The Church Within You!

God, I know you have a plan for my life, but sometimes it's hard to see. Help me lift my head confidently above the fray and believe that You will lead me to victory. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes Be Still & Know

Make me to know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. God and upright is the LORD; therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way. Psalm 25:4, 8-9 Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayees Be Still & Know

Tell them while you still can. Do not put off today for tomorrow, as tomorrow is not promised. Don't let shyness, fear, or rejection keep you from saying what needs to be said. Tell them while you still can. "Gracious words are ... sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Pr. 16:24 NIV Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes TWFYT

It has been said that love is the "circulatory system" of the body of Christ. Young people live for the temporary, and adults live for the permanent. "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;...

When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up — the flames will not consume you. Isaiah 43:2 TLB Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes Be Still & Know

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 There is joy everlasting in the presence of God! Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes SY Jesus Always

I'm learning to lean on Jesus. We must learn to understand and depend upon God through every difficult situation and trial. God promises never to leave you nor forsake you. Therefore, no matter what it may look like or how it may seem, know that God is there for you to bring you safely through. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes Be Still and Know

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11 When we speak positively and affirm our faith, we shift our mindset and open our hearts to God's blessings. Remember to speak over yourself and encourage yourself in The LORD. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes FLSB

Courage is often associated with acts of bravery that defy typical human experience—firefighters running into a burning building, rescuing someone who has fallen into deep water, or pulling someone out of the path of a speeding vehicle. Courage can also mean delivering a speech in front of a room full of people. When we trust in God, He gives us the courage we need when the time comes. We must rem...

Compassion is at the heart of our faith and humanity. It allows us to empathize with others, feel their pain, and offer our support and kindness. In times of hardship, compassion becomes even more vital, providing the strength and solace individuals need to navigate their struggles. Through compassion, we can fulfill the commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. Blessings The Church Within Y...

Life offers many ups and many downs. Sometimes, the ugliness, pain, and disappointment box us in. During those downtimes, we must remember who provided us with our source of strength, enabling us to press onward. God, our heavenly Father is there to guide us through the storms. He will supply us with that much needed strength. We must never give up nor give in, but remember that we've come too...

He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will — to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given. Eph. 1:5-6 In Christ Jesus every "faithful" believer has life only "in Christ Jesus." There's a song that I belong to You, and all the praise, glory, and honor belong to You. Blessings, Presiding Elder Bar...

To all of your questions, Jesus is the answer, and that's it in a nut's shell. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes TWFYT | NLT

Peter is a warning to all of us, for if an apostle who walked with Christ denied his LORD, what might we do in similar circumstances? How many times have we denied the LORD and lost opportunities to share the gospel with others? Do we, like Peter, talk when we should listen, argue when we should obey, sleep when we should pray, and fight when we should submit? The Bible says, "Let a man exami...

God is a shelter, a refuge when we are afraid. This should be a picture of our trust — trading all our fears for faith in Him, no matter how intense our fears are. We must "dwell" and "rest" with Him to do this. We will be kept safe beneath His wings by entrusting ourselves to His protection and pledging our daily devotion. Knowing that God watches over us even in times of grea...

Do you believe that your heavenly Father is pleased with you? Do you walk in peace knowing that you have His approval? If you believe in The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, and He dwells within, then you are APPROVED! So, if you ever feel damaged or unworthy, remember you are in good company. God has a history of using the least likely candidates to accomplish the greatest feats. Trust in Hi...

We must be careful not to judge others quickly based onour limited perception of another. First, we have a limited perspective because we often only see a small part of someone’s life and don’t fully understand their struggles, experiences, or reasons behind their actions. By withholding judgment, we open ourselves to understanding others' feelings and challenges, fostering empathy and compass...

In a world that often values perfection and success, it can be easy to feel inadequate or unworthy, especially when we've faced hardships, failures, or brokenness. But here's a comforting truth: God uses damaged people. He sees the beauty in our scars and the strength in our struggles. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes TWFYT | Luke 22:32

"You are not beyond God's reach" conveys that no matter what you've done, where you are, or how far you may feel from spirituality or redemption, you are never too far gone for God's love and grace. It underscores the belief that God's compassion and forgiveness are boundless and that He can reach anyone, anywhere, at any time. This message often brings comfort, hope, and...

It has often been said that love is the  "circulatory system"  of the body of Christ. Spiritual gifts can only be used creatively when Christians are motivated by love. Love is enriching. Paul identified five spiritual gifts: tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, and giving (sacrifice). He emphasized that the exercise of these gifts is meaningless without love. This means we must focus on...

God is described as One who picks up an individual lamb to protect and carry it close to His heart. Although God is all-powerful and the nations are as dust before Him, He still cares for each of His own in a personal way. We must never think that God is so majestic that He ignores the needs and problems of the individual believer. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes UBC WFT | FLSB

So, you feel like your back is up against the wall, and there is no way out! Recall the story in the Bible of a man named Job . If you do, you will read in Chapter 1 how wealthy he is. Then, in Chapter 2, you will read how Job lost everything. Well, just like that, Job lost his wealth, his children, and his health. But did Job give in? No. Did Job give out? No. Job kept his faith in God. In Chapte...

God said to Jeremiah, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Jer 1:5 Being special does not necessarily imply superiority over others. You were chosen to be God's special possession, and that's an amazing thing. To be truly special means to have been chosen. Y...

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [ for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call ]. Ro 11:29 AMP As a Christian, you have a responsibility to help your brother who has stumbled or fallen into sin. Approach the situation with kindness and compassion, not judgment or condemnation. As we...

"Cast it on the ground."  "Throw it down! "  These are the words that the LORD spoke to Moses when he asked him what was in his hand. The staff he threw down was used to tend the sheep, and the one he picked up would be used to part the waters of the Red Sea! Sometimes, we carry a lot of junk as security. When all we need to do is place our trust in God! He is your security! Bl...