SimplyChurch.Church

05/04/2026

Today's devotion is coming to you from Cindy.

I am currently sitting in my car at the bank and unable to leave. Bill and I were together and he left with the key pod in his pocket. Now that I have turned off the car, I can't turn it on again. I call Bill to come to the bank with the key I need and he cannot come, because I have the only key to the car he would drive to come here.

He is stuck at home and I am stuck in the drive thru at the bank. What to do? This is where the body of Christ means help. I call Raymond, and now help is on the way. So for today's devotion I am reminded that we all need each other in many ways including Prayer and helping hands.

And some days we share by helping and sometimes we are the ones needing the help.

Gotta go, Raymond just arrived with the key. Blessings

04/30/2026

04/28/2026

Today’s Devotional 4-27-2026

The Danger of Becoming a Bad King

As we journey through the Old Testament, we are given the opportunity to step back as spectators and witness the tragic outcome that unfolds when rebellion runs at full steam.

This is especially evident when we conduct a historical audit of the period of the Judges.

Within those pages of revelation lies the tragedy that occurs when a nation plunges into the folly of being self-centered, self-driven, and fueled by the outrageous battle cry of, “I do it!” (ironically, the first three words one of my kings strung together at the age of two).

As we read through the Book of Judges, a life pattern emerges—one worth taking a closer look at.

Over and over again, we witness the testimony of life lived apart from God—outside His rule and His divine protection.

The people would serve Him, then rebel against Him, and the entire nation would suffer. They would then repent, tear down altars and remove the things that grieve the Holy Spirit, and once again the nation would prosper. Then they would rewind the program and repeat the cycle all over again.

Tragically, I confess that at times I too have followed their example. I became the ruler—embracing various forms of rebellion and living outside of God. I became king of my own customized throne, a self-driven, self-ruled nation. I ruled according to “my will, not Thy will,” becoming, with great shame, “King Bill.”

If you have read books like Pilgrim’s Progress or Hinds’ Feet on High Places, just to name a couple, then you too have discovered that these seasons are part of the “perfecting of the saints”—growth spurts that we all will experience.

The light being turned on here is this: don’t be discouraged. Don’t give up. Your miserable life as a so-called Christian may actually be experiencing growing pains.

You are getting stronger in your faith, and God is now saying, “Let’s remove those training wheels and start riding through life without them.”

He is the One who will steady your drift, fill you with His Spirit, and enable you to walk—and even run—with His profound strength operating within you.

It’s time to take “King ____” off the throne and, even at this very moment, yield to King Jesus—inviting Him to make Himself at home.

So this week’s devotional is all about decision, repentance, surrender, forgiveness, and bringing in a U-Haul truck to move all the junk out of the throne room—making King Jesus comfortable.

Here is my prayer:
Jesus, forgive me for the self-centered rule within my heart.
I repent and ask You to take Your rightful place in my heart and in my life.
Come now and fill me with the Holy Spirit, and rule there according to Your perfect will with every breath that I take.

Amen.
+++++
Proverbs 14:12 (ASV-CLAL Strict Lock Edition)
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Luke 6:46 (ASV-CLAL Strict Lock Edition)
And why do you call Me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do the things which I say?

May the king within our lives surrender to THE KING of KINGS.

04/23/2026

Thirsty Prayer — 4-23-2026
I was born in Edmond, Oklahoma, last century and spent my youth in Huntington Beach, California.

I have fond memories of playing in the avocado groves and the vast fields of strawberries growing near our home.

It was there that I first encountered truly good soil—you know the kind of soil that seems to be begging for the opportunity to produce life. Soil that our Creator had prepared with minerals and nutrients, as if inviting any kind of seed with a joyful declaration: “If you plant it, it will grow.”

I was eleven when I asked if I could take a section of the backyard and plant some flowering marigolds.

I staked out a section, removed the grass, broke up the clods, carefully prepared the soil, planted the seeds, and watered them.

The results were spectacular—tall, full, towering plants that turned one corner of the yard into a vibrant mini meadow of blazing yellow and orange.

The second year was even better than the first. The plants grew even denser and seemed determined to expand their territory, attempting to take over the rest of the yard.

I spent a great deal of time thinning them out and placing them under “yard restriction,” though that did little to slow their pursuit.

The Heart of Today’s Thirsty Prayer

Join me in praying that our lives become fields that produce a bounty of good, God-glorifying fruit.

May any fallow ground within us yield to the Holy Spirit,
being transformed into a life that reflects Christ in us,
and draws those who are hurting and lost to Him.

The following video shares the “Good Ground” revelation from His Word.

The "Good" Soil and our call!! (POWERFUL??)

04/20/2026

Today’s Devotional — 04-20-2026

ASV-CLAL — Romans 8:31 (Strict Lock Edition)
Full Verse | Greek Highlights | Centered Header
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”

For weeks now, my family has been bombarded and confronted by spiritual attacks. It’s not just us—it appears that many people I care about are experiencing similar trials.

In addition, I’m hearing more accounts of individuals who have encountered witchcraft as well. It is as though darkness has come out of hiding and is attempting to overcome the light. The result is warfare on a global scale.

This Scripture then becomes the battle cry engraved upon my shield of faith.

Throughout the entire Bible, it is declared again and again that God Himself says, “I will fight your battles.”

Within those words is the eternal truth of His love and His commitment—to me and to each one of us.

Surrender to Him, and the victory is final.
Trust Him, be still, and watch all darkness wave the white flag of surrender.

So, the final encouragement of this devotional is this: be devoted to Him—and to one another.

Amplified Rendering (from the Greek)
(Epistle to the Romans 8:31)
“What then shall we declare in light of all these things?
If the Sovereign God Himself is actively for us—standing over us, defending and acting on our behalf—
who of any power or authority can truly stand against us in opposition?”

04/16/2026

Thirsty Prayer 4-16-2026

My children have filled my memories with visions that are like an old friend you occasionally have a cup of coffee with.

One memory I'm fond of is my middle son playing basketball.

Like most Americans we worked hard to make ends meet and to provide a solid Christian education, all our children were involved in a private Christian school of maybe 50 children.

They had a sports program and everyone pitched in to make it work.

One year the boys were competing in the Christian Basketball league which included all the larger as well as the small ones.

This particular year I'm revisiting is the source of today's, Thirsty Prayer.

There were I believe 8 boys on the entire team but it was their determination that even today is inspirational.

I've never really seen a sight quite like this one.

First off when they ran onto the Court they didn't even look like the other teams they played.

Their competition would all be well dressed with matching shirts and shorts while our team literally looked like bowlers.

Yep, you heard that right, bowler's. Simple yellow shirts and gym shorts that were different shapes, colors, length and made a descriptive statement.

When they stormed the fieldhouse they didn't look like a group to take seriously but more like a group of undertrained and unprepared misfits.

But this group still brings a smile and chuckles when I revisit this one particular season. Why?

They played every game with heart and tanasity, they played like the score at the end would determine the outcome of world events or at least if there would be a celebration at Braums later.

They would plow through the season like a Pro contract was waiting for them at the end, with focused determination and a faith that could and would move mountains.

They were overcomers, committed, and short but powerful warriors and every bit a force to be reconned with.

They actually didn't know that most of the time they were outmatched, there were giants in the land, marching around a fortified city with nothing more than a voice.

In the end these kids would be the city victors and carry away the trophy.

They remind me today that no trial or potential disaster or overwhelming odds are to big for our God.

With childlike faith, He takes even the impossible and creates possibilities and victories.

Here's today's scripture:

Simply Church OT Series
ASV-CLAL — Deuteronomy 1:30
(Full Verse Edition | Paragraph Title | Centered Header | Strict Lock)

Jehovah Fights for You (1:30)
30 Jehovah your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all that He did for you in Egypt before your eyes.

Scripture Connect
Exodus 14:14 — “Jehovah will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
Deuteronomy 3:22 — “You shall not fear them; for Jehovah your God, He it is who fights for you.”
Joshua 10:42 — “Jehovah, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.”
2 Chronicles 20:15 — “The battle is not yours, but God’s.”

Hebrew Insight (Key Phrase)
“fight” — lacham (H3898)
→ to wage war, to engage in battle, to contend
→ Often used of Jehovah personally entering conflict on behalf of His people

Have a victorious day, everyone.

04/13/2026

The other day, I was driving the oldest life form in my family—whom I lovingly refer to as “the 14-year-old”—to high school.

She made the comment, “Look how green everything is.”
I responded, “Yes, it’s spring. Don’t you love it?”

The season of fresh and new beginnings is upon all of us, and with it comes the unfolding of the sovereign plan of our Creator—seen in every sunrise, every thunderstorm, and, in our home, the constant parade of life forms our three cats bring inside… sometimes on a daily basis.

I don’t always enjoy that particular aspect of spring, but it certainly adds color to the phrase “catch and release,” “don’t lose your head,” and the chorus of excitement that includes frantic jumping, lightning-fast changes in direction, and, of course, the occasional leap into the nearest available chair—usually ending with, “PaPa, there’s a lizard in the house!”

It is definitely the season of new life and a bit of chaos—which we all eagerly enjoy.

For those of us who believe, this is also the season of fresh starts: spring cleaning, refreshing the lawn, and those weekend outings we’ve dreamed about throughout the winter.

Spring brings us to the “potting soil” of today’s devotional:

The Parable of the Sower Explained (13:18–23)
18 Hear then the parable of the sower.
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then the evil one comes and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is he who was sown by the wayside.
20 And he who was sown upon the rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it;
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while; and when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
22 And he who was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word; and the care of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
23 And he who was sown upon the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Today’s devotional encouragement is this:

Enjoy your next trip to “Home Depot”… but don’t forget to visit “His Depot,” where the Word of God is living, active, and powerful.

Grab the bag of good soil that will forever change the lives of those you love.

Have an excellent planting season, my friends.

04/05/2026

He is the reason for the life, I live.
I'm thankful.