Christ Memorial Lakeland

09/13/2026

September 13, 2026

09/11/2026

Good morning, Church Family and Friends

✨ Weekend Devotional — “For His Glory Alone”
Scripture:
“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31

There is a quiet power in this verse. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t demand. It simply reminds us that every ordinary moment carries eternal weight.

Paul isn’t talking about preaching, singing, or standing on a stage.
He’s talking about eating.
Drinking.
Whatever you do.

The smallest actions of your day—your breakfast, your conversations, your errands, your work, your rest—can become worship when they are done with a heart turned toward God.

This weekend, let this truth settle deep:

You don’t need a spotlight to glorify God.
You just need intention.

When you choose kindness instead of irritation—He is glorified.
When you pause to pray instead of rushing—He is glorified.
When you serve someone quietly—He is glorified.
When you enjoy the blessings He’s given—He is glorified.
When you honor Him in the unseen moments—He is glorified.

The enemy wants you to believe your life is too small to matter.
But God says your life is a canvas for His glory.

So step into today with purpose.
Walk into the weekend with awareness.
Let every breath, every choice, every moment whisper,
“Lord, this is for You.”

🙏 Prayer for Today and the Weekend
Father, thank You for the gift of this day and the weekend ahead.
Teach us to live with intention, to see Your presence in the ordinary,
and to honor You in every small and simple moment.
Let our words carry grace, our actions reflect Your love,
and our hearts stay aligned with Your purpose.
Fill us with a desire to glorify You—not just in church,
but in our homes, our work, our rest, and our relationships.
May everything we do shine with Your goodness.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have a blessed day and weekend everyone, love to all

09/10/2026

Good morning, Church Family and Friends

🌿 Morning Devotional 🌿

Some days our minds feel scattered, our hearts feel pulled in ten directions, and even simple things seem harder than they should be. But God meets us right there — not when everything is perfect, but when everything is real. He doesn’t wait for us to be polished; He steps into the middle of our morning and reminds us that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

When we open His Word, even for a moment, He has a way of settling us. A single verse can steady our thoughts, calm our spirit, and remind us that we are not walking through this day alone. God’s presence isn’t something we earn — it’s something He freely gives.

So, before the day gets busy, pause. Breathe. Whisper a simple prayer:
“Lord, guide my mind, quiet my heart, and help me see You in every step today.”

He hears you. He’s with you. And He will carry you through whatever this day holds.

Nehemiah 8:10 — “For the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Have a blessed day everyone, love to all

09/09/2026

Good morning, Church Family and Friends

THE HOLY SPIRIT: OUR GUIDE, OUR WITNESS, OUR WARNING

When we believe in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior — truly believing in our hearts — God places His Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit becomes our Helper, our Comforter, our Teacher, and our Guide. He is not an optional part of the Christian life. He is the very presence of God living inside every believer.

Scripture shows us the unity of God in three Persons:
“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” — 1 John 5:7
God the Father, God the Son (Jesus, the Word) God the Holy Spirit
Three Persons — one God — perfectly united in truth and purpose.

✝️ THE WARNING JESUS GIVES US
Jesus tells us something serious in Matthew 12:
“People can be forgiven for every sinful thing they do and every bad thing they say… but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”
— Matthew 12:31–32
This is not meant to create fear. It is meant to create reverence.
God forgives. Jesus forgives.
But Jesus warns that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is different.

✝️ WHAT IS BLASPHEMY?
Blasphemy means speaking about God — Father, Son, or Spirit — in a deeply disrespectful, dishonoring, or insulting way.
But Jesus is talking about something even more specific:
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is knowingly rejecting and mislabeling the Spirit’s work as evil.
In Matthew 12, the religious leaders saw Jesus perform miracles by the Holy Spirit.
They knew it was God. They saw the evidence.
Yet they chose to call the Spirit’s work “the devil.”
This wasn’t confusion. This wasn’t doubt. This wasn’t weakness.
It was intentional rejection of the Holy Spirit’s testimony about Jesus.

✝️ WHAT BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT
This is where many Christians need peace:

A bad thought, A moment of anger, A question or doubt
Confusion about Scripture, struggling with sin, Feeling guilty
Saying something you regret, A slip of the tongue
Using God’s or Jesus’ Name in a Curse = Taking His Name in Vain
When someone says:
“God-d***” “Jesus Christ!” (as an angry exclamation)
“Oh my God!” (carelessly, not actually calling on God)
They are misusing God’s name, treating it as a common word instead of holy.
This falls under the Third Commandment:

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.”
— Exodus 20:7

So yes — it is wrong, disrespectful, and sinful speech. But it is NOT the unforgivable sin they are NOT blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

“Taking the Lord’s name in vain,” which is wrong and dishonoring, but fully forgivable when we repent.

If your heart is tender…If you feel conviction…If you desire God…
If you worry about offending Him…Then you have not committed the unforgivable sin.
The very fear of it proves the Holy Spirit is still working in you.

Heavenly Father,
We lift up every person reading this devotional today.
May Your Holy Spirit touch their hearts, soften their minds, and guide their steps.
Where there has been careless speech, forgive us.
Where Your name has been used lightly or in anger, cleanse our lips and renew our reverence.
Where anyone feels guilt, bring peace.
Where anyone feels far from You, draw them close.
Holy Spirit, lead each reader into truth, conviction, and comfort.
Fill their homes with Your presence, their hearts with Your wisdom, and their mouths with words that honor You.
Bless them today with clarity, strength, and a fresh awareness of Your love.
Holy Spirit,
Thank You for guiding us, teaching us, and keeping our hearts soft.
Help us recognize Your voice and respond with obedience.
Remove anything in us that resists Your leading.
Fill us with Your wisdom, Your peace, and Your power.
We choose to honor You today.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have a blessed day everyone, love to all!

09/08/2026

Good Morning Church Family and Friends

Good morning, Church Family and Friends.
It’s Manna Tuesday at Christ Memorial Baptist Church,
2929 Hardin Combee Rd, Lakeland, FL 33801,
from 8 AM to 11 AM, depending on donations received.
Hear a short devotion in the Fellowship Hall.
Get in line to receive a box of groceries.
📖 Scripture
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” — Psalm 23:1
🙏 Prayer
Lord, thank You for providing for Your people today.
Bless every volunteer, every donor, and every person who walks through these doors.
Let Your peace fill the fellowship hall and Your love be felt in every home.
Guide us, strengthen us, and meet every need according to Your goodness.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a blessed day everyone. love to all See less

09/07/2026

Good Morning Church Family and Friends,

From my porch to yours — happy Labor Day!

Monday mornings are the hardest — even when it’s Labor Day and the alarm clock is replaced by the smell of coffee and the sound of birds reminding us we’re still alive and blessed.

Before we start our day, let’s pause and thank God for the gift of work, rest, and purpose. Whether you’re clocking in, cooking breakfast, or just trying to convince your body to move, remember — God labored in love first. He shaped the world, breathed life into us, and still shows up every morning with fresh mercy.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” — Colossians 3:23

💛 Devotional Thought
Labor Day reminds us that work is a blessing, not a burden — when we do it with love.
Every task, every effort, every act of kindness is a reflection of God’s creative spirit in us.
So today, sip your coffee, smile at the sunrise, and know that even rest is holy.

🙏 Prayer
Lord, thank You for this Labor Day morning.
For the hands that work, the hearts that serve, and the souls that need rest.
Bless every person reading this with peace, laughter, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Let our labor honor You, and our rest refresh us for what’s ahead.
Amen.

May your day be filled with peace as steady as the waves, joy as bright as the sunrise, and patience stronger than your brew.

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24

Sip slow, breathe deep, and let God’s love fall gently over your morning like autumn leaves on the beach.

Have a blessed day everyone, stay safe, love to all

09/06/2026

September 6, 2026

09/04/2026

Good morning, Church Family and Friends

🍂🍂 “As Fall Draws Near — A Friday Prayer”

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you.” — Numbers 6:24–25

Lord, as we step into this Friday morning,
meet us in the places we call home.
Here in Florida, where September still carries summer’s heat
and storms wander through the tropics,
be our calm, our covering, and our steady peace.
And for those in cooler states,
where early breezes hint that Fall is close,
let Your presence settle over them like crisp morning air.

Bless every heart reading this today —
those facing busy days,
those longing for rest,
those hoping for change,
and those quietly holding on to You.

As Fall draws near,
stir hope within us like the first turning leaf.
Let Your joy rise gently,
not in the weather around us,
but in the certainty that You walk with us
through every season we enter.

Guide our steps this weekend.
Fill our homes with kindness,
our minds with clarity,
and our spirits with gratitude
that glows like a lantern in the dusk.

Teach us to notice the small blessings —
a breath of cooler air,
a moment of quiet,
a smile that softens the day.
Let Your love fall around us
like the promise of a new season
slowly unfolding in Your perfect timing.

May peace rest on us,
may hope lift us,
and may Your grace carry us
into sweet, steady
Autumn Blessings.

Keep all of our brother and sisters in Christ lifted up in prayer, many on prayer lists, pray for those who don't know Christ. May you all have a blessed day and weekend, love to all.

As I was putting this together, I'm thinking, is it Fall or not Fall?

There are two ways people define Fall:

Meteorological Fall — based on the calendar
→ Starts September 1 every year
→ Used by weather agencies
→ Many people say “Fall is here!” once September hits

Astronomical Fall — based on the sun crossing the celestial equator
→ Starts September 22 this year
→ This is the “official” scientific start of Fall

So right now, we’re in meteorological Fall, but astronomical Fall hasn’t arrived yet.

Still feels like summer here in Florida!

09/03/2026

Good morning, Church Family and Friends

💬 DEVOTIONAL — “The Mouth We Misuse, The Voice God Wants to Bless”
— “When Words Wound, His Truth Heals”
There are moments when words slip out faster than wisdom.
Moments when frustration sharpens the tongue,
when gossip feels harmless, when sarcasm becomes a shield,
when anger becomes a weapon.

We don’t always mean to hurt —
but sometimes the mouth speaks before the heart thinks.

And God sees it.

He sees the words we regret.
He sees the ones we wish we could take back.
He sees the ones we never should’ve spoken.

And He whispers:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight.” — Psalm 19:14

Not perfect words.
Not eloquent words.
Acceptable words — words shaped by Him.

⚠️ The Mouth Is a Mirror of the Heart
Scripture doesn’t treat speech lightly.

It says:

“The tongue has the power of life and death.” — Proverbs 18:21

“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” — Matthew 12:34

“Gracious words are a honeycomb.” — Proverbs 16:24

Your mouth is not just where you speak —
it’s where you reveal.

Words expose wounds. Words expose fears.
Words expose pride. Words expose pain.

But words also carry healing.
Hope. Truth. Blessing.

Your mouth is either a weapon or a well —
and God wants to make it a well.

🌫️ A Wake‑Up Call
If your words today were recorded and replayed tonight,
would they sound like Christ or like chaos?

We guard our homes with locks.
We guard our money with banks.
We guard our phones with passwords.
But our mouths?
We let anything escape.

This devotional is your reminder:

Your words are not disposable.
Your words are not accidental.
Your words are not insignificant.

They build or they break.
They bless or they bruise.
They carry life or they carry poison.

And God expects you to speak like someone who belongs to Him.

✨ Scripture That Speaks to the Mouth
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths.” — Ephesians 4:29
“A gentle answer turns away wrath.” — Proverbs 15:1
“The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom.” — Psalm 37:30

God doesn’t just want to change your heart —
He wants to purify your voice.

❤️ Reflection Questions
What words have you spoken lately that wounded instead of healed?
Where have you allowed frustration to shape your speech?
What would change if you paused before speaking and invited God into your words?

🙏 Prayer
Lord, forgive us for the words that harmed,
the words spoken in haste,
the words rooted in fear or frustration.
Purify our mouths.
Cleanse our speech.
Teach us to speak life, truth, and grace.
Let our words reflect Your heart, not our hurt.
Amen.

💬 Key Truths
Words reveal what the heart hides.

Words can wound deeper than actions.

God can transform the mouth just as He transforms the soul.

Speaking life is an act of worship.

Have a blessed day everyone, love to all

09/02/2026

Good morning, Church Family and Friends

Prayer Along the Golden Path

Lord, as we step into this new day,
Guide us down Your golden way.
Where colors bloom and burdens lift,
Let every breath feel like a gift.

In the quiet places of our soul,
Let Your gentle healing make us whole.
Where butterflies rise and worries fall,
Remind us You are Lord of all.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105

May Your peace flow like the shining stream,
Your hope awaken every dream.
Lead us through beauty, grace, and light—
And keep our hearts within Your sight.

Amen.

May your day be blessed with love and grace. Love to all