Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: pastor stephen dedman

Close To God

Faith

His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.
Acts 17:27

Thank you for your prayers, phone calls, emails, and text messages while my family and I were fighting Covid. I am recovering fine and ready to get back to ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I give God the glory for healing me and my family. – Pastor Stephen

Getting close to the One who loves you the most isn’t as hard as it may seem. However, spending time with God requires effort. Especially when we have an adversary who will do whatever to keep you from spending time with God.

God created us, loves us and wants to be with us. But there is a problem that exists. Our sin separates us from Him because He is a holy and righteous God.

There is good news because God sent His only Son to connect us to Him. 1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”

Getting close to God is as simple as having a relationship with Jesus. Knowing Jesus is knowing God. Getting close to Jesus is the same as getting close to God.

If you want to spend time with God you must spend time in the Word of God. God speaks through His Word.

Spend time communicating with God through prayer. Speaking with God draws us close to Him.

Worship helps us seek His presence. Find a way to worship Him today.

Pray

Lord, I love You and want to spend more time with You. Forgive me of my sins and renew my joy of Your salvation. Draw me close to You.

Merry Christmas

Encouragement, Trust

And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:5

Merry Christmas!

We can celebrate life because Jesus was born. We can have peace because Jesus died. We can have joy because Jesus lives!

Let the love and light of God shine brighter in your life like never before. Be proud to be called a child of God. And stand firm on His Truth.

Remember the light of Jesus can shine through any darkness and overcome it.

Merry Christmas to each one of you and may God shower you with His blessings.

Pray

Lord, Your love is unending and Your grace is everlasting. Surround me with Your presence and protection. Keep me in Your word of truth so I will grow in wisdom.

No Room In The Inn

Encouragement

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:7

We have the Christmas story of what took place when Jesus was born. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit through a virgin named Mary. He was born in a small farming village called Bethlehem. And He was wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a feeding trough.

What we don’t have is the story of what took place in heaven when Jesus came to earth. We must remember that Jesus left His eternal glory in heaven and came to a place that was limited to time, space and matter. In heaven, Jesus was not constrained to time, space, or matter.

Hebrews 10:5 says, “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.'” God the Father prepared and used a mortal body for Jesus to live through that could be used to identify with humanity.

As God-Man, Jesus experienced sufferings, encountered sorrows, and endured sin but knew no sin. He identified Himself with us. There is nothing that we face that Jesus didn’t face. He can sympathize with us.

Whatever you are facing today just know that Jesus cares. He cares about your sorrows, your pains, your sufferings, and even your sins. He cared so much about them that He laid down His life so that you didn’t have to. Because of Jesus we can live a victorious life.

Pray

Lord, You know what I am facing and what I am feeling today. I lay my burdens at Your feet. Help me to live victoriously in Your name.