2025-10-24 | “If God Be for Us?”
by Chandra Stokes
“What shall we say to these things? “If God be for us, who can be against us?"
The “things” Paul is referring to are the teachings about salvation that he has discussed earlier, such as freedom from sin and death, the life-giving Spirit who lives in us, the new life we have as God’s children, the promise of renewal despite suffering we may face today, and strength and hope to endure.
Faith in Jesus does not remove all the struggles we may encounter in life. Still, we know that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, KJV). Somehow, despite bad things that can happen in our lives, God works to conform us “to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29, KJV).
Paul’s question, “Who can be against us?” answers itself: If God is for us, of course, no one can be against us! And Paul goes on to say, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39, NIV).
As you face hardship head-on, the power of the living God anchors you with divine assurance. Never give up. God’s love is unshakable. God gives us the strength not only to face but also to conquer the enemy’s attacks.
Unmoved and unwavering — that is the love of God.
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2025-10-23 | "Harvest Happenings"
by Reverend ReGina Etter
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
God designed our lives to bear fruit not just for ourselves, but for the blessing of others. Just as a farmer sows seed into the ground expecting a future harvest, we must sow acts of kindness, compassion, and service into the lives of those around us. Each prayer, each helping hand, and each word of encouragement is a seed planted in faith.
There are times when we do not immediately see the results of our serving. It can be exhausting to give, especially when others do not notice, say thank you, or show ungratefulness toward us. But Galatians reminds us that if we keep serving faithfully and do not give up, we will reap a plentiful harvest in God’s timing. That harvest is seen in lives transformed, burdens lifted, communities healed, and even in our own hearts as we grow closer to Christ. Jesus Himself modeled this truth.
He said in Matthew 20:28 (NIV), “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” His act of service brought forth the greatest harvest of all for all, salvation. When we serve others, we are walking in His footsteps, sowing seeds that carry eternal value.
Today, we must remember that our service matters. Every small act is a seed, and God promises it will produce a harvest. Keeping our eyes on Him and trusting that the fruit of our labor will glorify His name will always cause a harvest to happen!
Prayer:
Lord, give us the strength to serve faithfully and the vision to see that our serving produces a harvest for Your glory. Help us not to grow weary but to trust in Your timing to see the harvest happen. Amen.
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2025-10-22 | "Discernment Over Emotion"
by Reverend Taylor Stokes
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God…”
In a world saturated with emotional noise—opinions, reactions, and pressures—it is easy to absorb the temperature of others and call it our own. But Scripture calls us to a higher path: the renewal of our minds through discernment. This is not cold detachment; it is Spirit-led clarity.
Jesus modeled this perfectly. He wept with those who mourned, yet He never let emotion override mission. He felt compassion, but He also withdrew to pray and to recalibrate. His discernment was not reactive—it was rooted in truth. In other words, Jesus’ emotional depth never clouded His divine clarity. He embraced sorrow, yet prioritized solitude to align with the Father’s will. His discernment flowed from communion, not impulse—“He often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16, NIV).
Operating with a discerning mind means pausing before we absorb. We ask, "Is this emotion mine, or am I borrowing someone else’s storm?" We test the spirit of the moment. We anchor ourselves in God’s Word, not in the sway of sentiment. Discerning minds resist emotional corruption by filtering every feeling through truth. We pause, pray, and weigh—refusing reactionary influence. As 1 John 4:1 urges, we “test the spirits” before trusting them.
This kind of discernment protects our peace. It allows us to respond rather than react. It helps us lead with wisdom, not just empathy. And it keeps us aligned with God’s will, even when emotions run high.
Today, renew your mind. Before you speak, post, or decide, pause. Discern. Let truth guide you, not turbulence. You will find that peace and clarity walk hand in hand when your mind is anchored in Christ and not in chaos or fleeting emotion. You gain clarity. You discern truth over trend, peace over panic, and purpose over pressure.
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2025-10-21 | “United in Love”
by Beverley Alleyne
"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing."
There is a saying that unity is strength. After all, a threefold cord is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12). In the corporate world, the general belief is that a team is only as strong as its weakest link. In I Peter 3:8-9, the Apostle Peter strongly urges the believers then and us now as modern-day believers to maintain a disposition of unity and compassion and to respond to hostility with blessings instead of retaliation.
Verse 8 admonishes us to remain humble in spirit, always expressing brotherly love and sympathy. Above all, we need unity in spirit. In verse 9, Peter’s advice is more of a command to believers to abstain from any level or form of retaliation against anyone who has insulted or done evil against us. In fact, he is requesting that a blessing be offered instead. As believers, this is our reasonable service and what we are called to if we are to receive a blessing from the Lord.
In his prayer for the disciples, Jesus included a prayer for all believers that those who believe in Him would be one (John 17:20). He prayed for unity and oneness among the believers. Unity indicates harmony among individuals, and oneness strengthens individuals to become a unified whole.
We are representatives of Christ. In this season of increasing rejection of Christ, with conflict and division all around us, we must remember that the way the world will know that we belong to Christ is from the love we have for one another (John 13:34-35).
We must remain united through the bond of love. Unity can be achieved by practicing humility, patience, love, and forgiveness.
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2025-10-20 | "Grace And Peace"
by Reverend Grover Whittington
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
We are easily distracted by the turmoil that we see on the news and what we hear in different conversations throughout the day. Unfortunately, we allow the world and our society to have control over our emotions, and we ultimately endure stress over things that we know our God has control over. This happens because we tend to allow the troubles of this world to overtake our minds instead of focusing on the goodness of God.
The grace we received from God through Jesus is His favor and kindness that sustains us through whatever it is that we face in our daily lives. It is His grace that keeps us through every situation, regardless of the difficulties that may arise from them. It is His peace that allows us to face any and all circumstances, irrespective of how strenuous they may be. It is through grace and peace that our hope is allowed to flourish, our faith is strengthened, and our joy is made complete.
Of the many blessings we receive from our relationship with God, the blessings of grace and peace are the two that are most prevalent in our lives. They are present in such great abundance that we often take them for granted and do not even think about them. However, when we wake up in the morning, we receive grace and peace.
Throughout the day, we have grace and peace. He also extends to us grace and peace at the end of our day, which allows us to sleep comfortably at night. God gives grace and peace as our daily bread that will cover us in His love.
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2025-10-17 | “Mis-Illusion of Control”
by Chandra Stokes
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him,” for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my father, and he will at once put at disposal more than twelve legions of angels.”
Janet Jackson had a hit song in 1986 titled “Control.” She was trying to assert her independence from her father and take control of her own life. Often, parents grant their children the illusion of control as they approach the “I know everything” age of 18. Parent wisdom recognizes that, if they are under their roof and need financial support, the parents have all the control.
As believers, we accept what God allows. Daily, the news from this administration is doom and gloom and targets people of color and other indigenous people. The president’s agenda is not to make America Great but rather to dismantle all the organizations and norms that have been the envy of the world. We know that there is a vast difference between divine control and the fleshy self-aggrandizing illusion of control.
Our Lord is the King of Kings and knows all. The self-proclaimed King is moving swiftly and wielding his illusion of control that is meant to hurt those who don’t look like him. Thanks be to God that the blood of Jesus covers us –“no weapon formed against us shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17, KJV).
Beloved, learn to look past what they say and do, for our focus should be on what our Lord and Savior is doing, because He is truly in control. His divine control always supersedes that of those who demonstrate “mis-Illusion control,” because he can use their over-reach for his plan. You may wonder what his plan is. All we need to do is continue to seek His face and pray for our country in faith for a better tomorrow, and accept the will of God and His divine control.
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2025-10-16 | “A Change in Seasons”
by Reverend ReGina Etter
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Life is filled with seasons for us to experience. There will be times of joy and times of sorrow, times of growth and times of waiting. Just like nature shifts from spring to summer, from autumn to winter, our lives move through seasons that change us. Some seasons bring warmth and laughter; others bring challenges that stretch our faith and test our endurance.
It is in the difficult seasons that some of us question God’s plans. We often ask why doors close, why prayers seem delayed, and why we must face storms instead of calm waters. Through scripture, we are assured that all things—not just the good, but also the painful—are working together for our good. Seasons of hardship often prune us, stripping away what hinders us so we can grow stronger and bear more fruit (John 15:2).
When we embrace each season as part of God’s design, we learn valuable, long-lasting lessons. These lessons are not just for us, but for others to see how faith in God works. Waiting builds patience, loss deepens compassion, trials produce perseverance, and joy teaches us gratitude. Every season, whether it is filled with sunshine or rain, helps to shape us into who God has purposed us to be. One thing we must remember is that seasons do not last forever.
Winter always gives way to spring, and your present struggle will not define your story. God is using every circumstance to mold you, refine you, and prepare you for His greater purpose.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the changing seasons of our lives. Help us trust that even in the struggles, You are working for our good. Teach us to embrace every season as an opportunity to grow closer to You. Amen.
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2025-10-15 | "The Power of Grace"
by Reverend Taylor Stokes
“But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”
Grace is the heartbeat of God’s relationship with humanity. It is His undeserved favor that reaches down to us when we cannot reach up to Him. Grace is not something we earn through good works or moral effort—it is freely given through Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8, NKJV). Grace rescues us from sin, restores us to fellowship with God, and empowers us to live in righteousness.
Grace is not just pardon—it is power. It transforms hearts, renews minds, and teaches us to walk in godliness. Titus 2:11 (NKJV) says, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” Grace does not leave us as we are; it molds us into who God created us to be.
Grace transforms us from within, renewing our hearts and minds. It shapes our character, aligns our desires with God’s will, and empowers us to live in Christlike obedience and purpose.
When life feels overwhelming or when we fall short, grace reminds us that God’s love is steadfast and adequate. His grace lifts us from guilt to gratitude, from failure to faith, from weakness to strength. No matter where we have been or what we have done, grace still finds us.
Let today be a reminder: God’s grace is enough— “my grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NKJV). It saves, sustains, and sanctifies. Rest in that truth, and let His grace shape your words, actions, and heart.
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2025-10-14 | "Looking Back"
by Beverley Alleyne
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians shared that he is forgetting his past and instead pressing forward to what lies ahead. Paul’s past was filled with terror that he inflicted on people of the “the Way.” He made bad decisions that caused hurt to others. He was also fully aware of the transformation that took place in his life after encountering God. He chose not to dwell on the past. He focused on the fact that God forgives our sins and provides a new way.
Paul is writing to encourage the Philippians and us to make the same choice. Your Heavenly Father is fully aware of all your thoughts before they are formed in your minds. He knows your past and current behaviors and feelings. He is fully aware of your situation and lovingly offers forgiveness and restoration.
Living in the past brings regrets and missed blessings. It is a weapon of the enemy, robbing your joy. Just like Jesus, you can use the Word of God to defeat the enemy. Isaiah 43:18-19 instructs us not to remember the former things but to look forward, because God is doing a new thing. Resist dwelling on the past because God promises to give new and better things.
Remember that since you are “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, you can also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and run with endurance the race that is set before you looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of your faith...” (Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV ).
Look back only to reflect that Jesus died, rose again, and offers eternal life.
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2025-10-13 | "Never Forget"
by Reverend Grover Whittington
“As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”
As believers, we understand that God knows everything about us. He knows all of our faults and failures; He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. We may be able to hide the things in our lives that bring us shame from others, but God knows them all. He knows our physical struggles and our mental weaknesses. However, despite our unworthiness, He still sent His Son to die on the cross for us, in order that we may have a way for an intimate relationship with Him.
Our relationship with the Lord is not based upon anything that we have done or will do, but it is based on His love for us. He desires us to come to Him with all our problems, and He has promised to take care of us. This promise is not because of our righteousness, but it is because of the inherent righteousness that we receive through Jesus Christ. We must never forget that God cares for each and every one of us who have made our profession of faith in Him, through Christ Jesus.
The knowledge of the Lord’s compassion towards us is something that carries us through the trials and tribulations that we experience in this life. More than any earthly possessions, it is the love of God that gives us the strength to make it through each day. Regardless of how difficult the times may become, being a child of God gives us a sense of peace that the world simply cannot understand. It is an encouraging thought to know that the Lord cares for us.
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