April 10

Daily Devotional: Our Father Knows Best
By Mark Waldrop

Scripture: John 13:13-14
"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."

Jesus, our Teacher and Lord, gave us an extraordinary example of humility and service. In the upper room, He did something that shocked His disciples: He knelt and washed their feet. In doing so, He turned their understanding of greatness upside down. He, the very Son of God, took on the role of a servant to demonstrate what true love and leadership look like.

Our Father knows best how we can grow in our faith and live in a way that honors Him. He knows that real greatness is not found in power or status, but in serving others. As Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He showed us that no act of service is beneath us if it is done in love.

We are called to follow in His footsteps, serving one another with the same spirit of humility. When we serve others, we reflect the heart of Jesus, showing the world that love is more than words—it is action. Our Father, in His wisdom, teaches us that in serving others, we are ultimately serving Him.

Today, ask yourself: How can I serve those around me as Christ served His disciples? How can I show love through humble service, following the example of my Lord and Teacher?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me the true meaning of love through Your example of humble service. Help me to follow Your lead, serving others with a heart of humility and grace. Teach me to see every opportunity to serve as a way to honor You and reflect Your love to the world. Amen.

April 9

Daily Devotional: Our Father Knows Best
By Mark Waldrop

Scripture: Romans 15:7
"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."

In a world where differences often divide, it’s easy to lose sight of the beauty in diversity. But the Word calls us to a higher standard of acceptance, reminding us that, just as Christ has welcomed us, we are to welcome one another. This isn’t a passive acceptance but an active embrace of each person as a reflection of God’s creation.

Our Heavenly Father knows each of us intimately—our strengths, our struggles, and our stories. And in His infinite wisdom, He brings us together, not by accident, but by design. Just as Christ’s love made room for us, despite our flaws and failures, we are called to extend that same grace to others.

God’s plan is perfect, and though we may not always understand the path He leads us on or the people He places in our lives, we can trust that His ways are best. By accepting one another, we reflect Christ’s love and glorify our Father in Heaven.

As you go through today, consider how you can better accept those around you. In what ways can you extend grace, understanding, and love to bring praise to God?

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for accepting me with all my imperfections. Help me to embrace others with the same love and grace that You have shown me. Guide me to see the beauty in the people around me and to honor You in the way I accept and love them. Amen.

Matthew Cole

   The Chair and the Call

Up from the chair, Matthew arose,
From the hum that held him in its throes.
A vibrating seat that would not release,
Bound to its fifteen minutes of peace.

It buzzed and it whirred, a steady refrain,
A comfort, a habit, a gentle chain.
Holding him there in its timed embrace,
Keeping him fixed in one small place.

But something within said, “Now is the hour,”
A whisper of freedom, a stirring of power.
So up he stood, though the chair still called,
No longer content to remain installed.

For life is not lived in cycles confined,
Nor purpose fulfilled by a resting mind.
Sometimes we rise, though comfort is near,
To answer a call we’re meant to hear.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (KJV)
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might…”

For God’s Honor and Glory
Mark C Waldrop

April 8

Daily Devotional: Our Father Knows Best
By Mark Waldrop

Scripture:
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:8

Reflection:
There’s a beautiful assurance in knowing that God is both the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega. He was there at the dawn of creation, He is present with us now, and He will reign forever. This means that nothing in our lives is outside of His sight, and no event, whether joyous or painful, is outside of His control.

Often, we try to understand the complexities of our lives, making decisions based on limited understanding and temporary circumstances. But our Father, who transcends time, knows the entire story. He knows what is best for us—not just in this moment but for eternity. When we feel uncertain or overwhelmed by the unknown, we can rest in the truth that He is Almighty and holds the complete picture of our lives.

God's eternal nature reminds us to trust Him fully. He is not bound by the things that limit us—time, space, or circumstance. As the One who "is, and was, and is to come," He sees the paths we cannot, and His wisdom surpasses our understanding. When we don’t know what the future holds, we can trust that our Father knows best.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Help me to trust Your wisdom and Your plan for my life, knowing that You see what I cannot. When I feel lost or uncertain, remind me that You hold the past, present, and future in Your hands. I find peace in Your eternal love and sovereignty. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thought for the Day:
God knows your past, He is with you in the present, and He has already prepared your future. Trust in His perfect timing and plan.

April 7

Daily Devotional: Our Father Knows Best
By Mark Waldrop

Scripture:
Romans 5:3-4
"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope."

Reflection:
Life is filled with challenges that can test our faith and patience. Sometimes, we question why we face certain trials or why things don't go the way we expect. Yet, Romans 5:3-4 reminds us that our Heavenly Father knows best. Each hardship has a purpose, even if we can't see it right away. Tribulation teaches us patience, and through patience, we gain experience. This experience, in turn, strengthens our hope, a hope that is rooted in God’s perfect plan for our lives.

It’s in the struggle that we grow. Just as a muscle strengthens through resistance, our faith deepens as we endure life’s pressures. We may not understand every difficulty, but we can trust that God is using it to shape our character, build resilience, and draw us closer to Him. Each step prepares us for the next, and each trial is a stepping stone toward the hope that never disappoints.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your wisdom and for the trials that shape us into who You want us to be. Help us to remember that every hardship has a purpose and that You are working through them for our good. Strengthen our patience, deepen our experience, and renew our hope in You daily. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Thought for the Day:
Trust in the process, for your Father knows what is best for you—even when the path seems hard.

Artemis II  

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          Artemis II  
Honor Courage & Faith

Not steel alone, nor fire and flame,
But beating hearts that dare to claim
The path once walked, now walked anew—
Through silent skies, by faithful few.

They carry more than suits and gear,
They carry hope, and human fear.
A glance at Earth, so small, so bright,
Reminds them what they hold so tight.

No crowd above, no sound, no cheer,
Just whispered prayers that God may hear.
For in that vast and endless blue,
It’s still a human point of view.

And as they arc ‘round moonlit gray,
They bring our fragile dreams their way—
Not just to reach what lies afar,
But show us who we truly are.

Psalm 8:3–4 (KJV)
“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers,
the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”

Mark C Waldrop

No One Left Behind

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    No One Left Behind

Through distant lands and silent skies,
Where sacrifice in valor lies,
A warrior fell, yet not alone—
For Heaven marked and called him home.

Across the miles, through grief and prayer,
A nation felt his absence there.
But love does not forget its own,
Nor leaves a soul where seeds are sown.

With steady hands and hearts so true,
They brought him back as heroes do.
Through shadowed paths and battles long,
Carried by honor, courage strong.

No fallen one is cast aside,
No name forgotten, none denied.
For every life in duty given
Is etched in earth—and crowned in Heaven.

God is good, through loss and pain,
Through falling tears and skies of rain.
For even death cannot divide
The bond of those who stand with pride.

So home he comes, where flags still wave,
From distant field to honored grave.
A promise kept, a sacred vow—
No one left behind… not then, not now.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13 (KJV)

For God’s Honor and Glory
Mark C Waldrop