I served as pastor of Southern Baptist churches in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana for almost 30 years before taking a medical leave from the pastorate in February 2013 due to dysautonomia (POTS) and moving to Norman, Oklahoma. Blessed with renewed health, I was called as Senior Pastor of Pleasant Ridge Baptist in Morganton, NC in February 2015.
In this blog I share daily devotions from my own personal Bible readings, as well as sermons, book reviews, illustrations -- and occasional humorous "peeks" at life inside this pastor's home!
Tag Archives: circumstances
He Knew
“For He knew the one who was betraying Him …” (John 13:11) “He KNEW.” Judas’ betrayal didn’t catch Jesus off guard. “HE KNEW” — all about it. So why did He allow it? Why didn’t He do something about it?
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged circumstances, faith, God knows, John 13:11
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“His Marvelous Love In A Besieged City”
“Blessed be the LORD, for He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.” (Psalm 31:21) Here David praises God for ministering to him, even in an extremely difficult time in his life. He said he was … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged chesed, circumstances, grace, joy, love, lovingkindness, Psalm 31:21, Psalm 4:7, Samuel Rutherford, trials, worship
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Is God Really In Control?
If your circumstances have ever been so bad that you wondered whether God was really in control, you are not alone. Those living in the days of Jesus and John the Baptist must have had occasion to feel the same … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged circumstances, control, God's sovereignty, Matthew 14, Psalm 1:1, purpose, Romans 8:28, sovereignty
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Fears, Circumstances & Providence
After the wicked King Herod died in Matthew 2, an angel told Joseph that he could take Jesus and Mary back to Israel. But it wasn’t that easy. There would be some “complications”: verse 22 tells us that Herod’s son … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Home & Family Life, Uncategorized
Tagged circumstances, faith, God's will, Matthew 2, Matthew 2:23, providence, purpose, trust
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From Joy To Crisis: The Principle of Undulating Circumstances
It is difficult to imagine how amazing it must have been for Mary & Joseph to experience the visit of the magi — and to receive from them the opulent gifts that they brought. What an emotional “high” they must … Continue reading
“This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer” (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
“And the prisoners were listening.” That phrase from the testimony story we just read in Acts 16 always sticks out to me. When Paul and Silas were unjustly thrown into the prison in Philippi, they didn’t bemoan their fate. The … Continue reading
Posted in "This Is My Story" sermon series, Sermons
Tagged Acts 16:25-34, assurance, circumstances, conviction, evangelism, Philippian jailer, salvation, sermon, testimony, witness
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Suddenly Everything Can Change
When God speaks and acts, things can change faster than you can imagine! In II Kings 6, the Northern Kingdom of Israel’s capital city, Samaria, had been under seige, and they were starving. Chapter 6 verse 25 recorded that “a … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged change, circumstances, hope, II Kings 6:25, II Kings 7:1
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