Christ Memorial Lakeland

06/05/2026

Good morning, Church Family and Friends

A FICTIONAL FAITH STORY INSPIRED BY JONAH 3:1–2

Sandy had always been the quiet believer—the kind who prayed faithfully, served quietly, and avoided conflict at all costs. She loved Jesus deeply, but evangelism? That was for the bold ones. The loud ones. The ones who didn’t mind awkward moments or raised eyebrows.
She had her reasons, and to her, they felt legitimate.

“I don’t want to ruin the friendship.” “What if they ask questions I can’t answer?”

“What if they think I’m judging them?” “What if they avoid me after this?”

So, Sandy stayed silent. Until the day God interrupted her comfort.

THE FIRST CALL
Her coworker, Lila, was going through a storm, divorce, depression, and, a darkness Sandy could feel every time she walked past her desk. One night, as Sandy prayed, she felt the Lord, “Speak to her.

Tell her about Me.” Sandy froze.

“Lord… not her. Anyone but her. She’s sarcastic, closed off, and she’ll think I’m pushing religion on her.”

So, Sandy did what Jonah did—she ran, not with her feet, but with her silence. She avoided Lila’s eyes. She kept conversations shallow. She convinced herself that someone else would eventually talk to her. But the weight in her spirit grew heavier.

THE STORM

Weeks later, Lila didn’t show up to work. Then another day passed. And another.
Rumors swirled. “Hospital.” “Breakdown.” “No one knows what happened.”

Sandy felt the storm inside her chest. She knew she had been called to speak. She knew she had been sent. And she knew she had run.
That night, she opened her Bible, and her eyes fell on a verse she hadn’t planned to read:

1: Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” NIV
God didn’t give up on Jonah. And He wasn’t giving up on her.

THE SECOND CALL
The next morning, Sandy walked into work with trembling hands. Lila was back—pale, exhausted, and clearly broken. Sandy felt the Holy Spirit whisper again:

“Go. This time, obey.” She sat beside Lila during lunch, heart pounding.

“I heard you were going through a lot,” Sandy said softly. “I just… I want you to know that God sees you. And He cares. And if you ever want someone to pray with you, I’m here.”
Lila didn’t scoff. She didn’t roll her eyes. She didn’t shut down. Instead, tears filled her eyes.
“You’re the first person who’s said anything real to me in weeks,” she whispered. “Please… tell me more.”
And right there, in a quiet break room, Sandy shared the hope she had been too afraid to speak.

THE LESSON

Sandy realized what Jonah had learned centuries earlier:
Evangelism isn’t about comfort. It isn’t about confidence. It isn’t about being liked.
It’s about obedience. It’s about souls.
It’s about a God who loves people we may not understand, may not like, and may not feel ready to reach.

Nonbelievers aren’t the enemy—they’re captives who desperately need rescue. And God sends His people, not because we are fearless, but because He is merciful.

Sandy walked away changed. Not because she was brave, but because she finally obeyed.

Reflection for the Reader:

What seemingly compelling reasons might keep you from sharing the gospel—and what might God do if you obey Him the second time He calls?

Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for speaking to us—even when we’ve run the other way.
Like Jonah, we’ve had our reasons, our fears, and our excuses.
But You are patient, merciful, and full of grace. You call us again, a second time, to rise and go.

Lord, give us courage to obey Your voice. Let compassion overcome our hesitation,
and love silence every excuse. Help us see the people we fear approaching are the very ones You long to save.

May Your Spirit stir our hearts to speak truth with gentleness, to share hope with humility, and to walk boldly in the calling You’ve placed before us.

When we feel swallowed by doubt or discomfort, remind us that even in the depths, You are near—and You still have a message for us to deliver.
We rise today, Lord, ready to go where You send us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I hope this story inspired you. Please let me know if they are too long? They are stories I am creating to go with my Inpriational Art Series; I am trying them out on YOU! It will not hurt my feelings if you say, "STOP!"

Have a wonderful Friday and weekend. Love to all

06/04/2026

Good morning, Church Family and Friends.

Story inspired by —Romans 5:1–2
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”


PART 1 — Born Once, Born Twice: The Story of a Man Who Finally Saw ✨

Elias had lived his whole life believing that being “a good man” was enough. He worked hard. He paid his bills.
He nodded politely when people mentioned God.

But deep inside, he carried a quiet ache — the kind that settles in the soul when you know something is missing but can’t name it.

One night, unable to sleep, Elias stepped outside and stared up at the sky. The stars felt painfully far away. He whispered into the darkness, “God… if You’re real, why do I still feel so empty?”

As if in answer, a memory surfaced — a verse he’d heard as a child:
“Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God…”—Romans 5:1

Peace.

That was the word he’d been missing.
But how could a man like him ever have peace with a holy God?

🔥 The Question That Changed Everything

The next day, Elias visited an old friend — a pastor — and confessed the truth: “I believe in God… but I don’t think I’ve ever actually known Him.”

The pastor smiled gently. “Elias, you’re not the first man to feel that way. Nicodemus asked Jesus the same thing. He couldn’t understand how a grown man could be ‘born again.’”

“Born again?” Elias repeated.

“Yes,” the pastor said. “Born once, you die twice. Born twice, you die once.”

Elias blinked. “That makes no sense.”

“It will,” the pastor said, opening his Bible. “You were born physically — that’s the first birth. But Jesus said you must be born spiritually too. Without that second birth, there’s a second death… a spiritual death.”

He turned to Revelation and read about the lake of fire — the second death — the eternal separation from God that Jesus warned about. Elias felt a chill run through him. He had always feared dying. He had never once considered fearing the second death.

✨ PART 2 — The Moment Light Broke Through ✨

The pastor continued, “Elias, Jesus didn’t come to scare you. He came to save you. He came so you could be born again — forgiven, washed clean, made new. So, you could stand in a place of undeserved privilege and look forward to God’s glory.”

Elias swallowed hard. “But I’ve messed up too much.”

“That’s why it’s called grace,” the pastor said. “You don’t earn it. You receive it.” And right there — in a small living room with a worn-out Bible on the table — Elias bowed his head and surrendered his life to Jesus.

He was born again. Not physically. Not emotionally.
But spiritually — the kind of birth that changes everything.

🌿 A New Man with a New Peace

The next morning, Elias stepped outside again.
The stars were gone, replaced by a rising sun.
But something was different. The ache was gone.
The emptiness was gone. The fear of death — gone.
For the first time in his life, he felt peace with God.

Not because he was good. Not because he tried harder.
But because Jesus had made him right with God through faith.
He had been born twice…and now he would only die once.

💬 Reflection for Today
Elias’ story is the story of millions — and maybe someone in your life is living it right now.
Someone who believes in God but doesn’t know Him.
Someone who fears death but doesn’t understand the second one.
Someone who needs the peace only Jesus gives.
Who in your circle needs to hear the hope of forgiveness, salvation, and new birth? Their eternity may be waiting on your courage.

🙏 Closing Prayer
Father, we come before You with grateful hearts, remembering the way You met Elias in his searching.
Thank You for showing us through his story that no one is too far, too broken, or too late for Your grace.

Lord, for every person who has lived like Elias — believing about You but never truly knowing You — draw them close. Let the light that broke through his darkness break through ours. Let the peace that settled over his soul settle over every heart that longs for more.

Jesus, thank You for the gift of being born again. Not by our effort. Not by our goodness. But by Your mercy and Your Spirit.

Teach us to walk in that new life with confidence, courage, and joy.
Remind us daily that we have been rescued from the second death and welcomed into everlasting hope.

Holy Spirit, seal this truth in us: Born twice… die once.
Born once… die twice. Let that reality stir us to share Your love with those who are still searching.

We surrender our hearts again today, just as Elias did.
Make us new. Make us Yours.
And let our lives reflect the peace we have found in You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Hope you enjoyed this story. Have a blessed day, love to all.

06/03/2026

Good Morning, Church Family and Friends.

🌿 “The Bird on the Fencepost” — A Story of Strength
Inspired by Isaiah 41:10

Shirley walked the old country path every morning before the sun fully woke. It was her quiet place — the one spot where the world didn’t feel so heavy. Lately, life had been pressing on her chest like a weight she couldn’t lift. Too many decisions. Too many unknowns.

Too many nights staring at the ceiling whispering,

“Lord, I don’t know how much more I can carry.”

“Lord, I’m trying… but I feel so tired.”

That morning, as she rounded the bend, she noticed something new.
A bright red cardinal perched on a fencepost, glowing like a drop of fire against the soft morning light. It didn’t flutter or fidget. It simply stood there — steady, calm, unshaken.

It wasn’t afraid. It wasn’t restless. It simply was — perched in perfect stillness, as if it belonged there.

Shirley stopped. The bird didn’t move.

A soft breeze brushed past her, and in that moment, she felt something she hadn’t felt in weeks — a quiet nudge in her spirit.

Not a shout. Not a command. Just a whisper:

“Strength isn’t the absence of struggle. Strength is My presence in the middle of it.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

She looked again at the tiny bird — so small, yet so steady. It wasn’t strong because of its size. It was strong because it trusted the One who made the wind, the branches, the sunrise, and the path beneath her feet.

The cardinal, small yet bold, seemed to stand as a reminder: God sends signs of His nearness in the simplest places — a sunrise, a breeze, a bird that shouldn’t have stayed but did.

“Strength isn’t found in how much you can carry.
Strength is found in how deeply you trust Me to carry you.”

Her eyes softened.

Her shoulders loosened.

Shirley breathed deeply, letting the morning light warm her face.
And for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel alone.

She whispered back, “Lord, help me stand like that — not because I’m strong, but because You are.”
And she kept walking, not with all the answers, but with renewed courage for the day ahead.

📖 Scripture for Strength
“Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you;
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
— Isaiah 41:10

“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.”
— Psalm 28:7

🙏 Reflection Prayer
Father, when my heart feels weak, steady me.
When my path feels uncertain, guide me.
When fear whispers loudly, remind me that You are near.
Strengthen me today — not with my own power,
but with Your unfailing presence. In Jesus name, Amen.

🌾 Closing Thought
There are many who feel what Shirley felt — walking familiar paths with unfamiliar burdens, trying to stay steady when life feels anything but steady. If that’s you today, may this little cardinal remind you: God sees you, God strengthens you, and God walks every step beside you. You are not alone, and you are not without help. His strength is already rising with the morning light.

Have a blessed day everyone, love to all

06/02/2026

Hello everyone!

It's MANNA TUESDAY at Christ Memorial Baptist Church

2929 Hardin Combee Rd Lakeland 33801

8 am to 11 am sometimes they close earlier depending on donations they get. Get there early.

Hear a short message in the fellowship hall by Shirley Jefferies. Get in line to receive a box of groceries.

This food ministry is for all who may need help.
No questions asked, no papers to fill out, no pressure to join our church. If you need help, you need help. Don't let pride cause you or your family to go hungry.

May our Lord and Savior cover each and everyone
Who donated, serves, receives, today at Manna with His love and Grace.

Love to all, have a blessed day everyone.

06/01/2026

🌅 Good Morning, Church Family and Friends,
I was inspired to write this today after listening to the song “My Lighthouse.”
The words reminded me how every one of us is fighting storms — some loud and crashing, others silent and heavy — and how desperately we all need a Lighthouse to guide us through.

As I looked at this painting of the little boat turning toward the beam of light, the Lord stirred my heart.
This story is for the one who feels overwhelmed, the one wrestling with doubts, the one afraid they’re about to hit the rocks in the dark.
May this speak to you the way it spoke to me.

🌊 “My Lighthouse — The Light Within the Storm”
The sea was wild that night.
Waves rose like mountains, crashing against the rocks with a roar that swallowed every other sound.
And there, standing tall on the cliff, was the old lighthouse — its beam cutting through the chaos like a promise.

He had stood for generations, guiding ships home. But lately, he felt forgotten.
Modern boats had their screens and maps. No one looked up anymore.
No one waved.
No one whispered thanks.

The lighthouse whispered into the wind,
“Does anyone still need my light?”

And far out at sea, a small boat wrestled against the waves.
Its captain was weary — wrestling with doubts, failures, and fear.
He whispered into the storm,
“I can’t see the way… I’m going to crash.”

But then — a light.
A steady, golden beam stretched across the water.
It didn’t erase the storm, but it showed the way through it.

And in that moment, the boat heard a voice carried on the wind:

“In your wrestling, in your doubts,
In your failures, I won’t walk out.
My great love will lead you through.
I am the peace in your troubled sea.”

The lighthouse’s light grew brighter — not because the storm ended, but because the boat turned toward it.
The light didn’t demand perfection; it simply offered direction.
It said, “Come home.”

The boat’s lantern flickered, reflecting the glow of the lighthouse beam.
And the captain realized — the lighthouse wasn’t just a tower on the shore.
It was a reflection of something deeper.
Jesus — the true Lighthouse.
And within each of us, a smaller light — My Lighthouse — the spark of faith that refuses to go out, even when the waves rise high.

⚓ Scripture Reflections
📖 John 8:12
“I am the light of the world… he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness.”

📖 Psalm 107:29
“He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.”

📖 Isaiah 43:2
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”

📖 Hebrews 13:5
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

🙏 Prayer — “The Light That Leads Me Home”
Lord Jesus,
When the waves rise high and the night feels endless, remind us that Your light still shines.
In our wrestling and in our doubts, You do not walk out.
When we fail, You do not turn away.
Your great love leads us through the dark waters and whispers peace into our troubled sea.

Help us to lift our eyes toward You — the true Lighthouse —
steady, faithful, unshaken by the storm.
Let Your beam of mercy reach the corners of our fear and guide us safely home.
And when we feel forgotten, remind us that Your light within us still burns —
a reflection of Your grace, a spark of hope for others lost at sea.

Calm our hearts, Lord.
Teach us to trust the light, even when the waves roar.
For You are our peace, our direction, our rescue.
And today, we turn toward You.

Amen.

Take a moment and listen to the song My Lighthouse or read the lyrics. Songwriters: Chris Llewellyn, Gareth Gilkeson

I pray you are touched by this story, and it causes the light within you to shine brighter in whatever storms you may be facing.

With love for you all, have a blessed day. See you tomorrow.

05/31/2026

May 31, 2026

05/29/2026

05/29/2026

Christ Memorial Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida is seeking a Children’s Ministry Leader.

This is a part time position (approximately 15 hours per week) working with children from K to 5th grade, and includes Wednesday evening youth activities and Children's Church during our 10:45 am Sunday service, as well as community outreach events such as VBS and Spring/Fall family festivals.

This is a great opportunity to minister the grace of GOD to both unchurched children as well as helping the church's children build a firm Biblical and spiritual foundation!

If you are called to work with children and committed to introducing them to our LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST, I encourage you to prayerfully consider this!

For more information, please send a direct message to this page.

The harvest is plentiful but the workers few. (Matthew 9:37)

05/29/2026

Good morning, Church family and Friends

🌄 The Jar by the Window — A Faith Story
The old wooden windowsill had held many things over the years—wildflowers from children’s hands, cooling pies, forgotten paintbrushes—but never anything as sacred as the jar.

It wasn’t fancy. Just a simple glass jar, the kind that once held peaches. But now it held something far sweeter: prayers. Folded, crinkled, tear‑stained, hopeful prayers.

Every morning, before the sun crested the snow‑tipped mountains, Miriam placed the jar on the sill so the first light of day could touch it. She said it made the prayers “wake up,” as if the light reminded them that God was already working on them.

Some days the jar looked almost golden, glowing as the sunrise spilled across the lake. Other days, when clouds hung low, the jar sat in soft gray light—still steady, still waiting, still full.

Miriam had started the jar years ago when life felt too heavy to carry in her hands. Instead of letting her worries scatter, she wrote them down and tucked them inside. Over time, the jar became a quiet witness to her faith. Every folded slip was a moment she chose trust over fear.

One note inside read:
“Lord, teach me to rest.”

Another:
“Heal what I cannot fix.”

And one, written in shaky handwriting after a long night of tears:
“I believe You still see me.”

Visitors often asked why she kept the jar by the window. She always smiled and said, “Because light belongs with prayer.”

📖 Scripture woven into the story
“Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you.” — Psalm 55:22

“For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.” — Psalm 36:9

Maybe we all should have a faith jar on a windowsill, by the bed, or on the kitchen counter.
A reminder that:

We don’t have to hold everything alone.

God hears even the smallest whisper.

Light still finds its way into the places we set aside for Him.

A jar becomes a gathering place for moments when your heart says, “Lord, I’m giving this to You.”

Some days the notes are long.
Some days they’re just a word.
Some days they’re written through tears.
Some days they’re written with a smile.

But every note is a seed of faith.

And when you place that jar where the light touches it — on a windowsill, beside your bed lamp, or next to the coffee pot — it becomes a quiet testimony. A little altar of trust. A place where you can see your faith growing, even when life feels still.

📖 Scripture that fits the heart of a faith jar
“Write the vision and make it plain…” — Habakkuk 2:2

“Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7

There is more to the faith jar story, I tried to just post a shorter version. It's a storybook I am creating to go with my Inspirational art kits. My way of spreading Gods Word using the gifts He gave me. Art. Hope you all enjoyed this.

Have a blessed day and weekend, love to all.

05/28/2026

Good morning, Church Family and Friends

🌵 “Sheltered in the Desert Bloom” — A Southwestern Devotional
In the quiet stretch of a desert morning, before the heat begins to shimmer and the sky turns to molten gold, a small bird tucks itself into the cradle of a blooming desert flower. The world around it is vast — red earth, towering saguaros {cactus tree}, and winds that carry stories older than memory. Yet here, in this single blossom, the bird finds rest.

Scripture says, “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.” Psalm 91:4
And in this painted moment, you can almost feel that promise breathing.

The desert is not an easy place. It’s a land of extremes — scorching days, cold nights, and long stretches where nothing seems to grow. But God has always done His best work in the wilderness. He brings water from rocks, manna from heaven, and strength from places we thought were barren.

The little bird doesn’t fear the desert. It trusts the One who shaped the mesas and carved the canyons. It knows that even in a land of dust, God plants bloom’s big enough to shelter a weary soul.

Maybe that’s you today — standing in a season that feels dry, stretched, or uncertain. But look again. Right in the middle of your desert, God has placed a bloom just for you: a moment of rest, a whisper of hope, a reminder that you are seen.

You are not wandering alone.
You are carried.
You are covered.
You are held in the hollow of His hand, just like that tiny bird nestled in the warmth of a desert flower.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being our shelter in every season. When life feels like a desert, help us see the blooms You’ve planted along the way. Teach us to rest in Your care, trust Your timing, and find beauty even in the wilderness. Amen.

I hope you enjoyed this devotional today. May your day be blessed with love and grace. Love to all