Greater Refuge Temple Church Of God In Christ - COGIC

06/17/2026

Word of the Day (Jun 17, 26)

“Don’t Lose Hope!”

Text: Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

Are you waiting for God to work out a situation? Does it seem like the longer you wait, the more hopeless it becomes? If yes, despite what it feels like, God does not want you to lose hope. In this life, some rain will fall. We will experience heartaches and disappointments, but we must not allow them to cause us to lose hope in God.

Some of us have us have lost loved ones, and we’re experiencing unprecedented illnesses or disappointments. As a result, we might be tempted to give up. However, we must not because we do not know what tomorrow holds but we do know who holds tomorrow. It might seem like we are just one disappointment away from falling over the edge. On the other hand, those of us that are on the edge, might be one blessing away from being delivered. Solomon alluded to the latter when he said, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life” (v.12). The message bible added more clarity, when it said, “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around”.

Don’t lose hope my friends. Bad situations may alter our lives, but they don’t have to define us. For at the end of the day, as long as there is God, there is hope.

Love,

Pastor Penn

06/16/2026

Word of the Day (Jun 16, 26)

“God is with You”

Text: Isaiah 43:2, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

One of God’s most faithful promises is that He will be with us. Countless saints have been strengthened and encouraged with this promise. Historically it applied to ancient Israel during the Babylonian captivity. Based on Isaiah 1-39, God had turned His back on them, and spoke harshly towards them, but beginning in Isaiah 40, God began to speak comfort to His people. While His judgment was necessary because of their sins, God’s anger did not last forever, it’s always tempered by His mercy.

For Israel passing through the waters reminded them of God’s protection when their ancestors passed safely through the Red Sea on dry land, and protection from the fire reminded them of God’s protection of the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace. For us, today, it offers a profound promise of God’s protection and companionship during life's greatest trials. It assures that when you face overwhelming hardships ("deep waters") and scorching difficulties, you will not be destroyed, because God is with you to sustain and guide you.

Beloved, if you’re facing deep waters and fiery trials on today, be encouraged for God is with you. His presence guarantees that you won’t drown, or burn, but that He will bring you through.

Be encouraged my friends, God is with you!

Love,

Pastor Penn

06/15/2026

Word of the Day (Jun 15, 26)

"The Best Thing or the Worst Thing”

Text: 2 Corinthians 1:9-10, "We felt like we'd been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally - not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he'll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing."

Bad things happen to all of us. We may not always understand why. However, we can find comfort in God because, He has a plan for our lives. Unfortunately, that plan includes, good and bad, joy and sorrow, trials and triumphs. It's like one can't exist without the other. The bad helps us to appreciate the good, the sorrow the joy, and the trials the triumphs.

Paul clearly understood this when he said, "We felt like we were on death row and it was all over for us. However, looking back, it was the best thing that could have happened to us because it causes us to stop trusting in ourselves and to start totally trusting God. Not just any god, but God who raise the dead. God who delivered, is delivering and will continue to deliver us each and every time.

Beloved, we may not appreciate the pain, trials or tribulations that we experience. However, in God the worst thing can be the best thing because God knows how to turn it around for our good.

Love,

Pastor Penn

06/14/2026

https://www.youtube.com/live/NozEMgiQpbQ?si=eOJEinNPxN49rJr4

Church Service

06/13/2026

Word of the Day (Jun 13, 27)

"Pray About It"

Text: Philippians 4:6-7, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus".

There’s so much occurring in our lives right now. Some of us are grieving, frustrated, and disappointed with all the injustices, unfairness, and troubles that we face. It’s a multiplicity of issues occurring simultaneously and we’re wondering when or if we will get a break.

Fortunately for us, Paul provides us some help when he said, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (vv.6-7).

Beloved, it’s a lot happening, we might be anxious and overwhelmed, but pray about it. For when we do, God promised to give us His peace that transcends our understanding. Our circumstance may not change, but our ability to experience God’s peace will inevitably change our response because it will protect our hearts (inner emotions) and thoughts from being overwhelmed by fear and panic.

Pray about it, my friends, God has your back!

Love,

Pastor Penn

06/12/2026

Word of the Day (Jun 11, 26)�
"God is Everything We Need in Trouble”�
Text: Psalms 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Most historians believe that the historical context of Psalms 46, was the miraculous military deliverance of Jerusalem against the Assyrian siege of 701 BC. King Sennacherib, the Assyrian king surrounded Jerusalem, spewed insults, cut off supplies, and demanded a terrifying, unconditional surrender. In response, King Hezekiah, Judah’s king cried out to God for help, and God helped them by destroying 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night.

So, if you’re in trouble, don’t worry, you’re not alone. According to the Psalmist, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Think about it, when you’re boxed in or surrounded by trouble, God is everything that you need. He’s your refuge, or safe place to hide. The Hebrew word for refuge suggests a secure, elevated fortress. So, when the storms of life come raging in, God offers you a protective sanctuary where you can find safety and rest. Additionally, God is our strength. Under the circumstances, our strength may fail, but God gives us the power/resilience that we need to endure. Lastly, He is our very present help. This suggests that God is always there to help you. He’s not a distant deity, but an active participant who guides and helps you when we’re going through. As with the Hebrews boys, God is with you in the fire.

Be encouraged my friends, whatever trouble you may be facing, you can be confident that God is everything that you need.
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Love,
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Pastor Penn

06/11/2026

Word of the Day (Jun 11, 26)

“It is Better to Trust in the Lord”

Text: Psalms 118:8-9, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.”

Whom should we trust? While there’s nothing wrong with having a certain level of trust in others, it’s naive at best to trust them whole hearted, because sooner or later, ready or not, they will inevitably disappoint us. David knew this when he wrote, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” (vv.8-9).

It is better to trust in the Lord, is such a powerful statement. It is powerful because not only does it exude confidence and wisdom, but also experience. The longer we live, we will realize that people, leaders, and those in authority will disappoint us. They will disappoint us because their help is limited by time, availability, and power. Think about it, there are some situations where only God can help us.

Beloved, it is better to trust in the Lord, He’s totally trustworthy, and He will not disappoint us.

Love,

Pastor Penn

06/10/2026

Word of the Day (Jun 10, 26

“The Outcome is Fixed”

Text: Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Today’s devotion was inspired by a response to yesterday’s devotion by one of my spiritual daughters. She said, “Not only is the struggle real and our God is real, but the outcome is fixed. We Win- but we must put on the full armor.!” Think about it beloved, why struggle with trying to achieve victory, when the battle has already been fought, and the victory already won. On the Cross, Jesus achieved victory for all believers, so we’re not fighting for victory, but from the position of victory.

Paul reiterated this when he said, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (v.28). This scripture reveals that God has already secured the ultimate outcome: His divine plans, overarching justice, and eternal redemption are completely fixed. While our daily circumstances fluctuate, God’s sovereignty ensures that His purposes will ultimately triumph.

Be encouraged my friends, the outcome is fixed!

Love,

Pastor Penn

06/09/2026

Word of the Day (Jun 9, 26)

"The Struggle is Real, but so is God"

Text: Ephesians 6:12-13, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Each of us go through periodical struggles. Some of us may be in a struggle now and it appears like we're losing. While I don't want to minimize your struggles by ignoring the realness of your pain, frustrations, or misery, I do want to encourage you by reminding you that God is also real. And because He's real, He is a real option in overcoming your struggles.

When Paul wrote, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (v.12), he reminds us that we're engaged in spiritual warfare and we will struggle if we try to fight using our own efforts, strength, or armor. It also reminds us that God through Christ has already defeated the devil and his army, and that we're more than conquerors through Him. However, to experience the victory, we must fight using His armor.

Be encouraged my friends, the struggle is real, but so is our God.

Love,

Pastor Penn