The Church Within You!

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...

2 Tim. 2:2 In this verse, the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy, a young leader in the early Christian church. Paul emphasizes the importance of passing on the teachings and wisdom he has received. He instructs Timothy to entrust these teachings to reliable and faithful individuals who will, in turn, be able to teach others. This creates a discipleship chain and ensures that the gospel message contin...

When we are tested, we must overcome the temptations   in our lives. Just as Jesus was aware of the devil's schemes, we must be vigilant in recognizing the temptations we face in our daily lives.  The world can quickly draw us backward, just as Lot's wife. We must resist the devil, and he will flee. We must pray for the strength of Jesus to cover us and keep us at all times. Jesus remained...

"Order my steps in thy Word" is a line from Psalm 119:133 in the Bible. The verse is a plea to God to guide one's steps and not allow sin to have power over us. It's a cry in prayer in faith, as in Romans 6:14 promises that " sin shall not have the dominion over us." The verse expresses the belief that God will order one's steps if they are willing to obey and follo...

Are you feeling invisible today? Do you ever feel that, even in a crowded room, no one notices you are there? If a billion voices call out right now, do you know that Jesus knows your voice, needs, wants, and heart's desires? It is so good to know that our Heavenly Father always sees us right where we are; he never overlooks us, cares for us, and is a patient Father to His children. You are ne...

The right path for living is ancient and has been marked out by God. But the people refused to take God's path, going their way instead. We face the same decision today: going God's old but true way or following a path of our own choosing. Don't be misled. The only way to find peace and "rest for your souls" is to walk on God's path. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hay...

"The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade upon your right hand. The Sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth and even forevermore." Psalm 121:5—8 This Psalm gave the people hope and courage to calm their fears. Trust i...

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow wastes time. Sometimes, it's difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning involves thinking about goals, steps, and schedules and trusting God's guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry. Don't le...

Trust in God by relinquishing control and putting it in His hands. If you let go and let God, He will and can work out the things troubling you. Bring everything to God in prayer, trust, and believe that your heavenly Father hears and knows what you need even before you ask. You have to recognize that He is God. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes SY Jesus Calling

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. In John's Gospel, Jesus speaks several times about the Father's love for Him. We often emphasize God's love for the world and the church but forget that the Father loves the Son. He has put all things into the Son's hand and has revealed all things to the Son. He loved the Son when the Son died on the cross. The amazi...

The Virtual Altar of Prayer : (You can revisit this one anytime, anywhere, and come pray with me.) While visiting the hospital, an Elder who was a patient at the time said to me, "Elder, last night, I couldn't hear anyone praying." Prayer involves the worship of the heavenly Father. In the morning, commit your day to Him; in the evening, render your thanks for His mercies; when the Holy Spirit pro...

When we permit God to perform His "good work" in us, we grow in our love for one another. True Christian fellowship is much more than having a name on a church roll or being spiritual. One of the sources of Christian joy is the fellowship that believers have in Jesus Christ. Fellowship among Christians has to do with a growing realization that we are all undergoing the process of spiritual transfo...

"Answer me speedily, O LORD." What were the answers to David's anxious waiting? These are the same answers we want to receive today. We want to hear God's Word, to see His smile and hear His voice gives us the strength we need to overcome the enemy. We want to receive from the LORD a knowledge of the will of God. His Spirit teaches us from the Word and shows us the path we should take. When God an...