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Critter Cove Children's Ministry, 7488 Compromise Hill Rd, Gloucester, VA (2026)

06/07/2026

Sunday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved!

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Be Filled with Zeal!

Be zealous.
Revelation 3:19

If you want to see souls converted, if you want to hear the cry that "the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord," (Revelation 11:15) if you want to place crowns upon the head of the Savior and see His throne lifted high, then be filled with zeal. For under God, the way the world will be converted is by the zeal of the church. Every element of grace will do its work, but zeal will be first; prudence, knowledge, patience, and courage will follow in their places, but zeal must lead the charge. It is not the extent of your knowledge, though that is useful, it is not the extent of your talent, though that is not to be despised, it is your zeal that will do great exploits.

This zeal is the fruit of the Holy Spirit: It draws its vital force from the continued operations of the Holy Spirit in the soul. If our inner life dwindles, if our heart beats slowly before God, we will not know zeal; but if everything inside is strong and vigorous, then we cannot but feel a loving urgency to see Christ's kingdom come, and His will done on earth, even as it is in heaven.

A deep sense of gratitude will nourish Christian zeal. When we reflect on the miry pit from which we were lifted, we find plenty of reason for spending ourselves for God. And zeal is also stimulated by the thought of the eternal future. It looks with tearful eyes down to the flames of hell, and it cannot sleep: It looks up with anxious gaze to the glories of heaven, and it cannot stay still. It feels that time is short compared with the work to be done, and therefore it devotes all that it has to the cause of its Lord. And it is continually strengthened by remembering Christ's example. He was clothed with zeal as with a cloak. How swift the chariot-wheels of duty went with Him! He never loitered on the way. Let us prove that we are His disciples by displaying the same spirit of zeal.

Charles Spurgeon

* Please Share. You sharing this might make an eternal difference.

Have a Worship-filled Sunday! :-)

Are you saved?

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

06/06/2026

Saturday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved!

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:1-3

In today’s passage, the apostle Paul tells us to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (v. 1). He knew the Lord stood by his side and strengthened him so that the good news would be spread. And Paul moved forward in faith (2 Timothy 4:17).

In the same way, the Holy Spirit gives us the courage and power to obey God’s commands, so we can rely upon His might to carry us. As believers, we should …

• Share knowledge. The church not only possesses the good news about salvation; it also has the full riches of God’s Word. Many people have listened to biblical teaching and experienced the Lord intervening in their lives. To keep those lessons to oneself can leave unbelievers in harm’s way and deprive fellow Christians of necessary wisdom.

• Suffer willingly. Hardship is part of the Christian experience. Jesus tells us we will face tribulation, but we can take heart because He has already “overcome the world” (John 16:33). It is little wonder, then, that Paul reminds Timothy to stand strong in the Lord and see to it that the teaching is shared (2 Tim. 2:1-2).

Paul encouraged Timothy to “remember Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:8). This also applies to us. When we focus on the Lord, His grace strengthens us to share boldly and endure faithfully.

Charles Stanley

* Please Share. You sharing this might make an eternal difference.

Have a Sensational Saturday! :-)

Are you saved?

The wicked will perish “because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 2 Thessalonians 2:10

Believer, Keep on!

06/05/2026

Friday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved!

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7-11

One of God’s most generous assurances to His children is found in today’s passage. Not only are we granted permission to come to the Father with our requests, but He also promises to answer our prayers. However, you may be thinking, If this is true, why hasn’t He given me what I asked for?

The key to understanding this passage is verse 11: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” The God who made us is more keenly aware of our needs than we are (Matthew 6:8).

We may ask for what we perceive as good and necessary when it isn’t truly in our best interest. But our Father gives what He knows is more beneficial. The qualities of Christlike character are among His best gifts, and these develop through trials and testing.

When it seems the Lord isn’t answering your requests, remember that He’s a loving Father, and consider what good gifts He is giving instead. Although it may take years to gain a godly perspective, in time you’ll say, “Lord, You were right. Thank You for giving me exactly what I needed.”

Charles Stanley

* Please Share. You sharing this might make an eternal difference.

Have a Fantastic Friday! :-)

Are you saved?

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17

06/04/2026

Thursday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved!

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’” (Matthew 6:19–21).

The focus of Jesus’ teaching here is this: “Do not lay up treasures for yourself.” The Greek word for “lay up” connotes the idea of stockpiling or hoarding—it pictures wealth that isn’t being used, things kept mainly to show off one’s plenty.

Be sure of this, though: Jesus is not advocating poverty as a means of spirituality. Both the Old and New Testaments recognize the right to material possessions, including money, land, animals, houses, clothing, and anything else acquired honestly. In fact, the foundational truth underlying the commands not to steal or covet is the right of possessing personal property.

God expects and commands His people to be generous. But He also expects and commands that we not only be thankful for the blessings He gives but also derive pleasure from them—including the material blessings. The Lord “richly supplies us with all things to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17). This verse is specifically directed to “those who are rich in this present world,” yet it does not command them to divest themselves of their wealth. Rather, it warns them not to be conceited about it or to trust in it. It’s how we use our possessions for kingdom purposes that counts.

John MacArthur

* Please Share. You sharing this might make an eternal difference.

Have a Tremendous Thursday! :-)

Are you saved?

Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5

Believer, Keep on!

06/03/2026

I Love Critter Cove!!!! ❤️

06/03/2026

Wednesday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved!

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Leaving a Legacy!

Always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:5

Each of us is leaving a legacy. Every day we are adding something to the portrait of our lives, and eventually what we leave behind—our decisions, our contributions, our priorities—will remain, at least for a time, for others to reflect upon and consider.

At the end of Paul’s second letter to Timothy, we find the words of an older man whose life was coming to an end: “I am already being poured out as a drink offering,” he says, “and the time of my departure has come” (2 Timothy 4:6). In this context, he exhorts Timothy to take his responsibilities seriously, to consider his legacy, and to contemplate both the helpful and harmful legacies left behind by many that Paul encountered.

In the opening chapter, Paul had reminded Timothy that “all who are in Asia turned away from me. These individuals receive one mention in the Bible, and it is to record the fact that they deserted a man in need.

But Paul’s letter is also replete with mention of those who left helpful, beneficial legacies. For example, Lois and Eunice demonstrated sincere faith, which Paul is certain now dwells in the young pastor Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5). Likewise, Paul exhorts his protégé to remember Onesiphorus, who “often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me” (v 16-17). Onesiphorus left behind a legacy of faith, courage, and conviction. If he said he’d be somewhere, he was there. He was a man on whom Paul could fully rely.

We are all leaving a legacy. When we walk out of a room, either we leave behind the aroma of Christ that spreads the knowledge of Him everywhere (2 Corinthians 2:15-16), or we are leaving the less pleasant smell of self-promotion or the vacuum of saying and being nothing much at all. A legacy of faithfulness, godliness, kindness, gentleness, honesty, integrity, love, and peace is a legacy that will be remembered with affection. But most importantly, it will point people to the one whose life matters most—the Lord Jesus.

A legacy is the accretion of daily decisions to make a difference for Christ: to love Him and love our neighbor, to pursue peace and speak of Him. Today, you will build a small—or perhaps major—part of your own legacy. So do the work God has prepared for you to do and make a difference for Him. After all, we never know when we’ve just made our final deposit in the legacy we’re leaving.

Alistair Begg

* Please Share. You sharing this might make an eternal difference.

Have a Wonderful WINNING Wednesday! :-)

Are you saved?

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Believer, Keep on!

06/03/2026

Critter Cove 2026

06/02/2026

Tuesday morning from Critter Cove! :-)

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved!

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? Matthew 19:16

If the young man in the Gospel used this title in speaking to our Lord, it is only right that we should address Him in this way. He is indeed my Teacher in that He rules and teaches me. I am glad to run His errands and to sit at His feet. I am both His servant and His disciple and count it my highest honor to serve Him in this way. He is a good teacher. If He should ask me why I call Him "good," I could answer easily.

It is true that "no one is good except God alone,"1 but then He is God, and all the goodness of Deity shines in Him. In my experience I have found Him to be good, indeed so good that all the good I have has come to me through Him. He was good to me when I was dead in sin, for He raised me by His Spirit's power; He has been good to me in all my needs, trials, struggles, and sorrows. There could never be a better Teacher, for His service is freedom, His rule is love: I wish I were one thousandth part as good a servant. When He teaches me, He is unspeakably good, His doctrine is divine, His manner is gracious, His spirit is gentleness itself.

There is no error in His instruction: Pure is the golden truth that He presents, and all His teachings lead to goodness, sanctifying as well as edifying the disciple. Angels know that He is good and delight to worship at His footstool. The ancient saints proved Him to be a good Teacher, and each of them rejoiced to sing, "I am Your servant, O Lord!"

My own humble testimony must certainly be to the same effect. I will declare this before my friends and neighbors, for possibly they may be led by my testimony to seek my Lord Jesus as their Teacher. O I long that they might do so! They would never regret the decision. If they would submit to His easy yoke, they would find themselves in such royal service that they would never want to leave. The school of grace rejoices to have such a Teacher!

Charles Spurgeon

* Please Share. You sharing this might make an eternal difference.

Have a Terrific Tuesday! :-)

Are you saved?

Come, follow Me.

06/01/2026

June morning from Critter Cove! <

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved!

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

"I AM WHO I AM". Exodus 3:14

Jesus made seven statements in the Gospel of John that the religious leaders tried to kill Him for.

Most Christians have heard every one of them.
Almost none know why those words were dangerous enough to die for.

"I am the bread of life."
"I am the light of the world."
"I am the door."
"I am the good shepherd."
"I am the resurrection and the life."
"I am the way, the truth, and the life."
"I am the true vine."

Seven statements. All recorded in the Gospel of John. All beginning with the same two words.

I AM.

Most Christians read these as beautiful metaphors. Jesus comparing Himself to familiar objects.

They are not metaphors. Each statement is a direct answer to a specific Old Testament revelation. And the phrase "I AM" itself was a claim the Pharisees understood instantly — and tried to execute Him for.

Here is what each "I AM" actually meant.

"I am the bread of life."

Jesus said this in John 6 — directly after feeding five thousand people. The crowd followed Him across the lake the next morning hoping for another free meal.

He told them they were chasing the wrong miracle. The bread He multiplied was just an echo. The real bread had already come.

For forty years in the wilderness, Israel ate manna. Bread that fell from the sky every morning. They could not store it. They could not earn it.

Jesus said the manna was not the gift. It was the preview. He had come down from heaven the way the manna came down — daily, undeserved, sustaining life itself.

"I am the light of the world."

Jesus said this during the Feast of Tabernacles. During that festival, four enormous golden lampstands were lit in the Temple courtyard. The light commemorated the pillar of fire that led Israel through the wilderness.

Jesus stood in front of those lampstands and said, "I am the light of the world."

He was claiming to be the pillar of fire. The same presence that led Israel through the dark for forty years.

"I am the door."

The Tabernacle had only one entrance. One door. No side gates. Anyone who wanted to approach God's presence had to enter through that single opening.

Jesus said He was that door. Not a door. The door. The same uncompromising structure God had built into the Tabernacle fifteen hundred years earlier.

"I am the good shepherd."

David wrote Psalm 23 a thousand years before Jesus. The shepherd who solves every anxiety, who carries the wanderer home, who has already killed the predator.

Jesus did not borrow the metaphor. He claimed the job description. David was a shepherd boy who became a king. Jesus was the King who became a shepherd.

"I am the resurrection and the life."

Jesus said this standing outside the tomb of His friend Lazarus. Four days dead. The body already decaying.

The Old Testament had described one moment that looked like this. Ezekiel standing in a valley of dry bones, asked by God, "Can these bones live?" And God breathed life into the skeletons until they stood up as a great army.

Jesus did not say "I will perform a resurrection." He said "I AM the resurrection." Then He called Lazarus out of the tomb.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life."

The High Priest entered the Holy of Holies through one specific path. Through the outer court. Past the altar. Through the veil. Into God's presence.

One way. No shortcuts.

Jesus said He was that path. Not a teacher of the path. The path itself.

"I am the true vine."

Isaiah 5 records God's most heartbreaking complaint. Israel was His vineyard. He had cleared the ground, planted the choicest vines, expected good fruit.

It produced wild grapes.

Jesus stood in front of His disciples the night before He died and said, "I am the true vine." He was the one who would finally produce the fruit God had been waiting for.

Seven statements. Seven Old Testament revelations. Each one a claim that He was the fulfillment of something Israel had been reading about for a thousand years.

But here is the part most Christians miss."I AM" is not a normal phrase in Greek. It is a translation of the Hebrew name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. When Moses asked God who he should say had sent him, God answered: "I AM has sent you."

Every time Jesus said "I AM," He was using God's own name.

The Pharisees understood this. In John 8, after Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I AM," they picked up stones to kill Him. Not because they thought He was speaking poorly. Because they understood exactly what He had just claimed.

He was claiming to be God.

John Ross

* Please Share. You sharing this might make an eternal difference.

Have a Marvelous Monday! :-)

Are you saved?

Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

05/31/2026

Sunday morning from Louisiana! <

I greet you in Christ Jesus. You are loved!

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

My sister has left me to do all the serving alone . . . “ Luke 10:40

There is an old Greek motto that says:

YOU WILL BREAK THE BOW
IF YOU KEEP IT ALWAYS BENT.

Wise words, but how do we loosen the strings? Even when we make every effort to slow down and relax, others place high demands on us. Their “shoulds” and “oughts” and “musts” hit us like strong gusts of wind, driving our lives onto shallow reefs of frustration—and even despair.

A Biblical Stress Case

To the surprise of some, the Bible often speaks directly to key issues. Let’s step into the time tunnel to find a perfect example of stress. It is the classic story of Mary and Martha, two unmarried sisters whom Jesus visited in their home at Bethany. The account is recorded in the last several verses in Luke 10:

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. (vv. 38–39)

A lovely scene. Jesus dropped by, probably unexpectedly, for a brief visit. Mary, the younger, realized how privileged they were, so she decided to sit down and really make the most of it. She sat at His feet, drinking in His every word.
But Martha? Well, she was neither sitting down nor drinking in. She was under a great deal of stress.
But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” (v. 40)
We read that Martha was “distracted.” Instead of relaxing and enjoying the Lord’s presence, Martha was in a mild frenzy over all her preparations. The lady was trying to fix a nice meal, get everything done on time, arrange the table, and be a good hostess . . . while her sister sat in the room and never offered to help. As her stress reached the point of fracture, Martha reacted strongly.
• She assumed the Lord Jesus didn’t care—”Lord, do You not care . . . ?”
• She blamed Mary for being irresponsible—”My sister has left me to do all the serving alone . . . “
• She tried to work things out her way—”Tell her to help me.”
It was okay for Martha to want to serve Jesus something to eat. Commendable, in fact. She was like that: active, energetic, diligent, thoughtful, and determined. All fine qualities. But her problem grew out of hand when she attempted to do more than was necessary. She shot a critical glance at her sister because Mary chose not to spend her time in the same way, hustling, bustling, and fussing.
It’s interesting that anxiety-prone people frequently blame others for their plight. Rather than realizing their stress is self-appointed, they often criticize others for causing it.

Does that sound unfair? Read on:

But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (vv. 41–42)

Can’t you just hear Jesus? “Marthaaaa . . . Martha!” Then He quickly analyzed her stress in two words—”worried” and “bothered.” The term Dr. Luke uses for “worried” is one that means “to be pulled in different directions.” The root verb in Greek means “to divide into parts.” Martha was being pulled apart from within. Her stress was caused by this internal tearing. A classic case study of a stress fracture! The word bothered suggests originally the idea of “noise, tumult, trouble.” She was agitated, ripped apart in turmoil.

For Martha, who allowed herself to get caught in the sticky web of stress, the important got replaced by the urgent.

Chuck Swindoll

* Please Share. You sharing this might make an eternal difference.

Have a Worship-filled Sunday! :-)

Are you saved?

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

Believer, Keep on!

Critter Cove Children's Ministry

06/07/2026

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