Get Thee Behind Me, Satan!

Devotion:    August 7, 2025 

By: Pastor Dennis 

Matthew 16:23 “Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’” 

A normal part of our human condition is that of decision-making. Many decisions are made through pure convenience while others are made through standards of our Christian faith. Too many times, we let convenience win. Jesus had decided that His death m

“The Golden Rule and the Narrow Gate: Choosing Well in a World of Options”

Devotion July 31, 2025

By: Pastor Dennis

Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the Prophets.”

We call this “The Golden Rule.” Verses 13 and 14 further clarify that we should “Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction.”

What We Should Know

Jesus reminded us of this importance in Matthew 25 when He said “As you have done it to the least of these, you

- “From Pride to Prayer: When Hearts Bow Low”

Devotion July 25, 2025

By: Pastor Dennis

Luke 18:14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalted themselves will be humbled, and those who humbled themselves will be exalted.”

In this parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector we find the true meaning of prayer; for, it is through prayer that we confess and accept who and what we really are. It is then that our hearts are opened to God’s will for our life. 

Wha

"Complacency in Comfort: A Wake-Up Call from Amos"

Devotion July 18, 2025

By: Pastor Dennis

Amos 6:6 “You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.”

Amos is challenging the complacency of the Israelites during these good times in their life. They are secure and wealthy; living the “high-life” and savoring the physical rewards. By the same token, he is warning them that their “dolce vita” way of life is only temporary. 

What We Should Know

While we enjoy the fruits of o

Seeking God's Priorities Over Our Own To-Do List

Devotion July 12, 2025

By: Pastor Dennis

James 4:17 “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

James reminds us that our finite plans from day to day are not predictable as tomorrow may not come for us. He says in v.14 we are but “a mist which appears for a little while and then vanishes.” We should not rely on our own agenda but seek to do God’s will while we can. 

What We Should Know

Shakespeare said, “all the world is a stage a

"God’s Strength, My Struggle: A Testimony of Sufficient Grace" !

Devotion July 4th

By: Pastor Dennis

2 Cor 12:7-9 “7. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’”

I hear consistent complaints by people who have asked God to heal their pains and nothing happens. They immediately conclude that God mus

“What Will You Leave Behind?”

Devotion Consumerism

By: Pastor Dennis

Ecclesiastes 2:18,19 “18. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. 19. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.”

Solomon was wealthy beyond measure and he denied himself nothing of the pleasures of this world

Faith Under Fire: Paul’s Enduring Witness

Devotion June 19

By: Pastor Dennis

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 “2. We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3. We remember before our God and Father your work produced  by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In spite of continued challenges on Paul wherever he preached, his sincere concern for the church at Thessalonica remained strong. Wherever Paul went he was challenged by those

Daniel Lived His Faith

Devotion Jun 12

By: Pastor Dennis

Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”

As Daniel grew up, he matured not only from a physical stance but also from a Spiritual one. He was faithful to God and lived that faith in spite of anything and everything the world used to block his path. God gave him amazing intelligence and a strong will to follow God’s teachi

The Holy Spirit Is Our Guide

Devotion Jun 8

By: Pastor Dennis

Acts 2:4 “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He promised Moses that, as long as he followed God’s commands, He would not leave them. As Moses and the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, God fed them manna from heaven and provided water from the earth. God appeared to them as a column of cloud during the day

"Joshua -- Stepping Forward in Faith When God Called"

Devotion June 1st

By: Pastor Dennis

Joshua 1:1-2 “1.After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2. ‘Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them-to the Israelites.’”

Joshua had served with Moses for over 40 years and had stuck it out and served the Lord faithfully through good times and not-so-good times as well. Now Moses is dead

Deborah: Judge and Warrior of the Israelites.

Devotion May 23:

By: Pastor Dennis

 Judges 4:8-9 “8. Barak said to her, ‘If you go with me I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.'  9. 'Certainly, I will go with you,’ said Deborah, ‘But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.’”

The history of the Israelites’ path of obedience to God’s will was not a good one as ruler after ruler of the Israelites had done evil in the sight of

A Call to Courage: Elijah’s Stand Against Baal

Devotion May16

By: Pastor Dennis

I Kings 18:21 “Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing.”

Elijah was the prophet of God appointed to confront Ahab, who as king of the Israelites had sold his soul to Baal and Ashera. The people were confused and were not sure who to worship, God or Baal. Elijah took a stand and challenged Ahab’s 450 proph

"Truth Always Finds A Way"

Devotion May 9

By: Pastor Dennis

Esther 4:14 “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position but for such a time as this.”

Esther, who has now become queen under King Xerxes, has hidden her Jewish heritage up to this point. Now, through her cousin Mordecai, she finds out about Haman’s plot to kill all of the Jews

Noah Did All That The Lord Commanded Him

Devotion May 2

By: Pastor Dennis

Gen 6:22 and Gen 7:5

“22. Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

5. Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.”

When I was a kid, my dad taught me self-confidence and responsibility by assigning me chores, some of which seemed impossible for me at the time. I, however, tackled each one and, with his support and advice mastered them. I remember that I always felt good about myself when I succeeded in some new challenge. I learned never