Brien Deverick - Victory in Jesus

Life changes, doesn’t it? Our plans change. Our work changes. We enter new seasons, and sometimes we wonder what comes next. For years, travelers have looked to the North Star to help them find their way. While other stars seem to move around it, it stays nearly in the same place. That reminds me of Jesus. When life changes around us, He is still the same. His love has not faded. His promises have not failed. His power has not grown weak. The One who carried you yesterday will walk with you today. And He will already be there when tomorrow comes. Friend, you may not know what this new season holds, but you can trust the Lord to lead you through it. Stay close to Him. Keep reading His Word. Take the next step by faith. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” — Hebrews 13:8, KJV Life changes. Jesus stays the same. Have a great day! Your friend, Brien Deverick

Good morning! A little kindness can make a big difference! Say thank you. Hold the door for someone. Give a kind word. Look for the good in others and let them know you see it. Treat people the way you would want to be treated. Let’s show the love of Jesus by serving others and letting them know we care. Someone you meet today may need that kindness more than you know! “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” — Luke 6:31, KJV Now go have a great day! Brien Deverick – at Oklahoma City, OK

Friend, it’s easy to complain about what others are or aren’t doing. But we each have a choice to make. You can’t control their actions, but you can choose your own. Ask the Lord to help you keep a good attitude, give your best, and do what is right. Speak a kind word. Lend a helping hand. Let others see Jesus in you today! “Do all things without murmurings and disputings:” — Philippians 2:14, KJV Your friend, Brien Deverick – at Oklahoma City, OK

Pray so big and so often that when Jesus meets you in Heaven, He says with a smile, "Kid, you kept me very busy."

WHERE DOES STRONG FAITH COME FROM? - A man came to a river that was frozen over. He needed to reach the other side, but he did not know how thick the ice was. He stepped onto the ice and slowly moved forward. The farther he went, the more afraid he became. Soon, he got down on his hands and knees. Then he began to crawl and slowly pull himself across the ice. Suddenly, he heard a loud cracking sound behind him. He thought the ice was breaking and that he was about to fall through! But as the sound came closer, the ice did not break. The man looked back and could hardly believe what he saw. Another man was driving a team of horses across the river. Behind them was a heavy wagon loaded with logs! When the fearful man saw that wagon safely crossing the ice, everything changed. He stood up, brushed off his clothes, and walked the rest of the way with confidence. What was the difference between those two men? One man knew the strength of the ice. The other man did not. WHERE DOES STRONG FAITH COME FROM? IT COMES FROM KNOWING GOD. The better we know Him, the more we will trust Him. “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” — Psalm 9:10, KJV If you want stronger faith, do not just try harder to believe. Spend time with God. Read His Word. Remember His promises. Look back at His faithfulness. Get to know God, and you will learn that He can carry every burden you place in His hands. How has knowing someone well helped you trust that person more? What are you carrying today because you have found it hard to trust God to carry it for you? THERE IS VICTORY IN JESUS! Victory in Jesus with Brien Deverick

HOW CAN WE LIVE SO CLOSE TO PEOPLE AND YET FEEL SO FAR APART? WE LIVE IN A BUSY AND CROWDED WORLD, BUT MANY PEOPLE STILL FEEL SO ALL ALONE. Neighbors may live close to each other but never speak. People are hurting, yet many are afraid to get involved. As followers of Jesus, we must be different. God has called us to care, encourage, help, and serve others. Every person we meet is someone Jesus loves. God is using every part of our lives to make us more like His Son. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…” — Romans 8:28–29, KJV God’s purpose is not only to make our lives easier. His purpose is to make us more like Jesus. Jesus saw people. Jesus cared for people. Jesus helped people. Let’s slow down today. Let’s notice those around us. Let’s show them the love of Christ. THERE IS VICTORY IN JESUS! Brien Deverick

REAL SECURITY COMES FROM KNOWING JESUS Wherever life takes us, He is with us. Things may change, but His love and care never will. We can trust Him with today and with whatever comes next.

THE BOOK OF JOSHUA — FORWARD BY FAITH “Following God Through Change” TITLE: READY FOR VICTORY TEXT: JOSHUA 5:1–15, We will learn that being ready for the next step begins with obeying God, trusting His care, and yielding to Him. 1. OBEY HIS WORD — JOSHUA 5:1–9 2. TRUST HIS CARE — JOSHUA 5:10–12 BIBLE TRUTH: God’s way of providing may change, but His care remains. • Verse 10: Israel kept the Passover. They remembered how God delivered them from Egypt. • Verse 11: They ate food from the land. God had brought them into the place He promised. • Verse 12: The manna stopped after they ate the land’s food. God’s care continued through a new supply. SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19, KJV. SHORT ILLUSTRATION A parent feeds a little child with a spoon. As the child grows, he learns to feed himself. The way he receives food changes, but his parent still cares for him. DRIVE IT HOME Sometimes we want God to help us exactly as He did before. • Thank Him for His care in the past. • Watch for the help He is giving now. • Trust Him when familiar things change. The manna stopped, but Israel still had food. A change in the supply did not mean God had left them. TRUST HIS CARE. BEFORE POINT THREE, REMEMBER: 1. OBEY HIS WORD. 2. TRUST HIS CARE.

WHAT ARE YOU FEEDING YOUR MIND TODAY? - God made your brain in an amazing way! It weighs about three pounds and floats in fluid that helps protect it. About 60% of its dry weight is fat. It has around 86 billion nerve cells and uses about 20% of your body’s energy. Some nerve signals can travel about 268 miles per hour! Those facts are amazing, but think about this: What thoughts are filling your mind? What we dwell on can shape our whole day. When worry fills our thoughts, we need to turn our hearts back to the Lord. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” — Isaiah 26:3, KJV. Let’s make room for God’s Word today: Read a passage before you get busy. Choose a verse to think about. When worry comes, pray and remember what God said. Friend, we may not know what today holds, but we know the Lord who holds us. Keep your mind on Him and trust His care. THERE IS VICTORY IN JESUS!

THE BOOK OF JOSHUA — FORWARD BY FAITH “Following God Through Change” TITLE: READY FOR VICTORY TEXT: JOSHUA 5:1–15, We will learn that being ready for the next step begins with obeying God, trusting His care, and yielding to Him. 1. OBEY HIS WORD — JOSHUA 5:1–9 BIBLE TRUTH: God’s people must take His commands seriously. • Verse 1: The kings heard how God stopped the Jordan. Their courage failed before Israel. • Verses 2–3: God told Joshua to circumcise the men. Joshua obeyed. This was the covenant sign God had given Israel. • Verses 4–5: The men who left Egypt had been circumcised. Those born during the wilderness journey had not. • Verse 6: The older generation died in the wilderness because they refused to obey God. • Verse 7: The new generation needed to obey for themselves. They could not live on their parents’ faith. • Verse 8: The people stayed in camp until they healed. They had to trust God while they were weak. • Verse 9: God said He had rolled away the shame of Egypt. Gilgal marked a fresh start. SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” — James 1:22, KJV. SHORT ILLUSTRATION A child may hear his father say, “Put your shoes on.” He may even repeat the words. But obedience begins when he puts them on. DRIVE IT HOME Knowing what God says is only the beginning. • Do what He has already made clear. • Deal with the sin He has shown you. • Take time to get your heart right with Him. We may want to hurry ahead. Let’s first make sure we are obeying the Lord. OBEY HIS WORD.

WHAT WILL YOU LEAVE FOR THOSE WHO COME AFTER YOU? I often heard my pastor say, “There cometh one after you,” and “Leave it better than you found it.” The older I get, the more I see the wisdom in those words. At home, at work, and in church, think about the next person. Care for what God has placed in your hands. Do the best you can with what you have been given. Encourage someone. Do your part well. Leave something good for those who follow. “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” — 1 Corinthians 10:24, KJV. Look for ways to help others. You’ll find joy in making their way a little better. THERE IS VICTORY IN JESUS!

WHAT IF WE JUST TRUSTED GOD FOR TOMORROW AND STAYED FAITHFUL TODAY? You don’t have to face every day all at once. Trust the Lord. Do what is right today. When tomorrow comes, trust Him again. Keep following Jesus, one day at a time. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” — Matthew 6:34, KJV.