Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? (Spiritual by African-American Slaves in the 19th Century) Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble, were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree? Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble, were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they pierced him in the side? Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble, were you

Last year, the Holy Spirit prompted Sharon White to have devotions for the Passion Week in song. There were some beautiful songs with words that spoke directly to our hearts. As I was praying about what God wanted us to say this year about Good Friday, He brought those devotions back to my mind. The next 2 days are from last year’s book. The words hit a cord deep in my soul again this year. I hope they do for you too. Some may wonder what is “good” about such a dark and bleak event. We have reason to celebrate “Good Friday” because Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. We receive divine forgiveness, mercy and peace because Jesus willingly to

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men. Colossians 3:23 As a coach, a lot of what we look at in an athlete is their work ethic, it shows a lot about a person, on the field of play and in the classroom. This got me thinking, what does our work ethic as a Christian show our coach (God)? Student athletes in High School have to perform at a very high level on their field of play, as well as maintain certain standards in the classroom with their studies. Our life as a Christian is not much different. We should make sure we are prepared to perform when we go out into the mission field (Life) and we should also be prepared for the daily tests that we will have b

Every day, we have to decide who’s going to be in control of our life — us or God. That choice is a battle. There are things in our life that we want to control. We want to make our own rules. But stress relief always starts with letting go and letting God be God. It always starts with saying, “God, I’m giving up control, because you can control the things that are out of control in my life.” Psalm 46:10- says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress”. I don’t know what you’re going to face this week. You don’t, either. But I can already tell you what God wants you t

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. Thomas A. Edison Perseverance is steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. The only thing that keeps you from achieving success is giving up. People are always going to give you every reason why something will not work, but setting your mind and will in achieving success determines your outcome. Prayer changes circumstances and situations. When God burdens your heart for something the outcome will always be success. God doesn’t give you a vision or an opportunity so you can fail. He gives you the opportunity to grow through resistance. The jou

Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. I love this scripture. There are many times when we think we may be alone but if you are a child of God then there is no way you are alone. One of the names of God is Emanuel which means “God with us”. I know there has been time after time where I have felt like God has left me but it was the other way around. Some of those times is where we may need to fast or seek after God more than we ever have. God promises us that if we seek him we will find Him when we search aft

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 I was blessed to travel to New York City this past December. It was a girl’s trip. My sister had been chosen as one of Mary Kay’s outstanding sales directors. Her picture was going to be in Times Square! Well of course we couldn’t miss that once in a life time experience! So, we planned a trip to witness this magical moment. We had a blast together as a family and saw many wonderful things: The Empire State Building, Central Park, Broadway and The Statue of Liberty. Among the hustle, bustle and liberalness of New York City there is a lot of history and iconic places. Seeing the 9-11 Memorial wa

God created us with two ears, two eyes and one mouth. We obviously do most of our seeing through our eyes, we have two of them! And we do a lot of our hearing with our ears because we also have two of them!! But...what happens when what we hear and what we see doesn’t align with God’s Perfect Word? Walk by faith not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 Read: Hebrews 12:1-3 and Matthew 14:22-32 (vs 26) when the disciples saw...they were terrified..they said Jesus was a ghost and cried out in fear. They didn’t hear they automatically saw, said, and cried. (vs 29) when Jesus said “come”, Peter didn’t look around...he didn’t open his mouth...he “did”. He got out of the boat, walked on water and WENT TO

When you utilize My word(s), you actually are forming another possibility than the one before you. I, the Lord, framed and spoke the world into being; so too, are you to build the picture you dearly hope for into existence. We are called messengers and dispensers of good news...”good ‘n tasty it is to the needy aching soul, the goodness of the Lord. (Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one that takes refuge in him.) It is in Him that fullness of benignity can be had, for His obedience fully extracted the charge of “fallen” from our record! Him without blemish, us in total darkness and alienation for our Creator...Him in the pit of hell, us -now in Christ- with our

“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Hebrews 12:11 While watching the Olympians these past few weeks, I have been in awe of their abilities and their focus. We know that they did not get where they are today by just practicing like everyone else. No, they had to train and push themselves beyond the norm; they had to be disciplined. Although I am not even close to the same level as Olympian athletes, I had (have) a passion for volleyball and was able to play at the collegiate level at College of the Ozarks. After completing my first season of playing, I severel

On the negative side... Many people have not enjoyed the joy that goal-setting produces. Many people have no clue on where to begin in setting goals. Many people do not know how to write down goals with details and clarity. Many people are afraid of failing. Many people don't want to work that hard to setting goals and keep on raising the bar. Many people are just ignorant of goal setting. On the positive side... 1. Goal setting helps to value time. Ephesians 5:16 2. Goal setting helps to keep you focused. (Your focus will determine your finish.) by Wes Neal. 3. Setting goals...planning brings order. 4. Setting goals...Motivates you in discipline. 5. Setting goals and seeing some result

But when they came to Harran, they settled there. Genesis 11:31 Abram’s father, Tereh, decided it was time for a change. He was living in Ur, probably southern Iraq with his family-Abram, Nahor and Haran. Haran had Lot but died; Abram married Sarai and Nahor married Milcah. Joshua 24:2 states that Terah served other gods. Tereh decides to go to the Promised Land-Canaan. The trip would have been difficult; they would have traveled in a caravan for safety reasons. The idea was to go to the Promised Land but when Tereh reaches Harran he decides to stop. For him, it was an “okay” place to be-he settled for less just like we do at times. How many times have you started something and never made it

If we hold on to resentment, then someone is controlling us. Have you ever said, “You make me so mad”? What you’re admitting at that point is, “You are controlling me.” The only way you get this person out of your mind and heart is to heal it with grace.... God’s grace. Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (NIV). Have you ever known a family where a bitter mom poisoned the whole family? Have you ever known a family where a bitter dad poisoned the whole family? Bitterness is contagious, and it can actually become generational. Somebody has to break the chain, and it better be you. If your

How many of us have a need in our life? We all have. Actually, we have many needs. We need air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat, clothes to wear, etc. God knows our every need. Matthew 6:8 says our Father knows our needs before we even ask Him. Philippians 4:19 tells us that our God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. In other words, if you feel you have a need, ask. God already knows your need and he will supply it. Believe and trust in Him and reap the reward of your faith. God’s timing may not match your desire for the results but His timing is Perfect. Trust God for all your needs, always. John B. Samson Sr.

For the time, will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:3-5 Are you among the many wearing green today? I am. It is a fun game to play with children, seeing who remembered to celebrate by wearing green or who is going to get “pinched”. It seems that the holiday we celebrate today has come a long way from the original intent. Today we play games, wear green and many have drunke

Is your Spiritual appetite increasing as you are feasting on this Spiritual Meal? Examine, take the time to pay attention to whether your craving is being fulfilled by the “right” meal. Remember, Satan is one who can duplicate quite well. We can have 2 plates, filled with the exact same items of food. They may look the same and smell the same. The difference............one is ORGANIC, PURE, NO PRESERVATIVES, NOTHING ARTIFICIAL ADDED, AND HOLY!!! How can we know the difference? Taste. Psalm 34:8 Oh, TASTE and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. The Main Meal is “Getting into God’s Word Everyday”. I love this course! Talk about Supernatural leftovers! Are we

Psalms is filled with verses about the Lord being our shelter, our hiding place and refuge in times of trouble. Life will always be full of challenges but in the times when the storm feels as if it may overtake me I have learned to run to the Lord. He is my strength, and comforter. He speaks peace to my soul when the enemy roars and covers me with His hand. Hard times are never enjoyable but the more I experience His deliverance and strength the more the storm strengthens my faith in who God is. It’s the continual experience of knowing how weak I am. Knowing how much in need I am of a savior, and every time being protected. I hate the trial but in my carnality it reminds me of what is so eas

Last year I saw a photo on Facebook of three crosses. The center one was definitely Jesus and the only one I cannot tell you about, because it was the other two that caught my attention. The cross on the left had a wooden sign that said Forgiven while the cross on the right of Jesus had a wooden sign that said Forgotten. At the time I was puzzled by this photo. Then a few days later David turned on the movie The Passion and as we were watching the scene at Golgotha the photo started to make sense. The man on Jesus’s right asked Jesus if he would remember him. Then man on Jesus’s left said that Jesus was a criminal just like them. The man on the right said “no he is innocent and does not belo

Do you know where your money is going every month? Are you spending $250 a month eating out and didn’t realize that you were spending that much? Are you getting to the end of the month and realizing there isn’t enough money? Luke 14: 28-30 states “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’” This verse explains the common sense of handling money. We would never go in to building a house without first looking at the cost. But how many of

Since we now know that everything is God’s, how do we responsibly handle God’s money? Proverbs 3:9 states “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” It tells us how to honor the Lord, it is what we should desire in life: honoring the Lord. We honor Him by giving our firstfruits of everything we earn. Firstfruit is often referred to as tithe. A similar scripture in Lev 27:30 that uses the word tithe, which means one tenth. We are to give 10% of our earnings to the Lord. It is how we honor Him and trust that He is in control. We are only stewards of His money, so we are to be obedient and follow His instructions in tithing. Continuing with the scripture in Prove