Pastor Stephen Dedman

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November 11, 2026

Encouragement

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Question
Am you living with gratitude for the sacrifices others have made, especially the sacrifice Jesus made for you?

Context
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, describing the greatest expression of love which is sacrificial love. He would soon demonstrate that love by laying down His own life for the sins of the world. His words remind us that genuine love is often demonstrated through sacrifice.

Application
Today, as we observe Veterans Day, we pause to honor the men and women who have served our country. Many have sacrificed their time, comfort, dreams, and even their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy. Their service reminds us that freedom often comes at a tremendous cost.

As Christians, we are also reminded of the greatest sacrifice ever made. Jesus Christ laid down His life so that we could experience forgiveness, salvation, and freedom from sin. We should never take that sacrifice for granted.

Today, let’s express gratitude to our veterans, remember those who never made it home, and above all, give thanks to the Savior who gave His life for us.

Truth For The Day
Freedom is never free.

Prayer
Lord, thank You for the men and women who have served our nation and sacrificed so much for our freedom. Bless our veterans and comfort those who carry the memories of service and loss. Most importantly, thank You for Jesus, who gave His life so that we could be free from sin. Help us never take Your sacrifice for granted. May we live each day with grateful hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 10, 2026

Trust

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬

Question
What current affliction do you need to place fully in God’s hands today instead of trying to carry it yourself?

Context
Psalm 34 was written by David after he escaped danger while fleeing from King Saul. David had to pretend insanity before Abimelech to save his life (1 Samuel 21). This psalm rises out of fear, uncertainty, and real affliction. Yet instead of focusing on the threat, David magnifies the Lord.

Verse 19 is honest: righteousness does not exempt us from trouble. Faith does not create a pain-free life. But the promise is greater than the problem: the Lord delivers.

Application
Some days feel heavier than others. You may be walking through stress, disappointment, grief, or pressure that no one else sees. The enemy whispers, “If you were really blessed, this wouldn’t be happening.” But Scripture says the opposite. Afflictions are not proof of God’s absence; they are opportunities for His deliverance.

Notice the word “many.” David doesn’t sugarcoat reality. But he also uses the word “all.” The same God who allows you to walk through trouble promises to bring you out of it. Deliverance may not always be immediate, but it is always certain in God’s timing and way.

Truth For The Day
You are not alone in your affliction, and it will not have the final word. The Lord is your Deliverer.

Pray
Lord, You see every burden I carry. Thank You that my struggles do not surprise You. Strengthen my heart in the middle of difficulty. Help me trust that You will deliver me in Your perfect timing. Teach me to magnify You even before I see the breakthrough. In Jesus’ name, amen.

November 9, 2026

Encouragement

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬

Question
How might God be using your weakness to reveal His strength today?

Context
In 2 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul speaks openly about a “thorn in the flesh”, a persistent struggle he asked God to remove. Three times Paul prayed for relief, yet God did not take it away. Instead, the Lord gave Paul a deeper revelation: his weakness was not a liability but an opportunity for God’s power to be displayed. This moment reshaped Paul’s understanding of strength, suffering, and grace.

Application
We often assume that God’s greatest work happens when we feel strong, capable, and confident. But Paul learned that God often works most powerfully in places of limitation. The very thing Paul wanted removed became the place where God’s grace was most evident.

Identify an area of weakness, frustration, or limitation in your life. Instead of resisting it, surrender it to God and ask Him to reveal His power through it.

Truth For The Day
God’s grace does not always remove the struggle, but it always supplies the strength.

Pray
Lord, thank You that Your grace is more than enough for me. Teach me to rely on You in my weakness and to trust that You are working even when the struggle remains. Let Your power be made perfect in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.