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		<title>Life Church | Laurel, MS</title>
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		<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com</link>
		<lastBuildDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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			<title>&quot;The Heart of the Matter&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[The Heart of the MatterScripture: Ezekiel 36:26“I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”Throughout His ministry, Jesus often confronted the religious leaders of His day. They knew how to put on a good appearance and give an impressive performance, yet their hearts were far from God. The...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/12/the-heart-of-the-matter</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/12/the-heart-of-the-matter</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>The Heart of the Matter</b><br><br><br>Scripture: Ezekiel 36:26<br>“I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”<br>Throughout His ministry, Jesus often confronted the religious leaders of His day. They knew how to put on a good appearance and give an impressive performance, yet their hearts were far from God. They tithed, ceremonially washed their hands, quoted the Law, and faithfully observed feast days, fast days, and the Sabbath. From the outside, they appeared to be devoted followers of God. But beneath the surface, something was missing. Their hearts were not right.<br>The medical profession stresses the importance of regular checkups, especially for those with a family history of heart disease. Just because someone looks healthy on the outside doesn't necessarily mean everything is functioning properly on the inside. Some of the most serious heart conditions can go unnoticed until they're examined.<br>The same is true of our spiritual hearts.<br>It's possible to attend church, serve faithfully, say the right things, and appear spiritually healthy while quietly allowing bitterness, pride, unforgiveness, or hidden sin to take root in our hearts. We can become so focused on how our lives look to others that we neglect what's happening within us.<br>Before we encountered Jesus, our hearts were affected by sin. We had a spiritual heart condition that we could never cure on our own. But the beautiful promise of Ezekiel 36:26 is that God doesn't simply offer to improve our old hearts. He promises to give us new ones!<br>Jesus is the Great Physician, and He specializes in transforming lives from the inside out. He can soften what has become hardened, heal what has been wounded, and restore what sin has damaged.<br>Even after receiving a new heart through Christ, we still need to regularly invite Him to examine us. Sometimes there are attitudes, thoughts, or struggles developing beneath the surface that we don't even recognize ourselves. That's why we need the Holy Spirit to reveal the things that may be hindering our relationship with God.<br>David understood this when he prayed in Psalm 51:10:<br>“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”<br>What a powerful prayer for each of us to pray daily!<br>God isn't looking for a perfect outward performance. He's looking for hearts that are surrendered, humble, and willing to be transformed by Him.<br>Today, don't just ask yourself how your spiritual life looks on the outside. Ask God how your heart is doing on the inside.<br>Is there something you've been holding on to that you need to surrender? Is there someone you need to forgive? Has your heart grown cold toward something that once stirred your passion for God?<br>Whatever the condition may be, you can trust the Great Physician to bring healing and restoration.<br>Don't wait until something is wrong to schedule a heart checkup with God. Invite Him to examine your heart every day.<br>Prayer<br>Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me enough to transform me from the inside out. Search my heart today and reveal anything that does not please You. Remove any hidden sin, bitterness, pride, or unforgiveness that could hinder my relationship with You. Soften the areas of my heart that have become hardened, and renew my desire to walk closely with You. Create in me a clean, pure heart and a steadfast spirit that honors You in everything I do. In Jesus' name, Amen.<br>Adapted from an original thought in The Quiet Place.</div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;When the World is Telling us to Prepare&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[When the World Is Telling Us to PrepareLately, it seems everywhere we turn, the world is telling us to prepare.We hear discussions about the possibility of being without electricity, running water, food, or even medical supplies. We are being told to prepare for things that may or may not happen. And the truth is, none of us really knows what tomorrow may bring.I do not believe that preparing mean...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/11/when-the-world-is-telling-us-to-prepare</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/11/when-the-world-is-telling-us-to-prepare</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>When the World Is Telling Us to Prepare</b><br><br>Lately, it seems everywhere we turn, the world is telling us to prepare.<br>We hear discussions about the possibility of being without electricity, running water, food, or even medical supplies. We are being told to prepare for things that may or may not happen. And the truth is, none of us really knows what tomorrow may bring.<br>I do not believe that preparing means we are living in fear. I believe God gives us common sense, wisdom, and the responsibility to protect and provide for our families. There is nothing wrong with storing water, putting back food, and making sure we have the necessities to take care of the ones we love.<br>God gives us wisdom to recognize potential difficulties and take reasonable precautions.<br>While the world is telling us to prepare for what might happen, are we preparing for what we know will happen?<br>We spend time making sure we have enough food to eat, water to drink, and supplies to get us through an emergency. But how much time are we spending making sure our hearts are right with God?<br>We can fill our pantries and prepare our homes, but none of those things can prepare our souls for eternity. And that is the preparation that matters most.<br>We may have weeks, months, or even years to prepare for an emergency. But none of us is promised tomorrow. And I think sometimes we become so concerned about what is happening in this world that we lose sight of what matters beyond this world.<br>Our greatest security is found in our relationship with Jesus Christ.<br>So yes, I believe we should use the common sense God has given us. Prepare your homes. Protect your families. Be responsible with what God has entrusted to you.<br>But above everything else, make sure you are spiritually prepared.<br>John 14:1 reads, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” This reminds us that regardless of what is happening around us, our faith and confidence should remain in Jesus Christ.<br>Reflection: If Jesus returned today, would we be ready?<br>Heavenly Father,<br>As we hear so much about preparing for uncertain times, remind us that our greatest preparation is having a<br>personal relationship with You. Help us not to become so focused on the things of this world that we neglect the<br>things of eternity. Help us to trust You with whatever tomorrow may bring.<br>In Your precious name, Amen.<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;God is Love&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[God Is LoveThe one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:8 NASB 95)The Old Testament is based on law. The New Testament is based on grace. The Old Testament says, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Exodus 21:24). The New Testament replaces that revenge with love. Jesus summed up all the commandments with a new statement. In John 13:34, Jesus gives us a new comma...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/10/god-is-love</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/10/god-is-love</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style="text-align:left;"><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>God Is Love</b><br><br>The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:8 NASB 95)<br>The Old Testament is based on law. The New Testament is based on grace. The Old Testament says, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Exodus 21:24). The New Testament replaces that revenge with love. Jesus summed up all the commandments with a new statement. In John 13:34, Jesus gives us a new commandment: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” This is a powerful statement. As is true for many of the<br>scriptures covered, I urge you to meditate on the scripture above. Note that Jesus clearly says, “a new commandment I give to you.” This is not a suggestion that He makes or something that would be nice to follow but is a command and the command is that we love one another as He loves us. He loved you so much that He died for you. Are you ready to die for your fellow man? Today’s scripture says that the one who does not love does not know God, for God Is Love. You can show love for your fellow man in many<br>ways. This includes all the people that you come in contact with each day, especially those that may not be at the same spiritual place you are, the same educational level, or the same social status as yourself.<br>Regardless of where they are in life, perhaps they could benefit from some appropriate spiritual enlightenment and encouragement. This is a place where you can shine. They may not be reading these devotionals. Share the encouragement that you are receiving with them. Never be judgmental. Let them see who you are in Christ by your words, actions, and love. Let them see the light of God’s Word shine through you. This means you need to be careful with your language, with the way you treat your coworkers, and your comments about your workplace, boss, etc. Don’t compromise your beliefs to get<br>them to like you, instead, through your actions (not just words) let them see you live the Word.<br>Prayer: Father God, help me to be ever mindful of who I am in Christ and of my call that You have given me in Your Word. Give me the words to say to encourage those around me, especially those that do not know You. Lead me to people that I can witness to for Your sake. Help me be consistent in my words and deeds and show Godly love at all times. Remind me to be encouraging and to lift them up my peers instead of putting them down. I want to be Your servant in everything that I do. Thank You for giving<br>me the opportunity to be a blessing and be a part of Your plan and Kingdom.<br>Amen!<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;Abundant in Love&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[Abundant in Love"The LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, "the LORD! the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth". ~Exodus 34:6I played one of those word games where all the letters are scrambled and you are supposed to post the first word you see. Well my first word was "abundant". As I said the word to myself, It was as though I heard a s...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/09/abundant-in-love</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/09/abundant-in-love</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>Abundant in Love</b><br><br>"The LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, "the LORD! the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth". ~Exodus 34:6<br><br>I played one of those word games where all the letters are scrambled and you are supposed to post the first word you see. Well my first word was "abundant". As I said the word to myself, It was as though I heard a still small voice speak to me. So I said it out loud, abundant; then a little louder, Abundant; and finally I yelled it out, ABUNDANT. I immediately knew that Voice was God telling me, "Carol I am the abundance for all your needs, every single one of them! As I began to speak the words that came to mind, I said, &nbsp;"my God is abundant in love, in grace, in healing, in peace, in hope, in truth...yes, my God is abundant in everything good and His goodness and grace is covering me!&nbsp;<br><br>In Exodus, when Moses asked to see God's glory, the Lord allowed Moses just a glimpse of his back. As Moses was hidden in the cleft of the rock, the Lord revealed His very character to him. He showed Moses that He is a merciful God. He is compassionate and patient with His children and His love is abundant. &nbsp;In another word, His love never ends. “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”. ~Lamentations 3:22–23. God's character has not changed, He is the same God yesterday, today and forever!&nbsp;<br><br>Isn't it amazing how God can use a little word puzzle to minister to us! He knew exactly what I needed tonight and He used Facebook and some scrambled letters to speak to me. Yes, I know without a doubt how much God loves me and cares for me but sometimes it sure feels good to get a reminder, a God Wink is what I like to call it. &nbsp;<br><br>So tonight, I'm basking in the assurance that God knows exactly where I'm at and He is with me in the good times and the bad times. He has promised to never leave or forsake me and His abundant love surrounds me every minute of every day.&nbsp;<br><br>If you are struggling tonight, let me share my word with you. "ABUNDANT"! &nbsp;Go ahead, say it out loud, yell it out if you need to! Just remember, our God is abundant in everything we need! Yes, we do have a good, good Father...His love never fails and it never ends!</div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;Where Does The Time Go?&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[Where Does the Time Go?Have you ever looked back over your life and wondered, where did the time go? It seems like the days and years go by so fast. Life is spent looking forward to the next important event, the next accomplishment, or the next chapter. Then, one day, we sit and realize how quickly those days have come and gone. Moments and people, we thought would last forever have become memorie...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/06/where-does-the-time-go</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/06/where-does-the-time-go</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>Where Does the Time Go?</b><br><br>Have you ever looked back over your life and wondered, where did the time go? It seems like the days and years go by so fast. Life is spent looking forward to the next important event, the next accomplishment, or the next chapter. Then, one day, we sit and realize how quickly those days have come and gone. Moments and people, we thought would last forever have become memories.<br>Sometimes I think we spend so much of our lives looking forward to what comes next that we forget to appreciate what is right in front of us. We fill our days and rush to get responsibilities done, hoping we will slow down when we get past this or that. But the truth is, life rarely slows down on its own.<br>We cannot turn back the clock. We cannot relive the years that are gone, but we can be more intentional with the time we have been given and appreciate God’s goodness.<br>Maybe we need to put our phones down a little more and sit a little longer with the people we love. Time is God’s gift. Don’t become so busy making a living, planning for tomorrow, or worrying about things you cannot control that you miss the simple moments today.<br>Slow down. Be present. Love deeply. Thank God for another day.<br>Someday, we may look back and realize these little moments were actually the most significant.<br>“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” — Psalm 90:12<br>Reflection: What distractions or responsibilities keep me from slowing down and enjoying the present?<br><b>Prayer</b><br>Heavenly Father,<br>Thank You for another day. Forgive me for the moments I have rushed through life. Help me to slow down and recognize what truly matters. Remind me to spend time with those I love. Teach me to use my time wisely and live each day in a way that honors You.<br>In Your precious name, Amen.<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;Because He Lives, You Live&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[Because He Lives, You Live“Because I live, you also will live.” — John 14:19You belong to your family in a unique way. You share a bloodline, a name, and an identity. Being part of that family connects you to something greater than yourself.The same is true spiritually. When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you become part of His family. You receive a new identity, a new purpose, and the promis...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/05/because-he-lives-you-live</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/05/because-he-lives-you-live</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>Because He Lives, You Live</b><br><br>“Because I live, you also will live.” — John 14:19<br>You belong to your family in a unique way. You share a bloodline, a name, and an identity. Being part of that family connects you to something greater than yourself.<br>The same is true spiritually. When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you become part of His family. You receive a new identity, a new purpose, and the promise of eternal life.<br>Ephesians 2:1 reminds us that we were once “dead in trespasses and sins.” Sin separated us from God, but Jesus changed everything! Through His death and resurrection, He made a way for us to be forgiven, restored, and brought to life.<br>His grace covers every failure, every mistake, and every wound. Your past no longer defines you because you now belong to Him.<br>Because Jesus lives, resurrection power, hope, and victory are part of your new spiritual identity. You are covered by His blood, strengthened by His Spirit, and surrounded by His promises.<br>Imagine Jesus speaking these words over your life:<br>“Because I live, you will live. Because I have overcome, you can overcome. Because I have victory, you can walk in victory. You belong to Me now. You are part of My family!”<br>You are not just forgiven. You have been made alive in Christ! And because He lives, you can face today with confidence and tomorrow with hope.<br>Prayer: Lord, thank You that because You live, I also have life. Thank You for Your grace, forgiveness, and the new identity I have in You. Help me walk daily in Your victory and remember that I belong to Your family now and for eternity. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.</div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;Be Strong and Courageous&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[Be Strong and Courageous“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for theLORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)When Joshua took over Moses’s role in the desert, God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous. He promised him that He would be with him wherever he would go. Be strong and courageous is stated thirteen times in the Old Test...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/04/be-strong-and-courageous</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/04/be-strong-and-courageous</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>Be Strong and Courageous</b><br><br>“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the<br>LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)<br>When Joshua took over Moses’s role in the desert, God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous. He promised him that He would be with him wherever he would go. Be strong and courageous is stated thirteen times in the Old Testament in the New American Standard Bible. If God tells<br>us something thirteen times, you know it must be important and something that He wants us to know. Be strong and courageous!<br>If this was true in the Old Testament to be stated thirteen times, how much more would this be true in the New Testament after what Christ did for us? God’s grace is poured out in greater abundance on us in the New Testament than in the Old Testament. We also have God’s promise in the New Testament that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5). Granted, when God told this to the inhabitants of the Old Testament, He was speaking about them being bold and courageous in their physical battles of war. Today are we at war? I’m not speaking about mortal combat; I’m talking<br>about spiritual warfare. Christianity is under attack from all sides. Look at all of the liberal movements in place today with abortion, same sex marriage, sex changes in children, defiance against our government – all antichristian. Then there are the drug wars trying to overtake our culture. All of this puts tremendous pressure on all of us but especially the easily impressionable younger generation. It causes extreme confusion and temptation at every turn. Yes, there are many opportunities to turn away from God, but we<br>have God’s promise that no matter what we face He will never leave us, He will always be with us and will never forsake us. Through these troubled times we must be bold and remain strong and courageous. We must believe that God is with us and that the Holy Spirit will guide us and give us strength. You are a light to the world, and you will continue to shine as long as you stay strong and courageous!<br>Prayer: Father God, continue to remind me that You are forever with me wherever I may go and whatever I may do. When You spoke to Your people in the Old Testament to be strong and courageous, You were not only speaking to them, but to all Your people in all ages of time and all places. There are times when I do not feel strong or courageous. Instead, I sometimes feel weak and fearful. When those times come upon me, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, remind me of Your Word, be strong and courageous! When I am weak in my flesh, I am strong in You. Thank You for giving me strength and<br>delivering me from fear. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;Gods Love Letter&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[God’s Love LetterLisa Harper said in a conference that I attended that God‘s word was his love letter to us. I never thought about it like that but the more I read and meditate on his word the truer that becomes to me.  Buddy and I used to write love letters back-and-forth to each other when we were dating. Those letters are in a binder that I keep in a drawer by my bed to this day. It always brou...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/03/gods-love-letter</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/03/gods-love-letter</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>God’s Love Letter</b><br><br>Lisa Harper said in a conference that I attended that God‘s word was his love letter to us. I never thought about it like that but the more I read and meditate on his word the truer that becomes to me. &nbsp;Buddy and I used to write love letters back-and-forth to each other when we were dating. Those letters are in a binder that I keep in a drawer by my bed to this day. It always brought me so much joy to take a minute and sit down and read those letters. It revealed Buddy’s most intimate thoughts and feelings of his love for me. Even writing this now makes me smile and fills me with so much joy knowing that I had this wonderful man in my life,if only for a season, that loved me like no other, that completely satisfied my wants,my needs and desires, and he loved me unconditionally. As I &nbsp;opened my Bible this morning, The Lord led me to Joshua chapter 3. The children of Israel were getting ready to cross over the Jordan, and Joshua was giving final instruction from the Lord. He was reminded by God that He was with Moses and that he would be with him. In verse 10 he said you will know that the living God is among you and that He will certainly dispossess before you, the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Gergashites, Amororites and Jebusites, when the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth goes ahead of you into the Jordan. His love letter to his children, promised to love, protect and provide for them. He showed them the most intimate love that only a father can have for his children or a husband can have for his wife. In the &nbsp;Old Testament. God is referred to as the husband of Israel in passages like Isaiah 54:5 &nbsp;for your Maker &nbsp;is your husband. The Lord of host is his name. The word IS His love &nbsp;letter to them. In the New Testament Jesus is referred to as the bridegroom, and we the church as his bride. His &nbsp;word IS His love letter to us. There are so &nbsp;many scriptures that tell of God‘s love for us. In the Old Testament we see in Jeremiah 3:3 speaks of &nbsp;an everlasting love drawn with unfailing kindness. Psalm136:1 proclaims that God‘s love endures forever and &nbsp;in Zephaniah 3:17 portrays God’s rejoicing and taking delight in his people. In the New Testament, John 3:16 talks of the ultimate sacrifice of God sending his Son. Romans &nbsp;5:8 notes that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, and Romans 8:38-39 assures believers that nothing in all creation can separate us from God‘s love. <br>May I encourage you today? Open the Bible today and begin to soak up the words of His &nbsp;love letter to us. As much as I loved reading Buddy’s love letters, It’s nothing in comparison to God‘s love for me and you. Get in His Word and let him cover you with his love. <br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;When worry becomes a Call to Prayer&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[When Worry Becomes a Call to PrayerPhilippians 4:6 reads, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”Have you ever considered that maybe your anxiety has grown because your prayer life hasn’t?What if the worry that keeps you anxious during the day and up at night is a reminder that you need to spend more time ...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/02/when-worry-becomes-a-call-to-prayer</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/11/02/when-worry-becomes-a-call-to-prayer</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>When Worry Becomes a Call to Prayer</b><br><br><br>Philippians 4:6 reads, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”<br>Have you ever considered that maybe your anxiety has grown because your prayer life hasn’t?<br>What if the worry that keeps you anxious during the day and up at night is a reminder that you need to spend more time talking to God?<br>What if your worry was not a signal to panic, but a signal to pray?<br>We often carry things that only God can carry. We spend so much time worrying about things and people we cannot control. We imagine the worst outcomes, replay conversations in our minds, and try to prepare for things that may never happen. Before long, we have allowed worry to consume our thoughts.<br>We worry about our children, our families, our health, our finances, and situations that are<br>completely beyond our control. We tell ourselves that if we can just figure everything out, we will finally feel at peace.<br>But peace does not come from knowing how everything will turn out. Peace is not found in our ability to control the outcome. Peace is found in our willingness to surrender it all to Him.<br>Philippians 4:6 reminds us that instead of allowing worry to consume us, we are invited to bring everything before God in prayer. Not just the big things. Not just the situations that seem impossible. But everything.<br>Yet we worry first. We overthink. We lose sleep. We ask everyone else for advice. We try every possible solution, and only when we have exhausted ourselves do we finally turn to God. Prayer should not be our last resort. It should be our first weapon against worry.<br>The next time worry begins filling your mind, let it remind you to pray. Remember, God has<br>never asked you to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.<br>Reflection Are you allowing worry to become your first response, or are you learning to make prayer your first response?<br>Heavenly Father,<br>Forgive me for allowing worry to take the place of prayer. I know I am never meant to carry<br>burdens alone. Teach me to trust before I worry. Remind me of Your promises and faithfulness.<br>Thank you, Lord, for walking with me daily and loving me unconditionally.<br>In Your precious name, Amen<br><br>Teach me to pray before I panic, to trust before I worry, and to surrender instead of trying to<br>control every outcome. When my mind becomes filled with what-ifs, remind me of Your<br>promises and Your faithfulness.<br>Today, I place my fears, my family, my concerns, and my unanswered prayers into Your hands.<br>Replace my worry with trust and fill my heart with the peace that only You can give.<br>In Jesus name, Amen.<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;Choose Positivity and Share Your Smile&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[Choose positivity and Share Your SmileThis is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."  ~Psalm 118:24Every morning when we wake up, we have two choices...we can get up complaining and dreading the day or we can choose to be happy and thankful that God has given us another day to let our light shine for Him. Yes, we can all find plenty of things to complain about and if we all...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/30/choose-positivity-and-share-your-smile</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:19:25 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/30/choose-positivity-and-share-your-smile</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>Choose positivity and Share Your Smile</b><br><br>This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." &nbsp;~Psalm 118:24<br><br>Every morning when we wake up, we have two choices...we can get up complaining and dreading the day or we can choose to be happy and thankful that God has given us another day to let our light shine for Him. Yes, we can all find plenty of things to complain about and if we allow ourselves to dwell on all the ugliness in the world, I'm pretty sure our day will probably be awful and those around us will sense our negativity.<br><br>However, on the other hand, we can wake up with a positive attitude thanking God for another day. We can dwell on how good He is to us. We have a roof over our heads, we have our family, our health, our job, we are all so blessed! &nbsp;We can also choose to make our corner of the world a better place by spreading a little joy and kindness to everyone we come in contact with. In doing so, we will feel better and they will too! <br><br>Did you know it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile. According to research, traditional estimates claim a frown uses about 43 to 50 facial muscles, while a smile uses about only 12 to 17. And physical and mental research suggests that being angry takes more physiological and cognitive energy than being happy. Smiling also triggers the release of feel-good hormones like endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin.*<br>"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health." ~Proverbs 15:30. Now that should make us all want to smile more and be happy!<br><br>The Lord has given us another day and just as His Word tells us, "let's rejoice and be glad in it!". Let's choose to go into our community today filled with God's love and His grace and let His light shine through us. Our positivity could be exactly what someone needs to make their day better. One more thing, if you see someone without a smile, share yours with them. It really does feel good to smile. "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works..." ~Hebrews 10:24<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;His Arms Are Always Open&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[His Arms Are Always Open“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” — Psalm 100:5Do you know that God has His arms wide open to you? He wants to wrap them around you, hold you close, and remind you just how much you mean to Him. No matter where you are in life, what you have been through, or what you may be facing today, His arms remain ...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/29/his-arms-are-always-open</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:36:06 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/29/his-arms-are-always-open</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>His Arms Are Always Open</b><br><br>“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” — Psalm 100:5<br>Do you know that God has His arms wide open to you? He wants to wrap them around you, hold you close, and remind you just how much you mean to Him. No matter where you are in life, what you have been through, or what you may be facing today, His arms remain open.<br>But what is God saying to us through His open arms?<br>His open arms mean you are always welcome. Life can get messy. Sometimes things feel completely out of control, and other times we may feel like we are the mess ourselves. Yet, even in our weakest moments, God lovingly says, “Come to Me.” You do not have to have everything figured out or get your life perfectly together before approaching Him. His compassion is greater than your circumstances, and His invitation never expires.<br>His arms wrapped around you mean you are accepted. God knows every part of your story. He sees your strengths, your struggles, your victories, and even the mistakes you wish you could erase. Yet His grace is still sufficient. Through Jesus Christ, we can experience forgiveness, restoration, and the beautiful assurance that we belong to Him. You are not defined by your past or your imperfections. His grace gives you the opportunity to begin again.<br>His arms continuing to hold you mean you are deeply loved. God's love is not temporary, conditional, or dependent upon how well you perform. His love endures forever! He created you with purpose, knows you personally, and desires a relationship with you. It is as though He is saying, “I made you, I love you, and I am not finished working in your life.” He loves you right where you are, but He also loves you enough to help you grow into the person He created you to become.<br>There may be moments when you feel forgotten, overlooked, or unworthy of love. But never allow those feelings to convince you that God has turned away. His faithfulness does not change with your circumstances. His goodness does not disappear when life becomes difficult. And His love does not run out when you fall short.<br>Today, when you look to Jesus, envision His arms wide open, lovingly inviting you to draw near. You do not have to run from Him in your struggles. You can run straight into His presence and find the peace, comfort, and strength your heart needs.<br>Remember this today: You are welcomed. You are accepted. You are loved. And His arms will always be open to you.<br>Prayer<br>Heavenly Father, thank You for always welcoming me with open arms. Thank You for accepting me through Your grace and loving me even in my weakest moments. Help me to remember that I never have to face life's challenges alone because You are always near. When I feel unworthy, remind me of Your grace. When I feel overwhelmed, surround me with Your peace. And when I feel forgotten, remind me that Your love and faithfulness endure forever. Continue shaping me into the person You created me to be. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.</div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;Our Dash&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[Our DashOn a tombstone, we may notice the date someone was born and the date they passed away.Between those two dates is a small dash. Most people don’t think about the small dash on a tombstone, but it represents their entire life. Everything that person experienced is represented by one little dash. That little dash is so small yet so significant.We spend most of our days planning for tomorrow, ...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/28/our-dash</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/28/our-dash</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>Our Dash</b><br><br>On a tombstone, we may notice the date someone was born and the date they passed away.<br>Between those two dates is a small dash. Most people don’t think about the small dash on a tombstone, but it represents their entire life. Everything that person experienced is represented by one little dash. That little dash is so small yet so significant.<br>We spend most of our days planning for tomorrow, worrying about what will happen tomorrow, or working toward goals. We are so involved in our daily responsibilities that sometimes we forget how precious our time here on earth is.<br>Psalm 90:12 reminds us to be mindful of each day that God has blessed us with and to live each day with wisdom. No one knows how many days they have left. However, we do have a choice in how we spend each moment.<br>When our day comes, what will people remember about us? Will they remember the nice house we had or the money we made? Or will they remember how we treated them and maybe the difference we made in their lives?<br>This is why legacy is so meaningful.<br>We can leave behind something greater than material possessions. We can leave behind a legacy of kindness, love, and faith.<br>We cannot change yesterday, and tomorrow is not promised. But we do have a choice in how we live today. It is important to spend more time investing in the people God has placed in our lives.<br>Reflection<br>If your dash were complete today, how would you be remembered? Would people remember your kindness, your faith, your willingness to help others, and the love you shared?<br>Psalm 90:12<br>“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”<br>Heavenly Father,<br>Thank You for the gift of life. Forgive me for the times I have been so busy in life that I forget what truly matters. Help me use my time wisely and never take the people You placed in my life for granted. Teach me to speak kind words and show compassion to others. Teach me to forgive and to love more deeply. When my time on earth is over, I pray the life I have lived has made a difference and that the legacy I leave behind reflects Your goodness.<br>In Your precious name, Amen.<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;Show Us Your Glory&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[Show Us Your GloryIn Ex. 33:18-23, Moses asked God to show him his glory. The Lord told Moses that he would cause ALL of His goodness to pass in front of him, but Moses was not allowed to see God‘s face because no one could see the face of God and live.  He instructed Moses to stand on this rock, and when God‘s glory passes by, he will put Moses in the crevice of the rock and cover him with his ha...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/27/show-us-your-glory</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/27/show-us-your-glory</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>Show Us Your Glory</b><br><br>In Ex. 33:18-23, Moses asked God to show him his glory. The Lord told Moses that he would cause ALL of His goodness to pass in front of him, but Moses was not allowed to see God‘s face because no one could see the face of God and live. &nbsp;He instructed Moses to stand on this rock, and when God‘s glory passes by, he will put Moses in the crevice of the rock and cover him with his hand until he has passed by then he will remove his hand, and Moses will see his back. Wow! I was thinking about how many times I didn’t realize that God was right in the middle of my situation until it was over, and then I could see that God was all in it, but he had placed me in the crevice of the rock for protection. He had covered me with his hand. Notice that I put an emphasis on ALL. That shows me that God wants us to have everything that He has for us. ALL of His goodness was passing by Moses! What a sight that must have been! In the New Testament Paul directly identifies Jesus as the rock in first Corinthians 10:4. Cody Carnes sings a song called “He Won’t.” The first line says, “Christ is my firm foundation, the Rock on which I stand.” God instructed Moses to stand on the Rock. He then told him that He would cause ALL His goodness to pass by Moses. Then it says he placed Moses in the crevice of the Rock. God has called us to stand on the Rock, which is Jesus and he will do the rest.&nbsp;<br>Father, just like Moses, I asked that you show us your glory. Help us to stand firm on the Rock, which is Jesus, and let you do what only you can do.</div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;I Am The Righteousness of God- Part 4&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[I Am the Righteousness of God - Part 4For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindnesstoward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removedour transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so theLORD has compassion on those who fear Him. Psalm 103:11-13 NASB 95These three verses add one more layer to our under...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/26/i-am-the-righteousness-of-god-part-4</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/26/i-am-the-righteousness-of-god-part-4</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>I Am the Righteousness of God - Part 4</b><br><br>For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness<br>toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed<br>our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the<br>LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. Psalm 103:11-13 NASB 95<br>These three verses add one more layer to our understanding of who we are in<br>Christ. Based on my last three devotions, we should understand that by our salvation<br>experience we have all the sins we ever committed and that we ever will commit<br>removed from us and we have been given a new spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our Father<br>God has chosen to forget ALL our sins (Hebrews 8:12) and our spirit has been sealed<br>by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). As a result we are now the righteousness of<br>Jesus Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). To further emphasize that FACT, today’s scripture<br>tells us that when we revere our heavenly Father, He loves us so much and has such<br>compassion that He removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west.<br>I realize this is a lot to receive if you have never been taught all these scriptures<br>lumped together. I see each one of these scriptures as a dot. You can read the Bible<br>daily and in time read all of these scriptures but never see the connection. When all the<br>dots are connected, you see the whole picture. You can label this picture as “Who I am<br>in Christ.” If you do not realize all these FACTS, we will walk in condemnation because<br>of our past. The devil will be quick to remind you of all the times you fell in the past and<br>tell you that you are just a lowly sinner and not worthy to enter God’s kingdom. When<br>that happens, you can actually agree with the devil but be quick to show him how you<br>connected the dots. For instance, you can say, “you are right devil, I have failed my God<br>numerous times in the past, but you know what, my Lord and Savior died for all of my<br>sins, removed them from me as far as the east is from the west, and has given me His<br>robe of righteousness. You have no authority over me Satan, be gone from me in<br>Jesus’s name.”<br>Prayer: Father, I realize how much you love me and what sacrifice You and Jesus<br>made for me. I realize my past has been wiped out and even my future sins have been<br>forgiven and forgotten by the power of Jesus’ blood. I thank you and praise you for your<br>love and mercy. Give me wisdom that I may be able to follow in your ways and complete<br>Your perfect plan for my life. Amen.<br><br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;How Great Is Our God&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[How Great Is Our God"For to US a child is born, to US a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)I know this is a Christmas scripture but it is a powerful scripture that tells us how Great our Savior is!  It speaks volumes to a negative hurting world today.  The governmen...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/22/how-great-is-our-god</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:59:56 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/22/how-great-is-our-god</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>How Great Is Our God</b><br><br>"For to US a child is born, to US a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. &nbsp;And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)<br><br>I know this is a Christmas scripture but it is a powerful scripture that tells us how Great our Savior is! &nbsp;It speaks volumes to a negative hurting world today. &nbsp;The government is on Jesus's shoulders! He is in control of everything that is happening in our community, our town, our state and yes, even Washington DC! In fact, He knows exactly what is happening around the world and yet, He cares about what is going on in our life at this very moment! &nbsp;So, that means we don't have to worry anymore, right!!!<br><br>He is more than Wonderful, He is the great I Am, the Alpha and the Omega! The First and the Last, The Beginning and the End! He is our Counselor, we can talk to Him about any problem we have (or our family has) and He can help us with the situation, all we have to do is lay our burdens at His feet and leave them there. "Cast your burdens on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." <br>~Psalm 55:22<br><br>He is the Mighty God. He is greater than any problem that might arise in my life and in yours! &nbsp;He is the Everlasting Father! &nbsp;He totally completely loves us...even when we don't deserve His love, He still loves us! <br><br>And most importantly, He is the Prince of Peace! &nbsp;He wants us to have perfect peace, absolute hope without fear, and overflowing joy! &nbsp;"You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of JOY; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." ~Psalm 16:11. <br><br>The Christmas season is just around the corner and we will celebrate the birth of our precious Savior. However, that is just the beginning! That Christ Child is our King of Kings and our Lord of Lords!!!!He is absolutely everything we need today, tomorrow and forever! How great is our God!<br>Do you know Him?<br><br>Thank You Lord for daily reminders of Your unfailing, unconditionally love for me. Amen<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;God Is Near To The Brokenhearted&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[God Is Near To The BrokenheartedGrowing up, my sister was very sickly. In her younger years she was in and out of hospitals a lot. I remember my mama always telling me to help my sister because I was strong, but she was not. She told me my whole life that I was strong, but she told my sister that she was sick. She spoke blessings over me without even knowing it. Because that was spoken over me, I ...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/21/god-is-near-to-the-brokenhearted</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/21/god-is-near-to-the-brokenhearted</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b><br>God Is Near To The Brokenhearted</b><br><br>Growing up, my sister was very sickly. In her younger years she was in and out of hospitals a lot. I remember my mama always telling me to help my sister because I was strong, but she was not. She told me my whole life that I was strong, but she told my sister that she was sick. She spoke blessings over me without even knowing it. Because that was spoken over me, I grew up, believing I was strong, and I could overcome anything. But here’s the thing. When you are told you are strong because you have to be strong to carry someone else, that’s a problem. The problem is, when you fall, and you will fall, the fall is great! We are not created to be strong on our own. It took a lot of brokenhearted days to discover that God doesn’t expect me to carry anyone or anything on my own. Thank you Lord for Psalm 34:18 that says the Lord is near to the brokenhearted. Over the past two years there have been a lot of brokenhearted days, but because I have such a strong will I felt like I was doing something wrong by showing weakness and I shouldn’t be showing any kind of weakness. It was easier to suffer in silence. God is not only near to the brokenhearted, &nbsp;He reminds in 2 Cor 12:9-10, “ For the sake of Christ, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for when I am weak I am made strong.<br>So may I &nbsp;encourage you today? You don’t have to endure anything alone, reach out! Call somebody that you trust. They will pray with you and love on you. Psalm 30:5 reminds us that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning . I promise you! God IS near to the brokenhearted. </div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;The Beauty of Starting Over&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[The Beauty of Starting OverWe all have a past. We all have things we look back on and regret or wish we could change. But our past does not define us.One of the beautiful things about God is that He is a God of new beginnings. Regardless ofwhere we are in life, we don’t have to wait for the perfect time to start over. We can start over at any point.Isaiah 43:18–19 says, “Forget the former things; ...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/20/the-beauty-of-starting-over</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/20/the-beauty-of-starting-over</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>The Beauty of Starting Over</b><br><br>We all have a past. We all have things we look back on and regret or wish we could change. But our past does not define us.<br>One of the beautiful things about God is that He is a God of new beginnings. Regardless of<br>where we are in life, we don’t have to wait for the perfect time to start over. We can start over at any point.<br>Isaiah 43:18–19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing.”<br>It is easy to focus on our past and spend so much time looking backward that we miss what God is doing right in front of us. We replay the things we wish we had done differently and wonder how life might have turned out if we had made different choices. But we cannot change our past.<br>We can learn from it and allow God to use those experiences to help us grow.<br>Regardless of our past, we can be thankful for the lessons we have learned along the way. Even the difficult seasons can shape us, strengthen us, and help us become the person we are today.<br>God can use what is behind us to prepare us for what is ahead.<br>Starting over may mean forgiving yourself, changing your priorities, walking away from<br>something unhealthy, pursuing a dream you gave up on, or rebuilding your relationship with<br>God. Starting over does not mean that you failed. Sometimes, starting over is simply having the courage to believe that God is not finished with your story.<br>Lamentations 3:22–23 reminds us that God’s mercies are new every morning. I love that because it reminds us that God doesn’t run out of grace. Yesterday may not have gone the way we wanted it to but today is another opportunity.<br>Reflection<br>Is there something in your life that God may be calling you to start over?<br>Prayer<br>Heavenly Father, thank You for being a God of new beginnings. Help me to stop allowing my past to define me. Give me the wisdom to learn from my past and the courage to trust You with what is ahead. Help me to start over when I need to and faithfully follow Your direction for my life. Thank You that Your mercy is new every morning.<br>In Your precious name, Amen.<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;Driven By The Right Purpose&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[Driven by the Right PurposeWhen our hearts are directed toward God, our ambition becomes an act of worship.Scripture:“May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him.” — 1 Kings 8:58When you look up the word “driven,” you will learn that a driven person is highly motivated to succeed and works intensely to achieve their goals. Driven people are determined, focused, and willing to put in...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/19/driven-by-the-right-purpose</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:23:09 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/19/driven-by-the-right-purpose</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>Driven by the Right Purpose</b><br><br><br>When our hearts are directed toward God, our ambition becomes an act of worship.<br>Scripture:<br>“May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him.” — 1 Kings 8:58<br>When you look up the word “driven,” you will learn that a driven person is highly motivated to succeed and works intensely to achieve their goals. Driven people are determined, focused, and willing to put in the effort necessary to accomplish what they set out to do.<br>But is it good to be a driven person? The answer depends on what is driving us.<br>There is nothing wrong with having ambition, setting goals, or working hard to accomplish something meaningful. God has given each of us gifts, abilities, and opportunities to use for His glory. The real question is whether our motivation is rooted in bringing attention to ourselves or bringing glory to Him.<br>After the flood, a group of driven people came together to construct a tower that would reach toward heaven. Their motivation was revealed in Genesis 11:4 when they said, “Let us make a name for ourselves.” They wanted recognition, security, and greatness on their own terms. Their ambition was strong, but their hearts were pointed in the wrong direction. As a result, God confused their language and scattered them across the earth.<br>In contrast, when King Solomon dedicated the new temple that housed the Ark of the Covenant, he declared, “I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord.” (1 Kings 8:20). Solomon had accomplished something extraordinary, but he recognized that the purpose of the temple was not to establish his own greatness. It was to honor the greatness of God.<br>During his prayer of dedication, Solomon asked God to turn the hearts of His people toward Him so they would walk in obedience to His commands.<br>What a powerful reminder that God is not simply interested in what we accomplish. He is interested in the heart behind what we do.<br>We can become so focused on reaching the next goal, achieving success, gaining recognition, or proving ourselves that we forget why we started in the first place. Even good things can become distractions when our desire for accomplishment becomes greater than our desire to please God.<br>Being driven by God does not mean we stop pursuing excellence. It means we pursue excellence with the right motivation. We work hard, serve faithfully, love generously, and use what God has placed in our hands to make a difference in the lives of others.<br>Sometimes obedience will lead us to accomplish great things. Other times, obedience will require us to slow down, surrender our plans, or serve faithfully when no one is watching. In both situations, our purpose remains the same: to glorify God.<br>Colossians 3:17 reminds us:<br>“And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”<br>The world often measures success by how much we accomplish, how far we advance, or how many people recognize our achievements. But God looks deeper. He sees our motives, our faithfulness, and our willingness to obey Him.<br>The goal is not to make a name for ourselves, but to make His name known.<br>When our hearts are fully committed to the Lord, our ambition takes on a greater purpose. We are no longer driven simply by what we can gain, but by what God can accomplish through us.<br>So today, take a moment to examine what is motivating you. Are you striving for recognition or serving out of obedience? Are you chasing success for yourself or pursuing the purpose God has placed before you?<br>May we always be people who work diligently, dream boldly, and pursue excellence, but never at the expense of our relationship with God.<br>Because the greatest success we can experience is not simply accomplishing everything we set out to do. It is knowing that our hearts remained faithful to God along the way.<br>Prayer:<br>Heavenly Father, thank You for the gifts, opportunities, and purpose You have placed in my life. Examine my heart and reveal any motivation that is rooted in pride, selfish ambition, or the desire for recognition. Help me to pursue excellence without losing sight of what matters most. May everything I do be motivated by a desire to please You, honor Your name, and love Your people. Turn my heart toward You daily, and give me the wisdom and strength to walk in obedience to Your Word. Let my life be driven not by personal glory, but by Your purpose. In Jesus' name, Amen.</div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;The Lighthouse&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[The Lighthouse"The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." ~John 1:5."There's a Lighthouse on the hillside that overlooks life's sea.  When I'm tossed about it sends out a light that I might see.  And the light that shines in darkness now will safely lead us o'er.  If it wasn't for the Lighthouse my ship would be sail no more.  And I thank God for the Lighthouse, I owe...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/16/the-lighthouse</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/16/the-lighthouse</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>The Lighthouse</b><br><br>"The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." ~John 1:5.<br><br>"There's a Lighthouse on the hillside that overlooks life's sea. &nbsp;When I'm tossed about it sends out a light that I might see. &nbsp;And the light that shines in darkness now will safely lead us o'er. &nbsp;If it wasn't for the Lighthouse my ship would be sail no more. &nbsp;And I thank God for the Lighthouse, I owe my life to Him. Jesus is the Lighthouse..." I'm sure most of you have never heard the old song "The Lighthouse". Ronnie Hinson wrote the song when I was a young teen and it quickly became a very popular southern gospel hit. And yes, that was a long time ago but the words still resonate so strongly in my heart today!<br><br>"The Lighthouse" was one of those powerful songs that usually brought tears to my eyes. As I thought about those lyrics this morning my mind drifted back to my teen years. Prior to hearing that song, I don't think I had ever given any thought to a "lighthouse". I had visited the one on the Coast but it was just a historical landmark. I had no idea of the importance of a real "lighthouse".<br><br>You see, "bank in the day" ships didn't have a GPS system, they relied on the stars for their directions. However, when storms would blow in, clouds would cover the stars. When that happened, which it often did, they had nothing to guide them-- thus the Iighthouse.<br><br>Lighthouses were always built on the highest point near the shoreline. The Keeper(s) of the lighthouse worked around the clock to maintain and insure that the light never went out or grew dim. That beacon of light is what guided and allowed the sailors and fisherman to make it back to shore. Without it they would have continued to drift and possibly been lost at sea. The Lighthouse was their hope and their lifeline!<br><br>As the years have passed I see how often Jesus has been my Lighthouse. There were many times that I allowed myself to drift way too far out in the deep waters of life where the storms were raging. Some of those storms could have caused me to be lost but thank God for The Lighthouse! Yes, His light was and still is shining brightly in the distance to guide me safely home. "Then my mind goes back to that stormy night when just in time I saw the light. Yes, it was the light from that old Lighthouse that stands up there on the hill." We all face storms in our life. Your storms may be different from the storms I am &nbsp;facing today but Jesus is still our Lighthouse! He is the Beacon that can help us find our way in a world of loneliness, depression, financial needs, addiction, sickness, relationship issues, etc. Whatever our need is, He is the Light that gives us hope and leads us safely Home!<br><br>So today, if you feel as though you have no where to turn, look for The Lighthouse. His Light is shining brightly waiting to lead you to safety, peace, and rest. Jesus is that Lighthouse and His light never goes out or grows dim! He has the answer to whatever storm is raging in your life today and He will lead you safely to the shore! "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life'.” ~John 8:12<br>"...and I thank God for the Lighthouse, yes I owe my life to Him."</div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;Simply Trust&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[Simply TrustSometimes life can be like a roller coaster of emotions. You may not understand everything that is happening in your life, but you can simply trust the One who does.When you are having a bad day — remember God is with you.Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I willstrengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right ...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/15/simply-trust</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/15/simply-trust</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>Simply Trust</b><br><br>Sometimes life can be like a roller coaster of emotions. You may not understand everything that is happening in your life, but you can simply trust the One who does.<br>When you are having a bad day — remember God is with you.<br>Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will<br>strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”<br>When you don’t feel supported — remember God is for you.<br>Romans 8:31: “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”<br>When you feel alone — remember God sees you.<br>Genesis 16:13: “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’”<br>When you feel no one listens — remember God hears you.<br>1 John 5:14: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything<br>according to his will, He hears us.”<br>When you feel no one understands you — remember God knows you.<br>Psalm 139:1–4: “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and<br>when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.”<br>When you feel like no one cares — remember God cares about you.<br>1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.”<br>When you don’t feel appreciated and loved — remember God loves you.<br>Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,<br>Christ died for us.”<br>Reflection: Which of these reminders do you need most today?<br>Dear God, thank you for being with me through every emotion, bad days and good. Help me give<br>You the things I cannot control and trust You through all my days. In Your precious name, Amen<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;I Am The Righteousness of God-Part 3&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[I Am the Righteousness of God - Part 3For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.Hebrews 8:12 NASB 95From the last two devotions we see that as a result of salvation we get to go to heavenupon our death, we become the righteousness of God, and we get a new spirit. This scripturedeclares that our sins are remembered no more (this is also stated in Hebrews 10:...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/14/i-am-the-righteousness-of-god-part-3</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/14/i-am-the-righteousness-of-god-part-3</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>I Am the Righteousness of God - Part 3</b><br><br>For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.<br>Hebrews 8:12 NASB 95<br>From the last two devotions we see that as a result of salvation we get to go to heaven<br>upon our death, we become the righteousness of God, and we get a new spirit. This scripture<br>declares that our sins are remembered no more (this is also stated in Hebrews 10:17, 2<br>Corinthians 5:19 and Isaiah 43:25). When we received our newly created spirit, all previous and<br>future sins were removed from us. When God looks at our spirit, He sees it as spotless. All sin is<br>gone. He could remember the sins that were there, but He choses not to. I have the ability to<br>forget things, and the older I get the greater that ability manifests. But I cannot make myself<br>forget something, no matter how hard I try. If God choses to forget our past, it is gone as far as<br>the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). That is hard for us to imagine but you can see there are<br>several scriptures that state that, and scripture does not lie.<br>To understand who we are in Christ, we must understand the fact that our sins have been<br>removed and forgotten (Jeremiah 31:34). We will remember all our shortcomings and the devil<br>will be sure to remind us of them in condemnation. He will help us recall all the bad things we<br>did to try and convince us we are not worthy of God’s promises. The devil will tell us that we<br>will never amount to anything because we are such low-life worms, constantly displeasing God.<br>When we believe his lies, we then condemn ourselves and maybe do not attempt to do some<br>tasks in God’s kingdom because we think we are not worthy. For example, suppose someone<br>asks us to pray for strength to avoid a certain sin that they are struggling with in their thought<br>life. If we struggled with the same sin, we might say I can’t pray for that, I have the same<br>problem. We must see ourselves as God sees us – as the righteousness of Jesus Himself because<br>of the blood of Jesus – not because of our strength or ability.<br>So, every day profess to yourself who you are in Christ, the righteousness of God with a<br>spotless spirit. Read the scriptures listed above that declare this repeatedly until you know them<br>by heart. Then remind the devil of who you are and whose you are and command him to leave.<br>Claim your forgiveness. Walk in your forgiveness. Exercise your authority as a righteous child of<br>God, always giving thanks and praise.<br>Prayer: Father, Your love, mercy, and forgiveness are so awesome. The more I<br>learn about Your goodness and love for me the more I want to know. Holy Spirit keep<br>teaching me and guiding me. Give me the strength to overcome all the trials and<br>temptations the devil may come at me with. Help me to understand who I am in Christ<br>so that I can walk in complete victory. In your name Jesus, amen.<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;I Am The Righteous of God-Part 2&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[I Am the Righteousness of God - Part 2Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passedaway; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB 95My last devotion was based on 2 Corinthians 5:21 which stated we become therighteousness of God through Jesus’ suffering. Today’s scripture adds to that and sayswe become a new creature. Many versions say we are a new creat...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/13/i-am-the-righteous-of-god-part-2</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/13/i-am-the-righteous-of-god-part-2</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>I Am the Righteousness of God - Part 2</b><br><br>Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed<br>away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB 95<br>My last devotion was based on 2 Corinthians 5:21 which stated we become the<br>righteousness of God through Jesus’ suffering. Today’s scripture adds to that and says<br>we become a new creature. Many versions say we are a new creation, a new being.<br>Now how can that be? To understand this, you must understand 1 Thessalonians 5:23:<br>Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul<br>and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.<br>NASB 95. This scripture says we are a three-part being, spirit, soul, and body. When we<br>are saved our body does not change; our mind does not change. What changes is our<br>spirit—the real us. We are really a spirit, we live in a body, and we have a soul (our<br>emotions, personality, intellect, physical and spiritual giftings). Today’s scripture says we<br>become a new creature. It is our spirit that is recreated—we get an entirely new spirit,<br>one that is not tarnished by sin. It’s perfect, just as perfect as Adam and Eve’s spirit was<br>before they sinned.<br>As mentioned in my last devotion, all the sins that we committed before salvation<br>tarnished our old spirit and made us unacceptable in God’s sight. This new spirit is<br>created with absolutely no sin, no blemishes, no marks—a perfect spirit. So, you may<br>ask, “Well what if we sin again. Won’t it just get darkened again?” If we sin again is not a<br>question, we will definitely sin again, but we sin with our body and/or our mind, but not<br>our spirit. All of our sins were imputed onto Jesus, even those we have not committed<br>yet, and Jesus’ righteousness was imputed onto our new spirit (see my last devotion). If<br>that is not enough, Ephesians 1:13-14 says that the Holy Spirit puts a seal on our spirit<br>that makes it impermeable to sin--we are covered with the robe of righteousness and<br>any sins we commit with our body or mind is already imputed to Jesus. (In Him, you<br>also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also<br>believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of Promise, who is given as a<br>pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the<br>praise of His glory Ephesians 1:13-14 NASB 95).<br>So, as a result of salvation we get to go to heaven, we become the righteousness<br>of God through Jesus’ finished work on the cross, and we become a new creature. The<br>real us is a spirit—through salvation this spirit is recreated and sealed forever from the<br>effects of sin. But we are not finished, there is more as a result of salvation. Chances<br>are you have never been taught this, at least not this way and I understand it may be a<br>lot to take in. This is not my opinion; it is what the Bible clearly says. Meditate on it.<br>Read these scriptures over and over. Memorize them. Constantly remind yourself of<br>who you are in Christ. See my next devotion for part three.<br>Prayer: Father God I never stop being amazed by your magnificent plan that you<br>unfolded so that I could walk in your presence. Your plan was flawless but came at the<br>expense of extreme suffering for Jesus’ suffering that He freely endured so we could<br>come into Your presence and have fellowship with You. I thank You Father for Your plan<br>of salvation and Jesus, I thank You for walking it out, being guided by the Holy Spirit.<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;I Am The Righteous of God-Part 1&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[I Am the Righteousness of God – Part 1He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might becomethe righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB 95I believe we all know that asking Jesus to be our Lord and Savior means wehave salvation. All of us should understand that to mean when we die, we will go toheaven and not hell. That is correct but it is only the tip of the ice...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/12/i-am-the-righteous-of-god-part-1</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/12/i-am-the-righteous-of-god-part-1</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>I Am the Righteousness of God – Part 1</b><br><br>He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become<br>the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB 95<br>I believe we all know that asking Jesus to be our Lord and Savior means we<br>have salvation. All of us should understand that to mean when we die, we will go to<br>heaven and not hell. That is correct but it is only the tip of the iceberg concerning the<br>complete meaning. Jesus died for our sins, yes, but as this scripture says He became<br>sin on our behalf. How could He become sin? Jesus did not become sin itself; He did<br>not become a sinner for us either; nor did he become guilty of our sins. What it means is<br>the guilt of every sin committed by man since Adam and Eve, and every sin that will be<br>committed until the end of the world, was imputed from us to Him on the cross.<br>So, what does “impute” mean? It is a financial and legal accounting term. It<br>describes how God transfers a spiritual standing, either a sinful standing or a righteous<br>standing, to a person’s account. In the case of 2 Corinthians 5:21 it means God<br>transfers the penalty of the sin of the whole world to his perfect sinless Son and in<br>return He transfers the righteousness of the same perfect Son to us. When we accept<br>this transfer as being for us, that is receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we become<br>the righteousness of God, per 2 Corinthian 5:21. The guilt of sin was imputed to Jesus<br>as the righteousness of Jesus was imputed to us. Thus, you can see why salvation is<br>referred to as a miracle.<br>Something our finite minds have a hard time understanding is eternity. Jesus and<br>Father God were together for all eternity, always together, never separated. Just before<br>Jesus died on the cross, He quoted Psalm 22:1 and cried out “My God, My God, why<br>have You forsaken me.” Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34. The guilt of the whole world’s<br>sin came upon Him. God the Father hates sin and cannot stand in its presence and had<br>to turn His face. For the first time ever He and the Son were separated because of our<br>sin so that we could now come into God’s presence in the throne room. Have you ever<br>thought of that? Not only did Jesus suffer tremendous physical pain, but He suffered<br>mental and spiritual pain also.<br>There are three great imputations in the Scripture. One is when Adam sinned, his<br>disobedience and guilt were charged to all mankind (Romans 5:12). Jesus was a<br>human when He walked the earth, born of Mary, but not by the seed of man, He was<br>conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. The second imputation is the believer’s sin<br>guilt imputed to Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). The third imputation is Jesus’ righteousness<br>imputed to believers (Romans 4:22-24).<br>The bottom line for this devotion I that if you are a believer, the guilt of your sins<br>has been imputed to Jesus and His righteousness has been imputed to you. You are the<br><br>righteousness of God through Christ Jesus. Your debt has been paid for every sin you<br>ever committed or will commit. Receive that righteousness and walk in it. Speak<br>righteousness. Act righteous. Live righteous giving thanks and praise to your God for<br>His mercy and grace. If you are not saved, read the prayer below loud enough for your<br>own ears to hear and mean what you say and you will be saved. This is not the end of<br>the devotion. Part 2 will appear another day.<br>Prayer: Lord Jesus, You suffered more than I can imagine for me, not only<br>physically but also spiritually and mentally. I am still realizing how much You love me. I<br>accept what you did for me and ask you to come into my heart and be my Savior and<br>Lord. I repent of my sins that caused you so much agony. Come into my heart and<br>guide me in every aspect of my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I love You Lord and<br>thank you for all you have done for me. In your name I pray, amen.<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;The Delay That Protected You&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[The Delay That Protected YouHave you ever been running late and a red light or a flight delays you? You can’t find your keys.Something you spend time planning does not happen when you think it would, and you feelfrustration. We see the delay, but God sees what is ahead.We may never know how many times God has protected us through a delay. Proverbs 16:9remind us that we can make our plans, but ulti...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/09/the-delay-that-protected-you</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/09/the-delay-that-protected-you</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>The Delay That Protected You</b><br><br>Have you ever been running late and a red light or a flight delays you? You can’t find your keys.<br>Something you spend time planning does not happen when you think it would, and you feel<br>frustration. We see the delay, but God sees what is ahead.<br>We may never know how many times God has protected us through a delay. Proverbs 16:9<br>remind us that we can make our plans, but ultimately the Lord establishes our steps. We<br>sometimes ask God to guide us, protect us, and direct our path. However, when He allows our plans to change, we may become frustrated because His direction does not look the way we expected. Sometimes protection may look like a detour or delay.<br>Instead of immediately becoming frustrated when something slows you down, take a moment and remember only God can see what is ahead. And that delay could have been an answered prayer.<br>You can trust the One who sees the road ahead.<br>“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” — Proverbs 16:9<br><br><b>Reflection:</b><br>Has there been a time when something did not happen according to your plans? When you look back, can you see how the delay may have protected you or worked for your good?<br><br><b>Prayer:</b><br>Heavenly Father, help me trust You when things do not happen according to my plans. When I become impatient, remind me that You see what I cannot see. Give me wisdom when plans change and peace in the waiting. Thank You for always protecting me, even when I cannot see.<br>In Your precious name, Amen.<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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			<title>&quot;Now Faith&quot;</title>
						<description><![CDATA[Now Faith Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." ~Hebrews 11:1"Now" faith...not something you once had, not something you might have in the future. "NOW" faith...faith for today, for this very minute! Faith that God hears my prayers, faith that God is working everything for my good, faith that everything, E-VE-RY-THING is going to be alright! Faith is kno...]]></description>
			<link>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/08/now-faith</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>https://lifechurchlaurel.com/blog/2026/10/08/now-faith</guid>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<section class="sp-section sp-scheme-0" data-index="1" data-scheme="0"><div class="sp-section-slide"  data-label="Main" ><div class="sp-section-content" ><div class="sp-grid sp-col sp-col-24"><div class="sp-block sp-text-block " data-type="text" data-id="0" style=""><div class="sp-block-content"  style=""><b>Now Faith</b> <br><br>Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." ~Hebrews 11:1<br><br>"Now" faith...not something you once had, not something you might have in the future. "NOW" faith...faith for today, for this very minute! Faith that God hears my prayers, faith that God is working everything for my good, faith that everything, E-VE-RY-THING is going to be alright! Faith is knowing that no matter what the situation looks like today, God is working all things for good. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." ~Romans 8:28<br><br>Let me tell you friends, I have needed some "now" faith lately because my faith has been tested. Just when I think I'm gonna make it, satan comes at me from another direction. However, today I declare that I won't be defeated and I won't give up!!! I will stand on God's Word, I will pray, I will seek God's will and I will keep believing! I will have "now" faith! The Bible tells me, "...if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it WILL move; and NOTHING will be impossible for you." ~Matthew 17:20. Read that again, "It WILL move and NOTHING will be impossible"! Friends, that promise is ours, we just have to believe it!<br><br>So how do we grow in faith? How do we get that "now" faith? We pray, we read God's Word, we meditate on His promises, we believe those promises are ours and then we pray some more! Nope, faith doesn't just happen, faith requires us to take action, to work at it! &nbsp;"But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ~James 2:20. <br><br>What are we willing to do to see that mountain move...how bad do we want that mountain to move? Are we willing to pray more, are we willing to seek His will over ours? Do we truly want that "now" faith? My answer is yes, yes yes and YES! <br><br>Dear Lord, Your Word says we walk by faith, not by sight. Lord help me walk in "now" faith, faith to stand firm on Your Word so that even when I don't see it and I can't feel it, I know You are working! I want my faith to be alive! I will not give up, I will see my mountain move! Your promises are Yes and Amen! Thank you Lord for answered prayers. I give you praise and honor, in Jesus Name I pray, Amen. <br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "For we walk by faith, not by sight!" <br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;~2 Corinthians 5:7.<br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></section>]]></content:encoded>
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