Psalm 34:18 NIV — The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Take a moment to read Ruth 1 NIV.

Naomi has lost both of her sons as well as her husband. She is mourning and she feels desolate. Her grief is so heavy that she changes her name to Mara which means bitter in Hebrew. It seems she feels God has forsaken her and brought misfortune to her. Let’s draw close to Naomi today and walk through her pain together. 

Have you experienced grief in your life? There are many stages of grief, some of which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and then acceptance. What feelings did you have as you mourned? Where did you turn for help and support? If you or one of your loved ones is suffering from debilitating grief, I encourage you to reach out for support. One option is the Mental Health Hotline/866-903-3787.

Please know that God is with you, God loves you, and God will never forsake you. 

Let’s pray the below prayer from biblestudytools.com

Help us, dear God, to embrace our sadness without guilt or shame. Grant us the wisdom to understand that grief is a natural and necessary part of the human experience. In our mourning, may we find strength in our memories, solace in our tears, and comfort in the support of those who walk this journey with us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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As we begin this week together, take time to read and meditate on the scriptures that will be highlighted.

Psalm 34:18 NIV — The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Ruth 1 NIV

Matthew 5:4 NIV — Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV — Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

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This week we will explore the Bible character Naomi from the book of Ruth. We will specifically talk about mourning and grief. Take time to listen to the following songs that were played recently during the service and at the cemetery of my father in-law’s funeral.

Just A Rose Will Do was sung at the funeral by a family member. This version is performed by Nashville Skyline Digital

Scars In Heaven by Casting Crown was played at the cemetery as the pallbearers placed their boutonniere on the casked along with a piece of soapstone. The soapstone represented Larry’s career as a pipefitter.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

This week we have been sharing about Major Prophet Daniel who was taken into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon to serve in the royal palace. You may have heard of The Daniel Plan, a 40-day study on faith, food, fitness, focus, and friends.

In the book they use the mantra, “Daniel strong” = A pursuit of excellence in body, mind, and spirit for God’s glory. I have done the study in the past and it has been very helpful. There is also a recipe book. One of the recipes I have enjoyed is black bean soup. I’ve included the recipe for you to try. I hope you savor it as much as I have. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, You are able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within me, to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

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‭‭Daniel‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬, ‭19‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

This week we have been sharing about Major Prophet Daniel who was taken into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon to serve in the royal palace. 

Daniel was persecuted for worshiping God. The king was tricked into throwing Daniel into the lions’ den. God rescued Daniel from the mouths of lions. I love the image of God sending His angel to shut the mouths of the lions. This imagery reminds me of Psalm 23 where God sets up a table for us in the presence of our enemies. 

On this Faith Friday, recall times that God has rescued you from the mouths of lions. Often when our faith is tested, we attempt to do the heavy lifting instead of turning it over to God in prayer and seeking His protection, provision, and favor. Just like we have PPE, personal protective equipment, we have PPF, protection, provision, and favor with God. Will you turn your burdens over in prayer and allow God to work abundantly and exceeding above all that you can imagine?

Let’s pray. Dear God, You are able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within me, to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

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‭‭Daniel‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬, ‭24‬-‭25‬, ‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.

This week we have been sharing about Major Prophet Daniel who was taken into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon to serve in the royal palace. 

Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, also known as Shadrach, Meshach, and . They are persecuted by being thrown into the fiery furnace. God delivered them through another one being in the fire with them. The king acknowledged their one true God.

Sunday I encouraged you to listen to Another In The Fire by Hillsong United. Some of the lyrics sing, “another in the fire standing next to me,” and “there is a cross that bears the burden where another died for me.” On this thankful Thursday I challenge you to write your gratitudes with these lyrics in mind. God takes up our cross daily. His love, grace, and mercy are more than we can ever imagine. God is in the fire with us always. God is in the rescuing business. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, You are able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within me, to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

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‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2‬:‭25‬, ‭27‬-‭28‬, ‭45‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.

This week we have been sharing about Major Prophet Daniel who was taken into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon to serve in the royal palace. 

Daniel is the only one who can interpret the king’s dreams. These dreams reveal that God’s kingdom will humble all kingdoms. My word for 2025 is Humble. I love that Daniel gives God credit when he tells the King that only God in heaven can reveal mysteries. 

God is in the humility business. Another great story that God is famous for is that He allowed Daniel to see these visions, yet humbly present them before the king. You will often hear or read Deborah, Ray, and I say “SDG” which is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase “Soli Deo Gloria,” which means Glory to God alone.

Have you considered having a word of the year or mantra for 2026? As we enter into the last 90 days of the year, I challenge you to humbly seek God for a word or mantra that will bring Him glory.

Let’s pray. Dear God, You are able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within me, to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

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