24. January 2012 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ:

Hello Everyone: 

Happy New Year:

Everyone is concerned about me and wondering what is going on with my blog.  To be honest, I have been really busy trying to organize so much in my life and I have not had the chance to begin my blogs back up this year.   Because of my expository style of teaching, I really wanted my blogs to be full of historical and applicable content but doing it every day sometimes caused me to cut corners and not give you the study that I so desired.    I was thinking about shutting my blog down totally but I am getting emails about how many people were blessed by them and missed them though I felt I did not always do my best on them.

What I have decided to do is instead of a daily blog, to post a weekly blog.   It will be available on Monday mornings and it will be my blog for the week.   It will include a memory verse for the week, a topic with contextual background and application for daily living. 

I think this is much easier for me to commit to and I know I will definitely do a better job for you.   My blog will begin again the first Monday in February.

I look forward to each of you joining me again as we journey through the scriptures.

Thank you for your patience.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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7. December 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

As you know, I have taken off from posting until the New Year.  Our church practices rest month during the month of December, where we only attend church service on Sunday but all other activities are suspended until the New Year including bible study.  It allows us to rest, be with family and friends during the holiday season and begin to get focused for the New Year. 

I would like to personally thank the many followers that have faithfully followed my daily devotional this year.  I am still working to try and find the right format that is most effective for my audience.   Any suggestions that you have are welcomed and you can send them to bernice@bernicedavisministries.org and I will definitely review them during this holiday season.

Please take time during the holiday season to enjoy you and don’t be stressed by the commercialism and pressure that can go along with this season.   I absolutely have no pressure on me during this holiday season.   I don’t spend more than I have allocated for this season and if I don’t want to spend anything at all then I am free to do that also without feeling any guilt or shame.    I have learned to live free and I will never go back in bondage again concerning anything.

I love this season of the year.  People  seem to be nicer, so much excitement and it also exposes us to a lot of charities, organizations and people that are in need that we can assist that we may not acknowledge except during this season of the year.   While I know that statistics also show that this can be one of the most depressing times of the year due to economic situations, the loss of love ones, etc…   Use this opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life by showing them the love of God through giving.   It doesn’t matter how much we have or how little, we can all share whatever we have or volunteer our time and talents to assist the needy.

This season is very hard for those of us who have lost loved ones.  I never knew how hard until the loss of my mom.   There were things that she loved to do during the holidays that use to bring so much joy to her and doing them is just not the same without her.   It’s been five years now and some days it feels like it just happened.    I was telling a friend that around the fourth year I started feeling a little relief like I was getting use to living with such a great loss and it seemed like I was going to be okay and the fifth year, it felt like it had just happened all over again.   I use to be so insensitive to people who after 10, 15 years would tell me that they still struggle sometimes with loss and in the back of my head, I would be like “okay,,, you really should be over that by now” but experiencing it myself makes me understand exactly how you can still be saddened after so many years.  

Please be clear, I am not depressed about the loss of my mom, but I do often find myself thinking of her especially during the holidays and my eyes will get a little teary.   I am so sure that she is enjoying Jesus and is right where she wants to be.    It’s a journey that we all have to take and actually dying in Christ is bitter/sweet.  If you have a relationship with Christ, death can be the most beautiful yet the most painful experience you’ll ever encounter.

Wow.. It felt good to talk about her.  Thank you for listening.   Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I will be returning at the first of the year to share with you as I always do my reflections of the past year, my triumphs and obstacles and my plan to move forward. 

I hope you will continue to join me daily as we strive to be more like Christ in everything we do. 

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

Again… MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR…

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24. November 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ:

Hello Everyone: 

Have a wonderful thanksgiving to all my followers in the USA and to all others around the world, make it a great weekend.

I would like to share this familiar passage of scripture with you to reflect on how God desires all the praise due to him.

Luke 17:12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said , Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass , that, as they went , they were cleansed . 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed , turned back , and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks : and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said , Were there not ten cleansed ? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise , go thy way : thy faith hath made thee whole . (KJV)

In other words;  “Where is the rest of my praise.”  GIVE HIM THANKS for all things for this is the will of God concerning you.  I Thessalonians 5:18.

Have a wonderful and peaceful holiday weekend and I’ll see you in web land on Monday.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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14. November 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Welcome back from the weekend.   I know I was missing in action last week but I usually get down with sinus really bad about once a year and last week and this week is that time.  I’m on antibiotics but I have lost my voice.  Please keep me in your prayers.  I have a women’s conference to do on this weekend in California and I really don’t want to cancel.   I’ve never had to cancel a speaking engagement and this church is very special to me. 

Thanks for checking on me and for your patience.  I’ll be back posting on tomorrow.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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7. November 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Welcome back from the weekend.  I am so excited about our future in God.  I just feel so empowered and encouraged this morning.  

Today I want to talk to you about conflict.

I was studying the subject matter on this past Friday in a biblical counseling class that I am taking and I was so enlightened by the study.    The bible never ceases to amaze me.  You can have read things before and then all of a sudden when you come across it again, it’s all most like you knew read it yet you are very familiar with it.

I thought I would share with you today some of the notes:

The Bible teaches us in Romans 12:18 “if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

As you see in the text, you may not always be able to avoid conflict but as far as we are concerned we should not participate in it.    All conflict is a result of sin whether it is a Man/God conflict or a Man/Man conflict. 

Sometimes peace may be outside of your reach.  You cannot make peace at the expense of truth and righteousness. 

There are some people with whom it is impossible to make peace.  I Corinthians 7:15 teaches that if the unbelieving depart let him depart.  A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.    God does not hold you responsible for the sinful failures of others.

The most inspiring part of the lesson was the part where the speaker was talking about how conflict can be an opportunity to glorify God and be a witness.  People are watching us and our response to someone who is in conflict with us can be an amazing testimony to the change that God has made in our lives.

So glorify God today through your conflict.   Work it out and if the other party is resistant then maintain a stance that will be pleasing to our God.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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2. November 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Today, I was reading an excerpt from Billy Graham’s New Book available now called Nearing Home, Thomas Nelson, October 2011,  102 pages , $19.99 .  I intend to order it as soon as I finish with this blog.   It touched my heart so and made me realize that I can do more, be better, and I must take advantage of each moment of life.  It really just makes you put things in perspective.  I will write more comments on it once I’ve received it and finished reading it.  I encourage you to order it. This man was one of the greatest evangelists of our times.  His message was simply Jesus.   He was a true evangelist.   Even in this except and at the close of his life, you still can hear him calling the lost in. 

Here is the excerpt:

A headline on an Internet site read, “Death, the nation’s #1 killer.” The point was obvious—death is inevitable! No one can outrun death. It will catch up to all of us eventually. When I was interviewed by Newsweek in 2006 and asked to give a statement about death, I commented that I had been taught all of my life how to die, but no one had ever taught me how to grow old. That statement triggered a lot of interest, and I began thinking about a book on the subject.

I am certainly no expert on the subject of growing old, but now that I am gaining some experience, I have to admit that not all things get better with age. I have a newfound appreciation—and understanding—when I read this passage in Ecclesiastes 12:

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, … Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed. (vv. 1, 6 NKJV)

When I read this passage as a young preacher, I can assure you I did not relate to it as I do now. What impresses me now is that Solomon, the wisest king ever to rule Israel, intended for the young to read it “in the days of … youth, before the difficult days come” (emphasis added).

When I was young, I could not imagine being old. My mother said, and the doctor confirmed, that I had an unusual amount of energy; and it followed me into young adulthood. When middle age set in, I dealt with physical weariness, but my mind was always in high gear, and it never took long for my physical stamina to return after a grueling schedule. It tires me out to dwell on it now, wondering how I ever kept up with such a jam-packed itinerary. I fought growing old in every way. I faithfully exercised and was careful to pace myself as I began to feel the grasp of Old Man Time. This was not a transition that I welcomed, and I began to dread what I knew would follow.

My wife, Ruth, however, was one of those who could lighten heavy hearts, especially mine. I will never forget when she announced what she wanted engraved on her gravestone, and for those who have so respectfully visited her gravesite at the Billy Graham Library, they have noticed that what she planned for was carried out to the letter.

Long before she became bedridden, she was driving along a highway through a construction site. Carefully following the detours and mile-by-mile cautionary signs, she came to the last one that said, “End of Construction. Thank you for your patience.” She arrived home, chuckling and telling the family about the posting. “When I die,” she said, “I want that engraved on my stone.” She was lighthearted but serious about her request. She even wrote it out so that we wouldn’t forget. While we found the humor enlightening, we appreciated the truth she conveyed through those few words. Every human being is under construction from conception to death. Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent. At the end of construction—death—we have completed the process.

You formed my inward parts; …
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought. …
The days fashioned for me. (Psalm 139:13, 15–16 NKJV)

Death says, “This is the finality of accomplishment.” While we cannot add anything more to our experience, believers in Christ have the hope of hearing the Savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).

The apostle Paul spoke of the Christian being “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith” (Colossians 2:7 NKJV). This is part of our ongoing construction in this life. But the Bible assures us that “if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1 NKJV). When Ruth was separated from her pain-stricken body and earthly construction was complete, she found lasting peace. Her dwelling now is eternal.

There is a stretch of highway going up into the mountains of western North Carolina that has been under construction for many years. It is rugged terrain. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has the task of blasting through boulders and mangled tree roots to carve a smooth pathway into the high country. Vehicles have been caught in rockslides and temporary road closings. Signs flash through the night, Proceed with Caution, as the road winds and twists through the hills, guiding drivers through the maze. When travelers living at the top of the mountain see the welcomed sign, End of Construction, they know they are nearing home. I have known many parents who live in that part of the state and who pace the floor knowing their teenagers are up and down that mountain all the time. Reaching their destinations safely brings relief.

Life can be like traveling a treacherous road. There are potholes that jolt us, detours that get us off course, and signs warning us of danger ahead. The destination of the soul and spirit is of utmost importance to God, so He offers us daily guidance. Some pay close attention to God’s directions; others ignore them and speed past the flashing lights. But everyone eventually arrives at the final destination: death’s door. This is where the soul is separated from the body.

Even on the cross, Jesus taught that death was a passage for the spirit into the presence of God (Luke 23:46). The psalmist declared, “God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave” (Psalm 49:15 NKJV). Have you committed your soul into the hands of its Maker? Are you following the caution signs that God has posted throughout His Guidebook, the Bible? “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul” (Proverbs 16:17 NKJV).

You may find yourself saying, “But, Billy, I’m nearing the end of life. I haven’t been a bad person.” There are many, young and old, who have said this as they have contemplated death, but it is my duty to speak the truth from God’s Word: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NKJV).

As people grow older, the less surprised we are by their deaths, which often come only after an extended period of declining health. There even may be time for family members to gather and be with the dying person in the final hours. That is the way it was with Ruth. “Her body is beginning to shut down,” her doctor told me frankly. “Her death may still be some days away, but the process has begun, and you need to be prepared.” Two weeks later we gathered around her bedside as her breathing grew more shallow. I was seated by Ruth’s bedside holding her hand, and our daughter Anne was standing beside me. Suddenly Anne said, “She is in Heaven.”

Her breathing had stopped, and her hand slipped from mine. Her years of suffering were over; Ruth had entered her final home. Memories of those final months will remain with me the rest of my life: her growing frailty, her suffering, her expressions of love, our times of prayer, her certainty—and even joy—that soon she would be in the presence of the Lord she had loved and served for so many years. As I think back over those days, the familiar words of Psalm 23 come to me with new meaning, for they exemplify Ruth’s confidence as she sensed her time on earth was drawing to a close: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. … Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever” (vv. 4, 6 KJV).

Excerpted from Nearing Home by Billy Graham.

Nearing Home is available from ChristianBook.com and other book retailers.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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1. November 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ:

Hello Everyone: 

Today I was thinking on Grace.  To be honest, it was from a message that Bishop TD Jakes preached at our church on this past Sunday and it is still ringing in my ears.  He was talking about Paul’s opening address to the church at Ephesus using the Christian Greeting Grace and Peace that I always use at the beginning of my lessons.

The word grace comes from a word that means favor.  While he touched on so many things the part that really sticks out for me is the statement that he made that no matter what we are going through, God has already given us the “grace” to handle or go through.   While I know that we have all heard this statement before it was something about hearing it on this past Sunday that encouraged my heart so.   My mind seemed to click and all the things that I am going through just seemed so trivial in light of the awesome God I serve and the fact that he has graced me with all I need to be victorious.   I love this life in Christ.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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31. October 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Welcome Back from the Weekend.    All I can say was wow, wow, wow…  My weekend was soooo  great and church was simply AMAZING.   To God be the Glory.

Today, I would like to share with you a blog that Bishop JD Ellis shared on his face book page concerning Halloween.

Below is the article:

We all know that October 31 (Halloween) is an exciting day for many children for two main reasons.  The first is they are able to dress in costumes, with an end result of becoming a fantasy someone or something they have longed to be, and the second: CANDY!!!  But, as fun as this night looks and sounds, it’s hidden meaning can not be ignored and should be brought to the light so that parents, especially those who profess the Name of Christ, can make an educated decision about whether or not their child will participate in this affair.

The origins of Halloween can be dated back to the Celts, a people who were thoroughly pagan, who worshipped many gods, and who supposedly were ruled by kings, but the real power was actually in the hands of the Druids (a secret priestly society governed by terror and sorcery).  For the Celts, November 1 marked the beginning of a new year, in which they believed the old year died and the new-year began.  To commemorate this event, the Celts held what was called the Festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in) on the night before the new-year began; October 31.

Samhain was actually one of the Celts’ most powerful gods, the God of Death.  It was during this Festival (also called the Festival of Death) that Samhain was honored with human sacrifices.  Fires were started, and the Druids dressed in peculiar robes that typically consisted of mysterious, magical markings, and animal heads and skins.  In addition, each Druid had a large, hollowed out turnip with a lighted candle made of human fat burning inside.  Carved into the side of the hollow turnip (pumpkins began to be used in the 18th century) was the hideous face of a demon, symbolizing that a demon spirit dwelt inside.  This demon spirit served as the Druid’s spirit guide, directing and empowering his life. 

The Druids went door to door demanding either food or human sacrifices (treat).  If those in the occupied home could not comply to the demands of the Druids, then it was time for a trick in which a symbolic hex was drawn on the front door, and the people and their home were cursed with trouble, sickness and death. 

Halloween is not a Christian holiday.  Some have long been confused about Halloween being a Christian Holiday.  This confusion stems back to Pope Boniface IV when he attempted to get people to abandon the occult, idolatrous practices of the Festival of Samhain by him establishing All Saints Day on November 1.  This day was to honor the Christian dead (the hallowed ones), particularly those who died as martyrs in the Roman persecutions.

Unfortunately this attempt did not work, and instead caused more confusion because All Saints Day became know as All Halloweds, and since the Festival of Samhain always occurred the night before, that became known as All Halloweds Evening, finally evolving into Halloween.  The relationship in names and dates has caused the confusion that has long blurred the lines of Christianity for many Christians even still today.

As Christians, we can clearly see from where the practice of Halloween originated.  We can also see that the practices of Halloween are in contrast to the Word of God, and are in contrast to our beliefs.  We should not take part in practices that honor other gods because we are called to praise and worship the only True and Living God, Jesus!!!

In closing, you might think that Halloween is just innocent, harmless, commercialized fun for children.  But, I would give a word of caution that although children may feel it is fun; the origins and hidden meanings are certainly not.  As Christians, we must learn to take a stand and not compromise with something that is so directly in contrast with Christ.  If we don’t, then there will be no confusion about how the lines became so blurred, instead we will be the direct cause.  

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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28. October 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

It’s Friday and I just want to wish everyone a wonderful weekend.    I hope you are enjoying my new format where I am just sharing with you from my heart and the things that I think on daily concerning our God. 

For the past couple of days, I have been having this overwhelming passion for souls again.    I’m talking about the lost; people who have never accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

I remember the joy that filled my soul when I first got saved and how I returned to all my friends and family and told them about the new love I found.  Some followed in my footsteps and I stayed excited because I was overwhelmed by seeing people find Jesus. 

Sometimes we can be saved so long that we forget about the mission of the church which is to win the loss.

I believe that a lot of our depression and frustration will be alleviated when we begin sharing our testimony again and watching others surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ.  I’m excited.  Going for his glory.  Have a great weekend and take the time to go out of your way and find someone whose needs Christ. 

The problem with our world is sin and we have the answer which is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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27. October 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our text for today is as follows: 

Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God:  I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” 

Another common language from the New Age camp is terminology such as “Listen to the stillness in your heart” or “what is the stillness in your life saying to you”?    Many of them will reference this particular psalm.   But is this psalm really about meditation. 

 The command to be still in this particular psalm comes from a Hebrew word meaning to be weak, to let go, or to release. 

The context of this text then teaches us to let go and surrender because God is in control.    It is not instructing us to meditate and then hear a command from the Lord but to live our lives knowing that God rules and has control of everything.   To let go and surrender seems to suggest that the person is resisting or fighting against.   

I was reminded by this passage today that God is the one that ultimately decides all things.   When we surrender to the fact that God is in control then we will release our fears and live in peace.  No matter what the condition of your life or this world, our God is still on the throne and everything is safe, all is well and everything is just as it should be. 

So be still and know that I am God.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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