Hilltop Christian Fellowship Clear Spring MD

06/02/2026

TUESDAY, JUNE 2nd, 2026

You.

You are an eternal being created in the very image of God. Your worth to God is not in your appearance, money, titles, trophies, or accomplishments. All of these will one day be faded memories and won't matter, at all.

Your soul is of immeasurable value to God.

Your soul, the real YOU, is eternal. You will live forever, somewhere. God's Word describes only 2 options.

HEAVEN.
HELL.

Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.

John 14:2-3 "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Hell was created for the devil and his angels (demons) but people choose to go there upon their rejection of the grace of God.

Matthew 25:41 "Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."

2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

1 Timothy 2:4 "God wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

If you sense your Heavenly Father speaking to you to draw near to Him, then surrender your will to His loving call.

John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless My Father draws him (or her)."

James 4:8 "Draw near to God and God will draw near to you."

You see, God draws us but we still have the personal responsibility to draw near to Him.

RESPONSE - ABILITY.

There is nothing more important than a daily pursuit of the eternal Heavenly Father in prayer, conduct, seeking, behavior, spiritual disciplines.

One day, all the material things we own will be at a yard sale, or the Goodwill, or someone's house.

All we really have is our soul.

Mark 8:36 "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" - the Lord Jesus Christ

Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Ephesians 2:8-10 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

06/01/2026

MONDAY, JUNE 1st, 2026

Today is an opportunity for you to be a blessing to someone, many "someones".

Proverbs 11:25: "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."

Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

1 Thessalonians 5:11: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

Hebrews 13:16: "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

The world already has enough grumblers, complainers, and armchair quarterbacks who always know how to do it better but are never "on the field".

Be the difference.

Shine, encourage, offer a prayer, be a good listener, and begin with those in your own home. Be good to others. Don't claim to follow Christ and then be a complete jerk. Let them merge in traffic, don't return evil for evil, if they flip you off, just smile and wave. Meekness is not weakness --- rather it is "strength under control", a fruit of the Holy Spirit in you. (Galatians 5:22 "gentleness, self control")

Some things I learned from my parents and my Heavenly Father;

- Don't treat people according to their character but according to yours.
- Don't chase trouble.
- Other peoples drama is not your cue to have a bad day.
- Give the world more love.

Today, you and I will have multiple opportunities to let the love of God and radiance of Jesus ooze through our lives. Let's be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Find ways to interject hope, peace, joy, and restored faith in humanity. I see this in Melissa every day. Her life just bubbles over with the Spirit of faith, hope, and love, and joy.

Friends, let's embark upon this day full of the Holy Spirit and be such a difference in people's lives that they'll think of Jesus when we show up and when we leave. Let the fragrance of GOD linger in the air upon our arrival and departure.

"Have compassion, making a difference." Jude, verse 22

05/31/2026

05/29/2026

FRIDAY, MAY 29th, 2026

The past 6 devotional posts have been testimonies about how God saved us and called us into the ministry. The next few will be testimonies about what it's actually like to be pastors. Sincere people think they know, but it's like anything, you can't really KNOW unless you've done it.
==================================

1st Peter 5:2-4
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Pastoring is deeply rewarding yet sometimes heavy (not a pity-party here). I'm going to "keep it real" knowing that I risk being misunderstood or coming off polishing our halos. Neither is true, just want to both testify and encourage other congregations to do what Hilltoppers do for us regularly - pray for us and "have our backs".

Compared to what Jesus experienced on the cross--not one of us has suffered anything worth mentioning. And compared to martyr's who've given their very lives for the Gospel, what have we really endured?

But having said that, pastoring is full of incredible highs and devastating lows. On any given day, within 5 phone calls, you've gone from celebrating a birth to mourning a death, planning a wedding to organizing a funeral, welcoming a new member to hearing someone got annoyed over a petty, temporal opinion. The emotional roller coaster on most days is real, because like Melissa and I, most pastors feel deeply. We're just "built" that way. Within 10 hours you've gone from elation to devastation, joy to sorrow, celebration to depression.

Two evenings ago, during our Wednesday evening prayer meeting, in our "prayer huddle", when it was my turn to share a prayer request, I asked: "Please pray that as Melissa and I read the landscape of this world, this culture, that we can have God's wisdom and anointing every time we minister, so we can give clear Biblical encouragement and insight to God's people."

Because we really do care.

This is not a paycheck. It's not a career. It's a calling.

1st Chronicles 12:22 talks about Israels leaders who "had understanding of the times and knew how to tell God's people what to do."

That couple at your church who shepherds your soul does so with the calling of God and the love of Jesus in their hearts. At least they should. And it's our opinion that most do. Though some maybe are going through some "burn-out" or betrayal. This is a common occurrence. Yes, there's been some clergy who mishandled congregations but there's congregations who have also mishandled clergy. Thank God we're not at one of those churches but some of our friends are.

All this to say ---- Peter writes above that our mandate from God is the humbling privilege to shepherd the flock of God. It's not our flock, it's His. We're not the bosses, we're more like sheepdogs. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd (1st Peter 5:4) and we're the barking sheepdogs corralling and herding the flock.

And sheepdogs can also growl when the wolf appears. Our role is to bark, growl, and obey the voice of the Shepherd.

Encourage your pastors today. (Hilltop, you already do, so this isn't "bait", lol). We love you all!

05/23/2026

SATURDAY, MAY 23rd, 2026

PREFACE: As I grow older, the less I care if I'm misunderstood when being sincere and authentic. Suspicion of my motives used to bother me, when I was a younger man. At 57, and with nearly 40 years of walking with the LORD, I'm secure with my confidence being labeled as arrogance to those who are insecure.

Which brings me to an "Everyday God" series that I've "put off" for some time. It deals with being a pastor (pastors in our case as Melissa and I are both called and being obedient to God's will for our lives as a Shepherding Couple. Like a dance, she lets me lead but her gifts are not stifled).

But I write for the purpose of enlightening others and encouraging fellow pastors, ministers in any capacity of local churches or other. And with that introduction, let me begin by celebrating this incredible call to love God in this way, and love the people He brings our way.

"Jesus said to Peter: "Do you love Me? Feed My sheep." (John 21)
"God says: "I will give you pastors according to My heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." (Jeremiah 3:15)

Most pastors are the most surprised that they are doing this with their lives. I went to school to be a diesel mechanic with the goal of owning my own shop one day. Melissa has worked faithfully at other jobs too, helping to carry the load with our young family of four. But then in our early 20's THE CALL came.

It started when one Sonday afternoon I was watching a TV evangelist plead for the 27th time for people to write a check and he would pray for them. (not all preachers on TV are money grabbers, but many are -- pray for discernment). This guy (Robert Tilton) was the classic plastic hair, broad smile, eye squinting when praying, beggar on TV with his Rolex watch and docked yacht in Florida. I was sick of it, even as a new believer.

I pointed at the television and said out loud "Somebody needs to go in the ministry and stop taking advantage of people! Just go love people, teach the Word, walk with people in the ups and downs of life!" And the Holy Spirit said (almost audibly) "STOP COMPLAINING, YOU AND MELISSA GO"

"Uhhhh, wait, not me, not us Lord, I mean someone else."
And that was the beginning trickle of something that started over the next couple months. The Holy Spirit was relentless with the signals to this introverted young man. Stay tuned for tomorrow's continuation of this series. It gets interesting!!

"No one takes this honor unto himself, but only the one who has been called by God, as was Aaron." ~Hebrews 5:4