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Weekly Verse and Song for Tonight Weeks 657 - 665
June 10, 2026

Week 648


Being Protective

James 1:27 NIV

27 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.

Today I was at the gym. It was a gym I hadn’t visited for over a week. What I hadn’t fully realized about this gym is that it is full of people who like others looking at them, and those who come there to talk rather than really train. I noticed a disturbance in the way one guy was interacting with my friend, and later he was staring at her. My friend and I discussed it, and she agreed with me that this person was staring at her in a way that made her feel uncomfortable.

In tonight’s verse we come to the words of James 1:27:

27 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.

When I was growing up, Mom always protected us—even pre-protecting us. We did not grow up in a nice area, and Mom did not want us getting into trouble. She carried out her duty of protecting us fiercely.

My friend told me about this, and I felt it was my duty to protect her.

As Christians, it’s important to know where we need to be in order to protect those whom God places before us.

Praise God.

Be blessed.

Love you, Mom, and I love you, Lord.

Home with the One whose example we follow.

Rend Collective – My Lighthouse (Lyric Video)
June 17, 2026
Week 649

Preparing


Matthew 24:44
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.


Just this past week, I had an issue with flooding in the basement. We were hit by storms beginning Thursday, and the power was out until Monday. As I assessed the damage, I discovered multiple issues, including doors that would not close because they had started to warp and carpet that was completely soaked. I am still working on drying everything out.

In tonight's verse, we come to the pages of Matthew 24:44:

*"Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."*

When I was younger, I noticed that Mom would always buy things and store them. For example, she would buy extra laundry detergent, and sometimes she would buy additional food and store it in the refrigerator. As I think about this, Mom was teaching me the idea of being prepared.

As I was assessing the damage in the basement, I found myself thinking that I should have been better prepared. Pondering this brought to mind how we as Christians should live. Jesus says in Matthew 24:44 that we must be ready, specifically for His return.

How do we prepare?

We prepare by giving our lives to Him, by placing our trust in Him, and in Him alone.

Placing our trust in Him is part of that preparation. We are preparing for a life with Him, but we are also preparing others by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.

Everything that happens in this life should point us back to Christ. As it does, God allowed this incident to remind me that preparation is important. More importantly, it caused me to reflect on whether I am helping prepare others for His kingdom by sharing the Gospel.

Praise God.

Be blessed.

Love you, Mom, and I love You, Lord.

Home with the One we share.

Graves Into Gardens ft. Brandon Lake | Live | Elevation Worship
June 24, 2026

Week 650

Proverbs 16:9
9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps

God Closing and Opening Doors

If we are true followers of Christ, we know that He is in charge of our lives. This year has had ups and downs as far as relationships with people. Earlier this year, after about six months of being there for someone, that person suddenly disappeared. That caused a tremendous amount of anxiety in heart and mind and affected how others were viewed.

In tonight’s verse we come to the pages of Proverbs 16:9:
9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.

Mom lived a life with Mom’s dad in a stable home. Mom was taken care of and had siblings and many good things in life. Mom met someone, got married, and moved to America. That someone did not work out, and Mom was left to fend for Mom’s self. At that point Mom had five kids. We were on public aid, and the luxuries Mom once had were taken away. Mom’s husband had left.

When I think back at Mom’s life, I see God’s plans. God allowed something, then closed the door on that situation and opened a new door. When I myself reflect deeply about the year, I see the same pattern. God closes doors. At the time a door was closed, I was met with anxiety and deep sadness. I thought there was no way life would ever be whole again, and everything seemed over. God closes doors, yet the Lord is faithful and opened a new door. This new door has been very clear and God-centered. Looking back, there is wonder why that earlier situation was ever there.

As Christians, it is so easy to want to be in control of life and forget who is truly in control. Today, if there is tremendous sadness and pain, know that as believers God is present in the midst of it and is using current circumstances for His glory and for benefit, to ultimately bring honor and glory to His name.

Praise God.

Be blessed.

Love you Mom and I love you Lord.

Home with the One who closes and opens doors.
​
Newsboys - God’s Not Dead
July 1, 2026

Finding Rest


Week 651

Mark 1:35 (NIV)
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."

One thing that I have been noticing lately about myself is that I have been feeling really exhausted. I wake up in the morning after a full night's rest, yet I still can barely keep my eyes open. Over the past few weeks, I have often found myself tired. It's been a busy season, and I just can't seem to find my place of rest.

In tonight's verse, we come to the powerful words of Mark 1:35:

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."

I can still hear Mom telling me to take time to rest. It was something that Mom intentionally wanted me to do. It wasn't something I always listened to or even wanted to hear.

As life continues, I have come to realize just how important rest truly is. During His earthly ministry, Jesus made time to be alone with His Heavenly Father. In Mark 1:35, after ministering to many people, Jesus got up early in the morning and went away to pray. It was a time of renewal and communion with His Father.

When we find ourselves exhausted—physically, mentally, or spiritually—we should follow Jesus' example. Find that solitary place where you can experience physical rest and spiritual rest by spending time with our Heavenly Father.

Praise God.

Be blessed.

Love you, Mom, and I love You, Lord.

Home with the One in whom we find our rest.

Norah Jones – Amazing Grace (Live at Home)
July 8, 2026

Finding The Lord's Will

Week 652

Romans 12:2 (NIV)
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.

---

God is sovereign over everything in this life.

I was chatting with my friend last night while taking a walk, and we talked about a few different things. One of those topics was public speaking. I mentioned to her that I was not afraid to do it; in fact, I love doing it and thoroughly enjoy it.

As we continued talking, it seemed like she was a bit surprised that I was not afraid. As I reflected on our conversation, I realized something that I had never really thought about before.

In tonight’s verse, we come to the pages of Romans 12:2:

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will."

What I didn’t realize was that when we were younger, my mom had my siblings and me go up to the front of the church each week individually and recite a Bible verse. We would spend all day Sunday memorizing a verse and practicing it, and then Mom would have us go up during the “kids’ call” and recite the verse to the congregation.

As a kid, I never really questioned why we were doing this, but I do remember that I wasn’t particularly afraid, excited, or upset about it. It was just something we did.

When I was chatting with my friend, I realized that my mom was helping me overcome a fear that many people have: public speaking. Looking back, I can see that the Lord’s will was at work in that area of my life. He was preparing me not to fear this activity.

Now, as an adult, I speak professionally, and I understand more clearly what the Lord was doing. He was building confidence and removing fear in an area where He may use me even more in the future.

As Christians, we will face challenges both large and small. In those moments, know that the Lord’s will is still being fulfilled. Even though we may not understand it at the time, we can trust that, in His perfect timing, He will reveal His purpose. Continue walking through those moments with the Lord, trusting Him every step of the way.

Praise God.

Be blessed.

Love you, Mom, and I love You, Lord.

Home with the One we walk with.

---

"The Hem of His Garment" | Lauren Daigle | Powerful Gospel Worship Song 2026 | Healing, Faith & God's Presence
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July 15, 2026

Forgiving Quickly

Week 653

Ephesians 4:32 NIV
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.


What a weekend! That's how I felt Wednesday morning. I had spent time helping a friend move, and we had a scuffle. I was hurt because this friend seemed to have forgotten about me and made me feel so unimportant. In tonight's verse, we come to the pages of Ephesians 4:32 NIV.

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

My mom taught me about the Lord, and because of that I knew I was to keep Him at the center of my life. One of the things that happened to me in the past was that a certain offense caused me to harbor bitterness in my heart, and that offense hurt both me and others dearly. One thing I learned from that experience is that many times in life we need to learn to forgive more quickly than we naturally want to.

The morning after the scuffle made me want to shut down and not forgive, but the circumstances required me to forgive—and to forgive quickly. So, based on the Holy Spirit's prompting, I did. It resulted in us being able to continue working together and get back to where we were headed.

Today, it is important as Christians that we learn to forgive quickly when situations arise that may cause us to hold on to hurt. We can only do this, however, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Praise God.

Be blessed.

Love you, Mom, and I love You, Lord.

​Home with the One who prompts us.

Hillsong United - Spirit Leads Me (Lyrics)
July 22, 2026

Turn Away Wrath

Week 654

Proverbs 15 NIV

1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
 keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

---

Sometimes I think things are over, and sometimes I think they simply go up and down. When I say "over," I mean an argument that has escalated. I may think it's finished, but in reality it continues and becomes even more hurtful. One of my friends brought an argument back up after I thought it had already ended. In tonight's devotion, we come to the pages of Proverbs 15:

1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
  but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
  but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
  keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
  but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

When I was younger, problems were often handled through arguments. Mom would discipline us, and for a long time I thought that was simply all I knew. Over time, though, I saw Mom seek better ways to help us deal with anger and frustration.

One thing I have not fully learned is how to keep situations from escalating. I need the Lord to help me break these repeated cycles, especially in my relationships with the opposite sex. My friend confronted me last night, and I thought everything was okay afterward. This morning the issue came up again, and it led me to become upset and shut down.

Something I need to work on is preventing situations from escalating. One approach is to **Pause, Relax, and Return**. I don't know, however, if this will be effective unless I intentionally practice it.

As Christians, we need to own our part and do our best not to let conflicts escalate. Others will test us—friends, colleagues, and even those we love—but as followers of Christ, we are called to respond differently. We are called to fight against anger, extend grace, and exercise gentleness.

May the Lord continue to work in me and in all of us as Christians as we navigate moments like these.

---

Praise God.

Be blessed.

Love you, Mom, and I love You, Lord.

Home with the One who protects us.

---

Here I Am To Worship | Hope Worship
August 5, 2026

Turn Away Wrath Practically

Week 655

Proverbs 15:8–10 (NIV)

8 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
    the one who hates correction will die.

I met with my friend again this week, and we were having a nice time. Then something was said, and suddenly I went mentally limp. I paused for a moment and became quiet.

Tonight's passage brings us to Proverbs 15:8–10:

8 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.

Correction is a part of the Christian walk. I may not always like being told that I am doing something that needs correcting, but I know that humbling myself is what I am called to do. Mom always corrected my behavior as a child and disciplined me accordingly. Now that I am older, that correction has not stopped.

When my friend brought up something that made me go mentally limp, I was tempted to hold on to it and allow it to become something upsetting.

However, practically speaking, I paused, became quiet, and allowed the Holy Spirit to bring peace to my heart and mind. As I actively pursued that peace, it became clear that my friend meant nothing malicious. Through the Holy Spirit, I was able to take those thoughts captive before they took root.

Today, if something suddenly causes you to lose your peace, pause. Ask the Lord to guide your heart and mind in that moment, (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Philippians 4:6–7, Philippians 4:8, Isaiah 26:3, Colossians 3:2, Proverbs 4:23, Isaiah 41:10, John 14:27, Galatians 5:22–23, James 1:19–20, Psalm 139:23–24) and He will!


Praise God.

Be blessed.

Love you, Mom, and I love You, Lord.

Home with the One who protects our peace

I Speak Jesus (Powerful Worship Lyric Video) | Charity Gayle ft. Steven Musso

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsathUyznTw&list=RD8UaJEtawgAI&index=2
August 12, 2026

Feeling Burned Out

Week 656

Exodus 33:14

14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”


Just today, I was walking around work and thinking about how busy I am. As I thought about this, I felt something I had been thinking about earlier as I was speaking to my friend, and I realized that I feel burned out. In tonight's verse, we come to the pages of Exodus 33:14:

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

When I was younger, I would come home from school feeling so tired and exhausted. Then I would see my mom, smell my mom's cooking—“Chicken Curry!”—and feel better. There was a sense of my mom's presence, care, and support that would bring a level of peace to me.

Much the same was true for Moses in the Bible. Moses asked the Lord that if His Presence would not go with them, he would not go.

“Then Moses said to him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.’” — Exodus 33:15 (NIV)

When we feel burned out, remember to be practical: take a break, go for a walk, but know this: God's Presence will be with you.

Love you, Mom, and I love You, Lord.

Home with the One who goes with us.

Phil Wickham - This Is Amazing Grace (Official Lyric Video)
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