“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

On September 11, 2001, Mychal Judge was a Catholic priest who was serving as a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department. Upon learning that the World Trade Center had been hit by the first of two jetliners, the 68-year old Mychal rushed to the site. Rudolph Giuliani, the Mayor of New York City, met him and asked Mychal to pray for the city and its victims. Mychal prayed over some bodies lying on the streets, and then entered the lobby of the World Trade Center North Tower, where an emergency command post had been organized. There he continued offering aid and prayers for the rescuers, the injured, and the dead.

When the South Tower collapsed at 9:59 am, debris went flying through the North Tower lobby, killing many inside, including Mychal. At the moment he was struck in the head and killed, Mychal was repeatedly praying aloud, "Jesus, please end this right now! God, please end this!"

No matter what situation you find yourself, be strong in the Lord. Today in prayer, praise Jesus Christ that when our faith is tested, we can be strong in Him.

“Courage is not measured by the fear you never feel, but by the fear you manage to overcome.” – John Eddison

God’s Word: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” – Deuteronomy 30:19

As a teenager, Kim Avery thought about suicide. “My mom had always had problems with her kidneys and she had all kinds of prescription medicine in the cabinet.  I decided I would take all the pills in the cabinet.  Everything that was in the cabinet I would put on the kitchen table and sit down and start taking pills until I passed out.  By the time it was morning and my mom got up, I would be dead,” she thought.

But Kim was involved in a traffic accident before she got home. “The next thing I remember was waking up thinking I was at home in my bed and I was waking up from a dream” she remembered. “I suddenly began to remember what had happened. I had been in a wreck. Everything was pitch black dark and I couldn't see. I tried to move but I couldn't. I felt a horrifying fear come over me. I must be dead. I tried harder to get out of the darkness but I couldn't and I became more and more afraid. 

Words cannot begin to describe how terrified I was when I realized I must be dead. I had wanted to die and now I had my wish.  I didn't want to be dead if this was what it was like. I couldn't see or move; I was just lying there in total darkness with overwhelming fear and loneliness. 

I began to call out to God.  ‘Please God don't let me be dead.  I promise to stop smoking and drinking and I will quit thinking about committing suicide.’ As I prayed to God, he quickly came and brought me out of the darkness.  I began to crawl out from underneath the truck and I saw my friends standing there.” Kim became a Christian and thanks the Lord for saving her.

Every day we are confronted with choices. The most important choice you have is who is Jesus Christ? Today in prayer, thank the Lord for His sacrifice and choose life and follow Him in all that you do.

“Nature gives man corn but he must grind it. God gives man a will but he must make the right choices.” – Fulton J. Sheen

God’s Word: “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” – Joshua 24:15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.” – Deuteronomy 16:17

Pastor Brian Kluth wrote the following: “After my ‘40-Day Spiritual Journey to a More Generous Life’ book became an unexpected bestseller, I was contacted by NBC to do a TV news story. When the TV reporter interviewed me, she asked, ‘So, you think God wants everyone rich?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t believe that.’ She was a little surprised by my answer and then asked, ‘Well, what do you believe?’ I responded, ‘I believe that everyone needs to learn to become more generous with whatever God has given them.’ She then asked, ‘Well, didn’t your book becoming a bestseller make you rich?’ I replied, ‘No, it helped me become more generous!’ The truth is--every one of us in America is rich when you compare us to the rest of the world. What each of us needs to learn is how to become more generous with whatever God entrusts to us.”

We need to be faithful in giving to the Lord’s work. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for all that He has given you and seek to be a cheerful giver to His work.

“God loves a cheerful giver. He who gives cheerfully, gives better. The best way to show our gratitude to God and to our neighbor is to accept their gifts with joy.  Joy is a net of love in which souls can be caught. We impatiently await God's paradise, but we have in our hands the power to be in paradise right here and now.  Being happy with God means this:  to love as He loves, to help as He helps, to give as He gives, to serve as He serves.” – Mother Teresa

God’s Word: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” – Deuteronomy 6:5

In his article “Love God with Your Everything,” Dr. Jason DeRouchie ends with the following conclusion:

“This truth means that every closet of our lives needs to be opened for cleaning, and every relationship in our lives must be influenced. This call to love God this way destroys any option of being one person at church and another person on a date. What you do on the Internet needs to be just as pure as what you do in Bible-reading. The way we talk to our parents needs to be as wholesome as the way we talk to our pastors.

There needs to be an authentic love for God that starts with God-oriented affections, desires, and thoughts, that permeates our speaking and behavior, and then influences the way we spend our money and how we dress, and drive, and our forms of entertainment. Whether we’re eating or singing, jogging or blogging, texting or drawing, love for Yahweh — the one true triune God — is to be in action and seen.”

We are called to love the Lord with all of our heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Today in prayer, praise the Lord and love Him with all of your heart.

“We are called to an everlasting preoccupation with God.” – A.W. Tozer

God’s Word: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” – Matthew 22:37

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” – Deuteronomy 4:9

At the time of our Nation's bicentennial 1976, political science professors at the University of Houston began to ask some key questions: Why is it that the American Constitution has been able to stand the test of time? Why has it not gone through massive revisions?  Why is it looked on as a model by dozens of nations? What wisdom possessed these men to produce such an incredible document? Who did they turn to for inspiration?   They spent 10 years cataloging 15,000 documents of the Founding Fathers.

They found that 34 percent of all of the quotes and the writings of the Founding Fathers were direct word-for-word quotes from the Bible. Further, another 60 percent of their quotes were quoting men who were quoting the Bible, so that an incredible 94 percent of all of the quotes in these 15,000 documents were direct quotes from or references to the Bible.

The Lord desires us to remember His words and to live them out in our lives. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for His Word and seek to remember and apply all of His Word.

“The tumult and the shouting dies, The captains and the kings depart; Still stands thine ancient sacrifice, A humble and a contrite heart. Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet Lest we forget, --lest we forget.” – Rudyard Kipling

God’s Word: “Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.” – Psalm 78:7

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” – Numbers 23:19

In a sermon entitled “God Can’t Lie,” Pastor David Elvery lists three implications for man because God Can’t Lie:

“We are surrounded by lies, but that is not what God is like. It is impossible for God to lie and that has some important implications for us:

1. We can Hold on to God’s PROMISES.

Because God can’t lie, we can hold on to the promises that God makes. 2 Corinthians 1:18-21 says “But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas a and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

2. We can TRUST God’s motives.

Since God cannot lie to us, we can trust his motives. His motives are good. I think you’ve seen enough and know enough about relationships to know this: there is no relationship if there’s no trust. It takes trust to have a relationship. It’s the same with God. I have to trust that God’s motives are pure in order to have this relationship, in order to hold on to his promises.

3. We can rest in the TRUTH OF GOD.

Since God will never lie to us we can rest in that truth. Jesus says in John 14, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” He didn’t say, “I point to the truth….” He didn’t say, “I stand for the truth.” Or “I represent the truth.” He said, “I am truth.” He is the truth. We don’t have to strive and seek any longer to find the truth. Jesus Christ is God and He loves us and He will never lie to us. That’s the truth.”

When we trust that God cannot lie, we can then stand on the Truth. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He does not lie and in Christ, we see all the fullness of truth.

“Lying is the acme of evil.” – Victor Hugo

God’s Word: “in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,” – Titus 1:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” – Numbers 14:9

On May 18, 2018, a gunman opened fire at Santa Fe High School in Crosby, Texas. Ten people were killed including Christian Riley Garcia. His friends, pastor and fellow classmates described Riley as a "hero," remembering him as the young man that sacrificed his life to stop the gunman and save others. 

During the funeral service at Crosby Church, Pastor Keenan Smith said Riley truly exemplified heroism.

"He used courage in the face of fear," said Pastor Smith. "When evil tried to win, he said, 'Not on my watch.'"

In an honorary military presentation, members of the Crosby High School JROTC saluted the Garcia family, thanking Riley for his bravery and selflessness during the deadly shooting at Santa Fe High School.

"He blocked the door, allowing others to escape," added Pastor Smith. "Not only that, but I think keeping the shooter there a little longer, so that he wasn't somewhere else either. Finally, the shooter shooting through the door and taking Riley's life."

Pastor Smith said it was evident that since he was a young boy, Riley's calling was to serve. His lifelong goal was to serve his country in the military, and even in the last moments of his life, Riley did not hesitate to continue living out his purpose.

"I thought it was so fitting that he didn't wait until some day to serve," said Smith. "He served on that day and he paid that supreme sacrifice for others."

The Lord asks us to trust in Him and not to be afraid. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that when we put our trust in Christ, we do not have to be afraid of anything.

“Jesus came treading the waves; and so he puts all the swelling tumults of life under his feet. Christians – why afraid?” – Augustine

God’s Word: “say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.’” – Isaiah 35:4

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.” – Numbers 11:17

Sandra Drummond left few possessions when she died. British police found in her bedroom a pot of Vaseline, a hot water bottle, a stuffed koala, a roll of Sellotape and a child's snow globe. It wasn't much to show for 44 years. But these scattered items were the only clues to her identity. Her body had lain undiscovered for almost 12 months until the gas company forced the door to her upstairs flat in Hulme, Manchester, in July 2007. The corpse was so decomposed that an inquest could not determine the cause of death. No living relatives could be traced. No mourners attended her funeral.

At the time of her death, she was living on a council estate of 700 residents, yet in the five years before her body was discovered her neighbors hardly noticed her. Because her rent was automatically deducted from her benefits, the bills continued to be paid and no suspicions were raised until almost a year after she died.

“Dying alone is a modern phenomenon because there is a lack of extended family,” said the Rev Akasha Lonsdale.

The Lord never designed us to live life alone. We need the fellowship of the Lord and the love and comfort of friends and family. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He is closer than a friend, and seek to draw closer to family members or friends you haven’t talked to recently.

“The soul hardly ever realizes it, but whether [we are] a believer or not, [our] loneliness is really a homesickness for God.” – Hubert Van Zeller

God’s Word: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.” – Psalm 25:16

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.” – Numbers 5:7

The Reverend William P. Barker told the story of a machinist at Ford Motor Company in Detroit who became a Christian. He responded to the invitation and was baptized. As the Holy Spirit began renewing this man he became convicted of his need to make restitution for some parts and tools he had stolen from the company prior to becoming a Christian. So the next morning he brought all the tools and parts back to his employer. He explained how he had just been baptized and asked for his foreman’s forgiveness.

This was such an amazing occurrence turn, Mr. Ford, who was visiting a manufacturing plant in Europe at the time, was cabled with the details of the matter and asked his response. Mr. Ford immediately returned a cable with his decision: “Dam up the Detroit River, and baptize the entire city.”

Confession and restitution are acts that help restore a broken relationship. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He gave Himself as restitution for sin and if you have hurt another person, seek to confess the wrong and give restitution to them. 

“Many people today think that repentance means shedding a few tears and then going merrily on their way. It is much more than that. It is making things right by making restitution to the individual that has been injured.” – J. Vernon McGee

God’s Word: “or whatever it was he swore falsely about. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering.” – Leviticus 6:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land.” - Leviticus 25:18

In March 2018, an Arizona state lawmaker bragged to a police officer that he sometimes drives more than double the speed limit - after he was pulled over for speeding.

Police stopped Representative Paul Mosley for going 97mph in a 55mph zone near Parker, Arizona in a filmed incident.

Mr Mosley said he would go "130, 140" mph on his way home and told the cop he had legislative immunity.

In the video, Mosely told the officer who pulled him over that he "didn't even notice" his speed because of his "nice" car.

"I'm trying to surprise my wife," he said, adding that he only speeds "as long as it's safe".

The deputy's written report also stated that the Republican lawmaker said they should not waste time on the incident since he has legislative immunity.

"Nothing short of an emergency justifies that kind of speeding, and assertions of immunity in that situation seem outside the intent of the constitutional provision regarding legislative immunity," said Arizona lawmaker, Speaker J D Mesnard.

The Lord gives us laws so that we may live safely and draw closer to Him. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His decrees and laws and seek to follow Him in all that you do.

“The law is the light and the commandment the lantern.” – William Austin

God’s Word: “Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.” – Psalm 119:129

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity.” – Leviticus 19:35

In August 1997, an immigrant, who rose from gas-station attendant to multimillionaire owner of a string of stations, was indicted for defrauding customers at the pump for years and ordered at least three murders.

Federal prosecutors accused Gurmeet Singh Dhinsa, age 35, who owned the City Gas chain of 51 service stations, of running a criminal enterprise that involved rigging gas pumps to defraud customers, evading taxes and the ordering of seven or more murders to cover-up his crimes.

Investigators found rigged pumps at his gas stations, which took in gross revenues of more than $60 million a year in New York City alone. Electronic devices attached to the pumps overcharged customers several cents a gallon, according to the criminal complaint.

He was found guilty of murder and racketeering after an eight-week trial. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. In addition, Dhinsa was forced to pay $1.75 million in restitution. His business was auctioned by the government to cover civil fines.

Dishonest measures are a crime and a sin. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He honors us when we use honest measures and deal honestly with others.

“The best measure of a man's honesty isn't his income tax return. It's the zero adjust on his bathroom scale.” – Arthur C. Clarke

God’s Word: “Do not have two differing weights in your bag--one heavy, one light. Do not have two differing measures in your house--one large, one small. You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. For the LORD your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.” – Deuteronomy 25:13-16

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“‘Do not steal.’ ‘Do not lie.’ ‘Do not deceive one another.’” – Leviticus 19:11

In December 2018, the German magazine Der Spiegel revealed that one of its top award-winning journalists fabricated many of his articles, inventing characters, sources, and their quotes “on a grand scale” for many years.

Claas Relotius, a reporter and editor, admitted to fabricating parts of at least 14 stories following the magazine’s internal investigation. The publication said the issue “marks a low point in the 70-year history of Der Spiegel.”

The reporter contributed around 60 articles to Der Spiegel, one of the leading German magazines for investigative reporting. He previously worked for other publications in Europe and won awards such as CNN Journalist of the Year in 2014.

The fabricated articles include a phone interview with the parents of free agent NFL player Colin Kaepernick.

Investigators found that the Kaepernick story didn’t contain any truth except for the town’s population, the average temperature, and names of the businesses or public figures.

“I am sick and I need to get help,” Relotius reportedly told the magazine.

Lying and deception go hand-in-hand with other sins. Today in prayer, confess any sin of lying and seek to be open and honest in your relationships.

“No man was ever so much deceived by another as by himself.” – Fulke Greville

God’s Word: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” – Ephesians 4:25

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

BEING FAITHFUL WHEN CALLED                                 Wednesday – June 12, 2019

“Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, "Do not let your hair become unkempt, and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the LORD will be angry with the whole   community. But your relatives, all the house of Israel, may mourn for those the LORD has destroyed by fire. Do not leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting or you will die, because the LORD's anointing oil is on you." So they did as Moses said.” – Leviticus 10:6-7

In 2005, the Guinness Book of World Records said that Percy and Florence Arrowsmith held two records—the longest marriage of a living couple (80 years) and having the largest married couple’s aggregate age (205 years).

The marriage was a success, she said because they were faithful to work hard at it. They lived to see their children, their grandchildren, and their great grandchildren.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Arrowsmith have since died, but they left good advice for those who want to have a lasting marriage. Florence said, “You must never go to sleep bad friends. If you’ve had a quarrel, you make it up. Never be afraid to say, ‘sorry’.”

Percy had slightly more humorous advice. He said the secret to his long marriage was just two words, “Yes, dear.”

The Lord desires us to be faithful and He will bring success. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that when we are faithful to Him, He will bring success.

“Too many Christians have a commitment of convenience. They'll stay faithful as long as it's safe and doesn't involve risk, rejection, or criticism. Instead of standing alone in the face of challenge or temptation, they check to see which way their friends are going.” - Charles Stanley

God’s Word: “I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”– Luke 18:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“These are the regulations for the guilt offering, which is most holy” – Leviticus 7:1

In March 2019, a New Jersey man said he has returned an overdue library book — 53 years after he first borrowed the book.

Fair Lawn resident Harry Krame said he checked out “The Family Book Of Verse” by Lewis Gannet from his school library when he was 13 and Lyndon Johnson was President of the United States. The now 65-year-old Krame found the book recently while cleaning out his basement and felt guilty about keeping it overdue for all those years.

Memorial Middle School Vice Principal Dominick Tarquinio said a late fee at today’s rate would be about $2,000, but he also said the district will let it slide and Krame will not have to pay any fine.

School librarian Susan Murray said she plans to use the book for a display to teach students about returning books on time.

Guilt is the realization of sin. But thanks be to Christ that He loves us and forgives us when we confess our sin and desire reconciled to Him. Today in prayer, praise Christ that He has paid the price for all of our sins and removed our guilt and shame.   

“Guilt is the very nerve of sorrow.” – Horace Bushnell

God’s Word: “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” – Hebrews 10:22

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” – Exodus 33:14

Behavioral scientists have long studied how noise and rest affect human performance. In one experiment carried out by psychologists, a student leaving a library intentionally dropped an armload of books. In 50% of the cases, a passerby stopped to help the student pick up the books. Then the experimenters brought out a lawn mower without a muffler and started it near where a student would again intentionally drop the books. This time, only about 10% of the people who passed stopped to help. It was clear that behavior changed because of the earsplitting sound of the nearby lawn mower. 

In experiments in Los Angeles, researchers found that children who lived in neighborhoods near the airport could not complete certain tasks undertaken when jets were landing and taking off as easily as children who lived in quiet neighborhoods. Some studies of prison conditions have shown that the high level of noise causes more complaints by prisoners than the food or other prison conditions.

The Lord desires to give us rest. Today in prayer, rest in Jesus, knowing He will be with you and provide for you throughout all eternity.

“Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength. It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

God’s Word: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS AND DEUTERONOMY

“Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.” – Exodus 23:8

In April 2018, the Rev. Mitzi Bickers of Atlanta, appeared in federal court after an11-count indictment was unsealed that charged her with conspiracy to commit bribery, money laundering, wire fraud, tampering with a witness or informant, and filing false tax returns. The 51 year old faced charges that she took $2 million in bribes to steer $17 million of city of Atlanta contracts to at least two contractors from 2010 to 2015.

Mitzi is the daughter of Reverend Benjamin Weldon Bickers, who was a close boyhood friend of Dr. Martin Luther King. For most of her adult life, she ministered to people in her church, in jails or at funerals.

As Bickers appeared in court, federal agents were hauling away the jet skis, classic car and other items from her home allegedly purchased with the bribe payments.

According to documents, Bickers' spent the money on vacations to Aruba, Disney resorts and on Carnival cruise lines. She also opened several businesses, which closed after a few months, including Derrty South Entertainment, a strip club on the Mexican border in Texas.

She was sentenced to 21 months in prison for her crimes.

Bribery is a sin that wounds our witness to others. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to keep the temptation of bribery far from you.

“Though the bribe be small, yet the fault is great.” – Lord Edward Coke

God’s Word: “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.” – Deuteronomy 10:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.” – Exodus 22:22

Paul and Robin Pennington were married in 1978. They raised their family in Driftwood, Texas. They have six children (five through adoption). But it was when Paul traveled to Korea to adopt their son Ethan that his eyes were open to the global problem.

He came face-to-face with orphans, many of who were not even adoptable for a variety of reasons, in their closest equivalent to “home.”

An unadoptable 3-year-old Korean girl trailed him through the orphanage and tugged at his leg. She kept repeating the Korean word for “daddy.”

“That’s the day I realized there’s something here that the Church has really missed,” Paul said.

In 2001, they started “Hope for Orphans” with a vision for Biblically based adoption education in the local church.

Paul and Robin’s skills and personalities have complemented each other in this ministry from the start.

“Paul sees more globally,” Robin said, “and I see individuals.” 

Paul lists respite care, supporting families financially, and watching the other children during doctor visits as only a few of “a thousand practical ways” to help adoptive families.

“We’ve always believed that the way to care for 150 million orphans is the mass mobilization of the Church,” he said.

The Lord desires us to open up our hearts to orphans and widows. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for adopting you into His family and ask Him how you can better provide for orphans and widows.

“Followers of Jesus Christ care about widows and orphans and they understand that it is a litmus test. It is not an option.” – Kay Warren

God’s Word: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:27

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2016, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” – Exodus 20:7

USAir Flight 427 was six miles from Pittsburgh International Airport on Sept. 8, 1994, when the Boeing 737-3B7 suddenly — and inexplicably — nose-dived into a wooded hillside along Route 60 in Hopewell Township, Beaver County. All 132 passengers and crew were killed instantly in the crash, which remains the worst aviation disaster in Pittsburgh’s history. 

Initially, the cause of that crash was a mystery, because the plane just seemed to fall from the sky. So investigators listened to the plane’s black box. They hoped it would tell them what happened. CNN played a portion of that recording on the air. It was just a few seconds from the time the pilot detected trouble until the plane crashed.

The black box revealed these sounds from the cockpit:

First, there was an exclamation of "Oh," followed by profanity and a string of "curse words," then came the crash and silence.

It was in those final moments that the pilot’s real habits and life message was laid bare before the whole world.

Isn’t that sad?

The last words spoken by that pilot were "profanity"!

We need to love the Lord and say His name with respect, not to take the Lord’s name in vain. Today in prayer, thank Christ that His name is Wonderful and we have the privilege to call Jesus Christ our Lord and friend.

“The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it.” – George Washington

God’s Word: “Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.” – Leviticus 19:12

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.’” – Exodus 8:1

In December 2017, Indonesian Pastor Abraham Ben Moses shared the gospel with a Muslim taxi driver. The conversation was captured on video and Pastor Abraham was given a four-year prison sentence for religious defamation and a fine equivalent to USD $3,565.

In April 2019, by God’s grace and through his wife’s continuous effort, Pastor Abraham was granted an early release and placed under house arrest.

While he still has to report to local police monthly, he is able to move freely in Jakarta. It also brings him great joy that he is able to hold his daughter, who was born while he was imprisoned.

Pastor Abraham asked to pray for his ministry so that he can continue to spread the Gospel in Indonesia. “A lot of people hate those men who spread the Gospel to unbelievers. I thank God because till now I am consistent in sharing about Jesus to everyone. Even when I was in prison, so many people repented and came to Jesus,” he said, before adding that he is now preparing to provide discipleship for prisoners.

For those people who have been praying for him, he said, “I’m so grateful for many people who have been praying for us while I was in prison for about a year and four months. Thank you, brothers and sisters.”

Freedom to worship the Lord does not exist in many areas of the world. Today in prayer, pray for those who face persecution for desiring to worship Jesus.

“No peace without justice, no justice without forgiveness. To pray for peace is to pray for justice, for a right-ordering of relations within and among nations and peoples. It is to pray for freedom, especially for the religious freedom that is a basic human and civil right of every individual. To pray for peace is to seek God's forgiveness, and to implore the courage to forgive those who have trespassed against us.” – John Paul II

God’s Word: “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may worship me.’’” – Exodus 9:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY

“The LORD said to him, ‘Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.’” – Exodus 4:11-12

Ten months into the Civil War, at the Battle of Shiloh, Generals Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman began a unique friendship. Each carefully took the other's measure. They shared the demands of family life and the heartache of personal tragedy. They shared similar philosophies of battle, employed similar strategies and tactics, and remained in close, virtually daily communication throughout the conflict. 

On March 20, 1864, Grant and Sherman holed up in a parlor of the Burnet House, an elegant hotel in Cinncinnati, to devise a strategy to crush the Confederacy. The two were now close friends and the strategy was for Grant to pursue General Robert E. Lee and for Sherman to pursue General Joe Johnston’s army.

The strategic plan worked and the war ended in the next year.

Just prior to the end of the war, in an 1865 letter from William Tecumseh Sherman to U. S. Grant, Sherman wrote, "I knew wherever I was that you thought of me, and if I got in a tight place you would come."

The Lord desires a close friendship with you and if you encounter a tight place, He will come. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord that He helps us when we seek Him.

“When we can't piece together the puzzle of our own lives, remember the best view of a puzzle is from above.  Let Him help put you together.” – Terri Guillemets

God’s Word: “In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” – Psalm 18:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2019, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY