Strengthened and Encouraged

 

At first, the townsfolk thought they were gods come down from wherever their gods came down from, and wanted to worship and make offerings to Barnabas and Paul.  Then they completely flipped and targeted Paul for stoning.  They dragged him out of the city and left him for dead.

That had to have taken a toll on Paul's body but he got up, and went back into the city, perhaps to recuperate and have a night's rest.  But the next day he was off to Derbe, preaching.

I try to imagine the pain he must have been in unless there had been divine healing.  But he did not dwell on it.  He and Barnabas are seen to be ...

 " ... strengthening and encouaraging the disciples in that city."

There does seem to be a hint of his discomfort though as they remark to these believers, 

"that through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God" (v 22).

Barnabas and Paul were able to stay on point through it all.  It reminds me of Jesus who set His face - always with the purpose of His mission in view.  No matter what He encountered from the crowds or the religious leaders, His compass was set and He continued towards His mark; that is, the cross and the plan of salvation.

Many churches have their set visions and missions and purpose statements.  It's good to take note, not only of our own individual work the Lord sets before us but to also be a part of what's happening in the body of Christ in our local church.

May we too be,

"[strengthened] in our souls, [encouraged] to continue in the faith ..." (v.  22) and by these, endure persecution and tribulations."

Then with 

"prayer and fasting, commit ourselves to the Lord in whom [we] have believed" (v. 23).

                                                   ~  ERC  March 2026  ~

Based on Acts 14:22-23 ESV.

Sing, My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less (On Christ the Solid Rock), along with Reawaken.

Book Review - Collateral Damage - Sam Cogley - Publication Date: 24 March 2026

 Despite the brute force intensity of the narrative not being my cup of tea, I'd say the story is well written and the curated suspense did carry me through to the story's end.  The small town setting and townspeople take the brunt of all the drama.  There was some relief when some good people were identified among all the bad guys.

Whichever potential reader likes to read about lots of violence, high-speed chases, murder, gunslinging and mystery, I believe this book will very likely appeal to them.  In spite of this there was a spot or two of humor that had me laughing right out loud.  This helped to temper some of the evil and more graphic descriptions.

This is the second book in the Dane Winter series.  It could be read as a stand alone but curiosity may nudge a reader to seek out the first.

                                               ~ Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger ~

                                                              March 2026

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary reveiw copy sent to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

Filled With Joy

 I think a person will never know how they'll stand up under persecution until it happens to them.  We hope and pray we'll have the courage to endure and persevere, we don't necessarily think we will be filled with joy even despite it.

That's why the verse in Acts 13 gets to me. After Paul and Barnabas were persecuted and driven out of the district they had been preaching in, 

" ... the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit" (vs 52 ESV).

That doesn't mean they were happy Paul and Barnabas had had to leave the area, rather that they had the joy of the Lord through the Holy Spirit and perhaps lived well enough in that knowledge and understanding to have gotten folks riled up enough to be persecuted.  They had been sincere.

Earlier, before the persecution started, these new Gentile believers had ...

 " ... began rejoicing and glorifying the Word of the Lord, ..." (vs 48).

They'd heard the Word of the Lord and it brought them joy.  After the persecution began, they were still "filled with joy."

The joy of the Lord must have been their strength (see Nehemiah 8:10).  I feel that that second part of vs 53 is also a key to their joy and strength despite the tribulation that almost immediately descended upon them when they believed the Lord's word.

That key being the Holy Spirit.  They were filled with Him.  This brought joy and courage.  We believers today are too and can have similiar joy and strength.

It's good to hold these thoughts in our hearts and minds.  Pray that we too, will be able to endure and persevere despite any persecution that may descend upon us.  May the Lord and His Word and His presence with us be our strength.

So be it, Father God.  Amen.

                                                ~  ERC  March 2026  ~

Based on Acts 13 ESV.

Sing, Wonderful Words of Life, along with Joslin Grove Choral.

Meeting Barnabas Again

 

We first meet Barnabas when he gets his name changed from Joseph to Barnabas.  As is likely recalled, this name means, 'son of encouragement.'  As we trace some of his further ministries among early Christians, we can see he is true to his name, plus other facets of his character and godly Christian living.

The apostles could trust Barnabas.  When they heard a great number of people had come to Christ in Antioch, they sent him to Antioch.  Here he taught the new believers to

 "remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose" (vs 23).

He could exhort them like this because he practiced it himself.  He is described as being

 "a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith" (vs24).

In the back of his mind, was Saul of Tarsus.  True to his character, he went in search of him, bringing him back to Antioch.  They stayed a

 "whole year" and "met with the church and taught a great many people" (vs 26).

In many ways Barnabas was Saul's mentor.  Together they taught.  Together they built up trust among the people of God and in the minds of the elders.  When "relief," which I take to mean "monetary funds," was needed to be sent, these two brothers were entrusted to bring the sum to the Judean believers who were in need.

I really like to see these qualities in a brother.  He didn't flaunt himself either. He went quietly, obediently and humbly where he was sent and most needed.  He left many good things in his wake.  As he walked humbly in the fear of the Lord, he accomplished much for Christ.  He did not waste his years.

May we each have the same effect on our own sphere of people we meet; on the saved as well as the yet to be saved.

So be it, Father God.

                                                   ~  ERC  March 2026  ~

Based on Acts 11:18-30 ESV.

Sing, Worthy of the Calling, along with Pete Carlson and Pete Akers.

Link:  God's Sons and Daughter of Encouragement.

Moved With Compassion

 "Jesus was indignant" NIV.  "And Jesus, moved with compassion (KJV), stretched out His hand (ESV) and touched him, and said to him, "I will' be clean"  (ESV).  Mark 1:41 NIV, KJV, ESV.

The main motivating force here appears to be Jesus' indignation and His compassion.  He had lookd at the desperate leper, imploring and kneeling, asking for himself to be made clean.  Secondly, Jesus' willingness to do just that.  Thirdly, His capability and abilty to heal and make another clean.  This is what Jesus does.

Not everyone with ability and capability is willing to be motivated towards certain action. Jesus' pity and compassion, and no doubt love for all, gave that willingness 'to do something'.  In this case, to cleanse the leper.

Incidently, no one was supposed to touch a leper.  What's more, lepers were supposed to keep their distance from others and even broadcast that they were lepers and unclean if someone tried to approach them.  We can 'get this' because most of us went through the Covid-19 years having to do very similarly (see Leviticus 13 and 14).

They were likely miserable with their condition and because of the distance from others they had to maintain, would be lonely.  They wouldn't have felt another's touch in years.  Not to mention the additional fact that even if someone did touch them, they wouldn't be able to feel the touch anyway.

In light of this, it is so significant that Jesus reached out AND TOUCHED the man in order to heal him and make him clean.  I believe that the faith the leper man had in Jesus' being able to heal him was another huge motivating and contributing force in Jesus' willingness to heal.

This man's faith, combined with Jesus' compassion, brought healing.  If the man had never asked, he may not have received either.  So there are some combining factors, all in all.  Yet the verse,

"Ask, and it will be given you ..." (Matthew 7:7 & 8 ESV)

gives a word of caution to not treat Jesus as a genie or charm. The asking is not for getting materially or even necessarily physically.  Of greater import is to learn dependance on Jesus and to see and know His compassion.

When we ask, seek and knock, in faith, the Lord knows we mean business.  There may not always be the miracle cure we expect, but there will be something to receive, find, and that will be opened.  Jesus is our compassionate friend and Savior.  We can trust Him to ...

" ... stretch out His hand ..."

and give us what's needed in His perfect timing and according to His perfect purposes for our lives.

This is the emphasis I actually want to pinpoint here.  It is the fact of Jesus' compassion, which moved Him to "stretch out His hand."  It touches my heart and I feel gratitude towards Jesus.  It reminds me, that each of us can in faith, implore Him, even on our knees,  for what we so desparately need.  Then wait and see what He'll do.

Jesus, Friend unfailing, how dear you are to us.  What can we even say?  Your love never fails and neither does Your compassion.  Your mercies are new every morning.  We cannot say thank You enough.  But in gratitude from the inner sanctum core of our hearts we give You as heartfelt thanks as possible that You do reach out and touch us with Your everlasting hand.  Thank You, Jesus.  Your name is above all names.

                                                   ~  ERC  march 2026  ~

Basedon on Mark 1:41 KJV/ESV/NIV.

Sing, Compassion, along with Stuart Townend and Keith and Kristyn Getty.

Lord's Day Devotion - Praying & Singing

 "Is anyone among you suffering?  Let him pray.  Is anyone cheerful?  Let him sing praise" (James 5:!13 ESV).

Two very direct cause and effect actions can be observed from this verse.  If there's suffering, then pray.  If there's cheerfulness, then sing praise.

These are good reminders.  But I think, as followers of Jesus Christ, when we suffer sicknesses, or a sudden death of a beloved one or shocks of other impact, we do pray.  With a major happening occuring, our reflex is to pray.  At least I hope so.

Then there's the shower singers.  It's almost automatic.  Taking a shower seems to make many happy and cheerful and so they sing in the shower, as if the good cheer pours out of the shower head along with the cleansing water, and so one cannot avoid singing.  Ha, ha.

Apart from this, do any of you belong to a whatsApp chat group that prays and sings?  I do.  I'm very happy with this group.  I dare to say there are no spam messages.

When one of the group is hurting in some way, we pray.  When there is cause for joy, - well we may not sing together, but there is good cheer all around.  Some of the chat group members do share songs we can listen to on our own timing.  This is a very encouraging group that also knows how to build each other up in our Lord and faith.

As this article is meant for a Lord's Day devotion, we can bring our thoughts to Jesus' suffering.  He suffered, bled and died for us.  He bought our pardon and offered the gift of salvation to all who believe.

Jesus suffered but the disciples didn't seem to pray.  They were so bewildered, perplexed and scattered.  Some of the disciples went back to fishing.   Others walked dejectedly to Emmaus.  Some of the women were thinking a bit straighter and in their deep sorrow, went to Jesus' tomb.

But what could have shocked and befuddled them further then to see the stone rolled away and Jesus' body missing.  Then hope and joy arose despite the further wonderment, Jesus is alive,  He spoke and gave directions.

Alas, the women were not well believed, although hope was springing up.  Graciously, Jesus appears on the seashore for the fishermen, aong the road to the two Emmaus walkers and then to the gathering in the upper room.

Belief and unbelief commingle yet hope and joy spring up more.  We don't read that they began to sing but we can imagine the joy.

And when they watch Jesus ascend back into heaven, they don't crash again.  They worship.  This is a type of singing praise and praying.

When suffering comes there could be joy in the morning.  Prayers and praise singing can intertwine and lighten our hearts and strengthen our bonds with the Lord and each other.

As we partake of the broken bread and drink of the cup of wine in remembrance of Jesus' death and resurrection and of His securing our salvation; let's cheerfully sing praise and even if we are also praying through our tears and suffering.

Let's remember to pray and sing and give our thanks to Jesus.

Lord Jesus, we remember Your agonies that You suffered upon the cross on our behalf.  You gave Yourself, totally, for us, because You loved us.  You suffered and You prayed to Your Father in Heaven.  You did this for us.  Now we can sing praise, cheerfully, despite our feeling of sadness at what You had to endure for us.  Your suffering and pain brought us freedom from eternal suffering in Hell - the punishment that should have been ours.  You took it.  You bore it all, for us.  "Thank You" doesn't seem near adequate but it does come from our inner heart sanctums.  And now we sing praise in Your Name Lord Jesus.  Amen.

                                                 ~  ERC  March 2026  ~

Based on James 5:13 ESV. 

Sing, What A Friend We Have In Jesus, along with Lydia Walker and Be Thou My Vision, along with Josh Groban.

Ascribe Greatness

 "Ascribe ye greatness unto our God.  He is the Rock, His work is perfect.  For all His ways are judgment.  A God of truth and without iniquity ... Just and right is He" (Deuteronomy 32:3-4 KJV).

All God's ways are judgment, or "justice" as the ESV puts it.  God and His ways are noted here for their perfection, for His faithfulness and for being without iniquity.  He is perfect, therefore there is no iniquity.  So it follows that He is also "The Rock".

He is the Rock on which we can stand.  In all our life's storms when the breakers roar and smash upon us, our God is our Rock, Who helps us endure the buffeting.  We can trust Him because He is forever faithful.

This gives me the feeling of peacefulness as I can 'rest' and trust in Him.  That's so much reassurance.  We can repeat the verses to ourselves and even sing them as they have been set to a tune.

Abba Father, You are so good to us.  So good, kind, and faithful in all Your ways.  Your justice also envelops us and in You we can trust.  Thank You for Your immovable 'rock -ness' and Your immeasurable perfection.  You are great.  In Jesus' name we give You our praise.  Amen.

                                               ~  ERC  march 2026 ~

Based on Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (KJV).

Sing, Ascribe Greatness To Our God the Rock, along with Divine Hymns.