me. That is, the Bible, God’s Holy Word. Like Mary, I need to “hide God’s Word in my heart” (Psalm 119:11a). I need to reflect deeply on His promises to me that are repeatedly affirmed in His Word. I need to remember them, memorize them, so that they can remind me of His faithfulness, control and power in my life. This past year, I have been on a health journey. To help me endure and stay the course, I have been pondering, treasuring, memorizing, and yes, feeding myself with scripture every day. It has sustained me in a mighty way. I desire God’s Word to rule my life, not my food choices. The more we pour ourselves into memorizing scripture, the more it becomes a daily part of our lives and it becomes easier to retrieve and use at the very moment we need it. Knowing scripture will restore us, deliver us, satisfy us and make us ready to share with others who need hope. Let me encourage you friend. When you find scriptures that are meaningful to you, write them down, make a recording, take a picture on your phone. Whatever it takes to memorize the powerful and effective Word of God. It has worked in my life and I know it will work in yours. Prayer: Dear God, Thank You for giving us Your Word. Help us to know it, use it, memorize it and ponder it each and every day so that we can experience Your abundant blessings and precious promises that will anchor us in every situation we encounter in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Lisa Wallace |
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Friday, January 8, 2021 Fellowship Blessings by Lisa |
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Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV) – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Message: There are simple moments that happen in our lives that define us. I believe that to be true. When I was a little girl, I went to church each Sunday. I loved sitting in the pews, singing the hymns, saying the Lord’s Prayer together with the congregation. But, my favorite moment each Sunday, was after the service when I went back in the narthex and greeted the pastor. With important people all around him, he always had a comforting hug for me and allowed me to rub the velvet of his robe. I loved that velvet, it felt good against my fingers, but, it signified so much more. That Pastor was welcoming me into the loving and accepting arms of Jesus. Now that I am an adult, that memory still signifies for me that the church is a place of family and relationship. It is a place where I can go and know that I will be loved, nurtured and cared for. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity at such a young age to know that church is more than an event that takes place each Sunday. It is a place where I can fellowship with people I call family. Prayer: Father God, thank You for allowing us to fellowship with one another. Help us to be ambassadors for You, to people who need to know Your love and grace. Thank You for our church family. May we always “put on love” which binds us together in perfect unity. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Lisa Wallace |
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Tuesday March 30, 2021 Wearing A Mask by Lisa |
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Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 (NIV) - "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Message: I really dislike wearing a face mask. I suppose we all do. But, I wear a mask on my face to be respectful of others, to stay healthy, and because it is the right thing to do. I wear the mask all day at work and in all public places. It is uncomfortable and I do not like that it hides my face, my smile, my emotions. I feel as if people cannot see who I really am. But, when I really consider it, I wonder what other "masks" I am wearing in my life? Do I truly show people the person I really am? Am I hiding my true heart from others because I don't want to be hurt or bothered by the effort it takes to share my true thoughts and feelings? The Bible says that we really do not yet know fully who we are. That God is the only One who knows our true nature. For now, our reflection is not completely clear. But, when we put on love, when we allow God to take off our masks, we can be "fully known." I am grateful every day, that God's love for me is so vast, so compassionate, that He can use this "masked" me. He is the One that invokes my desire to love others. Jesus, His living example and His ultimate death on the cross, is the one that allows me to know the extent of His love for me. Prayer: Dear God, thank You for knowing who we completely are. Mask or no mask, You love us and have given Your life for each one of us. Help us to live our life in a way that helps people see us in Your light and Your unmasked love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Lisa Wallace |
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Monday, December 20, 2021 Let's Have Christmas Every Day by Lisa |
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Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) - "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Message: I love Disney movies. One animated Christmas short called "Stuck on Christmas" (1999), featured Donald Duck's boys, Huey, Dewey Louie who love Christmas morning so much that they wish for it to be Christmas every day. Their wish is granted and the boys are joyful. after a few days they begin to get tired of the same presents, the same dinner, the same celebration so they decide to play pranks, including swapping the cooked turkey with a live one at the dinner table!! In the end, they begin to realize that Christmas is not just about presents and fun. Huey, Dewey and Louie, finally make amends by doing everything possible to make Christmas the best day ever by giving instead of receiving. They begin to realize the true meaning of Christmas. There is a great lesson in that silly Disney story. As Christians, we should be celebrating the true meaning of Christmas every single day. The birth of Jesus was the beginning of a love letter to all the world. Jesus, the baby born in a simple manger, is the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). His final earthly words to us in Matthew 28 tell us to "go into all the world" to share His message. Every time you go out of your way to help someone, or choose to be a listening ear for a friend, or share a kind word or act. When you pray for those in need or give to others in any way, you are extending to others the miraculous and joyful message of Christmas. That Jesus, God incarnate, loves us all. Jesus is using each one of us to give His love to the world. That's how we can have Christmas every day! Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15) Prayer: Dear Jesus, Thank you for the wonder of Christmas. Thank you for being the center of all the joy and love we experience on that special day. Help us to share the true message of Christmas with others every day. Amen. Lisa Wallace |
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Friday, February 28, 2020 |
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Scriptures: Matthew 4:1-4 (NIV) – “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’” Exodus 19:1-6 (NIV) – “On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt – on that very day – they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, ‘This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” ‘These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.’” Psalm 63:1 (NIV) – “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” Genesis 22:1-2 (NIV) – “Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love – Isaac – and go to the region of Moriah [Land of Yahweh]. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.’” 1 Kings 17:1-6 (NIV) – “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.’ Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ‘Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.’ So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.” Message: Have you ever spent time in the wilderness? It’s not an easy place to find yourself! I am not talking about putting up a tent somewhere in the woods. I mean that spiritual journey you take so you can find a way to overcome that uncultivated, neglected area of your life. The wilderness can be a dangerous place to be. Isolation and fear can overwhelm you. You may experience temptations and challenges that try to pull you away from God. But hear this good news! God does not leave you to die in the wilderness. In the Bible, the wilderness was a place to: hear God’s voice (Exodus 19: Moses meets God on mount Sinai); worship Him (Psalm 63: David in the desert of Judah); offer sacrifices (Genesis 22: Abraham’s offering of his son Isaac); get fed (1 Kings 17: Elijah the prophet is fed by ravens). When Jesus entered the wilderness for forty days and nights, nothing could pull Him down; He depended on God’s Word as His sustenance. When He left the wilderness, He was strengthened and uplifted enough to offer up the ultimate sacrifice, His life, for You and me. Thank You Jesus! Lots of things can happen in the wilderness. Don’t be afraid to enter the spiritual wilderness when you need to find clarity in your life. Enter it with God’s Word as your guide. Depend on Him to meet your every need. Then you can come out with a new understanding of who you are and where your life path should take you. Prayer: Father God, when we find ourselves in the wilderness, thank You for Your guidance and protection. Thank You for meeting our every need and bringing us out as better people to serve You and to fulfill the ministry that You have given us. To You, Oh Lord, be the glory and power forever and ever. Amen. Lisa Wallace |
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Thursday, May 23, 2020 - "The Connection" Series What Can Someone Like Me Do? by Bruce |
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Scripture: Exodus 4:10-15 (NKJV extract) – “‘Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.’ But he said, ‘O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else you may send’” (Please read the entire text in your Bible)Message: Most everyone wants to be useful in some way for others. Not all of us are willing volunteers when it comes to donating time and effort to a project, or cause. Often, our reluctance is based on self-evaluation of our weaknesses or inabilities, rather than looking at our capabilities and strengths. In our “me” oriented culture we often stay focused on self, rather than seeing the broader vision of how we can impact and motivate those around us. We have heard that we must “change the world” in our lifetime. Honestly, we really are only able to help shape our own small part of the world. What we do does not always make an impact directly in our lifetime. Sometimes it is a grandchild, a friend, or even a total stranger with whom we shared a passing word, who goes on to finish the race we began. And that simple interaction can result in God working through them to accomplish His will. Moses balked at God’s command because he felt his slow speech would keep him from leading the people. Even though God knew Moses was the right man for the task, He used Aaron to speak for Moses. Moses could have done the job and Moses almost missed the opportunity to serve God because he failed to trust that God could use him despite his weaknesses. We must look to what we know we can do, and then push ourselves to attempt that which we feel we can never do, allowing God to handle the details. So, like coaches and teachers, take your ideas and encourage those you know and meet to examine their capabilities and get them into the game. Not all of us make the hall of fame or the highlight films, but someone must pave the way for the ones who eventually emerge. Be the one in the shadows, or in the mud who opened the path for the ones who were picked to run ahead. Prayer: Heavenly Father, by working together, You make certain that all of us are winners as we rejoice in Heaven together. Amen. Bruce Wallace |
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Saturday, May 23, 2020 - "The Connection" Series by Lisa |
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Scripture: Proverbs 16:1, 3 & 9 (NKJV) – “The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord…. Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established…. A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Message: I am a teacher. I have been striving to be the best teacher I can be for 32 years. Sometimes I succeed, other times I fail. Sometimes I feel frustrated and overwhelmed, other times I feel full of gratefulness and joy. During this strange new season of “Distance Learning and Teaching”, I, the teacher, am learning so much about how to best reach my children and give them the education they deserve. Not being able to see their precious smiling faces each day in my music classroom, is, truly, one of the hardest things I have ever done. But the Words of the Lord in Proverbs 16 reassure me to know that, as I plan and teach, the Lord is the One who directs every step. I commit my work to Him and the plans I make each day to teach my children will be established in Him. So I will continue, even in this crazy quarantine season we are living in, to teach, to share joy and to make music with my children and depend on my Lord to do the rest. What in your life right now do you have to do differently? Do you face those challenges with fear and uncertainty? You are not alone. But be of good faith and know that, if you commit to the Lord your plans, He will make a way and direct your steps so that all you do is good and prosperous. Prayer: Father God, thank You for always being the One who is in control. Be with those who feel unsure about their journey. Heal those who are hurting. Help us all to lean on You, Lord Jesus. It is You who directs our steps and establishes our plan through life. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Lisa Wallace |
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Tuesday, April 9, 2019 by Lisa |
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Scripture: 1 John 3:1-2 (NIV) - "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." Message: As a teacher, every school day I see hundreds of children's smiling faces, each one different and unique. I realize daily that every one of them are precious children of God, beloved and treasured by Him. Unfortunately, oftentimes, in the midst of the stress and challenges of the day, or when temptation comes into my life, I forget to realize that I too, am a child of God. I sometimes focus on my weaknesses and forget that God has called me into His love and He has called me His child. We must remember, when God looks at us, He sees His righteousness in us and He sees all the potential and all the gifts that He has lavished upon us, His precious children. How awesome the news that, when Christ returns, we shall be like Him. He has offered us salvation through the cross. We are His children. AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE! Prayer: Dear God, help me to realize that, in every moment, You lavish Your love upon me. Help me to live a life of faithfulness and righteousness, knowing that Your presence in my life gives me the honor of being called Your precious child. In Jesus' name. Amen. Lisa Wallace |
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