“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” – Colossians 4:12

On May 19, 1780, darkness enshrouded New England around noon. It was during the Revolutionary War, many people think Judgment Day is at hand. It will be remembered as New England's Dark Day. Historians have determined the darkness to have been caused by a massive wildfire in eastern Ontario, Canada.

Diaries of the preceding days mention smoky air and a red sun in the morning and evening. Around noon this day, an early darkness fell: Birds sang their evening songs, farm animals returned to their roosts and barns, and humans were bewildered.

In New Hampshire, wrote one person, "A sheet of white paper held within a few inches of the eyes was equally invisible with the blackest velvet."

At Hartford, Colonel Abraham Davenport opposed adjourning the Connecticut legislature, thus: "The day of judgment is either approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause of an adjournment; if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty."

No matter what the circumstance, stand firm in Jesus. Today in prayer, look to the Lord and stand firm in your faith in Christ.

“When faithfulness is most difficult, it is most rewarding.” – Croft M. Pentz

God’s Word: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS.  †

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” – Colossians 4:5

In 1857, just after the potato famine in Ireland, John Bloomfield, the owner of Castle Caldwell in County Fermanagh, was working on the recovery of his estate when he noticed that the exteriors of his tenant farmers’ small cottages had a vivid white finish. He was informed that there was a clay deposit on his property of unusually fine quality. To generate revenue and provide employment on his estate, he built a pottery shop at the village of Belleek. The unusually fine clay yielded a porcelain that was translucent with a glass-like finish. It was worked into traditional Irish designs and was an immediate success.

Today, Belleek’s delicate strength and its iridescent pearlized glaze is enthusiastically purchased the world over. This multimillion-dollar industry arose from innovative thinking during some very anxious times. John Bloomfield made the most of the opportunity.

Today in prayer, thank the Lord for your salvation and ask Him to give you wisdom in every opportunity to share the Gospel with those who do not yet know Him.

“It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor.” – Martin Luther 

God’s Word: “Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise” – Ephesians 5:15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail    

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS.  †

"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” – Colossians 4:3-4

In November 2022, Pastor Abdalla Haron Sulieman was leading a prayer meeting for his mother, who suffered from an infection in her legs that kept her from walking. Suddenly, Sudanese authorities in El Hasahisa town in Al Jazirah state walked into the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church.

Pastor Abdalla’s mother, 60-year-old Aisha Adam, was healed after he prayed for her, and others from the predominantly Muslim area began crowding in for healing. The meeting angered Muslim extremists who persuaded the police to arrest the pastor on charges of claiming to be a witch doctor.

“This is a serious violation against Christians in Sudan,” said evangelist Francis Ismail, who visited the pastor on November 24.

Sudanese Christians took to social media, some demanding the pastor’s immediate release, and others terming the jailing more evidence of ongoing and systematic persecution of Christians in Sudan.

Christians are under attack throughout the world. Today in prayer, remember in prayer Christians in countries where it is dangerous to be a believer.

“The servant of Christ must never be surprised if he has to drink of the same cup with his Lord.” – J.C. Ryle

God’s Word: “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” – Ephesians 6:19-20

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS †

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” – Colossians 4:2

In his book “Spiritual Formation”, Henri Nouwen writes: “In the midst of a busy schedule of activities—healing suffering people, casting out devils, responding to impatient disciples, traveling from town to town, and preaching from synagogue to synagogue—we find these quiet words: “In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.”

The more I read this nearly silent sentence locked in between the loud words of action, the more I have the sense that the secret of Jesus’ ministry is hidden in that lonely place where he went to pray, early in the morning, long before dawn. . .. In the lonely place Jesus finds the courage to follow God’s will and not his own; to speak God’s words and not his own; to do God’s work and not his own. It is in the lonely place, where Jesus enters into intimacy with the Father, that his ministry is born.”

Prayer is powerful! Today in prayer, devote yourself to prayer throughout the day lifting up your prayers to the Lord.

“Prayer fills man's weakness with God's omnipotence and opens the gates to new fields of achievement.  It makes the weak strong and the simple wise." – Oliver G. Wilson

God’s Word: “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” – Luke 18:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS. †

“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” – Colossians 3:19

In their book “The meaning of Marriage”, Tim and Kathy Keller write: “The ubiquity of marriage speaks for itself. There has never been a culture or a century that we know of in which marriage was not central to human life…This sounds like a controversial statement, but it is not. As all social history books will tell you, marriage had its origins in “prehistory”—in other words, the human race cannot remember a time in which marriage did not exist. There have been some efforts to make the case that this or that remote culture or small ethnic group has existed without marriage, but none of these efforts are widely regarded as successful.”

Husbands love your wives as Christ loves you. Today in prayer, pray for your spouse and family’s needs.

“Many marriages would be better if the husband and the wife clearly understood that they are on the same side.” – Zig Ziglar

God’s Word: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” – Ephesians 5:25

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS. †

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13

In November 2002, Detroit Free Press columnist Mike Wendland wrote a story about a man named Alan Ralsky. Ralsky had become a multimillionaire through marketing spam on the Internet. How much spam? His company sent up to 250 million e-mails a day. The story told readers about Ralsky’s new 8,000-square-foot, $740,000 home. The spammer bragged that one entire wing of the house was paid for by a single weight-loss e-mail.

A group of spam haters decided to give Ralsky a dose of his own medicine. They posted his home address on hundreds of websites, and Ralsky started getting tons - literally - of junk mail. Then they posted his e-mail address and his phone number, and the mega-junkmailer got inundated with the very thing he had made his millions from - spam. And, no surprise: He was annoyed! Ralsky later complained, "They’ve signed me up for every advertising campaign and mailing list there is. These people are out of their minds! They’re harassing me!"

One of the most appreciated gifts of all is the gift of forgiveness. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for forgiving you, then forgive others as the Lord has forgiven you.

“Only one petition of the Lord’s Prayer has any condition attached to it: it is the petition for forgiveness.” – William Temple

God’s Word: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” – Matthew 6:12

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS. †

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12

When William McKinley was President of the United States, he had to make a decision about the appointment of an ambassador to a foreign country. Two candidates were equally qualified, so McKinley was still a Congressman, he had observed an inconsiderate action by one of the men. He recalled boarding a streetcar at the rush hour and getting the last vacant seat. Soon an elderly woman got on, carrying a heavy clothesbasket. No one got up to offer her a seat, so she walked the length of the car and stood in the aisle, hardly able to keep her balance as the vehicle swayed from side to side. One of the men McKinley was later to consider for ambassador was sitting next to where the woman was standing. Instead of getting up and helping her, he deliberately shifted his newspaper so it would look like he hadn’t seen her. When McKinley noticed this, he walked down the aisle, graciously took her basket, and offered her his seat. The man was unaware that anyone was watching, but that one little act of selfishness would later deprive him of perhaps the crowning honor of his lifetime.

In all that you do, be kind to one another. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that Jesus Christ is a living example of kindness.

“If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.” – John MacDonald

God’s Word: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” – Galatians 5:22

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS. †

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices” – Colossians 3:9

In February 2022, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” interviewed people on the street about the Winter Olympics in China. The games hadn’t begun yet, and Jimmy theorized that people weren’t paying attention to the games.  

In the segment known as "Lie Witness News", Kimmel caught several people lying on camera. Here are some of the foolish lies that they told: One young man said he was enjoying the Olympics so far, but he couldn’t recall any events.  Another said he enjoyed the Olympics particularly the opening ceremonies. He then went on to describe some celebrities who weren’t at the Olympics and their performances. 

One man, when asked about the fictitious “Tesla Snowboard” that premiered at the games, said “it was life-changing for the innovation world”. 

Jesus Christ is the Truth. Satan is the father of lies. We need to stand with our Savior first in foremost by telling the truth. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He stands for truth and seek to put away any lies in your life. 

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” – Sir Walter Scott 

God’s Word: “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” – Proverbs 30:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail    

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS.  †

“But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” – Colossians 3:8

In July 2013, eleven people died when a resident of a senior citizens nursing home set fire to the facility.

The blaze ripped through the nursing home in the early hours at the in-patient building of the Lianhe Senior Nursing Home in Hailun city of the Heilongjiang province, China.

Wang Gui, 45-year-old, who lived at the nursing home suffering from cerebral thrombosis, set fire to the building after getting angry over the loss of 32 dollars. He suspected that a fellow resident stole it, local officials said.

Staff from the nursing home and Wang's peers tried to calm him down but failed, the report said.

A total of 283 people were living in the nursing home, which was built in 2005 to cater to the rural elderly in the city who have no source of income.

Anger is sin and it leads to other sins. Today in prayer, confess any sin of anger to the Lord and seek His peace in all that you do.

“Anger, if not restrained, it’s frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.” – Seneca

God’s Word: “'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” – Ephesians 4:26

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS. †

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” – Colossians 3:2

Joseph and Étienne were 2 of the 16 children of Pierre Montgolfier, whose prosperous paper factories in the small town of Vidalon, in southern France, ensured the financial support of their balloon experiments. While carrying on their father’s paper business, they maintained their interest in scientific experimentation.

In 1782 they discovered that heated air, when collected inside a large lightweight paper or fabric bag, caused the bag to rise into the air. The Montgolfiers made the first public demonstration of this discovery on June 4, 1783, at the marketplace. They filled their balloon with heated air by burning straw and wool under the opening at the bottom of the bag. The balloon rose into the air about 3,000 feet, remained there some 10 minutes, and then settled to the ground more than a mile and a half from where it rose. The Montgolfiers traveled to Paris and then to Versailles, where they repeated the experiment with a larger balloon on September 19, 1783, sending a sheep, a rooster, and a duck aloft as passengers. The balloon floated for about 8 minutes and landed safely about 2 miles from the launch site. On November 21, 1783, the first manned untethered flight took place in a Montgolfier balloon with Pilatre de Rozier and François Laurent as passengers. The balloon sailed over Paris for 5.5 miles in about 25 minutes. The brothers had set their minds on things above.

When we set our minds on Jesus, we find our true purpose in life. Today in prayer, set your mind on Jesus in all that you do.

"To become Christ-like is the only thing in the whole world worth caring for, the thing before which every ambition of man is folly and all lower achievement vain."  - Henry Drummond

God’s Word: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrew 12:1-2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS †

“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules” – Colossians 2:20

Throughout the world, there are odd laws that are on the books. Here are just a few of them:

In York England, it is legal to kill a Scotsman within the ancient city boundary, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

In Victoria, Australia, you need a licensed electrician to change a light bulb.

In France, it’s illegal to name a pig Napoleon.

In Switzerland, it is illegal to flush the toilet at night because it is considered noise pollution.

In Sri Lanka, taking a “selfie” with a Buddha statue is an offense, because your back is facing the statue.

In Bulgaria, you cannot drive without a fire extinguisher in your car.

Finally, in New Zealand, you cannot fly with a rooster in a hot air balloon.

Through God’s grace, we are free from the principles of this world. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that we have freedom in Him.

“You cannot legislate the human race into heaven.” – Charles Henry Parkhurst

God’s Word: “He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household.’” – Acts 16:30-31

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS.  †

“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.” – Colossians 2:18

Gregory of Nyssa who lived in Cappadocia (a region in modern Turkey) in the fourth century. His older brother Basil, a bishop, arranged for him to be appointed bishop of the small and obscure and unimportant town of Nyssa (A.D. 371). 

Gregory objected; he didn’t want to be stuck in such an out-of-the-way place. But his brother told him that he didn’t want Gregory to obtain distinction from his church but rather to confer distinction upon it. 

Gregory humbly accepted the decision and went to where he was placed and stayed there for more than 20 years. His lifetime of work in that place, a backwater community, continues to be a major invigorating influence in the Christian church worldwide.

Each of us needs to have the mindset of humility. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you a spirit of humility in all that you do.

“The smaller we are, the more room God has for us.” – Croft M. Pentz

God’s Word: “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." – 1 Peter 5:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail    

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS.  †

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” – Colossians 2:13-14

In 2013, a federal judge overseeing the case brought by more than 4500 former N.F.L. football players who had accused the league of hiding the dangers of concussions ordered both sides to mediation.

United States District Court Judge Anita B. Brody, from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, ordered Layn Phillips, a retired federal judge, to serve as the mediator in the case.

After two months of mediation, the NFL has reached a tentative $765 million settlement over concussion-related brain injuries.

“Both sides recognized that it would be far more productive to get out of court and do something good for retired players with medical needs and focus on the future of the game and making it safer,” Phillips said in a statement. “I would characterize it as a ‘win-win.'”

Everyone needs “The Advocate and Mediator”, Jesus Christ, who canceled our debt of sins and made things right. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He intercedes for you.

“Christ’s work as Mediator was unique; it was to restore us to divine favor and to make us sons of God, instead of sons of men.” – John Calvin

God’s Word: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds, you have been healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS. †

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” – Colossians 2:8

Eastern Lightening is a monotheistic new religious movement that was established in China in 1991. Government sources estimate the group has three to four million members. 

The group's core tenet is that Jesus Christ has returned to earth and is presently living as a Chinese woman. The name "Eastern Lightning" alludes to the Gospel of Matthew 24:27: "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

The movement has been described by Chinese media as the nation's 'most dangerous cult', and the group has been formally banned in China since 1995. Christian opponents and international media have in turn described it as a cult. 

There are endless hollow and deceptive cults vying for your attention. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that in Him we have eternal life and an eternal hope.

“There is a philosophy which is vain and deceitful, which is prejudicial to religion, and sets up the wisdom of man in competition with the wisdom of God, and while it pleases men’s fancies ruins their faith; as nice and curious speculations about things above us, or of no use and concern to us; or a care of words and terms of art, which have only an empty and often a cheating appearance of knowledge.” – Matthew Henry

God’s Word: “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge” – 1 Timothy 6:20

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail    

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS. †

“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ” – Colossians 2:2

Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather admitted he was always fascinated by the sport of boxing, even though he was never good at it. “In boxing, you're on your own; there's no place to hide,” he said. “At the end of the match, only one boxer has his hand up. That's it. He has no one to credit or to blame except himself.”

Rather, who boxed in high school, said his coach's greatest goal was to teach his boxers that they absolutely, positively, without question, had to be "get up" fighters. “If you're in a ring just once in your life--completely on your own--and you get knocked down but you get back up again, it's a never-to-be-forgotten experience. Your sense of achievement is distinct and unique. And sometimes the only thing making you get up is someone in your corner yelling.”

We all need to be encouraged and to encourage others that in Jesus Christ, we are children of God! Today in prayer, praise the Lord that you have a Heavenly Father and family who want you to become all God has designed you to be.

“Encouragement is food for the heart, and every heart is a hungry heart.” – Pat Morley

God’s Word: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” – Philippians 2:1-2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS   †

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” – Colossians 1:19

In his book “Finding God in Unexpected Places”, Philip Yancey wrote:

“On a trip to South Africa, I met a remarkable woman named Joanna. She is of mixed race, part black and part white, a category known there as “Coloured.” As a student, she agitated for change in apartheid and then saw the miracle that no one had predicted, the peaceful dismantling of that evil system. Afterward, for many hours she sat with her husband and watched live broadcasts of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings. Instead of simply exulting in her newfound freedoms, Joanna next decided to tackle the most violent prison in South Africa, a prison where Nelson Mandela had spent several years.

Tattoo-covered gang members controlled the prison, strictly enforcing a rule that required new members to earn their admittance to the gang by assaulting undesirable prisoners. Prison authorities looked the other way, letting these “animals” beat and even kill each other. Alone, this attractive young woman started going each day into the bowels of that prison. She brought a simple message of forgiveness and reconciliation, trying to put into practice on a smaller scale what Mandela and Bishop Tutu were trying to effect in the nation as a whole. She organized small groups, taught trust games, got the prisoners to open up about the details of their horrific childhoods.

The year before she began her visits, the prison had recorded 279 acts of violence; the next year there were two. Joanna’s results were so impressive that the BBC sent a camera crew from London to produce two one-hour documentaries on her. I met Joanna and her husband, who has since joined her in the prison work, at a restaurant on the waterfront of Cape Town. Ever the journalist, I pressed her for specifics on what had happened to transform that prison. Her fork stopped on the way to her mouth, she looked up and said, almost without thinking, ‘Well, of course, Philip, God was already present in the prison. I just had to make him visible.’”

Forgiveness and reconciliation is a rare and beautiful expression of Christ’s love. Today in prayer, confess any sin that may be in your life and seek to be reconciled to anyone with who you are estranged.

“Why should the world believe in reconciliation when it doesn’t see the church reconciled? And the church is not going to be reconciled even if it gets all the issues solved. It will be reconciled only through Jesus Christ. He is the Reconciler.” – Richard C. Halverson

God’s Word: “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” – 2 Corinthians 5:19

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS  †

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” – Colossians 1:15-16

In 2022, Pete Kelsey, a photo technologist, was invited to Skinwalker Ranch to do a 3D photogrammetry drone scan of the ranch. The goal was to take a complete photo of the ranch to see if any anomalies appeared. The ranch is known for unidentified aerial phenomena.

Once the photo scan was completed Erik Bard, the Principal Investigator and Chief Scientist on Skinwalker Ranch, reviewed Pete Kelsey’s work. Because the drone scan used LiDAR, it was able to receive points both visible and invisible to the naked eye.

The data was shocking. It showed several anomalies. The scan depicted tower-like structures not visible to the naked eye. Both the software developer and Pete Kelsey stated they never saw such structures before in any of their scans.

Though humans struggle with the invisible and we rely on the visible, everything is in plain sight to the Lord. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is the image of the invisible God and that all things, both visible and invisible, were created by Him and for Him.

“I can study the life of Jesus Christ, for He alone reveals God in totality. He alone is the ‘image of the invisible God.’” – Jon Courson

God’s Word: “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.” – John 1:18

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS   †

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” – Colossians 1:13

In October 2022, dozens of Ukrainian miners were rescued after being trapped underground following Russian missile strikes on the southern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih. 

The official, Oleksandr Vilkul, said that 98 miners had safely returned to the surface by 2 a.m., having spent hours trapped underground after missile strikes that left many areas without power. Mr. Vilkul said three rockets had been fired at Kryvyi Rih as part of Russia’s broadest aerial assault against Ukraine in months. One rocket was shot down, but two hit infrastructure targets, knocking out water and electricity supplies, Mr. Vilkul said.

He said that the trapped miners had air, food, and warm clothes.

“The destruction is serious,” he said. “Thank God, there were no victims.”

We also were cut off and needed to be saved. Yet in our darkest moments, Jesus Christ came into our lives and rescued us, giving us eternal life. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for saving you!

“Salvation comes through a cross and a crucified Christ.” – Andrew Murray

God’s Word: “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” – Titus 3:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS  †

“being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully” – Colossians 1:11

A 2007 study conducted at Fuller Theological Seminary found patient people were less likely to suffer from depression. Patient people were found to be more grateful and expressed they felt more connected to mankind. A study by Sarah Schnitker, Ph.D., revealed people who rated themselves as having the ability to be patient with people around them also reported being more satisfied with their lives than people who were impatient. Schnitker also found patience was linked to hope. Patient people were more forgiving, they were more empathetic, and they were more equitable.

Schnitker said: “Research shows that people who are more patient have higher well-being – more life satisfaction, hope, self-esteem, positive emotions in general. They seem to be able to pursue their goals with greater effort and have more satisfaction with their goal progress. Patients with higher patience tend to have fewer health symptoms such as headaches, ulcers, diarrhea, and more.”

One of the great fruits of the Spirit of God is patience. It is through patience that we mature and become more like our Savior. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His patience towards you and seek to be a more patient person.

“He who waits on God never waits too long.”- Chuck Wagner

God’s Word: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” – Ecclesiastes 7:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS  †

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” – Colossians 1:13

In October 2022, dozens of Ukrainian miners were rescued after being trapped underground following Russian missile strikes on the southern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih. 

The official, Oleksandr Vilkul, said that 98 miners had safely returned to the surface by 2 a.m., having spent hours trapped underground after missile strikes that left many areas without power. Mr. Vilkul said three rockets had been fired at Kryvyi Rih as part of Russia’s broadest aerial assault against Ukraine in months. One rocket was shot down, but two hit infrastructure targets, knocking out water and electricity supplies, Mr. Vilkul said.

He said that the trapped miners had air, food, and warm clothes.

“The destruction is serious,” he said. “Thank God, there were no victims.”

We also were cut off and needed to be saved. Yet in our darkest moments, Jesus Christ came into our lives and rescued us, giving us eternal life. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for saving you!

“Salvation comes through a cross and a crucified Christ.” – Andrew Murray

God’s Word: “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” – Titus 3:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS  †

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you” – Colossians 1:3

In his book “Stories for the Journey”, author William R. White wrote: “There was a European seminary professor named Hans and his wife, Enid. World War II forced them to flee to America where he found a job teaching. He was warm, gentle, beloved by his students, and he brought Scripture to life for them. Hans and Enid were very much

in love. Nearly every day they took long walks together, holding hands, and they always sat close in church, until Enid died, overwhelming Hans with sorrow.

Worried because he wouldn’t eat nor take walks, the seminary president, along with three other friends, visited him regularly, but he remained lonely and depressed.

Experiencing the dark night of the soul, Hans told his friends, “I am no longer able to pray to God. In fact, I am not certain I believe in God anymore.” After a moment of silence, the seminary president said, “Then we will believe for you. We will make your confession for you. We will pray for you.”

So the four men met daily for prayer, asking God to restore the gift of faith to their dear friend. Many months later, as the four gathered with Hans, he smiled and said, “It is no longer necessary for you to pray for me. Today, I would like you to pray with me.” The dark night of the soul had passed. Instead of carrying Hans to Jesus on a stretcher, his friends carried him in their prayers.

One of the best gifts you can give others is prayer. Today in prayer, look to the Lord with expectancy and pray for some of the needs of others.

“I have benefited by my praying for others; for by making an errand to God for them, I have gotten something for myself.” – Samuel Rutherford

God’s Word: “God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.” – Romans 1:9-10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS   †