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Bethesda Chapel on Turkey Creek, 2800 Fordham Road, Palm Bay, FL (2026)

08/20/2026

Read this prayer in faith … and watch how God brings peace, healing, and miracles into your relationship. 🙏

Lord Jesus,
You know every tear we never spoke about, every silent prayer, every fear, every hope, and every pain hidden deep inside our hearts. Today, I surrender this relationship completely into Your hands because only You can hold together what this world tries to break.

Father, if this love is from You, protect it. Build it stronger through every storm, every misunderstanding, every distance, and every hard moment. Remove anger, ego, confusion, jealousy, and every negative voice trying to destroy what You created. Replace our pain with peace, our weakness with strength, and our fear with unshakable faith.

Teach us to love each other with patience, loyalty, honesty, and kindness. Help us stay together not only in happy moments, but also in the difficult seasons when love is tested the most. Let us never give up on each other too quickly. Heal every broken word, every wound, every sleepless night, and every moment our hearts felt heavy.

Lord, when one of us is weak, let the other become strength. When one cries, let the other bring comfort. When life becomes hard, remind us that with You, nothing is impossible. Be the center of our conversations, our decisions, our future, and our hearts.

Jesus, I pray that this relationship will not be built only on emotions, but on faith, trust, respect, and Your presence. If we are meant to walk together, then no distance, no person, and no problem will be able to separate us from the plan You have written for us.

Thank You for loving us even when we fail. Thank You for staying when others leave. I trust You with this relationship, this love, and this future.

In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 🙏❤️

08/19/2026

Why Candles Are Placed in the Front of the Pulpit (Altar)
In Catholic and many other Christian traditions, candles are placed in the front of the pulpit (the altar) because of deep biblical, liturgical, and symbolic meaning.

1. Symbol of Christ’s Light
Candles represent the light of Christ, who said, “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) catholicnews.in+1. Placing them at the altar—where the Eucharist is celebrated—signifies that Christ is the source of spiritual light and life.

2. Tradition and Liturgical Law
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal requires that at least two lighted candles be placed on or next to the altar during Mass, with more (four, six, or seven) for Sundays, holy days, or bishop’s Masses catholicnews.in+1. This is not just decoration; it is a fixed part of the liturgy to honor the sacredness of the altar.

3. Historical and Practical Roots
Originally, candles lit the darkened church before electric lighting Catholic Stand. Even now, their placement at the altar preserves the tradition of reverence and festivity. In the early Church, candles were also used in catacombs and shrines, symbolizing sacrifice and devotion catholicnews.in+1.

4. Connection to the Tabernacle
Near the altar, candles are often lit before the tabernacle, where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. This is a sign of the perpetual presence of Christ in the Eucharist, echoing the “eternal light” kept burning in the Temple Wikipedia+1.

5. Spiritual Impact
The Church believes the beauty and warmth of candles can renew the spirit and inspire the faithful to live with the “fire of divine love” catholicnews.in. Their placement at the altar makes them a focal point for worship and meditation.

In short: Candles in the front of the pulpit are there to honor Christ as the Light of the World, uphold centuries-old liturgical tradition, and create a sacred, reverent atmosphere at the heart of the Mass.

08/19/2026

A Prayer to Find True Anchored Hope in Christ
Bible Reading:
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4, NASB).
While browsing home décor with my wife at Hobby Lobby the other day, I found words of encouragement galore. Signs with words such as “Peace,” “Joy,” “Life,” “Hope,” and “Strength” filled the aisles. Those words uplift the heart, but truthfully, are empty if they are not rooted in the only Giver of those things, God Himself. We cannot find joy, peace, life, hope, or strength apart from God and His Word. We cannot look within ourselves as the source; We must look to Christ, the Word made flesh. As believers, our faith in Jesus Christ gives us hope to remain steadfast, because we know He is faithful. This hope is what will be our anchor through all.
This anchor is what holds you to your trust and faith in the Lord. Hope is not something that can be created or conjured up. Sure, we can give ourselves a pep talk when we are feeling downcast or be encouraged by a friend to keep putting one foot in front of the other, but true hope is given to us by the Holy Spirit, and He often uses the scriptures to bring us strength and encouragement. He endows us with the faith that God’s promises are true; He is not a liar- He can be trusted completely, and that ultimately, His sovereign hand is working in our lives; we will not be put to shame.
Having an eternal perspective lifts your eyes from the cares of this life and helps you move forward when you are going through a storm, reminding you that ultimately, this place is not our home. Being heavenly minded during earthly trials is what fuels your hope in God. Our hearts can be fueled with hope the more we meditate upon the scriptures and learn more about who God is and what He has promised us in Christ.
Romans 15 tells us: “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4, NASB).
Are you finding it difficult to persevere, especially when you are walking through a trial? How often do you fill your soul with scriptures? As mentioned above, the more we read the Bible, the more our hearts are filled with hope, and we are given strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other as we keep our eyes on Jesus.
We eagerly await the return of Christ and the day when we will abide with God forever in our heavenly home. No matter how dark things may become around us in our world or in our personal lives, we must ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with hope, which He will do as we continually seek His words in the Bible. We must renew our minds with God’s Word so we can more clearly seek and understand God’s perfect will in our lives. He has a purpose for us to fulfill here on earth, and that is to share with others His glorious Gospel so that they may also find the hope that is available to God’s children.
As children of God, we may feel hopelessness in our hearts, but we must move beyond our feelings and remind our hearts of the great hope we have in Christ. The Holy Spirit can help us in our weakness. Let us ask Him for help when hopelessness tries to overwhelm us, moving beyond what we see and connecting ourselves to the hope that comes with our trust in God’s promise of eternal life in Christ.
Let Us Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
As Your child, You have given me the gift of faith in Your Son. My hope is not built upon what this world offers me that is fleeting, but a hope much greater for what is eternal and settled. Help me to guard my heart when my circumstances tempt me to allow my emotions to toss me to and fro and give in to despair.
The chaos of the world cannot cause me to sink because I know there is an anchor to be found in the hope of the heavenly home that awaits me. May I bring that message of hope to the lost and hurting around me.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

08/18/2026

Morning Prayer

Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ⏤ 1 Corinthians 3:16

Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless. ⏤ Charles Spurgeon

O Holy Spirit, this morning we come before You in humble adoration. How can You, the Holy One, reside within such unworthy vessels as ourselves? Yet You choose to make our bodies Your temple, and for that, we are in awe. Lord, we love You and thank You for dwelling within us, for making us alive when we were dead in our sins.

We marvel at Your work in our lives. You found us in enmity and reconciled us to God. You lifted us out of selfishness and worldliness, and You continue to sanctify us day by day, preparing us for our eternal inheritance. Holy Spirit, we honor You this morning, and we ask for Your strength to guide us in all we do today.

Lord, help us to walk in step with Your Spirit. Let our lives reflect the presence of the Holy Spirit, and may we honor You in all our thoughts, words, and actions. Fill us with Your power, that we may serve You faithfully and live in the freedom and joy of being Your children. Thank You for making us Your temple, and may we live in a way that glorifies Your name.

08/17/2026

Psalm 34: Community, Scripture, and Testimony - 8.16.2026, Ps. Ed Clark

08/17/2026

Morning

Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you, - 1 Thess 1:4 (BSB)

Many people want to know whether they are chosen by God before they even look to Christ, but they cannot discover their election that way. It can only be found by looking to Jesus. If you want to know if you are one of God’s elect, here is what to do: Do you feel like a lost, guilty sinner? Go straight to the cross of Christ and tell Jesus that. Tell Him that you have read in the Bible, “Whoever comes to Me, I will never turn away.” Remind Him that He has said, “This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Look to Jesus, believe in Him, and you will immediately have proof of your election, for as soon as you believe—you are one of God’s elect.

If you surrender yourself fully to Christ and trust Him, then you are one of God’s chosen ones. But if you stop and say, “I need to know first whether I’m elect,” you are asking a question you cannot answer. Go to Jesus just as you are, no matter how guilty. Stop worrying about your election. Go straight to Christ and hide yourself in His wounds, and you will know you are chosen. The Holy Spirit will give you assurance so that you can say, “I know whom I have believed, and I’m confident He can keep what I’ve entrusted to Him.”

Christ was present at the eternal council—He knows whether you were chosen or not. But you will not find out in any other way. Go, trust in Him, and His answer to you will be, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; that’s why I’ve drawn you with kindness.” You will have no doubts about being chosen once you have chosen Him!

08/16/2026

The Legacies of Two Georges
“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.”

—Acts 3:19–20
The strong faith of two men named George played a key role in shaping the United States of America. The first was George Whitefield, our spiritual founding father. He was a British evangelist who came to our shores to preach the gospel. As a result of his ministry, thousands of colonists came to Christ. It was the first great spiritual awakening in what would become known as the United States of America.

Between 1740 and 1742, before the United States was even a nation, the Great Awakening had a remarkable impact in New England. Historians estimate that 25,000 to 50,000 people were added to New England church membership as a result of the revival. With New England’s population only around 300,000 at the time, that means as many as one out of every six people in the region may have been reached in some way by the revival, in which George Whitefield played a leading role. The evangelistic wildfire left in its wake fertile spiritual ground on which the nation could be built. The Christian truths and principles that guided the lives of the new converts found their way into the nation’s DNA. They formed the cornerstone of the United States government.

John Adams, founding father and second president of the United States, wrote, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Our nation was forged in the flames of revival started by George Whitefield.

The second George is, of course, George Washington—commander of the Continental Army, first president of the United States, and the father of our country. Washington was always quick to give the glory to God for his victories. He never tired of invoking the role of Providence in the formation of the United States of America. In fact, Washington directed that a special flag be flown by the ships of the U.S. Navy. The flag depicted a tree with branches stretching upward. The message of the flag was an appeal to Heaven, a reminder that the United States needed to call on God for its success and sustenance.

Unfortunately, that message got lost along the way. Our nation has drifted away from God and His guidance. The good news is that it’s not too late to go back to Him.

The apostle Peter preached to the people of Israel, “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah” (Acts 3:19–20 NLT).

That same message is needed in our country today. Our nation, which was forged in a spiritual revival, needs to go through those flames again.

Reflection question: How can you incorporate a concern for our nation’s spiritual well-being into your prayers and Bible study?

08/15/2026

Good Morning
Today marks the eighth anniversary of when I first started publishing this daily newsletter.
It started at an interfaith conference. One of the open discussions was about all the trash being shown on social media. The discussion went on for some time when one pastor stood up and said if you think it is so bad, why not publish something you think is positive and uplifting. Sitting here discussing it will never solve the problem, nor will it give the world the opportunity to hear the “Good News.”
So, I started with a website: Chaplain2018ad.com. I then started two additional face book pages along with my personal face book page.
I am writing today because I am often asked “Why?” It is simple I am led by God. If all the people who are trying to get me to put their ads on my webpage and other sites are being honest (which I doubt) I have a very large number of followers.
I am also told that most of the time or some of the time what I send out, and post is of no use or something everyone should already know.
My answer is simple; I publish what God puts on my heart. It is not for everyone, and it may not be for you, but I would like you to pray and think about the one person God wanted to hear what was published. I am not looking for any more than that, the knowledge that God will bring who needs to read what was written is why. It is not about you; it is about reaching that one person with the love of Jesus Christ.
So, when you open your email, read on face book or my website; please stop and take a minute to pray for that person God is trying to reach. And when it does mean something to you, I pray you will share it across your social media sites.
It is like the story about Billy Graham, who when he was young went to a tent meeting, heard the “Good News”. I do not have to tell you where that led, do I.
Have a blessed day and I pray we all will be open to sharing the “Good News” with everyone we meet.
Have Blessed day and thank you for reading.
Chaplain Ed
PS: If you find a message you feel someone else needs to read to make it easy you can just share my webpage with them: Chaplain2018ad.com. The postings are new for each day and stay on the website for 24 hours. Please feel free to copy and paste to print to share with others. Who knows how your simple act of kindness will change a person’s life.

08/14/2026

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 1 Corinthians 12:18
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 1 Corinthians 12:21-27
Today's Devotion
A famous athlete sat tall in his seat as he prepared to fly to the championship bout he knew he would win. A flight attendant walked by and said, “Sir, please fasten your seat belt.” The man smiled. “Superman don’t need no seat belt.” She replied without missing a beat, “Superman do not need no airplane. Buckle up.” And he did.
Success can swell our heads. We do not need a seatbelt or a flight attendant telling us what to do. We can take care of ourselves. If we bring this attitude to church, we are like an eye that says to the hand, “I don’t need you!” or a head that says to the feet, “I don’t need you!” (1 Corinthians 12:21). The truth is, every part of the body is needed, and “those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (v. 22).
We are made in the image of the triune God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who thrive in an interdependent community of love. The God who exists in perfect relationship within Himself made us to be in relationship with others in life and in the church. We are not all the same, and that is a good thing. “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?” (v. 17). We are not all the same, but we are all “indispensable” (v. 22). Who helps you at your local body of Christ? Tell them you notice that you see them and thank them for their service. And ask God to show you where you can serve other believers.

Reflect & Pray

Why did God create us to need others? Who can you thank for their service to you?

Dear Jesus, please empower me to serve others from where You have placed me.

Bethesda Chapel on Turkey Creek

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