Oct 1, 2025 – Joshua 1:8 – the way to walk in obedience towards a gracious God
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Joshua 1:8
Hi Everyone!
All of us who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior want the promises that are in the Bible.
We want His protection, we want His provision, we want His grace, and we want the victory.
Many of us have received a word from God concerning our future, and we are embarking on our respective journeys towards our purpose.
In moving towards our purpose, we undoubtedly need the faith in God to overtake the “giants” that are in the land, but we all need to obey the Word of God every step of the way in order to find success.
It is important for us to plant the Word of God in our minds and heart, so it becomes our instinct to follow God’s Word. This is what Joshua had to do, and this is what we have to do as well.
Today, we will look at Joshua 1:8, the way to walk in obedience towards a gracious God.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
In Joshua’s day, the “book of the law” was the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. In our day, we have the complete Bible, but God requires the same obedience. We have to understand that the children of Israel were under the Egyptian captivity for over 400 years. Generations have gone by and they are so accustomed to the Egyptian rituals that the Law helps them reestablish true worship of God. The Law was aimed at getting us to see our sinfulness, and it was also aimed at implementing a standard of holiness before a Holy God.
In Psalm 119:11, the Bible says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
In Matthew 12:34, Christ says, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”.
Obedience begins in the heart, and whatever is planted in our hearts with show.
God commands Joshua to meditate on the Word of God day and night. The idea of meditating on God’s Word imply that we ponder the word of God, we turn the Word of God over in our minds, breaking down every part, and we even speak it out loud. The repetition embeds the Word of God within us, so the standard of God is no longer on pages, but it is on our hearts.
In Psalms 1:2-3, the Bible says, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
When we allow God’s Word to ruminate in our hearts and minds, no only will we be attached to the endless provision of God that allows us to be fruitful for the kingdom, but we will find success in what we put our hands to. When our delight is in the Word of God, we incline to it, making ourselves available to receive what the Lord is telling us. It is important that we don’t pick and choose what we follow. God told Joshua to “observe to do according to all that is written therein:”. Only in complete obedience can we have any expectation of success, but sadly, we expect full-time victory from part-time obedience.
In Deuteronomy 17:19, the Bible says, “And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them.”
Obedience produces the “fear of the Lord”, which is a deep, reverential respect for the Lord.
This is exceptionally important in leadership, because leaders are entrusted with the lives of those under them.
It is important that we obey God’s word as we embark on our purpose, because we want the fragrance of our obedience and reverence of God to be a testimony that reflects God in the best possible way.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 2, 2025 – Jeremiah 31:11 – a redemption story for the ages
“For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.”
Jeremiah 31:11
Hi Everyone!
I can understand what the children of Israel have gone through.
Their sinfulness caused them to be exiled and imprisoned by the Babylonians, who the Lord allowed to take them captive.
There was an appointed time for their confinement, where the Lord promised that they would be released from their captivity.
It is a beautiful story of redemption, one that I am hoping that happens soon for myself, because my sinfulness produced behaviors within me, where God had no choice but to exile and confine me.
God can’t condone sin, and a Holy God has no part with a murderer, but I praise God that He sent Jesus as the atoning sacrifice for my sin, so that I could be a new creation in Him.
God redeemed me from the power of the enemy, someone much more powerful than the prison that has housed my body for 22 years.
Today, we with look at Jeremiah 31:11, a redemption story for the ages.
“For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.”
The word “for” establishes a connection made between two points, so for context, we will go back to Jeremiah 31:10, which says, “Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.”
No matter what God allowed to happen to Israel, God has proven Himself to be the author of everything that is happening, from the scattering, from the confinement, to the release of them from bondage. God has been in control this whole time. We have to understand that this passage of Scripture is prophecy, so God has equipped Jeremiah with advance knowledge of what is going to happen to His people.
In Jeremiah 29:10, the Bible says, “For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.”
This prophecy is all connected together.
This prophecy leaves no one with any reason to doubt the Word of God, and it was preserved so that people today would know that God is sovereign.
The word “redeemed” means “to release or sever from bondage”.
The word “ransomed” means “to buy back from bondage”.
Look at who is being redeemed here: Jacob.
In Genesis 32:28, the Bible says, “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”
Think about this, from that moment on, Jacob became Israel, but in Jeremiah 31:11, it clearly says that Jacob was ransomed. Why is that? It is because Jacob represents the old nature of Israel that had to be redeemed, the scattered version of Israel. It represents the sinfulness that led them into captivity in the first place. If the children of Israel were actually being representatives of what their name actually meant, then they wouldn’t have ever experienced bondage.
The word “hand” means “power or strength”.
God told Jeremiah to deliver prophecy of not only their exile, but of their release.
In Isaiah 44:23, the Bible says, “Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.”
With the Lord’s Word, He spoke of both bondage and redemption, calling things to be exactly how He delivered His Word to the prophets.
In Isaiah 49:24-25, the Bible says, “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.”
It is God alone that provides the redemption from bondage. No matter how strong the enemy is, our God is mightier!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 3, 2025 – Philippians 2:16 – ensuring that we don’t run our race in vain
“Holding forth the word of life that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”
Philippians 2:16
Hi Everyone!
As believers, we want to be assured that we are serving God for a powerful reason, to share the Gospel and so that we can enter into heaven when our lives here are over.
We want to be sure that it is not all for nothing, and we have that assurance in Christ.
In the same breath, God doesn’t want us wasting our salvation by not bearing fruit in the earth in our time here.
He doesn’t want us to amass a wealth of spiritual knowledge and refuse to share it with others, nor does He want to bless us with all kinds of gifts that we don’t use.
Paul is teaching the Church in Philippi about living out their salvation, and he teaches that cleaving to the Word of God is vital to a believer running their race and having something to show for it.
Today, we will look at Philippians 2:16, ensuring that we don’t run our race in vain.
“Holding forth the word of life that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”
The phrase “holding forth” means “to retain or pay attention”.
This isn’t a passive form of retention either, because Psalms 119:11 says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”
At the very least, our salvation is supposed to produce a heart and behavior change within us, causing us to become more Christlike. That is God fruit, because many people have come to salvation off of the example of others.
This is why Paul also teaches in Philippians 2:12, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Sincere obedience is not when someone is standing over us, but it is when they are gone and we are left to our own devices. We have to live out the Gospel to maintain our own relationship with God, and our own growth. No one can live our lives for us, but rather we have to step up to the plate and hold our own selves accountable.
We are not without strength to live our lives as believers of Christ.
In Philippians 2:13, the Bible says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure”.
We are not running this race alone, because we have empowerment from the Holy Spirit to be able to live in the manner that God commands.
In John 14:26, Christ says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send on My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
God also makes sure we are equipped with on-the-spot teaching, and I have experienced this firsthand, when I put together these devotionals. He also equips us with reminders of His Word, so that we aren’t without what we need when we need it. The concept of running and labouring shows us that our faith is supposed to be lived out and we are going to have to work through struggle and weariness.
In Galatians 2:2, the Bible says, “And I went up by revelation, a communicated unto them that Gospel which I preached among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.”
God is also going to cause us to be tested, not with trial, but we are going to have to prove that what we are teaching is the truth. God does not want us teaching a message that is not of Him, or living a life that will eventually blow up in our faces. God will always let us know that we are on the right track.
In 2 Timothy 4:7-8, the Bible says, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Paul ended his life with nothing on the table, knowing that he did all that he could do. We want to share that testimony!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 4, 2025 – – Matthew 16:26 – forsaking the world to gain our souls
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Matthew 16:26
Hi Everyone!
“I don’t have a price, therefore I can’t be bought.” I once told this to a brother in an old prison environment.
I had fallen on hard times, and I was flat broke, with no help from the outside world.
The brother was doing “exceptionally well” financially, but it was the result of ill-gotten gains. He wanted to “help” me, by giving me some drugs to sell, but I refused him without thinking twice.
This was a time that I shared my testimony with him, also telling him that if I gave in now, that I would easily give in if released, so there was no way I would cut any corners to get ahead.
We didn’t share the same belief and we respectfully agreed to disagree. He, in the last 7 years, has gotten in trouble more times than I can count, taking some pretty hefty losses in the process, still no closer to living the life God called him to live.
Today, we will look at Matthew 16:26, forsaking the world to gain our souls.
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
In this passage in Matthew 16, Jesus is telling that disciples that He is going to to die. In Matthew 16:21, the Bible says, “From that time forth began Jesus began to shew unto His disciples, how that he must go into Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”
This is why Jesus came to this broken world, to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. He is preparing the disciples for His death, but Peter withstood Him, rebuked Him, and told Him that this wouldn’t happen to Him.
In Matthew 16:23, the Bible says, “But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art no offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
Peter didn’t want Christ to die, but that was not the will of God. Peter was rebuked because He opposed God’s will.
Sometimes, what we want doesn’t line up with God’s will, and in that moment, whose will is going to prevail. What we want may be noble in any other situation, but are we willing to allow God to change our direction, our thoughts, our feelings, or out behavior in order us to fulfill His will?
In Matthew 16:24, the Bible says, “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
We have to surrender our will and way to God if we are to follow Him. We can’t say that we follow God, while we continue to deviate from the path He has set for us. We have to be willing to call ourselves liars in the face of a true God and declare His way better than our own.
In Philippians 3:8, the Bible says, “Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”
Paul realizes that everything he has raced for in his life is nothing compared to where he now stands with God. His old life has nothing on what he has in Christ, and even in the midst of trial and persecution, he is unflinching in his resolve to serve God with his entire heart.
In Luke 16:13, the Bible says, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other, ye cannot serve God and mammon”.
We have to make a choice about what is truly important to us, serving God, or what we are denying God to serve. As believers our choice should be to follow God, and Jesus even promises a hundredfold blessing now and in eternity for our sacrifice of forsaking all to follow Him. Looking back on my life as a believer, my worst day as a believer of Jesus Christ is better than my best days in the world.
When we count the cost, we will realize that Jesus is worthy!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 5, 2025 – Philippians 4:5 – the gentle reasonableness of the body of Christ
“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”
Philippians 4:5
Hi Everyone!
Community is crucial in the faith, which is why the enemy loves attacking the brothers and sisters within the faith with division, getting us to contend about trivial matters instead of about kingdom building.
Paul is teaching the Philippians this because there have been and will be people that try to strike the flock with fruitless behavior and conversation that will hinder growth among the body.
We have to be reasonable with each other whether we agree with the them or not, because we are reflecting Jesus Christ.
It was His prayer that we be one, and when they see us, they have a serious view of what our Lord and Saviour looks like.
This requires us to see beyond the moments we have to see the big picture, that our lives are in complete service to God, and if we want God glorified, then our behavior must exemplify Who we serve.
Today, we will look at Philippians 4:5, the gentle reasonableness of the body of Christ.
“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”
The word “let” implies permission given.
We have to allow God’s work to be done in our minds, hearts, and lives. He won’t bully us or force us to act a certain way.
In Joshua 24:15, the Bible says, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
We have a choice on how we are going to be as believers, and the same choices they had then, we have now.
In Romans 6:13, the Bible says, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: by yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
We can’t act like we are powerless, and don’t have the power to choose the mindset, heart set, and behavior we display as believers.
The word “moderation” means “gentleness, patience, or reasonableness”.
The word “known” means “to be perceived, understood, or observed.”
This means that we have to show this.
In Matthew 5:5, Christ says, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherited the earth”.
These are people who don’t assert themselves over others in order to further their own agenda. The meek understand that the kingdom of God is the agenda. These people will inherit the earth because they trust in God to handle the outcome, rather than manipulate it for themselves.
In Matthew 7:20, Christ says, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
We can put on a mask an hide who we are from people, but our fruit is going to eventually be shown for the world to see. Either that fruit will glorify God, or bring shame to Him. The Lord is definitely at hand. Tomorrow is obviously not promised to us, as evidenced by the death of Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated while spreading his message of faith and respectful conversation.
In Hebrews 10:25, the Bible says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much more, as ye see the day approaching.”
When we gather together, we should reflect meekness, reasonableness, and patience, because this is a testimony within itself. We have to live our lives as if the Lord is coming today. What is He going to see, a body working together, agreeing to disagree, or a body in division?
In James 5:8-9, the Bible says, “Be ye also patient; stablish you hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.”
We have to look at Christ’s example for how people are to be treated, how disagreements are to be handled, and we are to pattern our lives around His example. When we can show gentleness and reasonableness, we make the faith attractive to others.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 6, 2025 – Philippians 4:13 – empowered by Christ to overcome anything
“I can do all things through Christ which strenghteneth me.
Philippians 4:13
Hi Everyone!
We don’t really understand the power that we have as believers. We live dejected, broken, scared, and hopeless lives forsaking the Word of God and its many promises concerning us.
We would rather accept the testimony of the enemy instead of experiencing the power of God at work within us.
Why is that?
It is because we have these default settings from that old man that we have to continue to die to, but we have to believe that the promises of God truly pertain to us.
The enemy loves it when we are too afraid to step into our promise, when we won’t stretch our faith muscles, and he expressly loves it when we refuse to grow because it damages our comfort zone.
If we truly believed what the Bible says, then our walk with the Lord would reflect that, and we would actually live like our kingdom is not of this world.
Today, we will be looking at Philippians 4:13, empowered by Christ to overcome anything.
“I can do all things through Christ which strenghteneth me.”
Paul, in this part of his letter to the church at Philippi, is teaching about contentment. Remember, Paul is in prison when he wrote this. Usually, Paul refused financial assistance from the saints because he worked as a tentmaker, but he was now imprisoned, so some of the church sent gifts to him.
In Philippians 4:11-12, the Bible says, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need”.
I understand Paul’s mindset here, because I have been in prison for the last 22 years, and I am learning contentment with what I have more than any of time of my life. I know that God has provided for me in supernatural ways, in ways that leave no doubt that it came directly from Him. I know I can trust God despite how it might look, or how I may feel.
In Psalms 121:1-2, the Bible says, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
Too many times, we try to rely on what is created for what can only be given by the Creator. When we are attached to the wrong source, we can’t expect to get what we need, nor can we expect to accomplish anything God desires for us.
The word “do” means “to accomplish, perform, fulfill, or complete”.
Paul is expressing to the church that because he has been through situations, especially periods of lack, where God has been there for him, that he knows that he can accomplish anything.
There is one disclaimer to this. We can do nothing without Christ strengthening us.
The word “strengtheneth” means “to empower or enable”.
We don’t have to rely on our own strength or might.
In 2 Peter 1:3, the Bible says, “According as His divine power hath given unto all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that have called us to glory and virtue.”
If His divine power has given us all things to live a Godly life, and I can accomplish all things through His strength, then why would I ever live as if I can’t win?
In John 15:5, Christ says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing”.
We have to remain in the Lord in order to accomplish the will God has for our lives. We can’t deviate from the Word of God and then expect victory to come as a result.
There is even a condition to victory, because 2 Corinthians 2:14, the Bible says, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.”
We can only win if we are in Christ. Too many believers are not living from victory, because we are trying to win, gain, and find contentment without Him.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 7, 2025 – Philippians 4:19 – having our need supplied by our gracious God
“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19
Hi Everyone!
Paul is teaching about contentment, being satisfied in the provision of God whether we have an abundance or whether we have little.
It is an attitude issue, not a provision issue.
Being confined for 22 years, I am a witness that God provides, and I can’t name one time in my incarceration where I didn’t have what I needed.
I might not have had everything I wanted, but I definitely didn’t lack what I needed. Since I have been saved, I have even experience abundance for a lengthy season, and during that season, I was blessed to give away more than I ever had before.
The season of abundance left, and I continued on the path the same way as if I had an abundance.
God does not change, even when our seasons do, so why should I change because my season of provision does?
God is faithful to supply our need, especially when we are fulfilling His will for our lives.
Today, we will look Philippians 4:19, having our need supplied by our gracious God.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
This Scripture is sadly misquoted by prosperity doctrine preachers to compel people to believe that God is an automated teller machine for anything we construe as a gift. Paul in this passage is testifying that in his life, especially in his confinement, that he has learned to be content, and he has also experienced the love offerings from people that have filled him to capacity.
In Philippians 4:18, the Bible says, “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.”
Paul then quotes Philippians 4:19 in response to the love offering he experienced. That means that he was given something first before the promise was conveyed. Also consider that these are fellow workers in the Gospel, so that suggests that the needs may not always be physical or financial.
The word “supply” means “to satisfy, to cram, replete, or furnish abundantly”.
The word “need” means “lack”.
When God supplies us with provision, it may be the exactly amount we need, but if He gives us more than we need, then it is meant to be shared.
In Psalm 23:1, the Bible says, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
There are always conditions to God’s provision, and the condition is implied in this verse. If God is our shepherd, meaning if God is Lord, if we follow His direction, and remain under His care, then we shall not lack. We can’t do what we want , and remove ourselves from His presence, and then expect His provision.
The phrase “according to” expresses the vehicle by which our provision is given.
The phrase “riches in glory” expresses the place by which our provision will come, so if the provision for our need is going to come from glory, then who ever said that it had to be monetary?
In Luke 9:3, the Bible says, “And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.”
Jesus was sending the disciples out on a missions trip, but He told them to not pack anything.
In Luke 9:6, the Bible says, “And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where”.
The didn’t have a dollar to their name, but they went, preached, and healed completely full.
In 2 Corinthians 9:8, the Bible says, “And God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work “.
The whole point of God’s provision is that His will for our lives may be fulfilled, that the Gospel is advanced in the world. God is going to provide the means for us share the truth.
Paul is conferring a blessing to those who shared their provision with him, that God will supply their need to continue to be workers in Christ.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 8, 2025 – Philippians 2:5 – a having a mindset that reflects Christ
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 2:5
Hi Everyone!
As Christians, we have to reflect Christ in our speech, in our behavior, and in our thoughts.
Joyce Meyers says that the battlefield is in our minds (also in her powerhouse book), and our success or failures typically begin with the contents of our minds.
Our past histories have placed default settings in our minds, conveying to us our aptitudes and our altitudes, but sadly, also conveying to us our flaws and failures.
By becoming a believer, a new history is being written in our lives, one where we are empowered to walk in the light of God, one where we walk in kingdom authority to make liars out of our limitations, and one where we can live a life that glorifies God. When the world sees us, do we resemble what they read about in the Bible, or do we look no different than the world that we have been delivered from?
Today, we will be looking at Philippians 2:5, a having a mindset that reflects Christ.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
Paul is teaching the Philippians to be more like Jesus Christ.
This is really our goal as believers, to become more Christlike.
In Hebrews 12:2, the Bible says, “Looking into Jesus the author and finished of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
We cannot become Christlike without studying the life of the Person we are trying to become more like. When I wanted to be like Jason Kidd and Lebron James, my two favorite basketball players, I studied their game footage, and imitated their moves. The same rules apply as Christians. Looking at the example that Jesus set gives us more than enough to imitate Him.
The word “let” expresses that permission is given.
The word “mind” means “to have a sentiment or opinion, to interest oneself in, or to have a particular mindset or attitude.”
So we are essentially giving our minds permission to think like Christ thinks.
In Romans 12:2, the Bible says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
This is a continuous process of refreshing that we must do as believers, where we continue to saturate ourselves in the Word of God in order to live according to the will of God. It causes a transformation process within us, where we begin to be molded into the image of Jesus. Our mind changes, our heart changes, and our attitude changes.
In Matthew 11:29, Christ say, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls”.
A yoke is a tool a farmer uses on an animal to control their direction. When used, the animal can only go forward, and the deviations to the left and right are made by the one leading them. Taking Jesus Christ’s yoke upon us means that we have made ourselves available to Him, so that He can lead us in the way that fulfills God’s will for or lives. We can’t have the mind of Christ where His yoke doesn’t lead us.
In John 13:15, Christ says, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
The context of this passage is Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, but this context also includes the teachings of Jesus and the example He set for us to follow. Christ came to not only die on the cross for our sins, but He also came to give us an example of how we should live.
In 1 Peter 2:21, the Bible says, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps”.
Even in suffering, there was a lesson in it for us, to continue in the faith even in persecution, trial, or difficulty. The Bible is a guide for how we should act, react, or respond to the things that come our way in life. Life provides us with a daily exercise to reflect Christ.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 9, 2025 – 2 Thessalonians 3:6 – keep a faithful distance between us and the ungodly
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after tradition which he received of us.”
2 Thessalonians 3:6
Hi Everyone!
When I severed ties with my gang affiliation, it was one of the hardest things I had to do.
There were people that I have been pledged to be loyal to for the rest of my life, there was this organization that became a part of my identity, so walking away from it was like leaving a major part of me behind.
Of course, I had to explain why I was walking away, leaving me no choice but to confess Christ and also my desire to live a better life.
Of course it wasn’t received well, but ultimately, they respected my decision and later commended me for having the courage to make it.
What if there is someone who claims to be a believer, but their actions are nowhere in line with where God is taking them? Our only loyalty should to God and His Word, and we have to be willing to place a safe distance between ourselves and people who are not living according to the Word of God.
Today, we will be looking at 2 Thessalonians 3:6, keep a faithful distance between us and the ungodly.
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after tradition which he received of us.”
The word “withdraw” means “to avoid or abstain from”.
The word “brother” gives us every indication that the people Paul is referring to are believers.
The phrase “walketh disorderly” means “to live immorally or irregularly”.
In 2 Thessalonians 3:9, the Bible says, “Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.”
So, despite the example, in word and deed, brothers in the body of Christ are making conscious decisions to deviate from the teachings they received in order to live a life that makes the Gospel a eyesore to others.
In 1 Corinthians 11:1, the Bible says, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ”.
Paul is following Christ’s example, but there were people among them that lived counter to His example.
What are the brothers doing that is so bad?
In 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11, the Bible says, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies”.
There is enough here for us to understand that these brothers that have to be avoided are people who are leeching off of the generosity of others, including from unbelievers the Gospel has been shared with, and they are also lazy and gossips, and spreading dissension among the body. Because this is a place where new believers are being taught, and also a place people flock to who don’t know the Gospel. It is highly important for these people to experience the right example of those living the Gospel.
In Romans 16:17, the Bible says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
Imagine sharing the Gospel in a place where you are outnumbered by paganism, and other religions, where it is hard enough to convince people that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true, but then you have fellow believers living a life that sets fire to the work you have done. This is why these people are to be avoided because being in fellowship with them sends the wrong message of living out Gospel.
In 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15, the Bible says, “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
This is not a total excommunication, but it is designed so that the person can see that their lives do not line up with the Gospel and bring themselves back under conformity to the Word of God. The Gospel is too important for our behavior and our loyalty to hinder progress.
Let us live by example from Christ’s example.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 10, 2025 – Psalm 23:1 – our needs bestowed upon us by a loving Shepherd
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”.
Psalm 23:1
Hi Everyone!
We live in a materialistic, superficial, society that is governed by the enemy.
Everyone seems to be racing for the pursuit of the dollar, and this world is tuning into an evil place as a result.
Even in churches, the prosperity doctrine is like a drug for some people, equating God to nothing more that someone to mooch off of, or only pray to when our palms need to be greased.
We want God’s storehouse, but we don’t want His fellowship, His purpose, nor do we really want His will to be done.
Is Jesus really Lord? If He is, then our lives are patterned according to His commands, according to His desires for us, and ultimately for the glory of God.
Many people want their needs fulfilled, but don’t want to surrender our will to God.
Many people want to be successful, but don’t want to be led.
If the Lord is truly our Shepherd, then we will always be positioned with what we need.
Today, we will reflect on Psalm 23:1, our needs bestowed upon us by a loving Shepherd.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”.
The word “Lord” pertains to the self-existent, eternal God who is supreme in authority, and the controller of our lives.
Our God is a gentleman though, and will not force us to serve Him.
In Luke 6:46, Christ says, “And why call me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
It all begins with our posture to the Lord. We can’t pay God lip service only and expect the kingdom to open up to us, nor can we disobey God’s Word and then expect His provision to unlock for us.
In Psalm 37:4, the Bible says, “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
That word “delight” means “to be soft, malleable, able to be formed”.
If the Lord is our Shepherd, then we are clay in the hands of the Potter, available for Him to form us as He wills. Many of us want to be what we want to be, and then ask God to bless our choice, not His will being done. In that case, He is not Lord.
The word “shepherd” means “tender to the flock, pastor or spiritual leader.”
This settles it that God has to be able to lead us right now because the passage says, “The Lord IS my shepherd”.
Some of us began to trust God’s leading and then went in a separate direction, all while still calling Him Lord.
In Matthew 7:21, Christ says, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Obedience to God’s will is what establishes that Jesus is Lord in our lives. A shepherd knows what is best for His sheep, He protects us from what we don’t see coming, and looks after the sheep with love.
In Jeremiah 23:4, the Bible says, “And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.”
God knows what we need when we need it. We have to trust in God to be God.
In Matthew 6:32-33, Christ says, “(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
By Seeking the kingdom of God first, we are being sheep under our Shepherd, meaning that His commands and direction is more important to us that His provision. This is a relationship of trust, and in order for the Lord to be our shepherd, we have to trust Him.
In Jeremiah 17:7-8, the Bible says, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”
When the Lord is our Shepherd, we can obey Him, trust Him, and watch Him provide our needs.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 11, 2025 – Psalm 30:3 – being brought back to life
“O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.”
Psalm 30:3
Hi Everyone!
Twenty-four years ago, I was shot multiple times by two people, and then left for dead. I didn’t know the guys who shot me, and my guess is that I was shot because they either mistook me for the person they wanted to shoot, or they got tired of looking for the person from my neighborhood that they wanted to shoot and shot me instead
Even as I laid on the ground, they continued to unload bullets into me.
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t be alive today, but God saved me.
Seven years later, my prison cell, God visited me and I received His gift of salvation
He saved my life again, but this time, He gave me eternal life as well.
I mean it when I say that I have been brought back from the dead, because by normal circumstances,
I should not be here. Recognizing this makes me thankful to God.
Today, we will be looking at Psalm 30:3, being brought back to life.
“O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.”
David is giving a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God at the dedication of his house. David remembers the journey he has gone though to be standing on the ground that he stood on that day. He remembers God’s hedge of protection that kept him safe from Saul’s hand many times.
In 1 Samuel 20:1, the Bible says, “And David fled from Naoith in Ramah, a came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?”
Saul knew David was anointed by God to take his place as king, because God rejected Saul as king. Despite all of the faithful service David showed Saul, Saul is trying to kill David.
The phrase “hast brought up my soul from the grave” implies that David has ascended out of the hands of his enemies, that the death sentence that he was given is no more. David was a valiant warrior who slayed the Goliath, yet he gave the glory to God from delivering him from death.
The same God who delivered our souls from death, is the same one who delivered us from a spiritual death.
In John 3:16, Christ says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
God never desired His children to taste death, but experience life everlasting in Him. David experienced a physical saving of His life that clearly translates to our spiritual lives being saved by faith in Jesus Christ.
In John 5:24, Christ says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.”
We were condemned, with a death sentenced over our heads, but God saved us and caused us to experienced life despite our sinfulness, despite our past, and despite our failures.
In Romans 6:3-4, the Bible says, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him in baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk on newness of life.”
Do we live as if we have come back from the dead? We all covet that clean slate, that do-over to wash away our past indiscretions, but do we realize that God delivered us from death, securing that second chance! As believers, we have that fresh start, but do we believe it?
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new.”
David recognized that God saved his life from real enemies. He had a kingdom after him, and he experienced a deliverance from death that only God could do. We have been saved the same way, but do we carry the same thankfulness that we have been brought up from the grave and given a new life?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 12, 2025 – Romans 5:5 – walking in the shameless hope of God
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
Romans 5:5
Hi Everyone!
Being justified, made righteous, by God through faith in Christ provides believers with tons of benefits.
For starters, we have been redeemed from the penalty of death and the consequences of our sins.
We also are taught directly by God through the Holy Spirit, and even corrected by Him when we get out of line.
We receive strength when we are weakened by life’s circumstances, and we enter fully into God’s love.
My life as a believer is the evidence that God’s favor and benefits are upon me. I have every reason to press forward in hope, yet, being brutally honest, I am in a season where the difficulties are piling up and quitting seems easier than pressing on.
For the last four days, I have heard a part of the song “Jesus Messiah” playing over and over in my head: “All our hope is in You”.
As I have been broken down to rubble, that line still plays so strongly in my head, even when I sleep. Despite how I feel, I am still here, still pressing on, because my hope is in God.
Today, we will look at Romans 5:5, walking in the shameless hope of God.
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
The word “hope” means “anticipation, expectation, especially for those who experience the hope of salvation through Christ, eternal life and blessedness”.
In Psalm 121:1-2, the Bible says, ” I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth”.
If my vision is towards God who will provide my help, then I hope in Him, and I look with expectancy for His arrival. This is what was being stripped from me, that hope, because I focused more on my circumstances not working out than the hope I have in God. I’ve never been surrounded by so many good things, and still contemplated throwing my hands down in sheer defeat. I am realizing that I placed my hope in the wrong things and in the wrong people.
The phrase “maketh not ashamed” means “to not cause dishonor, or not cause one to be confounded”.
If my hope is in circumstances, then that is where my trust will be.
In Jeremiah 17:5-6, the Bible says, “Thus saith theLORD, Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For He shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inherit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land not inhabited”.
Trusting in man, I set myself up to be disappointed time and time again, and I have positioned my own self in places uninhabited that cannot grow, because I shifted my trust in God to people and circumstances.
In Romans 10:10-11, the Bible says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.”
When my hope and trust is in the Lord, I am positioned correctly for God to show His faithfulness, but I have been out of line, which has contributed to my brokenness.
The word “love” means “love-feast, affection, or benevolence”.
The phrase “shed abroad” means “poured forth or bestowed fully”.
The word “hearts” is our innermost being, the seat of one’s thoughts, desires, passions or will.
The Holy Ghost places this hope in our hearts because of the love of God toward us. He doesn’t want us defeated, and He doesn’t want us to fail.
In Ephesians 1:13, the Bible says, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”
If I am sealed, then nothing can get in that is not supposed to be there. In losing hope, I took my eyes off Christ, trusted in how it looked, and believed that wrong testimony, all while trying to serve God.
The enemy was trying to steal my hope, but nice try!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 13, 2025 – Romans 5:6 – salvation provided for the wicked
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
Romans 5:6
Hi Everyone!
I am a living witness that the power of God is capable of transforming anyone’s life by faith in Jesus Christ.
If anyone knew me then, they would have thought that I was hopeless, incapable of being anything more than a failure.
My life now still causes family members to scratch their heads in confusion, because they are still expecting the old man to creep out, but they haven’t seen that man in over two decades!
As I draw closer to God, I see that before I committed my first sin, before I had the thought to disobey God, He already made the provision for my salvation.
All I had to do at that appointed time was place my faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, and my sins were washed away.
I make no excuse, nor do I minimize my sin, because all that truly matters now is that God has forgiven me and I am whole!
Today, we will look at Romans 5:6, salvation provided for the wicked.
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
In Romans 5:1-2, the Bible says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Salvation brought about a peace with God that I never had when I was in sin, and He made me righteous in Him, so that when He sees me, He doesn’t see a filthy sinner, but He sees a child of God. Salvation also has brought me access into the kingdom of God by faith, where I can see that I have everything to hope in.
The phrase “without strength” means “moral wickedness or disease; or a state of sinfulness”.
Sometimes, we have to be honest with who we used to be, and still have a propensity to be.
In Isaiah 64:6, the Bible says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
This is that state all believers have been saved from.
No one is in a position to judge big sins versus little sins. I have had a lot of believers look at the fact that I am in prison for homicide and feel like I am the lowest of the low, but any sin that is not washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ will lead to death.
In Galatians 4:3-5, the Bible says, “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
We all we in a state of sinfulness that kept us apart from God, and we all needed salvation for our sins, because we were unable to pay our debts.
The word “died” is a gross understatement for the type of death that Jesus suffered to secure our access to salvation by faith in Him.
In Isaiah 52:14, the Bible says, “As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of man.”
Jesus was beaten beyond recognition, whipped, having his skin ripped off in the process, and he was forced to carry His own cross! He endured this, knowing that I would become a murderer that would need His salvation nearly two-thousand years later.
The word “ungodly” means “impious or wicked”.
In Romans 4:24-25, the Bible says, “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
Jesus didn’t stay in the grave, but rose again with all power, bestowing upon us the blessed Holy Spirit when He ascended to the Father.
We might have started out as sinful and wicked, but being saved, we are children of God, adopted into His kingdom, and we have the ability to live new lives in Him.
Never allow someone to hold you to your past sins when you are walking in salvation and deliverance by faith!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 14, 2025 – Proverbs 28:13, truly confessing our sins
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
Proverbs 28:13
Hi Everyone!
I know I fall short in many ways, and I come to God for His grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
I have been saved for a while, and I have a handle of some things, but I struggle mightily in other areas, and I want to be so much better than I am.
I remember years ago, when I first was getting started, if I would have thought I could get to where I am now, there would have to be some divine intervention, a miracle, or something, but now that I am “here”, I truly see that this isn’t enough, that there is still much work left to do.
I imagine that our faith walk places us all in the ocean, where some people appear farther along than others, but by us all being in the water, we all have fallen short of the shore. This is where we humble ourselves, confess our sins, and ask God for His mercy.
Today, we will reflect on Proverbs 28:13, truly confessing our sins.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
The word “covereth” means “to conceal”.
The word “sins” means “offenses or trespasses against God”.
The word “prosper” means “the ability to push forward or to be profitable”.
Sin, especially sins that are concealed, prevent us from getting further ahead and prevent us from being profitable for the kingdom of God. When David had Uriah killed in order to take his wife, he didn’t have a desire to just take his wife. He first tried to cover it up.
In 2 Samuel 11:8, the Bible says, “And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.”
David called Uriah back from war so that he could have Uriah sleep with his wife to cover up the fact that David got her pregnant. When he refused to lie with his wife, and because he showed integrity before God and the king, David sent Uriah back to war, with his own death warrant sealed in his hand, and had him killed.
In 2 Samuel 11:27, the Bible says, “And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord”.
David actually thought for a second that he was getting away with it, and he made Bathsheba his wife. God had news for David!
In 2 Samuel 12:9, the Bible says, “Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.”
Do we see our sin as us despising God’s commands? Do we realize that no matter how well we try to hide our sin, God is watching it clear as day? Does this make you cringe? It sure makes me cringe!
The word “confess” means “to acknowledge our sin before a holy God”.
In Psalm 51:4, the Bible says, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightiest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”
David, confronted and convicted by his sin, laid it bare before God
The word “forsaketh” means “to relinquish or separate oneself from”.
In Psalm 51:13, the Bible says, “Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”
David not only confesses his sin, he wants to use this lesson to teach others to obey God. This is a person who wants to remove the sin from their life.
The word “mercy” means “compassion”. It doesn’t mean that God won’t punish our sin, but He withholds what we are truly due.
In Romans 6:23, the Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
God restored David through his confession, and forgave him of his sin.
We know David as a man after God’s own heart because he didn’t remain in his sin, but through confession, he moved forward.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 15, 2025 – Romans 5:11 – the joy behind being at one with Christ
“And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
Romans 5:11
Hi Everyone!
It baffles me to see so many believers who are dejected, depressed, broken, and void of peace and joy.
The enemy mounts offensives against us the minute we decide to serve Him, the minute we choose to believe the Word of God, or the minute we make up our minds to carry out God’s purpose in our lives.
The enemy is trying to rob us of anything that would cause us to experience joy, and many of us fall for his devices time after time
When we received salvation for our sins, something changed within us. No only were we born again, but we also have kingdom authority in the earth. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us, the same Spirit that dwelt in Christ, and we are empowered by God to live new lives in Him.
My worst day as a believer was met with the fullness of God’s comfort, and He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Today, we will look Romans 5:11, the joy behind being at one with Christ.
“And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
The word “and” at the beginning of this verse tells us that there is more context to pull from the text to gain the full meaning.
This means we have to go back.
In Romans 5:9-10, the Bible says, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life”.
I can only speak for myself, but I was an enemy of God. I took life, I committed crimes, and I lived an unrepentant, sinful life, sometimes proudly! To receive salvation from God is more than I ever deserve, but for this provision to be made available nearly two-thousand years before I was born, designated for the moment I called out to God for salvation, is something much more. It means that God’s love for us is beyond anything this earth can offer, and He desires for us to experience salvation.
The word “joy” means “to rejoice, or glory in”.
This is a term that induces humble celebration that we have been passed from death to life, that the penalty we should have incurred for our sin has been paid. Imagine Barabbas set to go to the cross, but in the eleventh hour, Jesus came and took his place, completely releasing him of his death sentence. If there is not a humble celebration of thankfulness flowing from Barabbas, then he has no sign of appreciation for what was done for him.
In Romans 3:24-25, the Bible says, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.”
The grace of God made redemption possible, not our best efforts, nor our perceived holiness. Gods grace made Jesus available to us in order for Him to be the atoning sacrifice for our sin, the substitute that took onot weight and placed it upon Him.
The word “atonement” means “reconciliation or restoration to the divine favor”.
God has grown us much more than just salvation. He restored us to Him. Do we really understand what this means?
In Galatians 4:7, the Bible says, “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ”.
We are of only saved, but we are children and heirs of God. This means that we have the same privileges and access that Christ had when He walked the earth.
In Ephesians 2:6, the Bible says, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”.
God has us resting in heavenly places in Him, instead of in the mires that we have been delivered from.
God has changed our status, our access, our benefits, and He has changed our address!
We are completely new in Him. If we meditate on this truth, rejoicing should be what pours from us!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 16, 2025 – Psalm 37:1 – rejecting the bitterness from beholding the success of the wicked
“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.”
Psalm 37:1
Hi Everyone!
In my prison environment, I am surrounded by people of all backgrounds, and people with different types of support systems.
Some guys made the street life a very lucrative life before they were confined, and they still have the earnings from that.
Others have friends and family engaged in that street life, who spare them no expense.
My wife and I have been saving and campaigning in order to get a lawyer, while some of these people can pick up the phone and have twenty-five thousand dollars sent to a lawyer in a day!
Years ago, a guy who was selling drugs in my prison environment offered to give me drugs to sell in order to make money for a lawyer. My response, “Brother, if I did that, then all of this living out my faith would be for nothing. I won’t ever cut corners to get where God is taking me.”
He respected that, but I felt a little bitterness at the fact that the evildoers seem to have all they can handle while people who live out their faith without compromise seem to struggle mightily to get ahead.
Today, we will look at Psalm 37:1, rejecting the bitterness from beholding the success of the wicked.
“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.”
God takes care of His own, and He will always make sure that we have what we need when we need it. Sadly, we grow impatient, and then we become angry.
The phrase “fret not thyself” means “do not blaze up in angered jealousy”.
The word “evildoers” speaks of those who are bad morally and good for nothing spiritually. Why would any in the faith be jealous of what someone else in the world has? They are looking at the substance and not the provider.
In Exodus 20:17, the Bible says, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”
I take my eyes off of God when I look at other’s lives.
I then find myself wrapped in what I should have compared to others, and I also begin to become discontented by what I have.
In Proverbs 30:8-9, the Bible says, “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain”.
We can become wrapped up in some very depressed thoughts based upon the lack of possessions we have. Society has this desire to become rich, and will compromise anything to get it, and just having what is needed is no longer good enough. Having too much can cause us to stray just as much as not having enough. Paul came to an understanding about possessions in prison of all places.
In Philippians 4:11, the Bible says, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
This has to be our attitude as believers, because we serve a God who knows our every need, and will give us the rest even when we are struggling.
In Matthew 6:32, Christ says, “(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
God knows, so there is no reason for us to be angry by the perceived prosperity of the wicked.
The word “envious” means “to have strong emotions of jealousy stemming from a desire to possess something”.
The phrase “workers of iniquity” means “unrighteous, wicked, or morally perverse”.
When wee have become absorbed in what the wicked has, we allow our anger to cause us to have thoughts we shouldn’t have.
In Psalm 37:2, the Bible says, “For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”
Destruction is the end to those who gain while practicing evil. So we are angry about their “success” without discerning their end. If I have to weigh destruction with having wealth, I will gladly be poor!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 17, 2025 – Philippians 1:29 – rescued by God through the blood of Jesus Christ
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”
Philippians 1:29
Hi Everyone!
We are alive as believers because Jesus gave His life on the cross for our sins.
We have a sin debt that we were unable to pay, and no amount of animal sacrifices or well doing was enough to satisfy the debt for our sins.
We were delivered from the penalty of sin and death, and our lives a now new in Him.
With that payment of atonement made on our behalf, we should have a desire to grow spiritually, we should have a desire to love on a level that we never have before, and we should have a desire to serve God first above anything.
We should be walking in strength and not in fear, and we should be living in a way that it brings glory to God.
Someone died so we can live, but are our lives a symbol of appreciation to God for his salvation and redemption?
Today, we will be looking at Philippians 1:29, rescued by God through the blood of Jesus Christ.
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”
Paul is writing the church at Philippi, aiming to get them to embrace the importance of living out the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
In Philippians 1:27, the Bible says, “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.”
We should be the type of believers that are walking in step with the Spirit, whether we are being watched or whether we are by ourselves. Our change becomes sincere when we don’t need any incentive to follow the Word of God other than our love for Him.
The word “given” also tells us what we are given, being a word that means, “to rescue, pardon, to show favor, or to forgive”.
I love this definition because it is the love of God that showed us favor, forgave us of our sines, released us from the bondage of our sins, and rescued us from the penalty of death!
In Romans 5:1-2, the Bible says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into the grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
This salvation makes us righteous before a Holy God, and we experience His peace, knowing that we are not slated for destruction. As believers, we are bestowed such amazing grace, a bridge between where we are and where we should be, causing us to have direct access to God.
The word “believe” means “to entrust one’s spiritual wellbeing to, or to have faith in”.
God did this so that we would believe in the name of Jesus, so we would come to the end of ourselves and call out to Jesus for salvation.
In Romans 10:9-10, the Bible says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Through faith, this entrusting of Christ for our spiritual wellbeing, we enter into an amazing relationship with God. Having all of these promises, God doesn’t shy away from the fact that, as believers, we are going to experience suffering.
The word “suffer” means “to be subjected to pain or evil”.
In Romans 8:16-17, the Bible says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together.”
There is glory on the other side of our suffering.
Romans 5:3 says, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience”.
So much is produced in suffering that builds us into much stronger believers, but many of us want to live with relative ease instead of suffer for Christ, who did it all for us.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 18, 2025 – 1 John 3:3 – being purified as Jesus is pure
“And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure”.
1 John 3:3
Hi Everyone!
God provided us with an amazing gift when He gave mankind Jesus Chris, the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.
He took a seemingly hopeless situation, and He turned it as a means by which we can be redeemed from the penalty of death, and established that our “end” would actually be eternal life with Him in heaven.
This hope means that we no longer have to rely on the old life and the old mind in order to love abundantly, but our hope can be placed in the finished work of Jesus Christ, which can transform us into His image.
God never desired that our salvation would leave us the same, but He desired that our change will confound our critics, and give us an avenue to show people how we have been changed.
I promised God that I would declare the name of Jesus everywhere I go when I am released from prison, but I am also doing it now.
Today, we will be looking at 1 John 3:3, being purified as Jesus is pure.
“And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure”.
John is writing from Ephesus to a church that is being infiltrated by false teachers. There is a spread of Gnosticism in the church and this false teaching is causing believers to question where they stand in their faith. This verse is connected to a previous point being made, so we have to go back an include it for context purposes.
In 1 John 3:2, the Bible says, “Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”
So, we are declared the children of God, the builders of the family name, and we can’t even begin to comprehend what that means for us. We know Christ, and we know where He is, seated at the right hand of the Father, but we will see Him in His fullness face to face. Until then, we have the Word of God that will to clue us into that character and love of our Saviour. We can look ahead with hope!
The word “hope” means “pleasurable anticipation, divine expectation, or confidence in Jesus”.
This hope will compel trust in Him in every aspect of lives, because Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Christ is the object of our hope and therefore our faith comes through Him.
This isn’t some idle hope in someone sure to fail us, because in Hebrews 7:25, the Bible says, “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Please help us all see that Jesus made the intercessions for us to God that ultimately led us to Him, and He continues to make intercession for us in drawing us closer to God. The Holy Spirit is activated within us to convict us, teach us, and lead us to be more like Christ, and also to display His character to us! He was working on us before we knew that we needed Him!
The word “purifieth” means “to reform”. This is a heart change caused by our salvation, and by this blessed hope that we have. It makes us want to change.
In Romans 12:2, the Bible says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”
We have to make ourselves available to God to continue to mold our hearts to desire the things that God desires and not the things that the world has to offer. Remember, we have been delivered from the world, so if it had any capability to purify us before God, it would have done it a long time ago.
In Romans 8:29, the Bible says, “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
God had it in His creative intent for us to look like Christ in this earth, and He also gave us a reason to hope, that we will see Christ in the fullness of His glory!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Oct 19, 2025 to Nov 3, 2025 – WARFARE IN THE SPIRIT – 16 DAYS – ORIGINAL MAY 19, 2021
Nov, 2025 to Nov 4, to Nov 13 – THE BEATITUDES – 10 DAYS – ORIGINAL SERIES JUL 21, 201
Nov 14, 2025 – Psalm 37:16 – embracing the “little” we have with God (posted for: Nov 14, 2025)
“A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.”
Psalm 37:16
Hi Everyone!
Sometimes, it is easy to look at the wealth of the world and become enticed, especially when we are in any form of lack.
Sometimes, we look at life and feel that we’ve gotten a raw deal, and we become more focused on what we don’t have, instead of being thankful for those things that we do have.
We rob ourselves because we use our own selfish desire and ambition, or the lives of others as a measuring tool for what we should have in life.
We become jealous of people and angry at God because we don’t have something that is possibly harmful to us.
Being someone who lived in the streets, racing after ill-gotten gains, I have a primary source perspective that the end is destruction, no matter how well one plays the game.
Either we forsake God’s gift of salvation, or we position ourselves for destruction right here on earth. I bear the wounds an consequences.
Today, we will look at Psalm 37:16, embracing the “little” we have with God.
“A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.”
The word “righteous” means “one who conforms to the standard of God”.
The word “better” means “fruitful, well-pleasing, or morally correct”.
If God’s standard is our own, then we don’t have to worry about what we have, because Who we have is much more important.
In Luke 3:14, the Bible says, “And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”
The soldier is likely to feel like they aren’t being paid as much as the people they are protecting, and that discontentment may cause they to abuse their position for financial gain.
In Hebrews 13:5, the Bible says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have, for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
When we fret about what we don’t have we have forsaken righteousness and have put on anger.
If our God is a provider, then He knows exactly what our needs are. God has shown me when I made the decision to do everything legal and not cut any corners that He was right there, and even when I was in hard moments, He sent an unexpected blessing in the form of exactly what I needed. No one could have know exactly what I needed, down to the dollar! I slept easier with the “little” I had in the Lord, because I had no worry that officers would raid my room and take anything, nor did I have to worry about fighting someone trying to cheat me.
In 1 Timothy 6:8-9, the Bible says, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
This passage is designed for people who have developed possessing money into idolatry. That person is not content with having what they need. They want to be rich.
In Proverbs 15:16, the Bible says, “Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.”
When we value our relationship with God, possessions will lose their power more and money will not seem as important anymore. In prison, people try to accumulate as much money as possible, because they don’t know where their next dollar is coming, and so they stockpile out of fear and cut corners because they don’t want to be broke. T
hey heap trouble upon themselves to make a dollar.
In Proverbs 16:8, the Bible says, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right”.
Righteousness is far more important than riches, and in fact, righteousness is actually wealth, because it is spiritual currency. When we fail to compromise with evil for the accumulation of wealth, we cannot experience a life where God is our provider.
I came to realize that all the window dressings I thought I needed to make my life better only led me away from God!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Nov 15, 2025 – Psalm 37:8 – quenching a fiery, jealous, anger over the success of the wicked
“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”
Psalm 37:8
Hi Everyone!
It is important to not have a jealous anger towards those who excel at practicing evil.
They drive around in the best cars, they wear the best clothes, the flash the best jewelry, and it appears that there lives are nothing but good things.
People, both believers an unbelievers, are enticed into a life that is actually a lie, a life that puts a person on a collision course with desperation. This desperation causes people to do things that they wouldn’t otherwise ever do, and the path to destruction becomes blazed.
When we have this angered jealousy, and trust me, I have had it in prison, watching unbelievers get their cases overturned, getting lawyers at the drop of a hat, and getting time reduced from their sentences.
People who don’t appreciate the blessing seem to be the ones always getting the blessing, but God doesn’t want me to be angered by this, because I can become just like them if I am not careful.
Today, we will look at Psalm 37:8, quenching a fiery, jealous, anger over the success of the wicked.
“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”
The word “cease” means “to abate, stop or let go”.
The word “anger” refers to someone quick-tempered. Being someone who used to be quick-tempered, I used to act first and deal with the consequences later.
This is not the way God wants me to think or respond to anything, by doing something in haste that I would regret later.
In James 1:19-20, the Bible says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
We have to take a step back from allowing the lives and acquisitions of others to allow us to become rash and angry, because we are subject to do something that will sorely displease God. A quick-tempered, angry person cannot see clearly, because they are so absorbed in their cause that they cannot see what God wants them to see, nor hear His voice.
The word “forsake” means “to loose or relinquish”.
The word “wrath” means “fury or rage”.
David, the writer of this Psalm, was a very wealthy man, but he also had lived a life hiding in caves, fleeing from people in power that wanted him dead. He is speaking from experience. Remember when he and his small army went to Nabal for provision because they were hungry? David and his men had helped Nabal become as rich as he was, and asked nothing in return, but when he finally asked Nabal for help, he not only refused them, but he was kinda haughty towards David. David’s response?
In 1 Samuel 25:13, the Bible says, “And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.”
David and his men were going to take the provision they needed by force and likely kill to do it. This is a man identified as being after God’s own heart, yet he was going to kill a man and take his provision out of hunger, anger, and desperation.
Please never act like this, it doesn’t become us well if we allow our anger to prevail. Praise God for Abigail, Nabal’s wife, who intervened without Nabal knowing and provided for David and his men all they needed.
The phrase “fret not thyself in any wise to do evil” means “don’t allow your anger to cause you to sin against God”.
In Ephesians 4:26-27, the Bible says, “Be angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.”
God never desired for our anger to lead to bitterness against anyone. When that happens, we give the enemy room to operate in our minds and hearts. The enemy loves to convince us that our God can’t provide for us, or convince us that in our waiting that God is not going to show up.
Trust me, the enemy tries to help us make a hard situation worse by getting us to turn away from God!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Nov 16, 2025 – Psalm 37:9 – the end result dissected
“For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth”.
Psalm 37:9
Hi Everyone!
They say that waiting is the hard part.
I know this is true as I wait for the shift to happen that will cause me to regain my freedom, but if I look at my life accurately, the shift has already happened!
We look at end results as a way to measure the process, and we tend to mistake someone’s process as the end result.
This is what makes us frantic when we see the success and prosperity of the wicked; we mark their perceived success as their end, but we don’t consider the destruction that is sure to come.
When I fret about unbelievers getting the convictions overturned, I don’t consider that if they don’t repent, their end is destruction, so I tend to incorrectly view their success as an end.
When I come home, that isn’t an end, but it is truly the beginning of a beauty life, ministry, and outreach with my wife Jessica.
Today, we will be looking at Psalm 37:9, the end result dissected.
“For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth”.
The word “for” at the beginning of this verse means that there is a verse ahead of this that is connected to this that we need to receive the full context.
In Psalm 37:8, the Bible says, “Cease from danger and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”
David is writing this Psalm because he knows that people can be exasperated by the success of the evildoers, especially when they are doing all the right things to succeed.
The word “evildoers” means “good for nothing, wicked, or morally bad”.
This isn’t speaking on those who occasionally sin, but those who make a fulltime practice out of sinfulness.
The phrase “shall be cut off” means “to destroy, consume, or cut off.”
In Job 27:8-9, the Bible says, “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?”
So not only are the evildoers going to be set for destruction, but their cry will be ignored too!
Didn’t Jesus pose a question that should give us pause about the success of the wicked in Matthew 16:26-27, where Christ asks, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
There is a reward in store for us: blessings for those who faithful serve God even in the face of want, and destruction set for those unbelievers who refuse to repent. Financial gain is not everything when we are willing to compromise our end to gain it.
The phrase “those that wait upon” means “to bind together as the twisting of a rope, to hope, to patiently tarry”.
We are not waiting in hope for the provision of God, but we are waiting in hope for the Lord to respond in a manner that fulfils God’s will and glorifies Him, even when we are disappointed by how long it appears to be taking. The twisting of a rope secures the bond, like a braid does, where we don’t become unraveled by circumstances.
The phrase “shall inherit the earth” implies the possession of the covenant promises of God concerning us.
In Psalm 37:11, the Bible says, “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
Not only will we possess God’s blessings, but He will also bestow more peace upon us than we need.
In Isaiah 40:31, the Bible says, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Sometimes, the waiting can cause us to be depleted of strength and resolve to continue the process, and especially seeing the wicked succeed can make us have an unnecessary urgency to gain.
We have to remember that we serve a God that knows exactly what we need, and responds accordingly. Waiting renews strength!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Nov 17, 2025 – Psalm 37:23 – steps that are ordered by the Lord
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in His way.”
Psalm 37:23
Hi Everyone!
The journey to salvation is paved by God.
The pathway through sanctification is also paved by God. The light by which we navigate on this path is given by God.
So if we are to be the people God has created, and called, us to be, then all roads we take have to go through Him.
Our problem comes when we think that we know our own way, and we deviate from the path that Jesus has blazed. As long as we remain on His path, we will walk in His light and glorify Him in the process.
If we deviate from His path, to pursue our own means to get to the end that we feel we should have, then we will effectively inherit destruction.
When we look at the success of the wicked, our anger at our individual plight can compel us to join them if we cannot seem to beat them, but God requires us to remain on His path, and incline ourselves to His Word and direction.
Today, we will look at Psalm 37:23, steps that are ordered by the Lord.
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in His way.”
The phrase “good man” means “a person who becomes who they were created to be”.
In Genesis 1:3-4, the Bible says, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”
The light became good only when it became what God declared it to be. When we become what we were declared by God to be, then God will look upon us and call us “good”, but we can’t be declared good if our agenda is to go our own way.
The word “ordered” means “set, fixed, or established”.
This means that we must understand that we are not the author or finisher of our faith, but Jesus is.
In Colossians 1:17, the Bible says, “And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”
Everything that we are was set together by God, so we cannot tell the One who created us what we should be or what we should have. When God orders our steps, then we should willingly follow Him anywhere.
In Matthew 16:24, the Bible says, “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
We have to declare ourselves and the path that we want to take outside of God’s will to be untrue before we can fully follow God.
We have to forsake our ideas, our ambition, and our impressions of where we should be.
I remember a time in my confinement when I had a lot of money in my account. People actually thought that I was serving God because I was considered blessed! Well, when the money ran out, people thought I was going to turn my back on God, but there I was, continuing to serve God even more faithfully. I resolved that I was going to go wherever God was leading me.
The word “delighteth” means “to bend towards or incline”.
The word “way” means “a road or course of life”.
The person who is following God’s direction is going to be positioned to obey His direction, even when it is painful.
In Proverbs 16:9, the Bible says, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”
There will always be an inner conflict between what we want and what God wants, and that conflict intensifies when we look at the success of the wicked. We have to discard our feelings and seek God’s direction.
In Isaiah 55:7-8, the Bible says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
We have to return to the LORD, because no matter how smart we think we are, if God’s ways aren’t first in our minds, then we haven’t delighted in His ways.
It brought joy to David to be directed by God, because he knew that God knew what was best for him. When we incline our hearts to God’s directions, we are operating in faith and trust in God.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Nov 18, 2025 – Psalm 118:24 – rejoicing because God gave us another day
“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24
Hi Everyone!
The alarm clock doesn’t go off; and you waken late.
Immediately, you are disgruntled because your whole day is going to be hectic, because you started off behind. You fly through the morning trying to make up time, you become testy with other people, you tell people you would normally make time for, that you don’t have the time, and your countenance becomes stressed.
So your day was hedged on the alarm clock waking you up so that when it didn’t, it completely ruined your day.
You sit at the end of the day fatigued, relieved that the nightmare of the day is over, vowing to never go through that again.
Stressed, you go to bed, checking your alarm to make sure you are good
No matter how we wake up, late or on time, that type of day was not the day that we were promised. Nowhere in such a hectic day was God acknowledged or praised, and nowhere in that day was there any appreciation to be alive, to have the activities of our limbs, or to have a sound mind.
Does God get the glory for the days we have by not living from thanksgiving and joy, or does He see a people unappreciative of such a precious gift?
Today, we will reflect on Psalm 118:24, rejoicing because God gave us another day.
“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Looking at this Psalm, there is truly something to celebrate by pulling the previous verses into this study for context.
In Psalm 118:22-23, the Bible says, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.”
Do we understand that this passage is talking about the coming of Christ, about the victory that He had over death through becoming the atoning sacrifice for sin? So this isn’t just a blanket statement of thankfulness that we are supposed to have every day, but it is the acknowledgement that, because of Christ’s sacrifice and our salvation, we have every reason every day to rejoice in the day and in the Lord.
Imagine looking ahead at the victory of Christ on the cross, and seeing the redemption we will receive by faith in Jesus, and that thought incites rejoicing at that thought. The writer of this Psalm did just that, but we are literally living this victory out in our lives right now
In Lamentations 3:22-23, the Bible says, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
Doesn’t salvation produce a mercy that stood in the gap stopping the penalty of death, and doesn’t this gift extend to the believer every day that they wake up?
This gift is also stretches out towards unbelievers, for them to partake in God’s gift of salvation by faith in Jesus, so whether they accept the gift or not, they too still have a reason every morning to praise God, because His love provides them with a chance to be born again
In Psalm 34:1-3, the Bible says, “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.”
Look at this verse through the lens of our salvation, and this should be our posture, being people redeemed from the penalty of our sins, being people born again, and being vessels that inhabit the Spirit of God. There is too much for us to rejoice in every day, because no matter how hard the day is, we have our future secure in Christ, and we can live from victory daily because of our salvation.
To rejoice and be glad, should be the response of experiencing a gift that continues to present itself as the mercy, love, and redemption of God
In Psalm 118:6, the Bible says, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”
Waking up every morning knowing that God is on our side is enough, and if we rejoice in that truth, then nothing shakes us!
God Bless
Marshall & Jessica
Nov 19, 2025 – Psalm 37:24 – getting back to our feet again
“Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand.”
Psalm 37:24
Hi Everyone!
Just because we get knocked down by life’s circumstances, doesn’t mean that we have to remain that way.
In Christ, we have the ability to get back up again, when we find ourselves upset by the success of the wicked, yet not allowing our anger to consume us.
We can look at the goodness and grace of God in directing our steps, and providing for us the things that we need to become who He called us to be
Sometimes, we can find ourselves going down rabbit holes, that could lead to a pathway of destruction, but God is rich in mercy and will make sure that we are not totally consumed.
We see an injustice when we serve and feel that we don’t get our just due, but the wicked celebrate their ill-gotten gains, seemingly in our faces!
As God lifts us up when we fall, but the wicked won’t be able to get up again in that final day.
Today, we will reflect on Psalm 37:24, getting back to our feet again.
“Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand.”
The word “fall” suggests a state of being overwhelmed to the point that we become angry or we shut down.
This is similar to t person who falls and wants to stay there. Many believers think that this won’t ever happen to them, but it happens to us all.
Didn’t David write in Psalm 43:5, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
We are going to get knocked down by life’s circumstances, sometimes by our own thoughts, but when we shift our thoughts to a hope in God, it positions us to be lifted up by God.
In Psalm 34:19, the Bible says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
People have the mistaken impression that because we are believers, we are not going to go through anything, or struggling through anything that knocks us on our back pockets, but God never promised that.
In fact, didn’t Christ tell us in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Jesus didn’t say that we “might” have trouble, but He said, “we shall have tribulation”.
Because Jesus overcame the world, we are able in Him to overcome the world too!
The phrase “utterly cast down” suggests being in a permanent state of dejection, depression, and ruin. We can have those moments, but the moments we face are not our permanent state because we are held in the Master’s hand.
In Psalm 34:22, the Bible says, “The LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants: and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.”
God is not going to leave us hanging, He will make sure that we are covered by Him. This shows us that God doesn’t want us imbedded in the state that we sometimes find ourselves in.
In Psalm 40:12, the Bible says, “For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.”
Our hearts may fail us, but God will never fail us!
The word “hand” means “power or means”.
Everything is in God’s hands and He is going to provide for us the means to overcome what is plaguing us.
In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, the Bible says, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
I know this firsthand that God is comfort in the hardest circumstances that one can encounter, and being upheld by His power means that there is always another side to this coin, a place of peace that we experience after the storm is over.
Knowing God has us, changes everything!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Nov 20, 2025 -Colossians 1:14 – redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:14
Hi Everyone!
Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. He died on the cross to free those who believe that not only did He die for our sins, but God raised Him from the dead.
In Him, we are new creations, and our old man died with Christ by faith, so that we can live abundantly in Him.
We always talk about the coveted “clean slate”, but in Christ we have one in God that not only gained our admittance into the kingdom of God, but also secured eternal life for us.
This doesn’t come from our efforts, nor does it come from our goodness, but it comes from the blood that was shed on the cross by Jesus for our sins.
I tell brothers in my prison environment that Someone died so that we could live, and He died fully in love with us, and fully obedient to His purpose.
Jesus is our example, but He is also our gift.
Today, we will look at Colossians 1:14, redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ.
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
It is important for us to understand who “In whom” is referring to, so we have to go back to pull the full context.
In Colossians 1:12-13, the Bible says, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us unto the kingdom of His dear Son.”
From this passage, we understand that God made salvation possible for us by delivering us from the darkness we were consumed in and moved us into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. This also allows us to experience and enjoy the benefits of the kingdom because of faith in Jesus.
The word “redemption” means “deliverance on account of the ransom paid, deliverance from the power and consequences of sin which Christ procured by laying down His life as a ransom.”
Imagine being given a death sentence, and while we are on death row, someone not only bails us out, but they take our place so we can go free.
This is what Jesus did for us!
In Ephesians 1:7-8, the Bible says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.”
God’s grace, the bridge between God’s redemption and our sin, not only produces the forgiveness of sins, but it also shows us that God knew exactly what He was doing. Our salvation was no accident, nor was it a mistake.
It was an intentional act of God to redeem us from the consequence of sin and the penalty of death.
In Romans 5:8-9, the Bible says, “But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”
This was a love offering of redemption and salvation. There at a lot of people who don’t feel loved, but God’s love was poured on us before we got our lives together, before we were forgiven.
The word “forgiveness” means “remission or pardon”.
I am in prison right now with a life sentence without parole. If the Governor was to pardon me, that would mean that the sentence I have been doing for the last twenty-two years goes away completely, and I walk out of prison unconditionally free. It would be as if I never had the sentence in the first place!
This is the magnitude of God’s forgiveness of our sins.
In Acts 26:18, the Bible says, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
There are so many promises available to those who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation and forgiveness of sins. God isn’t trying to just forgive our sins, but He is trying to cause us to live according to His kingdom, to live with power and authority in the earth, and to live in complete freedom!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Nov 21, 2025 – Proverbs 21:3, justice from God’s perspective
“To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”
Proverbs 21:3
Hi Everyone
I just finished a class called “Critical Topics of the 21st Century” as part of my Biblical Studies Bachelor’s Degree Program. The major component of the class was the pursuit of social justice from the Biblical worldview.
Of course, the class wasn’t liked by a number of students, because it forced us to engage in hard conversations about race, about the criminal justice system, and about restorative versus retributive justice.
Everyone in society today has an opinion about what is going on in our society, but to do justice is to actively step out on the principles of God and restore His vision as to what is justice in our society.
It requires work on our part, it requires us to have hard conversations, and it requires us to acknowledge that harm is still felt from injustice, but it requires our behavior as Christians to become the standard for how people should be loved and treated.
Today, we will look at Proverbs 21:3, justice from God’s perspective.
“To do justice and judgement is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”
The word “do” means “to accomplish, perform, or complete.”
The word “justice” means “righteousness, blameless conduct or integrity.”
Justice can be seen as one looking out from heaven to uphold what is right. “Justice and righteousness” form an hendiadys, like “law and order”, words that are complementary to each other in order to grasp the full meaning.
Before we can come to an understanding of true justice, we have to take a view from heaven.
In Mark 12:30-31, Christ says, “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
God demands that we love others the same way that we would love ourselves, the same way we would express our love to God.
The word “acceptable” means “desirable or excellent”.
We cannot do things our own way, with our own mind, and then say that we are performing righteousness.
In Proverbs 3:5-6, the Bible says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
In order to perform righteousness, we have to be obedience to His commands. Doing justice without God is to pursue a cause without the power of God to actually accomplish it.
In 1 Samuel 15:22, the Bible says, “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight on burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
King Saul tried to execute justice outside of the command of God, believe that offering a sacrifice of worship was more important to God than obedience. Our sacrifices mean nothing if we don’t have the mind of Christ.
In Philippians 2:4-5, the Bible says, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
We have to see things through the lens of God to know what He requires. When we operate in true justice and righteousness, we want to see a world where we selflessly pursue advancement for all people, where we see people’s lives transformed by the power of God.
The word “sacrifice” speaks of the cutting and slaughtering of the flesh of an animal as an offering to God. This is a noble act, but without righteousness, it is abhorrent to God.
In Proverbs 15:8, the Bible says, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is His delight.”
God’s mind is much different than ours in a lot of ways.
He doesn’t care for our outward expressions that pursue justice if our hearts don’t contain righteousness, love, and obedience.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Nov 22, 2025 – Job 42:5 – an experience with God
“I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.”
Job 42:5
Hi Everyone!
The trials of Job are something hard to read.
We have a man in the middle of a struggle between Satan and God, who seem to be wagering his commitment to God through a series of brutal hardships.
God knows all things and knew Job would remain faithful to Him, but still allows Satan to afflict him, with His permission.
Imagine Job, who was considered blameless before people, and an example of faithfulness to God, losing everything he had in the twinkling of an eye. He loses his children in a horrible death, loses his financial gain in one fell swoop, and even has his body afflicted with disease so great that his friends broke out in grief the minute they saw him!
Throughout this torture, his friends turn on him, and he is left without any to defend him.
Job remained faithful to God, and also received something that made the whole ordeal worth it.
He got to experience God in a way he never had before!
Today, we will look at Job 42:5, an experience with God.
“I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.”
The word “heard” means “to have attentively or intelligently listened with the intention of obeying.”
The word “hearing” refers to the reports or announcements made by, or about, God that Job cleaved to.
It is one thing to listen to the report about who God is, and it is another thing altogether to experience God!
In Acts 2:3-4, the Bible says, “And appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
In this moment, the people of God experienced God in a way that they never had before, and it completely changed the whole landscape of their lives forever. Also, this happening was witnessed by people, so this experience with God wasn’t isolated to just them. Other people felt the effects of their encounter with God, and even offered their idea as to why!
I don’t want to shirk the importance of hearing God because we have the opportunity to experience Him.
In Mark 9:2-3, the Bible says, “And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.”
Peter, James, and John experienced Jesus in His glory and witnessed heaven open up! Peter wanted to build earthly tabernacles for their spiritual guests, Elias, Moses, and Christ, but in Mark 9:7, the Bible says, “And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”
They had a full experience with God, one that changed their lives forever, but God still commanded them to listen and obey Christ!
The word “seen” means “to experience”.
In Acts 7:55-56, the Bible says, “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”
Stephen experienced God and was undoubtedly so encouraged by that encounter that when they stoned him, he asked God to receive his spirit and to forgive those who stoned him. To hear of God is good because it can lead to salvation, but to experience God is truly God’s desire.
In Revelation 21:3, the Bible says, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”
God intended this for us when He created Adam and Eve. He wanted us to experience Him directly, but the fall hindered that.
God sent Christ to be our atonement for sin, and sent the Holy Spirit so that we can experience Him right now!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
