Fellowship Freewill Baptist Church

05/13/2025

DEVOTIONAL

When we're in a dark place, and in
need of God's help, why exactly
does scripture instruct us to thank
Him--even before anything has
changed?

Today's passage is Philippians
4:6-7, which says, "Do not be
anxious about anything, but in every
situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of
God, which transcends all
understanding, guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus."

The words prayer and petition refer
to asking God for something-
expressing our needs and wants to
Him. But then we come to the word
"thanksgiving." What exactly are we
supposed to be thanking Him for?

The reason We thank God, before
anything has changed about our
situation, is because no matter what
we're feeling anxious about-
vhether a relationship, a job, school,
noney, spiritual status or anything
else- God cares enough about us
o want to hear about it.

We also thank God because
whatever solution God has planned
is going to be the best one.
Sometimes that solution might
involve changing our situation; other
times it may involve using our
situation to change us. However
things play out, when we go to God
in prayer, we are entrusting our life
to the one who is infinitely more
capable of solving our problems
than we are.

05/13/2025

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard

05/12/2025

05/12/2025

Part of the Plan

In the beginning, God created everything.

Galaxies and volcanoes, fireflies and diamonds, oak trees and great white sharks. Finally, saving the best for last, He created humans in His image—to fill the earth, reign over its creatures, and cultivate a world that magnifies Him.

But even before the beginning, God was already there. He spoke time and space into existence, while existing outside of time and space. And long before you were born, He already knew all about you—your strengths and weaknesses, your successes and failures.

He knew all about you and chose to make you… because He loves you!

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

You are God’s handiwork—sometimes translated as masterpiece, workmanship, or work of art.

You are also God’s masterpiece because of the unique spirit, personality, and gifts that have been uniquely wired in you.

Because we know that God is more brilliant than we could ever imagine, and because He loves us more than we could dare to hope, and because we know He writes great stories, we can trust what He has planned from beginning to end.

And His plan includes you. Yes, you! He has prepared good things for you to step into—meaningful relationships and impactful work. He is continually putting people and opportunities in your path, as well as working inside of you, giving you the desire and power to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13).

He has empowered you to partner with Him as we experience the greatest story on earth.

So as you consider how God has intentionally designed you and placed you at this specific point in history, what passions and callings has He placed on your heart? This could be one big thing, or several small things. As you think about that, what step do you need to take to pursue your calling with God-given confidence?

05/12/2025

Eph 2:10

Ephesians 2:10 with Nova Church

05/12/2025

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

03/31/2025

Guided prayer for the day.

03/24/2025

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) states: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Becoming Like Christ

Scripture tells us that we who belong to Christ are now ambassadors for Christ. As ambassadors, we are tasked with two things: the mission of God and the character of Jesus.

The goal this passage sets out for us sounds pretty simple: to become more and more like Jesus in the way that we act, think, and feel, and to also accomplish the purposes that God has for our life. We are tasked to accomplish the work of God in the way He wants it done, following the "word of truth," or the Bible.

As Christians, we should strive to be like Christ. We want to have the same mind and attitude that He had. Paul’s encouragement to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15 reinforces that mindset about our character. In the midst of a culture that is grumbling and fighting, act like Jesus.

In this letter, Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of his past, but instead to let his past be a testament to how Jesus has changed his life. Your past is part of your story, and it’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s a way that you can show others how Jesus changed your life.

The best way that we can continue to be transformed by Jesus is to continually seek His truth in Scripture. As we engage with Scripture and the Holy Spirit, our mind, heart, and hands are changed to be more like Christ.

How can you be more like Christ today? Think of a few small steps you can take to begin to shift your thinking and action towards the mission of God or the character of Christ. Ask God for His help as you seek to follow Him daily.

03/23/2025

https://www.bible.com/verse-of-the-day/2CO.1.3-4/463

03/08/2025

She Saw the Lord

Mary Magdalene is one of the most well-known women from the Bible. She was with Jesus through much of His ministry, to the end of His life and after His resurrection. The first time we meet Mary in Scripture, Jesus has already worked a miracle in her:

“...Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out…”
Luke 8:1-2 (NIV)

Imagine feeling helpless, tormented, hopeless. Indescribably crushed under the oppressive weight of evil and without any way out. You may not need to imagine it–you might already identify with what Mary was going through.

But then, Jesus came and set Mary Magdalene free.

In a moment, He relieved her of her torment. She was healed. And she saw Him. She followed Him. From a distance, she watched the crucifixion as her Savior gave His life for all (Mark 15:40). And then, she saw where he was laid (Mark 15:47).

Ever faithful, Mary Magdalene and two other women who followed Jesus rose early in the morning and went to anoint Jesus’ body.

But there was no one there.

At this empty tomb, Mary wept in grief thinking Jesus had been taken away. But then she heard Jesus’ voice:

“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’).”
John 20:16 NIV

Jesus then trusted her with an important task. “Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17 NIV).

The news of Jesus’ resurrection took flight through Mary Magdalene, the woman who had once been crushed by suffering. Of all the people He could have chosen for this moment of glorious discovery and critical communication, He chose her.

And she went to the disciples with the very same news that had changed her life to begin with: “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18 NIV).