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THE CALL BUTTON - I stood in an ICU room beside a dear woman I have had the privilege of ministering to many times over the years.The doctors have said she may only have a few days left.As I held her hand and prayed, you could feel the peace of God settle over that room. It was one of those holy moments when words are few, but the presence of the Lord is unmistakable.Then something happened that I will not soon forget.I said Amen and held her hand and with her other hand, with what little strength she had, she reached for the call button beside her bed and pressed it. A moment later, a young nurse came into the room and gently asked what she needed.In a weak voice, this precious woman looked at her and said, “I want my pastor to pray for you.”There she was, lying in an ICU bed, facing the final stretch of her earthly journey, and her heart was still turned toward someone else.That is faith.That is love.That is what it looks like when Jesus has so filled a person’s heart that even in weakness, they are still thinking about how to bless another soul.I prayed for the nurse. I prayed for my dear friend. And I walked out of that room reminded once again that ministry does not always happen behind a pulpit.Sometimes it happens beside a hospital bed.Sometimes the strongest witness comes from the weakest body.And sometimes, a person with only a few days left teaches the rest of us how to live.Lord, give us hearts like that.

The Call Button

Walking with Jesus — He Will Carry You“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” - Isaiah 46:4Life has a way of taking us through unexpected twists and turns.One moment we feel strong and steady. The next, we may find ourselves wondering how we are going to make it through the day. Seasons change. Bodies grow tired. Circumstances shift. People come and go. Plans do not always unfold the way we imagined. But in the middle of life’s changes, there is One who remains constant: our loving Heavenly Father.Isaiah 46:4 is a powerful promise straight from the heart of God. He reminds us that He has been with us from the very beginning, and He will continue to be with us all the way through.He says, “I have made you and I will carry you.”What a promise.God does not merely watch us from a distance. He sustains us. He carries us. He rescues us. Even into old age, even when our strength fades, even when the gray hairs come, even when the road feels long, He remains faithful.And the beautiful truth is this promise is not based on our performance or perfection. It is rooted in God’s character. His love does not grow weaker when we do. His faithfulness does not run out when our energy does. His hands do not loosen their grip when life becomes heavy.On the days when we feel weary, we can lean into His strength.On the days when we feel forgotten, we can remember that He knows our name.On the days when we feel like we cannot carry anymore, we can rest in the truth that He is carrying us.Wherever you find yourself on life’s journey today, take a moment to rest in this promise: the God who has carried you this far is not going to let you go now.You are held. You are sustained. You are loved.And by His grace, He will carry you all the way home.

Walking with Jesus — He Will Carry You

Walking with Jesus — Daily Devotion Gratitude in All Circumstances“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18Gratitude can feel difficult when life gets loud.When the to-do list never ends, relationships are strained, the bills keep coming, the body feels tired, or the weight of the world presses down, thankfulness may not come naturally.But here is the quiet miracle of 1 Thessalonians 5:18: God is not asking us to fake thankfulness. He is inviting us to find it, even in hard places, like wildflowers blooming through cracked pavement.Paul understood this well. He did not write about gratitude from a life of ease and comfort. He knew hardship, persecution, hunger, shipwrecks, beatings, betrayal, and prison cells. Yet his gratitude was not rooted in his circumstances. It was anchored in who God is.That is the difference.Christian gratitude is not pretending everything is good. It is remembering that God is good, even when everything is not.Paul could give thanks because he saw God’s hand in the middle of the storm. He thanked God for the breath in his lungs, for faithful friends, for open doors to share the Gospel, and for a hope that suffering could not steal.Gratitude, for Paul, was not a passing feeling. It was a decision to recognize God’s faithfulness, even in chaos.Today, your “thank You” may be simple.Thank You, Lord, for food on the table, even if the toast is burned. Thank You, Lord, for strength to get through one more day. Thank You, Lord, for the person who challenges me, because You are teaching me patience and grace. Thank You, Lord, for one small blessing I almost missed.Gratitude does not erase pain, but it does shift our focus. It opens our eyes to see that God is still working, still providing, still holding us, and still present in the middle of the mess.When we give thanks in all circumstances, we are not saying every circumstance is good. We are declaring that God remains worthy, faithful, and near.And sometimes, that simple act of thanksgiving becomes the doorway back to peace.

Gratitude in All Circumstances

Walking with Jesus — Keep in Step with the SpiritSince we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25The Christian life is not about striving harder. It is about surrendering deeper.Galatians 5:25 invites us into something quiet but powerful: walking with the Spirit step by step, breath by breath. Not sprinting ahead in self-effort. Not dragging behind in fear. But moving in rhythm with His grace.That sounds simple, but in real life, it reaches into everything.It means pausing before we react. Choosing peace when pressure rises. Speaking with grace when frustration wants to take over. Trusting God’s timing when the way feels unclear. Waiting when we want to rush. Obeying when we would rather take control.The Holy Spirit does not lead us by shouting over the noise of our lives. He often leads with a still, gentle voice. He does not drive us like cattle. He draws us like children who are loved.The fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — is not something we manufacture by human effort. It is the evidence of a life walking closely with Him.Like branches connected to the vine, we do not force growth. We receive life.So today, slow down. Breathe deep. Listen closely.You do not need to map out the whole path. You only need to stay close to the One who already knows the way. The Spirit knows the terrain. He knows what is ahead. He knows what you need for today.Walking with Jesus means learning to keep in step with the Spirit — one faithful step at a time.

Walking with Jesus — Keep in Step with the Spirit

Walking with Jesus — Think on These Things“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” Philippians 4:8We live in a world that constantly pulls at our minds.Bad news, distractions, worries, opinions, arguments, fears, regrets, and responsibilities all compete for space in our thoughts. If we are not careful, our minds can become crowded with everything except the peace of God.That is why Paul’s words in Philippians 4:8 are so important.He does not tell us to pretend life is easy. He does not tell us to ignore hardship, pain, or responsibility. Instead, he teaches us to be intentional about where we allow our minds to dwell.Whatever is true. Whatever is noble. Whatever is right. Whatever is pure. Whatever is lovely. Whatever is admirable. Whatever is excellent or praiseworthy.Think about such things.This is not just positive thinking. It is spiritual discipline.When we fill our minds with the truth of God, we leave less room for the lies of the enemy. When we focus on what is good and praiseworthy, we begin to see life through the lens of grace instead of fear. When we meditate on God’s goodness, our hearts become steadier, our spirits become calmer, and our lives begin to reflect the light of Christ.The battle for peace often begins in the mind.So today, pay attention to what is taking up space in your thoughts. Are you dwelling on fear, frustration, and discouragement? Or are you choosing to fix your mind on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy?You may not be able to control every circumstance around you, but with God’s help, you can choose what you allow to shape your heart.Turn your worries into prayers. Turn your complaints into gratitude. Turn your attention back to the goodness of God.And as you walk with Jesus today, let your mind rest on the things that draw you closer to Him

Walking with Jesus — Think on These Things

Walking with Jesus Devotion Controlling the Fire Within“A fool expresses all his emotions, but a wise person controls them.” Proverbs 29:11 - Reflection:Emotions are a beautiful gift from God. They are raw, real, and powerful. But like any gift, they need wisdom to guide them.We have all had those moments: a sharp word spoken in frustration, a reaction driven by hurt, or a response we wish we could take back. Proverbs 29:11 reminds us that wisdom is not found in denying our emotions, but in learning how to steward them under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.Think of emotions like fire. When tended wisely, fire provides warmth, light, and comfort. But left unchecked, it can burn and destroy. In the same way, our feelings can help us understand what is happening in our hearts, but they should never be allowed to take control of our tongue, our attitude, or our actions.God is not asking us to pretend we do not feel. He is inviting us to bring what we feel to Him first.In His hands, anger can become understanding. Hurt can become healing. Fear can become faith. Frustration can become patience. Every pause to pray gives grace room to work in us before our emotions do damage through us.Today, let us lean into God’s love and wisdom. True strength is not found in hiding what we feel. It is found in allowing the Spirit of God to shape how we respond.Prayer:Lord, help me bring my emotions to You before I give them control over me. Teach me to pause, pray, and respond with wisdom. Guard my tongue, soften my heart, and let Your Spirit guide my reactions today. Amen.

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The Call Button

Walking with Jesus — He Will Carry You

Gratitude in All Circumstances

Walking with Jesus — Keep in Step with the Spirit

Walking with Jesus — Think on These Things

Walking with Jesus - Controlling the Fire Within