Author & Pastor Lawrence Bishop talks about the journey that leads to the forgiveness and healing found in his new book ‘The First Day of Your Worst Day’ Lawrence Bishop II says ‘I hope you never need this book, But I hope you have it in case you do.’

The post ‘The First Day of Your Worst Day’ appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

Bill Goodrich talks about the opportunity to visit senior care homes and share life-enriching hope & conversation with elderly residents. Training, resources, and encouragement is available to churches and volunteers at GodCaresMinistry.com.

The post Neighborhood Mission Field Explained appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

Kermit Rowe with Dayton Habitat is working with volunteers & donors to help provide home ownership in the Miami Valley. Learn more @ www.DaytonHabitat.org

The post Help Build A Dayton Habitat House appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

Darrel Geis and The Christian Blue Pages share the encouragement and resources to spread some Christmas cheer this season by gathering a group and going caroling. Learn more at www.GoCaroling.com

The post Share Joy with Christmas Caroling appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

Lately, my wife Vicki and I have been trying to declutter our home. We’ve been going through all the closets and finding things that we’ve had for years, from when our children were little. In that process, I noticed something I guess I hadn’t thought about before. Little children’s play things tend to be very colorful and shiny! I’m sure that’s helpful in getting and keeping a young child’s attention. The bright and shiny catches their eye and they want it.

Unfortunately, as adults, we haven’t outgrown that fascination for the bright and shiny and the enemy of our souls knows that very well. He can dress up sin in some of the brightest colors and make it sparkle so it catches our eye and makes us want to have it. What he will never let us see is the ugly, destructive nature of that sin. If we saw that, we would never be tempted.

A number of years ago there was a popular gospel song whose chorus shed light on this:

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, slowly but wholly taking control.

Sin will leave you longer than you want to stay. Sin will cost you far more than you want to pay!

The Apostle Paul also addresses this progression of sin as he warns the Christians at Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

This passage gives us hope because there are several steps that happen before we fall headlong into sin and each of those steps gives us opportunity to turn away; an opportunity to recognize that what we see might not be all there is. With God’s help, we can see what’s behind all the glitz and glitter before it’s too late!

The post But It’s Bright And Shiny! appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

This Week’s Bold Step

Clogged pipes in your home can really be a headache for a homeowner. Whether it’s a sink, toilet, or bathtub, all of these lines can gradually clog over time as debris accumulates, making it harder and harder for waste to move through. If not identified and addressed in the early stages, you could end up with sewage water backing up into your house. I speak from experience!

Unconfessed sin is a lot like that clogged pipe. Its tentacles can wrap around every part of our being and can often leave us feeling paralyzed if we’re not careful. The effects are often devastating from developing a wrong spirit towards God to feeling separated and isolated from community to losing the joy of our salvation. If left unchecked, unconfessed sin blocks our healing in other areas of our lives, leaving us hopeless.

In Psalm 51, we see David wrestling with the weight of his sin of adultery and murder. His anguish is palpable as he confesses his sins to God, holding nothing back. We see that he doesn’t blame anyone else but himself making no attempt to excuse his actions. David knew that his sin had separated him from God, so the only appropriate response was a humble and contrite appealing to Him to extend His mercy, love and forgiveness.

Like a pipe that’s been unclogged, there’s a hunger when your heart is repentant. The weight of sin is gone, replaced by joy and freedom like no other. You’re no longer a slave to sin! My friend, true repentance doesn’t merely alleviate guilt but cultivates a deep joy in your life. Might today be that day?

This devotional was written by Pastor Mark Jobe and used with permission from Moody Radio.

To learn more and to access other amazing resources please visit http://www.boldstepsradio.org/

The post Clogged Pipes | Bold Stepper Weekly appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

Hebrews 11:30

Read Joshua 6:1–21

What is your favorite day of the week? Studies show that Friday and Saturday are the favorite days for most. But how many of us would say Sunday?

In Joshua and the battle of Jericho, a story that some Christians have known since Sunday School, we get a glimpse of how a particular day can be the most jubilant day of a week; filled with music, trumpets, shouts, and victory. But before that joyous moment when the walls came down, we observe that the people of God fully obeyed each of His commands for six full days.

They were to march around Jericho each day with all the armed men (v. 3) and seven priests carrying trumpets in front of the ark of the covenant (v. 4). There were further instructions given by God through Joshua for the people. They were not to give a war cry or raise their voices; not to say a word until they were told which day to shout (v. 10).

What a picture of faith and daily obedience to the Lord! It was faith in the Lord that brought down the walls of Jericho (Heb. 11:30). From morning to night (vv. 11–12), the people had to trust in God’s Word before the outcome, knowing that the Lord had something greater in store for the final day. Indeed, God had something greater. On the seventh day, the Israelites saw victory through Joshua (Yeshua) over the enemy in Jericho in the Promised Land.

We too have something greater in our future! That’s why gathering with God’s faithful people on the Lord’s day can be the most exciting day of the week. It is filled with jubilant worship as we remind ourselves of the victory we have in and through Jesus (Yeshua).

Go Deeper

What do you think went through the minds of the Israelites as they followed God’s puzzling instructions?  How does being mindful of our future hope (Heb. 4:9) influence the way we walk in obedience today?

Pray With Us

Lord Jesus, thank You for the freedom we have to come together with fellow believers in our churches. Thank You for the joy of joining Your people on earth and all the company of heaven in the unending hymn.

This Devotional is from Sing to the Lord: Music in the Bible written by author Dr. Brian Lee

Find more edifying, Christ-centered devotionals and other great resources at www.todayintheword.org

The post The Music Of Jericho | Today In The Word appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

I figure I’m doing a good thing. We’re familiar with the verse in Proverbs that says a merry heart does good, like medicine. And you know that’s true. We distract children from the pain of a shot or a scraped knee with a funny face or a silly song, and even as adults, when someone or something makes us laugh, we momentarily forget our troubles and worries.

But according to the Mayo Clinic, laughter can literally help heal your body. Laughing forces more air into your lungs so more oxygen goes into your body. It increases the endorphins released from your brain. These not only make you feel good, but they affect your cardiovascular system, decreasing your blood pressure and heart rate and improving your circulation. Long term, laughter fights the effects of stress on your body and can improve your immune system, relieve pain, improve your mood, and even help you lose weight.

God didn’t have to create us with a sense of humor, but He did, simply for our enjoyment and health. We have times of joy and laughter now, but there are several passages in the Bible that speak of laughter in the future, when our hearts and bodies are free of pain and worry and we have full freedom and joy in the Lord. That seems almost unreal now because of the world we live in, but the moments of joy and laughter we experience here give us another glimpse into the world to come.

One more thing laughter does is encourage connection with others. Almost everyone likes to hear a joke. Telling one is an easy way to make difficult situations a little easier or break barriers and forge the beginning of a relationship with a coworker or someone you regularly encounter. They might laugh at your joke now, but, through you, may eventually come to know the joy that lasts forever.

So where do bad rainbows go? To prism. But it’s a light sentence and gives them time to reflect.

The post Where Do Bad Rainbows Go? appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

Definitions

• a coming into place, view, or being; arrival
• the coming of Christ into the world
• the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas
• second coming

Synonyms

• Arrival
• Coming
• Onset
• Appearance
• Approach
• Entrance
• Incoming

Often advent is relegated to the “religious” realm. But, we always have advent occurring in our lives. Anticipation of births, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, retirement, and many other events.

Israel was in advent waiting for the Messiah. There was 400 years of silence. Advent implies hope or expectation or an arrival of a joyous occasion.

We are often waiting, “adventing” for some distant event or opportunity, when God wants us to advent (anticipate) His presence today. Lamentations 3:22-23 declares, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your [God’s] faithfulness.” Do we have that daily anticipation of meeting with God in a scheduled quiet time? We anticipate seeing friends and family, why do we not have the same anticipation to meet with God?

Do we anticipate seeing God demonstrate His realness in our daily lives by a “God wink?” The times you whisper or think of a need, and the solution appears…those are God winks. The sound of laughter or a beautiful sunset is a God wink. Are we “adventing” the answers to long held prayers of healing or salvation for loved ones, or have we given up anticipating an answer?

I’d say, our daily routines distract us from anticipating good things to happen in our lives. Often the world as it is makes us callus and cynical.

The antidote is daily washing ourselves in God’s word and EXPECTING (adventing, anticipating) His fresh response. A song from my childhood that has stuck with me these many years encourages me to anticipate God’s daily presence and His move on my behalf.

Don’t let advent only come once a year before Christmas. Begin a tradition of advent for each and every day. Establish a desire and anticipation to experience the fullness of God, right here, right now, and not in some distant future that lessens our joy and hope of His present reality.

The post Advent All Year Long appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

We as Christians need to begin to see that God does not leave us hanging out to dry in an effort to test us and see if we will make wise decisions to better our lot in life. The wisest choice is to “seek God and His righteousness, and all the things we need will be added unto us” (Matthew 6:33). These “things” don’t have to be material items that can sidetrack us from the true needs within our lives.

Our true needs that might send us over the edge of despair are our needs for safety, health, and peace of mind. The Bible is FULL of encouragement to lead us to the source of hope, as well as the power to provide us with what we need.

Psalm 91 is a vivid picture of God’s provision of hope through many dangers. God rescues us from the snare of the fowler. God protects us under His wings. God fights our enemies. God provides energy for us to keep going forward. All of this provision is because of our trust and dwelling in His presence; not our own efforts.

We need to have a mind shift to trust in God, the unseen, more than we trust in the seen. So many say that is foolish. But Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the mighty things.”

The many Bible stories and Bible verses we have learned over our lifetime, need to now be put into demonstrated power actions that reveal we have our faith in God who is our rock and fortress (Psalm 18:2), and not in the temporal things of this Earth…even though God will provide things we need…homes, jobs, transportation, food, etc. “Some trust in chariots, some in horses, but I trust in the Lord my God” (Psalm 20:7).

That kind of abandoned faith causes us to say, as the words of the song, “I Surrender All.”

Surrendering to God restores us with His authority and power living in us as “Christ the Hope of Glory” (Colossians 1:27). His power moves mountains (obstacles). His power is creative and demonstrated throughout the Bible with examples of providing out of nothing: manna, quail, and water. His power demonstrated the parting of the Red Sea and everyone crossing over on dry ground while moments later drowning Pharaoh and his army. In the New Testament, Paul was saved from death: shipwreck, beating, and snake bite. God says, “Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). We say God is the same yesterday, today, and forever…therefore we should have that God kind of faith to believe He will use His power to provide us hope. Hope in His love that was so strong, He gave His only son so that we would be brought into His family to dwell (John 3:16).

As we become part of His family, we need to move away from the idea of doing life on our own efforts to the realization that “I can’t do it myself.” We MUST live only through God’s power moving in and through us. That is when we become the Kings and Priests God intended to step out in His Name to do great exploits (Daniel 11:32) to win the lost and to disciple the nations toward His Glory covering the Earth as the water covers the sea (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Habakkuk 2:14).

The post Powerless Does Not Mean Hopeless appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

John Wootton shares about the Ohio For Jesus plan by the Assemblies of God churches in Ohio and how their principles and resources can help other churches and denominations develop leadership and progress towards sharing Jesus in Ohio.

The post Church plans towards Ohio For Jesus appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

The post Dayton Dream Center offers Hope & Help appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

Aubrie Kimbrough is helping students connect & pray for their school, community, and nation by providing encouragement and resources. More info at www.ClaimYourCampus.com

The post Prayer Changes Schools appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

The post Bringing students to The Light in Urbana appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

The post Forgiveness in an OCC shoebox appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

The post Feeding hearts & families in Springfield appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

The post Find hope & healing with Joy appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

This Week’s Bold Step

One of the most powerful passages in the Bible that exhibits the power of repentance is Psalms 51. Here we have a snapshot of a pivotal moment in the life of King David as he’s going through the process of not just being sorry but being truly repentant for his wrongdoing. There’s a big difference between the two- remorse and repentance- and people confuse them all the time. Do you know the difference?

Suppose you’re driving down the highway and get pulled over by the state police. Most of us are immediately remorseful because we got caught for breaking the speed limit but that’s not real repentance. True repentance is being sorry enough to stop what you’re doing and change your behavior which, in this case, would mean driving the speed limit whenever you’re behind the wheel for the foreseeable future.

Repentance and being sorry are not synonymous. They may look the same at first but after a time, the blame game reveals a person’s true heart. When we’ve wronged someone, repentance means we acknowledge that we’re the victimizer, not the victim. We then take steps to change the way we think about the wrong we did.

Conversely, people who are “sorry” ask for forgiveness for their own sake hoping to regain their position with that person or even their blemished reputation. The stakes are high when it comes to true repentance.

There are three key markers of repentance that we can glean from David’s confession:

1. Repentance requires a humble confession instead of defensive excuses.
2. Repentance involves personal responsibility instead of dodgy blame-shifting.
3. Repentance requires deep, honest cleaning instead of cheap relief.

Friend, anyone can feel sorry for what they’ve done but when we make a 180-degree U turn from our sinful ways and seek forgiveness from God, that’s the benchmark for a true Christ follower.

This devotional was written by Pastor Mark Jobe and used with permission from Moody Radio.

To learn more and to access other amazing resources please visit http://www.boldstepsradio.org/

The post Remorse or Repentance? | Bold Stepper Weekly appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

The morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy.

Job 38:7

Read Job 38:1–7

Music is often linked with our emotions. But the word music calls us to use our minds. It comes from the Greek mousa where we get the term “muse”, to meditate, think carefully and thoroughly. As Christians, this also means to think biblically. Not doing so would lead to music being merely for our amusement, and that negates the very meaning of the word. As Paul said, “I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding” (1 Cor. 14:15).

In Job 38, God spoke to Job out of a storm, asking, “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge,” and “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand” (vv. 2, 4). We can ask ourselves a related question, When we sing on Sundays, do we do so only with emotion, or with knowledge and understanding?

In Job 38, we discover that there was musical worship when the Lord laid the earth’s foundation: “the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy” (v. 7). A faithful pastor once said that “singing is as old as creation. Singing was there before the creation of the very world you and I inhabit . . . the DNA of singing is worship to God. It was there in the heavens before we ever enjoyed it here on earth.” Apart from God, from Whom comes all knowledge, understanding, and truth, music and our singing in praise and worship is meaningless.

Whether we sing in public or private, work or leisure, church or home, it is important to understand the divine design and purpose of music (and our entire lives): to worship and to give glory and honor to the living God. We worship Christ, the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20) who laid the cornerstone (Job 38:6). “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Ps. 150:6)!

Go Deeper

What has been your personal experience with music and worship? Have you ever experienced music in a way that made you both feel and think?

Pray With Us

Lord Jesus, how incredible to realize that even the stars sing, and the angels shout Your praises. What a privilege to join this eternal choir! As we study, may our hearts understand Your divine design for music in our lives.

This Devotional is from Sing to the Lord: Music in the Bible written by author Dr. Brian Lee

Find more edifying, Christ-centered devotionals and other great resources at www.todayintheword.org

The post God’s Design for Music | Today In The Word appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

I want to show you, from God’s Word, why we have an obligation to influence the direction of the United States of America!

First of all, we are ambassadors for Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us this in Second Corinthians 5:20. What is an ambassador and what do they do? An ambassador is a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government as the resident representative of his or her own government. What does this mean for believers in Jesus? Paul said in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in Heaven. If we are ambassadors, then we have been sent from our home country Heaven, by our King Jesus, to represent His values in the land to which He sent us. As citizens of these United States, we’ve been given the right to influence who leads this nation and the direction those leaders take the nation. Luke 12:48 reminds us that to whom much is given, much is required. That verse isn’t just talking about financial resources, it includes influence as well.

So then if we as believers in Jesus Christ, living temporarily as citizens of this nation, are supposed to make a difference here for our home country Heaven, what does that look like? In Matthew 5:14 Jesus told us to be the light of the world. One verse earlier He commanded us to be the salt of the earth. In order to influence this country for our home country we, as followers of Christ, must be Salt and Light!

Salt, before the days of refrigeration was the primary means of preserving food. So, when Jesus says we are to be salt, our job is to help preserve our culture from spoiling or becoming rotten. To be the light of the world is to help dispel the darkness that keeps people wandering around lost. How are we doing? Not so good!

Don’t misunderstand, we can’t make people behave. People that don’t know Jesus, don’t have our moral compass. We should share the Gospel with everyone we can and let the Spirit of God do His work. But there are some things we can do, things that our country still allows us to do and things our Ambassadorship requires of us.

We can speak out about the darkness and rottenness in our culture. We can work to have ungodly practices and laws ended. We can work to get people elected who still believe there is a God to whom we must all give an account.

Using our freedom to vote is a minimum requirement for all believers in this free nation. We have not been called by God and left here to go along and get along. We are here in this temporary kingdom by God’s providence to make a difference for His Eternal Kingdom. So, let’s embrace our Ambassadorship this November and support those issues and candidates up and down the ballot who most closely align with Biblical principles and the priorities of our King of Kings!

Tracy Figley

CEO of Strong Tower Christian Media

The post Ambassadors for the King of Kings appeared first on 93.7 The Light.