April 10

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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

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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.

The Sound of the Bucket

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The Sound of the Bucket
(for the woman at the well)

At four each day, when shadows bend,
She takes the path the trees defend.
A pail in hand, her pace is slow—
She knows each stone the roots outgrow.

No bell, no clock commands her feet,
Just silence folding down the street.
She walks as though the world is still,
Drawn by thirst, by need, by will.

The well is worn, the stones are slick,
The rope is frayed, the air is thick.
But with a grace that time can’t steal,
She drops the bucket, wood and steel.

It sings—a soft, descending song,
Of days endured, of years so long.
And when it strikes the surface deep,
The sound is sharp enough to weep.

She waits. The stillness fills her eyes,
Like prayers that never ask the skies.
Then hand on crank, she brings it home,
The water caught in frothy foam.

No one sees, but still she goes,
With aching joints and wintered toes.
For memory’s weight is hard to bear,
And he once met her daily there.

The bucket groans, the handle turns,
The soul beneath the silence yearns.
And though the well grows dark and wide,
She finds him in the quiet tide.

At four each day, she walks again,
Through light and wind, through sun and rain.
Not just for water, not for thirst—
But for the sound. For what came first.

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop 

Jhn 4:11  The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

One Race

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There is no race beneath the skin,
No shade of soul, no place within.
All of humanity’s blood runs red,
Each life by breath and mercy fed.

Jesus’ Blood ran crimson bright
Upon the Cross in Heaven’s light—
A sacrifice for all who’d dare
To kneel in faith, to rise in prayer.

Not one was named above the rest,
No skin more cursed, no hue more blessed.
He died for hearts, not colors worn—
For souls reborn, not fleshly scorn.

So let us stand, not split, but one—
United by what Christ has done.
No race remains, no greater grace
Than love that flows from one embrace. 

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

April 8

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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.

He Just Knew

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He didn’t grasp the words they said,
No charts or scans ran through his head.
But something shifted in the air—
A silence thick, a weight, a prayer.

The morning walks no longer came,
The voice he loved was not the same.
No laughter danced across the floor,
No hand reached down like times before.

So he stayed.
Closer than breath, quiet as light,
Through the trembling hours, through the night.
His eyes held questions he never voiced,
But his heart made an unwavering choice.

And then one day, the room was bare,
His person gone—just empty air.
But he believed, he still held fast,
Love doesn’t flinch, it only lasts.

They let him in.
A mercy, small. A door ajar.
He found the scent, he knew by star
And climbed into that sterile space
As if it were a sacred place.

No bark, no cry, no restless stir,
Just heartbeat next to heartbeat’s blur.
And suddenly, the machines grew still,
As love did what no drug or skill
Could hope to do. The doctors knew—
This dog had work that he must do.

He didn’t seek a single treat.
No ball, no leash, no praise, no seat.
He needed only one command:
To stay.
To press against a hand.

For sometimes love is not a sound.
It’s not a leap, it’s not a bound.
It’s presence, steady as a drum—
A quiet vow: I will not run.

He stayed.
Until the end, until the light
Grew soft and dim and slipped to night.
And even then, he wouldn’t roam—
For where his human lay… was home.

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

The Happiness of Your Life

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The happiness of your life, it’s true,
Does not depend on what you do—
Nor riches gained or mountains climbed,
But on the thoughts that shape your mind.

A gentle soul with little gold
May live more joy than kings of old,
For peace is born where wisdom grows,
And calm within the spirit flows.

Arrange your thoughts like rays of sun,
With gratitude when day is done.
Let kindness be the voice you hear,
And hope the compass drawing near.

Each thought’s a seed, and if well sown,
It blooms with joy you call your own.
So guard your mind, let goodness stay—
And happiness will light your way.

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Once is Enough

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“You see, boy,” the old man said with a sigh,
A faraway glimmer still deep in his eye,
“Once in a man’s life, if he’s lucky, he’ll find
A love that stays etched in the heart and the mind.

Not the kind folks write in a song or a book,
But the kind that you feel with one single look—
The kind that don’t speak, but somehow still knows,
That walks by your side wherever life goes.

I found it once, long before you were born,
In a shaggy ol’ mutt I rescued one storm.
She weren’t much to see, not fancy or grand,
But Lord, she was loyal and sweet as the land.

She’d wait at the door, rain or shine, night or day,
And follow me close every step of the way.
Knew what I felt ’fore I’d utter a word—
A love like that, boy, it’s felt more than heard.

Now some men get two shots, but most get just one,
And when that love leaves, well, the shine leaves the sun.
But once is enough, if you hold it just right—
Don’t blink, don’t waste it, don’t lose it to night.

So listen real close and remember this true:
When love lays its hands on the soul inside you,
Don’t ever take it for granted, not once—
That kind of love don’t come back more than once.”

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

Coffee

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(Christ Offers Forgiveness For Everyone Everywhere)

A morning cup, so warm and deep,
Awakes the soul from gentle sleep.
But greater still than beans we brew,
Is grace that flows from One so true.

Christ offers more than daily cheer,
Over sin, He draws us near.
Forgiveness poured without delay,
For hearts that turn and humbly pray.

Everyone—yes, all who fall,
Everywhere—He calls them all.
No need to earn, no price to pay,
Just drink of Him and start your day.

So sip your cup and raise your eyes,
To Christ, who heard our hopeless cries.
For in each breath, each dawn we share,
His love is strong. His grace is there.

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

No Victory Without a Battle

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There can be no crown without the fight,
No dawn without the darkest night.
The path to triumph, bold and true,
Is lined with trials you must walk through.

No mountain moved by silent plea,
No Red Sea parts without the sea.
The strength you seek, the faith you gain,
Is forged through fire, through storm and strain.

For victory is not just given,
It’s in the wrestling, bruised but driven.
In weary steps and tear-stained eyes,
Where prayers rise up and hopes arise.

So when the battle makes you bend,
Remember this is not the end.
Each scar you bear, each cry you make,
Is proof of ground you dared to take.

God never wastes the war you face
He turns your struggle into grace.
And when you stand where fear once reigned,
You’ll know what every storm contained:

No triumph comes on peaceful breeze—
It’s born through wars fought on your knees.
There is no victory, proud and bright,
Without a battle… without a fight.

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.