What is the first thing you do each morning? What’s next? What’s after that? Some
may go straight for a cup of coffee, a shower, a workout, or prodding the rest of the
family to get ready and going to the places they need to be. But what if the first thing
we did each day was pray?

How would our whole day change if we committed to prayer as our first action of every
day? We would certainly face less anxiety, know God more, and hear His voice if we
started each day with prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us “Do not be anxious about
anything, but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made
known to God. And the peace that passes all understanding, will guard our hearts and
minds.” We each have concerns for our family members, friends, finances, and the
future. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with fixing all the hurts, guiding all the paths,
and planning for everything that could adversely affect us. However, when we allow
ourselves to be overwhelmed, we are robbed of the peace that passes all
understanding our heavenly Father has promised us. We need only to hand over our
concerns as we sit in His presence for Him to take our burden away and replace it with
peace. His peace doesn’t necessarily turn us into bystanders in every situation, but it
does move us off the front line so we are behind the omnipresent God of all. Once we
are off the front line, we can lean in to God more because we are no longer concerned
with the attacks of our enemy. When we lean in to God more, we know Him better,
learn more about His character, and more easily see His guidance in our lives. When
we know Him better, His peace becomes a stronghold for our hearts and we trust Him
more with every challenge and struggle. Do you see how praying first leads to a more
intimate relationship with our Father in Heaven?

What if we prayed like Jesus? He not only provided a model prayer for us in Matthew
6:9-13, He modeled a prayerful life in Mark 1:35 “And in the morning, rising up a great
while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there he prayed.”
Prayer is most effective when it isn’t something we just do every now and then, but
when it is a lifestyle we cultivate. To understand how to have a lifestyle of prayer, we
can look to the example Jesus gave us during His life on earth. Jesus had a certain
time to pray. He got up early in the morning to spend time with His Heavenly Father.
We should make a daily appointment with God – whether it’s first thing in the morning,
at lunch, or in the evening – and faithfully keep the appointment. Jesus had a certain
place to pray. Having a designated place to pray helps us remove distractions and
frees us to worship and pray out loud. Jesus had a certain plan for prayer. He gave us
the Lord’s Prayer as an outline, but our daily plan for prayer can vary. Whether it
includes worship music, Bible reading, or time to listen to God, it doesn’t always have to
look the same. It just helps when we have a plan for connecting with Him regularly.

In every situation whether good or bad, we should strive to pray before we act. Prayer
should be our first response, not our last resort. John 15:5 illustrates that apart from
Jesus, we accomplish nothing of value, but Matthew 19:26 promises that with Him all
things are possible. My prayer is that you will be encouraged and challenged to lean in
to God more through a purposeful plan to pray. That you will have intimacy with God
through consistency, honesty, and reliance on prayer. That you will share with Him the
good, the bad, and the ugly while you celebrate Him in the victories, answered prayers,
and increased times of spiritual strength. Then as prayer becomes part of your everyday
life you will pray…
Before the day begins…
Before you go to bed…
Before you go to work or school…
Before you send that text…
Before you react…
Before you eat, drive, or travel…
In every situation…pray first and enjoy the journey.

There are seasons in life that do not just feel long—they feel heavy.
You know the weight of them before you even open your eyes in the morning. It is a
soul-weariness that goes beyond physical exhaustion, where you find yourself simply
going through the motions of a life that once felt vibrant. Perhaps it was the slow, quiet
accumulation of stress, work, or responsibilities. It is then that you realize that “winter”
has settled into your heart.
If you find yourself in this cold, quiet place today, the first thing you need to know is this:

 You are not a failure
 You are not forgotten
 You are simply in a season
 In God’s kingdom, no season is ever wasted

This is one of the most comforting verses in Scripture for difficult seasons. It reminds us
that when our hearts feel weary, God does not step back—He draws closer.
God does not wait for you to recover before He draws close. He draws closest when
you are at your weakest. Don’t worry, the Lord isn’t asking for polished prayers. He is
asking for honesty.

The Gift of Rest in Winter
Winter is not only a time of stillness—it is a time of rest.
In nature, growth pauses so that strength can return. Fields lie fallow. Trees conserve
energy. Nothing looks productive, yet everything is being preserved.
In the same way, God sometimes invites us into seasons where striving stops and
resting begins.

“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose
under heaven:”
- Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

We live in a world that celebrates busyness.
He knows that weary souls cannot flourish without it.
In winter seasons, rest becomes an act of trust. It is saying,
“God, I believe You are working even when I am not.”
Choosing to rest is not giving up.
It is leaning in. Turn off the noise for a few minutes. Let your soul breathe in God’s
presence.

 Your quiet season is not empty.
 It is intentional.
 Teaching you to trust Him without visible proof.
 What feels like a delay is often divine preparation.

Use this season to reflect on the past year. Write down one way God has grown you.
Thank Him for the unseen work He has done.

The Strength of Shared Burdens
When winter settles into our hearts, our instinct is often to withdraw.
The Lord tells us,

 God never designed us to walk through winter seasons alone.
 Healing often begins when we allow someone to walk with us.
God honors rest.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of
Christ.”
- Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)

 When we share our struggles, we are not being weak—we are being wise.
 God often holds us through the hands and hearts of His people.
Think of a trusted person and make a call – it’s as simple as that. Ask for prayer or
perhaps go out for a walk or a cup of coffee.

Winter is a Season of Compassion
Cold seasons make us more aware of others who are hurting.
When we suffer, our hearts become more tender.
God often uses our winter seasons to grow compassion.
What once seemed distant now feels near and personal.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV)

 This is holy work.
 It’s how He shapes hearts that reflect His own.

Do one quiet act of kindness this week—send a card, check on someone, pray for
another person, or offer help.
Let God use your season to bless not only you but also others.

Blessings,

Carolyn Fota

These feelings and words have swirled around in my head for several weeks now, and it is
finally time to express them. Always a caveat to begin. I am in a good place, and I am
surrounded and comforted by amazing family and friends and an Awesome God. Nevertheless, there are times when you walk “alone,” embarking on a journey or experience only you can walk, with lessons and insights only you have to learn or experience. This is what I am trying to express here and pray that my words can touch another person who may be going through their own “Selah.”

Health Update – Last week, my cancer antigen number was 14.6 which is the lowest it has been – my numbers have hovered in the 15-21 range for a while. Great news! The CT scan in late December showed 2 spots to watch, but these could be scar tissue. No additional tests will determine exactly what they are, but they appear to be shrinking in any case. The plan for now is to stay on maintenance – infusion every three weeks and daily pill. No “Evidence of Disease” statement but VERY GOOD NEWS on all fronts!

Now to the long post that I wish I could share with each of you individually, but time and
distance can prevent that. So, I am relying on technology for this share. Please know this is not a “poor me” or “pity me” post; it is meant to be a current update and an apology to those I have been unable to connect with since, perhaps unknowingly, I was stuck in my head in the “in-between” “Selah” moments.

A teal sister on one of the Ovarian Cancers sites I frequent had such insight into the “in-
between” feeling for survivors. “Completing chemotherapy does not mean the danger has
passed. It means the most visible phase of treatment has ended while uncertainty remains.
Living with ongoing risk means vigilance never fully shuts off. Life resumes, but it does so under watch — with awareness that doesn’t fade just because treatment does. There is a particular kind of exhaustion here — not loud or dramatic, but persistent and wearing. The kind that comes from living in a body that doesn’t cooperate the way it once did, even when you’re told you should be relieved now.”

I call it “identity fatigue,” layered on grief and real physical depletion. It’s about not having a version of yourself that feels accurate yet — not sick, not well, not before, not after.  It’s about being suspended between “treatment” and “recovery,” in a space that has no language and no clear finish line. The limbo is brutal. “There is a strong urge to rush this phase — to get past it, outgrow it, wake up, and feel settled again. But this isn’t a phase that responds to force. It can’t be hurried without cost. Healing moves on its own timeline, and that lack of control is part of what hurts.”

“Survivorship with risk is its own terrain — quieter, lonelier, harder to explain. Healing
continues alongside vigilance. Relief and fear coexist. Both are happening at once.” Since this “phase” can’t be rushed (or controlled), she concludes that this is “Becoming — under watch, without certainty, and still moving forward.”

Such wisdom shared by a teal sister so I parked and reflected on her words of the “in-between”for weeks, and then discovered an amazing word found primarily in the Psalms and in Habakkuk – “SELAH.” I found this description of “SELAH,” and I have to say, I wept. Since I could not say it better, I am just sharing it here.
I am living in the “Selah.” The sacred space between the cry and the comfort. The hollow pause between the groaning and the glory.
Between “Why, Lord?” and “Now I see.”
Between the ashes and the crown.

Selah…I used to rush past that word in the Psalms.
Skimmed it like a speed bump on the way to
something louder, clearer, resolved.
But now I know it’s more than a pause.
It is a dwelling place.
A deep exhale in the middle of unanswered prayers.
A quiet held between sobs and songs.
I am sitting here, in the ache that has not yet lifted, in the wound that has not yet healed, in the prayer that still waits for its amen.
I am not where I was, but not yet where I long to be. I am in the middle…the Selah.

And I am learning this:
The pause is not empty.
The silence is not God’s absence.
It is His breath over the waters again.
It is the same voice that spoke in the beginning, not always with words, but with weight.
With presence. Here, He teaches me to wait like the psalmists did, not with passive resignation, but with hope.

Selah does not mean the story is over.
It means: Stop. Ponder. Let the weight of what was just said sink into your bones.
It means: Don’t miss this moment.
It means: God is still speaking, even in the stillness.

This is the space between grief and healing.
Between brokenness and breakthrough.
Between Good Friday and Resurrection Morning.
I thought healing would feel like a moment, a flash of divine power.
But what if healing looks more like dwelling in the pause?
Like learning to trust the Surgeon while He’s still stitching the wound closed?

Selah: the ground is still wet with my tears, but the roots are reaching deeper.
Selah: I am not whole, but I am being held.
Selah: I don’t have answers, but I know the Answerer is near.
I used to beg for the fast-forward button.
Now I just pray not to miss Him in the slow unfolding.
Not to miss the revelation in the space between.

So I sit. I breathe. I ache. I hope.
And I whisper that word with trembling lips—
Selah.
To all who made it the end, thank you. I pray these words touch you in some way and that I will connect with you all more this year as I move from “Selah” to engagement and enjoy this amazing life God has provided, and the journey so far, and the one yet to come.

I don’t have a dramatic conversion story; no lightning bolt, no tear-streaked altar call, no
single moment of revelation. I was simply born into the Church. My Father was a Deacon
whose Bible grew softer each day as he sat at the kitchen table studying. Sharing many
deep thoughts about God with whoever was around. My Mother was the daughter of a lay
preacher. He would load up his goods from the garden and take them to the Market to sell
and preach to those around him. You see, God’s love wasn’t a guest in our home, it was the
wallpaper, the floorboards, the very air I breathed from my first cry.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; -Jeremiah 1:5(NKJV)
As a child, December always arrived with a double birthday, mine mid-month, then
Christmas crowns it with glory. Our porch glowed with colored lights; the smell of Pound
cakes in the oven while Daddy read Luke 2 by the fireplace. One year my favorite gift was a
skateboard with racing stripes on it. I would hook up my dog to his leash, and he would pull
me everywhere. The wind whipped my hair, and my heart was certain nothing could ever be better. Then Spring came, and the skateboard would soon be forgotten in the corner. The ache of outgrowing my gifts settled in my chest like a stone. I didn’t yet understand the
deeper longing, but I felt it. Something inside me was built for a gift that would endure.
For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord
-Luke 2:11 (NKJV)
From my earliest memories I sensed Him, a gentle pressure behind every choice. When I
sneaked an extra cookie, conviction arrived before the crumbs could hit the floor. When I
choose kindness over gossip, peace folded around me like my grandma's quilt. You see, I
know that I have made some shining decisions like tithing my very first check, forgiving a
friend who betrayed me. I made some not so shining choices as well, like saying words that
cut, doors I should not have stepped through. Each time I fell, I braced for the silence of
abandonment. Instead, I heard footsteps. God’s hand slipped back into mine,
patient as sunrise.
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you
turn to the right or you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV)
I learned to breathe in valleys and on mountaintops alike, because of the One who
promised.
“Never will I leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)
Fast forward to marriage, children and grandchildren. So many adventures and the ups and
downs of life. God is in the center of it all. In Him, our map will never say a dead end.
Two thousand years ago, the Father sent the gift the world still needs the most.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in
Him shall have everlasting life, John 3:16 (NKJV)
Not a toy. Not a bonus. Not even a ceasefire in our chaos. God gave himself, wrapped in
swaddling clothes, laid in a feeding trough, breathing our air, crying our tears. Jesus is the
greatest gift of all because He meets the ache no sale can touch. Jesus arrives before we
clean up, while we are still rebels. Open hands, not perfect behavior, are all the wrapping
He requires.
But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ
died for us. Romans 5:8 (NKJV)
Unwrap Him right now, you don’t need to wait until December 25th. Right in this moment, in
the hospital, the courtroom, the silent kitchen, Jesus stands with nail-scarred hands open.
Receive Him. Let Him turn your ordinary into an altar. Pray with me.
Lord Jesus, I open my hands and heart. Forgive me, lead me, fill me. Thank You for being
the Gift I will never outgrow. Amen.
Tell someone. Text a friend. Bring them on Sunday. The Gift grows brighter when shared.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We stand in awe of the night You broke the silence of heaven with a baby’s cry. Thank you
for the gift no human hand could craft, no heart could earn, Your only Son, Jesus Christ,
born in Bethlehem’s humble stable, wrapped in love, laid in a manger. Thank you for the
miracle of the manger. That You, the Creator, became a child so that we could become
yours. Thank you for stepping into our shortcomings so that we could step into Your mercy.
Lord Jesus you are the Greatest Gift, the light that outshines every Christmas bulb, The
Love that outlasts every season. The Savior who never stops unwrapping Himself in our
lives. We praise You; we worship you; we thank you with every breath. May every heart this
Advent open wide to receive to You anew. In the precious, powerful name of Jesus we pray,
Amen

Giving Thanks in Every Season

The holiday season is a mix of emotions – for some it’s a time of joy and
celebration, while for others, it can be a season of struggle and hardship. Young
couples get married and experience their first holiday season together; people
have lost loved ones and are being reminded of them during this time; babies
are celebrating their first holiday season; and foster or adopted children are
experiencing their first Christmas together with their new families. Through the
good times and bad, we can still be thankful for what God is doing in our lives.
The Lord desires that we neither give in to sadness or gloom nor grow
complacent in times of abundance but instead praise Him in every circumstance.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). The greatest
blessing that we can be thankful for is the gift of salvation. “Thanks be to God
for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:12-15). Through any circumstance, we
should show gratitude toward God for what He has done for us.
God knows exactly what you are going through, and He wants to be there
for you in every season, times of joy and times of challenge.
“Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever” (Psalms 106:1).
This Thanksgiving, reflect on all the great things God has done in your life.
Maybe it’s a new job, a new house, a family, or friends. Or maybe it is as simple
as providing food for you, giving you shelter, giving you breath in your lungs, or a
heart that beats. Whatever it is, give thanks to God even in the simple things
because that can change your whole perspective on life, and this can be a
reminder to not overlook what the Lord has graciously provided for you.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid,
nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:9 NKJV)
The life of a senior in high school is incredible and exciting. It comes with
many amazing opportunities that you cannot get in any other stage of life. With all
these opportunities comes a lot more stress in life. I have dealt with anxiety like never
before because I am in a stage of life where I do not know what next year looks like.
For the first time, I am not relying on my parents for my future. My stress has taken a
toll on me, but it has also brought me closer to God than ever before. Joshua 1:9 has
been one of my favorite verses because it can apply to everyone. God has given me
the strength and courage to move on in the difficult times of my life. The final line of
this verse is what hits home for me every time I read it. God will be with me through
the ups and the downs in my life. God has proven again and again that his love is
greater than anything I can do to run away from it.
 
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor
powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other
created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 NKJV).
 
My encouragement to everyone reading this is to lean on God during the good
times and the bad ones. God’s love is stronger than everything mentioned in Romans
8:38-39, and it is reassuring to know how much He loves us. Almost everyone has
anxiety in some form, but I have realized that the only way to deal with it is through
God’s love. If you are struggling with anxiety, know that you have the Prince of Peace
to lean on. Turning to God in the difficult times in life can be one of the hardest things
to do, but trust me, it will be the best decision you ever make.
 
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”
(Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).

Last week, I had the privilege of attending CAFO (Christian Alliance for Orphans). I’ve been to many conferences and heard countless sermons, but this one hit different. The message was about the paralytic man—the one whose friends carried him to Jesus. I’ve read that story, preached it, and admired those four friends who refused to let anything stand between their friend and Jesus. But this time, God showed me something new.
Those four friends needed Jesus just as much as the man on the mat.
That realization sank deep. Because it reframed how I see adoption—not just as something we do for a child, but as something God does in all of us. Adoption is not a one-way act of compassion; it’s a two-way act of transformation. The child, the mom and dad, the extended family, the church—everyone in the story needs grace. Everyone in the story is being changed by Jesus.
We often think of serving or adopting as meeting someone else’s need. But what if, in God’s design, it’s also about meeting ours? What if every time we open our home, our hands, or our hearts, God is opening something in us too? Adoption is more than an earthly act—it’s a heavenly picture. It reflects the gospel itself.
Because that’s what God did for us. He didn’t wait for us to get up and walk. He came to us when we couldn’t move. He lifted us off the mat of our own sin and carried us home. That’s adoption. Not just bringing someone in—it’s being brought in ourselves.
I want to take a moment to thank Choice Baptist for being part of this story. You’ve adopted us as your own—covering us with prayer, encouragement, and generosity. You’ve carried us in ways that look a lot like those four friends in Mark 2. But maybe—just maybe—God is also using our story to stir something in yours.
Maybe He’s stirring you to step toward fostering or adoption—to open your home to a child who needs a family.
Maybe He’s stirring you to support a family already walking that road—offering meals, babysitting, or just being present in the hard moments.
Maybe He’s stirring you to give financially toward missions, orphan care, or the work of ministries who live this calling every day.
Maybe He’s stirring you to simply see people differently—to notice the overlooked, to invite the outsider, to become family to someone who has none.
Adoption is God’s heart in motion. It’s His Kingdom breaking through in living rooms, church pews, and hospital waiting rooms. It’s what happens when ordinary people step into the extraordinary love of a Father who calls us His own.
So, whether you’re carrying someone to Jesus or being carried yourself—remember this: both need Him. Both are being changed. And both are part of the story God is still writing.
“God sets the lonely in families.” – Psalm 68:6

Pastor Bradley J. Balfour
John 3:30 - He must become greater and greater; and I must become less and less.

Stay Faithful in Sharing the Gospel — Even When It’s Hard
There’s a certain joy that comes from telling someone about Jesus—the hope He offers,
the forgiveness He gives, and the eternal life He promises. But if we’re honest, sharing
the gospel isn’t always easy.
Sometimes people don’t respond the way we hope.
Sometimes they reject the message—or reject us.
Sometimes we wonder if our efforts even matter.
If you’ve ever felt discouraged in telling others about Jesus, you’re not alone. But take
heart—God calls us to faithfulness, not just results.

A few weeks ago, I met my dad in Culpeper for breakfast. We enjoyed good
conversations over a good meal and a hot cup of coffee. While I was there, our waiter,
Adam, was very patient with us as we were there for almost 2 hours. He would check
on us to see if we needed anything, but he never made us feel like he was rushing us.
As we were headed out, our waiter was at the register and took our payment, I felt the
Holy Spirit prompting me to share the gospel with him. I immediately started to doubt,
and some level of fear crept in. I paused and then I simply asked him if he attends a
church nearby. He said no, but his aunt and uncle have been on him to go with them,
as they attend every week. I asked him if he was going to go, and he said that he
might. Pointing to my wrist, I asked him if I can show him something. I showed him the
heart on my wrist band and told him that God loves him. Moving to the division sign, I
told him that we all have sinned, and sin separates us from God. I let him know that God
loves him so much that he sent Jesus to die on the cross, was buried and rose again to
pay for his sins, represented by the cross. I shared with Adam that God has taken care
of the separation by taking care of the payment for his sins, and now he can have a
relationship with God. As I started to ask him what he wanted to do, he got called to the
kitchen.
I am thankful that I was obedient in planting a seed.

Stay faithful.
Keep planting seeds.
Keep speaking the truth in love.
One day, you’ll stand in heaven and see the faces of people who came to Christ
because you didn’t give up. On that day, every awkward moment, every rejection, every
tear will be worth it.

As Galatians 6:9 reminds us:
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a
harvest if we do not give up.”

LIGHT FOR EVERY MAN

“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9)

The Bible clearly teaches that faith in the person and saving work of Jesus Christ is essential for salvation. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

This means that there is no salvation whatsoever in Islam, Buddhism, evolutionary humanism, or anything other than faith in Christ!

I often thought of the many people that God has “Put in my path”, many that I was given a chance to witness to and failed to do so. Are these people’s blood on my hands? But what about the millions over the ages who have lived and died without ever hearing about Christ? Paul answers, “But I say, have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world” (Romans 10:18). That is, they have heard! Our text reminds us that Jesus Christ is the true Light that has been sent to every man in the world. Paul was referring to the familiar Psalm 19, which reminds us that God’s glory is declared by the heavens themselves.

Paul also stressed that even God’s “eternal power and Godhead” are “clearly seen” “from the creation of the world,” so that those who don’t see are “without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Thus, as Peter said, “in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:35). Although Christ has provided at least some light for “every man,” the tragedy is that “men loved darkness rather than light” (John 3:19). But for those like Cornelius the Centurian (to whom Peter was sent with the gospel—Acts 10) who act on whatever light they have (in nature or conscience or any possible remnants of primeval truth in their native religion), God will send more light, for “he that doeth truth cometh to the light” (John 3:21).
 
 We sometimes forget that we are not alone in this wicked world but are “BACKED UP” by God the Father, Christ the Son and THE HOLY SPIRIT who gives us the POWER to do God’s Will. For an example look at (Acts 1:8) where Christ tells us to “WAIT” on the Holy Spirit, for truly we derive our power through His power, not ours. We find few sermons preached on the Holy Spirit and His power and influence in our lives. The Greek word there in Acts 1:8 is “Paraclete” which means one alongside or an enabler or helper.
  
I as a teacher have learned in today’s generation that we are “Headline Readers” and want quick answers and responses, we even take our cellphones to the restroom and the young adults have their faces buried in their cellphone and tablet screens. It is a constant companion of instant gratification and response. “Sometimes we need to STOP and smell the ROSES”! SELAH! (Meditate on this)
 
 
 
In Christ, Roger Hanna Sr.

“Joy comes in the morning” (Psalms 30:5). I know everyone applies scripture differently to their lives, and I believe God has designed the Bible to speak to each of us where we are. This is a simple verse that can definitely be one of my current life quotes. My favorite time of day is early morning. The sun is rising, the birds are singing, the house is quiet, I’ve had some sleep (hopefully…not always a lot with 2 young children), I enjoy a hot cup of coffee, spend time reading my Bible, and get in a good 20-30 min workout. Hands down, the best time of day for me. My cup is full. “Joy” means the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune (Merriam-Webster). Got it, I'm good to go…for a short while anyway.
Then the day continues, and you just never know what is going to derail that space of peace and contentment. But the Bible says to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil 4:4). To “rejoice” means to experience or express great happiness or joy (Merriam-Webster). Always? How is it possible to always be full of happiness and joy in the world we live in?
Are you full of joy today? How long does it last? If you start your day full like me, what interrupts it or throws it off course? Screaming kids, work frustrations, driving anywhere there are other people on the road, someone saying something critical or hurtful, a friend or spouse disappointing you, the day does not go as planned, you don't feel appreciated, dinner is not well thought out ahead of time, etc. The list is different for everyone. And I can tell you, depending on the day, sometimes by 5-6 pm I start to feel empty, tired, frustrated, and done. Life can be exhausting!

I have been praying for God to show me what it means to be full of joy. Being a mom of 5 kids ranging from 11 months to 19 can be incredibly stressful and sometimes depressing. My mind is all over the place all the time. Thankfully, I do not live with a worried mindset, but more of how do I please everyone and take care of everyone’s needs (including a husband to love and a house to maintain!). My wants or needs never come first….(except for that early morning much much-needed alone time) and that’s ok for now. This is the season I am in.

So, as a mom (and woman who knows Christ), I should always be full of joy and rejoicing in the Lord, right? All the beautiful blessings God has given our family should prompt daily happiness…(you would assume) I mean, let's be honest, how dare I have a day when I'm feeling down and not full of joy when God has been so gracious to forgive me and give me a wonderful life. Well, it's those down days that have led me to the study of joy and how I can have that in my life even more.
 
Note how in Philippians 4:4 it says “in the Lord”. There is a tiny little detail that we must pay attention to. “You will show me the path of life, in your presence is fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalms 16:11). There it is again, “in your presence”. I have to be mindful every day (all day) to be in his presence. That is not an easy task when life is pulling you in every direction. I crave that fullness of joy. I need that in my life to make me a better wife, mom, friend, and woman of GOD ready to serve His purpose every single day!
 
Galatians 5:16 tells us to walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. It then goes into detail about the works of the flesh. These are the things that will pull you away from God and steal your joy. And we know that “the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10) But Jesus came that “we may have life, and that we may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). He wants us to have the fruits of the spirit…one of which is JOY!! (Galatians 5:22) He wants us to be IN his presence and experience an abundance of joy (among many other wonderful blessings he has offered us).

As we are going “All Out” for CBC this year and have been challenged to tell at least one person a week about Jesus, I encourage you to have the heart of the man referred to in Matthew 13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field”. He was so excited about  heaven that everything else could go. However, don’t hide it, tell people about it! It is not our secret to keep.
 
A popular verse that is difficult to understand sometimes is “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2). Have you been tested before? Did you rely on God and trust him to get you through that moment/season/year? What was the outcome? I have been tested, and I am aware of the clear difference between when I am obedient to God and when I am not.

I believe God brings this full circle in the parable when he says, “ Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler of many things. Enter into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:21).
 
I will continue to pray every day to be in his presence, to be rooted and grounded in love (Eph 3:17), and to remember that I do not support the root, but the root supports me (Romans 11:18). That is the only way I personally can walk with God. When I have an especially tough day, after everyone else has settled down, I make a hot cup of lavender-chamomile tea, try to relax, and remember that if God is willing to give me another day, then joy will come in the morning.

There are several more verses in the bible that refer to joy. I think the most beautiful one I found to perfectly conclude is “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). Amen to that!
-Colleen Harvey

Who Are You Encouraged By?

Many years ago, I heard a Pastor say, “Everyone needs a Barnabas in their life.” Why
Barnabas? Because he was a generous giver(Acts 4:36-27), a faithful friend (Acts 9:26-
27), a committed encourager (Acts 11:22-26), and a forgiving brother (Acts 15:36-41).
These are essential qualities every believer needs in someone walking alongside them.
Encouragement plays a vital role in our Christian fellowship and community – it helps
inspire others in their faith and motivates us all towards good works.
We all face seasons of discouragement and trials. Having someone who encourages us
regularly helps strengthen us for those times. Yes, we find deep encouragement in
God’s Word, but He also calls us to be encouragers to one another:
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.” (
1 Thessalonians 5:11). This is just one of over 50 verses in the Bible about encouraging
others. (And let’s be honest -when something is repeated that often in Scripture, it’s
clearly important!)
There are so many simple, practical ways to encourage someone. Here are a few that
come to mind:

• Making a phone call
• Sending a text or handwritten card
• Praying for or better yet, with someone
• Having a heartfelt conversation
• Spending intentional time together
• Dropping off a treat, coffee, tea or meal

These small actions often lead to big blessings because serving others is exactly what
God calls us to do. I’ve come to recognize that when someone is placed on my heart,
it’s not just a random thought – it’s the Holy Spirit prompting me to act.
I’m especially grateful to be part of Choice Baptist Church, a community that offers so
many avenues for encouragement. Our Pastors uplift us weekly through their sermons
that sharpen our biblical knowledge and equip us to share our faith. Our small groups
are led by fellow believers who want to grow with you in your spiritual walk. Parents can
be encouraged by the love and support their children receive in our Teen, Children,
Preschool, Toddler & Nursery Ministries.

We also have a Counseling Ministry to walk alongside you during life’s difficult seasons.
And let’s not forget the warm smiles from our Welcome Team and the comfort found at
our Coffee Bar -those simple gestures can truly brighten a Sunday morning. I haven’t
named every ministry, but you get my point, there are so many ways to both give and
receive encouragement here.
As I close, my prayer is that you would feel this kind of encouragement in your daily
walk with the Lord. And if you don’t, I want to challenge you: become an encourager.
Step out. Be that blessing in someone’s life. I promise it will bring you true joy!

Blessings,
Heather Staib

It was around 6 p.m. when I arrived. Men's Night was the event I had been looking
forward to! I got out of the car, walked up to the church, and saw a couple of guys
hanging out. There was a pull-up bar, and some of the guys were gathered around it.
Everyone was happy and excited about the event, cheering on the guy doing pull-ups. I
said hi to everyone, walked inside, and took a seat.

It was such a great night. The environment was awesome, and the music was even
better. But there were a couple of things that stood out even more. The first was
worship. You could hear the passion in every man's voice, and you could feel the beat
of the drum in your chest. It was electrifying. After the first part of worship, Lincoln and
Mr. Dave came up to tell some jokes. Everyone was laughing and having a good time.
Once we finished laughing, we listened to two powerful testimonies. The first one was
from Mr. Steve. His testimony was incredibly moving. He talked about going to prison
for six years, but before that, he shared about his court session. Mr. Steve has been a
believer for about eight years. Before he was sentenced, he stood in court and
preached the life of Jesus to the judge. He said, "I'm going to be honest, Judge. It
doesn't matter how long of a sentence you give me. As long as I have the Lord on my
side, I know He will help me through it." After that, instead of the 24 years he was
supposed to receive, the judge sentenced him to only 8 years. That story was so
powerful because even in the hardest and darkest moments, he relied on his faith in
Jesus Christ, knowing the Lord would get him through anything.

After Mr. Steve, Mr. Scott shared his testimony. He talked about being a believer in a
house full of people who didn’t know Jesus. He also shared about losing his mother
when he was 11 years old and having an absent father. He had to walk the journey of
life on his own, teaching himself everything. Despite all of that, he became a believer in
Jesus Christ, and Jesus helped him through every struggle and hard time. After the
testimonies, it was time for the message.

Mr. Mike gave the message, and it was amazing. He shared a recent experience he had
while white-water rafting with seven other people. They were cruising down the river
and having a blast when they suddenly hit a wave and he fell overboard. A girl reached
out and pulled him back into the raft. Mr. Mike used that situation to build the theme of
his message: helping someone who has fallen out of the boat. In other words, helping
someone who is drifting away from Jesus and bringing them back. That message was
really moving and gave me a new perspective — to help people who are still in the boat
and reach out to those who have fallen. We ended the night with more worship and
fellowship. Many hearts were deeply touched. I truly believe a lot of men were moved by
Men's Night. Personally, I think it was magnificent, and we should definitely do it again
sometime soon.

Levy A.

I have a sentence that I repeat a LOT.  In fact, I say it so often that my family teases me that it is going to go on my gravestone.  It’s “Do all the things.”  This phrase is fairly new for me - only about 2 years old.  I started saying it as we were preparing to send our oldest to college.  It really increased when my son came down with the ick while at school.  (Did you know 17 year olds can’t buy cold medicine?) I would frequently go through the list of general health care items when he would call.  You know things like…wash your hands, don’t touch your face, rest, take your vitamins,....oh and don’t forget to call your mom.  Now it’s kind of the family joke…the kids tell me “I know, I know; ‘do all the things.”
About a month ago, the ick hit our household.  It was going around Stafford and at my son’s college as well (shocking, I know).  I found myself saying my catch phrase multiple times a day to everyone…. Wash your hands, don’t touch your face, gargle, take your vitamins, drink lots of fluids….. All the things that moms remind kids of when they get sick.
After we all became well, I was sitting in church listening to Pastor Tim preach about the early church.  The passage was Acts 2:41-47.
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls.  And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and to prayer.  And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.  And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.  And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.  
It sounded to me a lot like my catch phrase.  Luke lists many things that the early church was doing…devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowshipping, breaking bread, prayer, giving, sharing, praising God…. These things were helping the church members to grow in faith and be spiritually healthy.  Not only do we need to “do all the things” to be physically healthy but also to be spiritually healthy (maybe some different things though).  It was a good reminder that I need to be as focused on being spiritually healthy as I do to be physically healthy. I would encourage you to “Do ALL the things” too!  Let’s do all the things together!

Christi Hellmund