Category Archives: Uncategorized

September 10

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By Mark Waldrop

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:14  

“And the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection:

Paul’s words to Timothy are a beautiful testimony to the transformative power of God’s grace. Despite Paul’s past as a persecutor of Christians, God’s grace overflowed abundantly in his life, bringing faith and love through Christ Jesus. This overflowing grace is a reminder that no matter our past or present circumstances, God’s love and mercy are more than sufficient to renew and restore us.

Grace is unmerited favor, a gift we receive not because of our worthiness but because of God’s infinite love. When we embrace His grace, it fills us with faith and love, empowering us to live transformed lives. This grace is not just a one-time gift; it continuously overflows, equipping us to face each day with the assurance of God’s presence and power.

Our Father, who knows best, showers us with His grace to lead us into a deeper relationship with Him. This grace enables us to trust Him more fully and to love others as Christ loves us. It’s a reminder that we are never beyond the reach of His grace and that His love can transform even the hardest of hearts.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for Your overflowing grace that brings faith and love into our lives. Help us to receive this grace with open hearts and allow it to transform us. May Your grace strengthen our faith and empower us to love others as You have loved us. Guide us to trust in Your perfect wisdom and to live each day in the light of Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Application:

Reflect on the areas of your life where you need God’s grace to overflow. Spend time in prayer, asking God to fill you with His grace, faith, and love. Consider how you can extend this grace to others, showing them the love of Christ through your actions. Let the assurance of His grace guide you, knowing that our Father, who knows best, provides all we need to live a life of faith and love.

July 18

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Daily Devotional: 
Our Father Knows Best
By Mark Waldrop

Scripture: Matthew 22:39
"And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Reflection:
The command to love our neighbor as ourselves is a profound and transformative principle that our Father, in His infinite wisdom, has given us. This command calls us to extend the same care, respect, and kindness to others that we naturally seek for ourselves. It is a call to empathy, compassion, and selflessness.

Loving our neighbor means recognizing their inherent worth as creations of God, just as we are. It involves going beyond mere tolerance or indifference and actively seeking their well-being. In a world where self-interest often dominates, this divine instruction reminds us of the higher path of love and service.

Thought for Today:
Our Father knows that true fulfillment and peace come from loving others as He loves us. When we put this into practice, we not only bless those around us but also experience the joy and satisfaction that comes from living in alignment with God’s heart. Loving our neighbor as ourselves is a powerful way to reflect God's love and wisdom in our daily lives.

 Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for teaching us the importance of loving our neighbors as ourselves. Help us to see others through Your eyes and to extend the same love, kindness, and respect that we desire. Fill our hearts with Your compassion and guide us to act in ways that reflect Your love. May our actions bring glory to You and draw others closer to Your heart. Amen.

 Action Step:
Today, identify someone in your life who could use an extra measure of love and kindness. Reach out to them with a kind word, a helping hand, or a simple act of service. Let your actions be a reflection of God's love and wisdom, demonstrating that our Father truly knows best.

July 17

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Daily Devotional: 
Our Father Knows Best
By Mark Waldrop

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:11
"And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you."

Reflection:
In a world full of noise, distractions, and constant busyness, the call to lead a quiet life can seem countercultural and even challenging. However, our Father, in His infinite wisdom, knows what is best for us. He encourages us through the words of Paul to find contentment and peace in simplicity and diligent work.

A quiet life is not one devoid of purpose or activity but one that prioritizes inner peace and focuses on what truly matters. By minding our own business and working with our hands, we honor God’s design for a balanced and fulfilling life. This doesn’t mean isolation but rather a focus on our responsibilities, fostering a life that reflects God’s peace and order.

Thought for Today:
God's wisdom often leads us to paths that the world may overlook. In striving for a quiet life, we find a rhythm that allows us to hear His voice more clearly. Our Father knows that in the stillness, we can grow, reflect, and serve Him more effectively. Trust His guidance today and embrace the peace that comes from following His direction.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for knowing what is best for us. Help us to embrace the quiet life You call us to, finding joy and purpose in our daily tasks. Teach us to mind our own business and work diligently with our hands, reflecting Your peace and order in all we do. May our lives be a testimony of Your wisdom and love. Amen.

Action Step:
Today, take a moment to evaluate areas of your life that may be filled with unnecessary noise or busyness. Ask God to help you simplify and focus on what truly matters, finding peace in the tasks and responsibilities He has given you.

A Hero’s Legacy

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Good morning, echoes through the dawn's first light,
A tale of valor, sorrow, and might.
In nineteen-oh-seven, a boy was born,
To a widow whose heart was torn.

His father, taken by a brother’s hand,
Left a young widow in a desolate land.
He grew up fast, a child no more,
Dropped out in fifth grade to work, to toil, and bore.

Four brothers looked up to his guiding hand,
In the logging woods, he made his stand.
Married young, and children came,
Seven in total, three angels to name.

In forty-four, when the world was ablaze,
A month-old baby, he’d have to leave in a haze.
From Harlan County to Normandy’s shore,
This Kentucky boy faced the horrors of war.

Men fell like rain on that blood-soaked beach,
One young soldier’s sanity just out of reach.
“No need for a gun,” he cried out loud,
As chaos raged and death's shadow shrouded.

Liberation brought tears to his weary eyes,
Death camps unveiled humanity’s demise.
In a foxhole, with a testament lost,
He crawled through the night, in the cold and frost.

Hands bleeding, searching for hope,
Found a Bible, bloodied, a way to cope.
Twice wounded, he persevered,
Shook Patton’s hand, a memory revered.

Post-war missions with Lt. Schaefer’s call,
Hunting war criminals, he gave his all.
Came home broken, inside and out,
Shell shock, treatments, a mind full of doubt.

Twenty-five years, he battled unseen foes,
A hero in shadows, the pain only grows.
No bridges or highways bear his name,
But his sacrifice remains, forever aflame.

A military family, devoted and true,
To God and country, their hearts they imbue.
When flags are trampled, in anger and pain,
Remembering the fallen, tears fall like rain.

As taps play softly, a tribute to the brave,
For your dad, your husband, the memories you save.
In their honor, with pride, you stand tall,
Heroes remembered, one and all.

Created by
MarkWaldrop

Taken from a story on Facebook “Journey of a Mountain Woman”

Glad Day Glad Day

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Rejoice, rejoice, oh hearts alight, The morning sun scatters the night. Glad day, glad day, echoes the tune, Jesus is coming, glorious and soon.

Sing through the streets, dance in the lanes, Over the hills, across the plains. Voices uplift in joyous croon, Proclaim the news: He cometh at noon.

Lift up your heads, ye gates of gold, Prepare the way, the story retold. Hope blooms afresh like flowers in June, Glad day, glad day, He’s coming soon.

Each moment passed, each heartbeat’s sway, Draws nearer still that promised day. In humble praise, we kneel and pray, Glad day, glad day, oh blessed day.

The trumpets sound beyond the blue, Angels descend in hues anew. With grace, they trace, from night to noon, Our Savior’s path; He’s coming soon.

So hold your lamps, trimmed and bright, For in His light, all things are right. Glad day, glad day, sings the moon, Jesus is coming, oh so very soon. 

April 21, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Excellence

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In every task, let your efforts be true, Strive for excellence in all that you do. May each deed shine like a beacon so bright, Reflecting God’s glory, His power and might.

In the simple and small, the vast and complex, Perform every action with purpose that’s direct. For in giving our best, we honor His name, And in His sacred reverence, we ignite a flame.

Let passion be pure and intentions be kind, Through diligent hands, His grace we shall find. With hearts lifted high and spirits so bold, May our deeds tell His story, as the ages unfold.

Thus, walk in His ways, and cherish the call, Whatever you do, let it glorify God above all. With each step and each breath, and praises we sing, To bring honor to God, our Creator and King.

April 11, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Is the Blood Still There

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n the shadowed lands of ancient Egypt's night,
A time of dread unfurled in eerie light.
A Hebrew boy, in his father's care,
Faced a fearful test of despair.

The angel of death, its shadow wide and low,
Made it hard for sleep's embrace to know.
Yet, in his mind, a lamb did leap,
Its sacrifice, a memory he'd keep.

"Why must the lamb, so gentle and fair,
Leave its life, its blood on our door to bear?"
Through storm and wind, it promised to stay,
But in his heart, he feared it might stray.

To his father, he cried with trembling fear,
"Please, check the blood, make sure it's still near."
His father replied, with comforting tone,
"The blood will protect us, it's power shown.

It won't wash away, nor fade in the storm,
For it's applied with love, its presence warm.
Rest now, my son, in peace and care,
For the blood on the door will always be there."

And so it was, through history's fold,
This story of deliverance, bravely told.
When I see the blood, I'll pass over you,
A promise of salvation, forever true.

In the lamb's sacrifice, a symbol clear,
Of future hope and love so dear.
The blood that stands the raging storm,
A testament of love, forevermore.

So when the night seems dark and fear near,
Remember the blood, and hold it dear.
For it speaks of safety, love, and care,
A reminder that, in our darkest despair,

There's a promise of deliverance, bright and fair,
For the blood is still there, always to declare:
"I will pass over you, when the blood I see,
A symbol of hope, for eternity."

March 17, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldro

Confidence

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Confidence, a lantern in the night,
Illuminates the path, makes the unsure right.
It’s the wind beneath the wings in flight,
A quiet whisper saying, "You might."

It dresses wounds of doubt with care,
Builds bridges over streams of despair.
In the mirror, a steadfast stare,
A promise that strength is there to bear.

With confidence, the world's a stage,
Every step forward, a written page.
No fear of judgment, no cage,
Only freedom to engage.

It's the artist's brush, bold and free,
Painting dreams for the world to see.
A dancer’s leap, a melody,
Expressions of what one can be.

Confidence, the key to unlocked doors,
A sailor's faith in distant shores.
It’s the courage to explore,
And in exploring, to soar.

So wear it like a crown, let it shine,
For with confidence, every challenge is benign.
It's not just a feeling, but a sign,
That within you, there's a power divine.

March 16, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

A Silence has Descended

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In the quiet dawn of '70, beneath the boundless sky,
Where birds once soared in numbers, beneath the sun so high.
A silence has descended, where songs once filled the air,
Thirty percent have vanished, leaving emptiness to bear.

Habitats once lush and wild, forests deep and grand,
Have dwindled under human touch, across this sprawling land.
Meadows, marshes, woods, and streams, homes to winged delight,
Now bare, transformed, or lost, a sorrowful, fading sight.

More people, fewer birds, a truth we cannot hide,
Our footprint grows, the earth it groans, in this selfish stride.
Nests abandoned, echoes fade, in skies once vibrant and alive,
A testament to what's at stake, for those who still survive.

Yet, in this tale of loss and woe, a glimmer yet remains,
A chance to change, to heal, to grow, to break these binding chains.
To restore the balance, plant the seed, of a future bright and fair,
Where birdsong fills the morning light, a chorus in the air.

Let us heed the call of nature, with gentle, caring hands,
Rebuild the homes, preserve the wild, across these precious lands.
For in the harmony of life, where diversity is key,
Lies the beauty of our world, in its soaring melody.

March 5, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

A Journey of Faith

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In the tapestry of life, so grand and vast,  
God wove each soul, a spell to cast.  
With freedom of choice in every heart,  
A journey of faith, from the start.

Some choose the path where God's light shines,  
A road of love, divine designs.  
Others may wander, lost in the night,  
Swayed by shadows, out of sight.

Yet, let us be carriers of the Good,  
Reaching out, as we should.  
To those caught in evil's snare,  
Offering hope, showing we care.

For in the grand design, it's clear to see,  
Good triumphs over evil, ultimately.  
A battle fought with love and grace,  
Leading every lost soul to a sacred place.

So, let our actions reflect the light,  
Guiding all towards what is right.  
For in the end, it's love that wins,  
A force that forgives, and cleanses sins.

Together, let's stand, strong and true,  
With every deed, let goodness flow through.  
For in the tapestry that God has spun,  
Good shall prevail, when all is said and done.

March 3, 2024
Created by 
MarkWaldrop